Collins' Life

Early Life

Suzanne Collins, whom you may know from The Hunger Games Trilogy, is a notable dystopian fiction author. In many of her books, she brings attention to and explores power, morality, and sacrifice while also creating an intriguing storyline for teenagers to enjoy. Collins was born on August 10, 1962, in Hartford, Connecticut. She had four siblings and grew up with a father who was active in the military. Her father's military career caused her family to move around often while she was a child. She spent most of her time in Eastern America and Europe, specifically Belgium. Her father's involvement in the military played a significant role in her writing and her view of society. From an early age, she understood the effects of war since her father fought in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. She graduated from high school in Alabama and continued her education at Indiana University, where she studied theater and telecommunications. She then enhanced her education by obtaining a Master’s degree in dramatic writing from New York University. Since then, she has continued her career. She is now located in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, where she has a husband and two children. She has achieved many things throughout her lifetime, but one of the most extravagant is being the best-selling author of all time on Amazon.com.

Early Career

At the beginning of Collin’s career, she did not go into novel writing. Collins began her writing career in television in 1991, specifically writing for children's television. She started in short-lived sitcoms such as "Honey I’m Home" and then continued to write for several series for Nickelodeon and PBS networks. Beginning her career in children's television helped her create interesting story plots to keep viewers engaged with the content. She utilized these skills later in her writing career with the Hunger Games series by crafting an intriguing storyline while also addressing hidden messages. A perfect example of her children's writing influencing her novel writing is "Clarissa Explains It All." This show encouraged her to address real-world issues while still making it fun and understandable for children. Not only did writing on children's television help her writing skills, but it also influenced her transition into novel writing. As she wrote children's stories, she discovered her drive to create deeper and more intricate storylines. This led her to begin writing "The Underland Chronicles," a fantasy series where a young boy discovers a hidden underground world filled with mysterious creatures. This marked the beginning of her literary career, and a very successful beginning as well. 

Inspiration

As she continued writing literature, she started to draw from different experiences to influence her storytelling. Her father, Michael Collins, had a great influence on "The Hunger Games" regarding war, survival, and the impact of societal norms. Michael Collins was an Air Force officer who served in two historic wars. Suzanne was able to understand war from a perspective different from that of the media, which allowed her to incorporate how the media depicted the reality of wars in "The Hunger Games." While channel surfing, she discovered the depth of the effects of media by observing the juxtaposition between reality TV, game shows, and the Vietnam War, where she knew her father was fighting. This experience inspired the story of Katniss Everdeen. The setup of the Games and the concept of the story were heavily influenced by Greek mythology; in particular, the story of Theseus. Theseus and the Minotaur portrayed the city of Athens being forced to send seven boys and seven girls to be devoured by the Minotaur, which contributed to the idea of the tributes from the districts. Through the use of Greek mythology, she was able to convey the theme of sacrifice to avoid the overabundance of power. 

Morality and Criticisms

Collins utilizes a variety of inspirations and touches upon several moral themes, which have led to a range of opinions. Collins is a confident writer. She writes about many moral issues that she strongly believes in and stands by. She may receive criticism or questions on some of these topics, but her opinion never wavers based on others' words. Collins does not apologize for the moral messages conveyed in her books. She states, "I hope it does make people think about what they watch more reflectively," showing that instead of feeling sorrow, she feels a need to promote change. The morals presented are not solely about violence, but also about power, the safety and dependence on food, and the romantic aspect of the story. The morality of the series can be interpreted in various ways, and depending on one's age, one's views can change. For example, older readers may find "The Hunger Games" depressing and violent, while younger generations may find inspiration and role models within the books. 

Collins has created a successful way to challenge the minds of readers on several moral issues without boring the audience. She was able to take her life experience and her knowledge of specific topics and create a story to not only educate but also inform young adults. By taking her personal experiences and opinions, she was able to create a groundbreaking book series that will live on through generations.