Hunger games. Identify the major dilemma introduced in Chapter 1. How do characters in the story react to this dilemma, and what does it reveal about the society in which they live?
In Chapter 1 of the Hunger Games, the major dilemma introduced is the reaping, the annual event where two tributes, a boy and a girl, are chosen from each district to compete in a televised fight to the death.
The characters in the story react to this dilemma with a mix of fear, resignation, and defiance. The protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, volunteers as a tribute to save her younger sister, showing bravery and selflessness. Other characters, like Gale, express anger and rebellion against the injustice of the Games. However, most people in the district accept the reaping as a cruel part of their lives, conditioned by years of fear and oppression.
This dilemma reveals the extreme and oppressive society in which they live. It demonstrates how the Capitol, the ruling city, maintains control over its twelve districts through fear and violence by forcing children to kill each other for entertainment. The characters' reactions highlight the resistance and rebellion that exists in the face of this oppressive regime, but also underline the society's bleakness and powerlessness.