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Analysis of Social Class in the Ballad of Song Birds Snakes (2020) by Suzanne Collins

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This study is based on a novel The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2020) written by Suzanne Collins, focusing on the social class aspect of the novel. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is set in a fictional dystopian country of Panem following the life of young Coriolanus Snow. The purpose of this study is to analyse the social class structure in the novel according to the six classes under the Marxist Class Theory. There is an identified gap in the study related to The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes as past researches surrounding the novel mainly concentrated on the original trilogy rather than novel’s prequel. This study fills the gap in the study as investigations regarding the issue. Therefore, the social class structure of Suzanne Collins's The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2020) is examined in this study. The study approach employs textual analysis and concentrates on the bourgeoisie, proletariat, landlord, petty bourgeoisie, peasants, and lumpenproletariat—the six classes of the Marxist Class Theory—to examine the socioeconomic structure of the novel. The study argues that the bourgeoisie and proletariat concept of class exists in a fictional dystopian country and all social relationships, including political is a struggle over who is in control over society. It is also envisaged that this study would serve as a future source of information on the novel and the Marxist Class Theory based social class structure.
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