It’s hard to ignore the hype and attention connected to the best-selling trilogy and movie “The Hunger Games.” Its complicated underlying themes create a story that has attracted millions of fans, and rightfully so. The ideals presented in the series dig deep into the essence of humanity. It makes a strong statement about the dangers of unrestricted power and how people are capable of forgetting their identities when placed in an extreme situation. “The Games” also warns about the effects of an inhumane society that fails to value life.

Even though these insightful themes have the potential to truly impact an audience, the problem with the hysteria surrounding “The Games” is that many of the fans don’t understand the true meaning behind the books. Instead, they root for their favorite tributes in a fight-to-the-death ‘game,’ essentially buying into the mindset that the government encourages in the books.

While many people cheer and cry for Katniss, Peeta and Rue, the ‘heroes’ of the trilogy, no one cares when the other 21 kids brutally murder each other; it’s just seen as a part of the story. You shouldn’t come away from the books or movie thinking about how cool the violence scenes were or how amazing the technology in the Capitol looked. You’re supposed to think about the dangers of a desensitized society that is able to find sport in children killing each other, not sit back and become a part of that state of mind.

The fact that people are buying into the exact ideas that are addressed in the books makes the message even more important. The society that is portrayed in “The Hunger Games” is not as unlike our current one as we think. We are unnerved when we take the role of a terrorist and fly a plane into the World Trade Center in a video game. The influences in our daily lives show that our society and the society in “The Games” have common flaws.

Instead of viewing “The Hunger Games” as just another action-packed story, we need to be aware of the deeper meanings and alarming warnings that are incorporated in the trilogy. “The Games” isn’t just another shallow teen series; the statements made need to be listened to and understood because, believe it or not, they’re important.