 In an interview with Collins , it was noted that the novel " tackles issues like severe poverty , starvation , oppression , and the effects of war among others . " The novel deals with the struggle for self @-@ preservation that the people of Panem face in their districts and the Hunger Games in which they must participate . The citizens ' starvation and their need for resources , both in and outside of the arena , create an atmosphere of helplessness that the main characters try to overcome in their fight for survival . Katniss needs to hunt to provide food for her family , resulting in the development of skills that are useful to her in the Games ( such as her proficiency with the bow and arrow ) , and represents her rejection of the Capitol 's rules in the face of life @-@ threatening situations . On the subject of the Games ' parallels with popular culture , Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly writes that the book " is an incisive satire of reality television shows " , and that the character of Cinna " almost seems like a contestant on a fascist version of Project Runway , using Katniss ' outfits as a vehicle to express potentially dangerous ideas . " 
