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'The Hunger Games': Hope Is Dangerous

In the film The Hunger Games, President Snow rules over a futuristic society called Panem. Every year the people of Panem are forced to participate in a contest called "the Hunger Games," an event in which one boy and one girl aged 12-18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle to the death until one winner is declared. In one scene, Snow asks his chief Gamesmaker, a man named Seneca Crane, "Seneca, why do you think we have a winner [for the Hunger Games]?"

Seneca frowns and asks, "What do you mean?"

"I mean," says Snow, "why do we have a winner? I mean, if we just wanted to intimidate the districts, why not round up twenty-four at random and execute them all at one? It would be a lot faster." Seneca Crane stares at him, obviously confused.

"Hope," muses Snow. Crane, still confused, asks, "Hope?"

Snow continues, "Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous. Spark is fine, as long as it's contained."

Crane: "So … ?"

Snow concludes, "So, contain it."

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