Sunrise on the Reaping: Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games prequel was inspired by Scottish philosopher

The latest Hunger Games prequel is set 24 years before the events of the first book, with author Suzanne Collins citing Enlightenment philosopher David Hume as one of her main inspirations. | Scholastic / Getty Images

Set more than twenty years before the original novel, author Suzanne Collins’ latest Hunger Games prequel was inspired by the works of an 18th-century Scottish philosopher.

Released in March, Sunrise on the Reaping is the fifth novel in Collins’ blockbuster series, which revisits the dystopian world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games. It is the American author’s first book since the publication of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in 2020.

Rachel Zegler stars in Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes | Murray Close/Lionsgate

For previous books in the series, Collins had drawn inspiration from Greek mythology – particularly the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur – as well as Roman gladiator games. But for her latest book, Collins instead turned to Scottish Enlightenment philosopher David Hume.

When the book was first announced, Collins said: “With Sunrise on the Reaping, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few.’

“The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day.”

With the cast for the upcoming film version having just been revealed, here is how Suzanne Collins was inspired by Scottish philosopher David Hume while writing Sunrise on the Reaping.

Who is David Hume?

David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, generally regarded as one of the most important to write in English. As well as being a historian and essayist, Hume is responsible for a number of major philosophical works which remain influential to this day.

David Hume, Scottish philosopher, historian and economist, 1837. | Print Collector/Getty Images

A leading figure in the 18-century Enlightenment period, Hume was born and raised in Edinburgh, developing an early love for reading and writing as well as ancient and modern philosophy.

How did Scottish philosopher David Hume inspired Sunrise on the Reaping?

Collins was first introduced to the works of Hume by her father, a historian and doctor of political science. Describing her childhood, she said her father approached “history as a story” which saw her introduced to stories of war and philosophical dilemmas from a young age.

In an interview with Scholastic’s Editorial Director David Levithan, she said: “My dad introduced me to David Hume when I was a child, along with many other philosophers. He talked about them while using more kid-friendly examples. Like, in Hume's case, sunrises and billiard balls. It was a little mind-bending but always interesting.”

Themes of truth, lies, and propaganda have been at the heart of the Hunger Games series, and Sunrise on the Reaping is no different.

It is somewhat more unique, however, in that Collins seemed particularly determined to alert her primarily young adult audience to political messaging which looks to shape individual opinions toward a collective which fits the status quo.

Fans attend a launch event for the new Hunger Games novel, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. | Jeff Spicer/PA Media Assignments

From her earliest words on Sunrise, Collins made sure to highlight Hume’s idea of “implicit submission” as her key inspiration, which asks the question of “why is it so easy for the few in power to govern the many?”.

Reflecting this, the book opens with a series of quotes; the first two from George Orwell and William Blake – both about propaganda, truth, and lies – and the final two from David Hume.

The fist Hume quote is as follows: “Nothing appears more surprising to those who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few, and the implicit submission with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers. When we enquire by what means this wonder is effected, we shall find, that, as Force is always on the side of the governed, the governors have nothing to support them but opinion. It is therefore, on opinion only that government is founded; and this maxim extends to the most despotic and most military governments, as well as to the most free and most popular.”

From Hume’s Essays Moral, Political, and Literary, Collins included the passage as “invites so many questions”.

She has even gone so far as to say that “If all people do is read this Hume quote and discuss it, this book has been a win for me”.

The passage sees the Enlightenment philosopher conclude that only the common “opinion” of the many regarding the legitimacy of the few in power, keeps them in charge.

In Sunrise on the Reaping, Collins demonstrates Hume’s idea of implicit submission on three levels: “individual, Hunger Games, and national”. It is the foundation of the book, which asks what form propaganda must take for people to become convinced implicit submission is the preferred option, if it is inevitable, or if there is a way to be protected against it.

No, not Britain in January 2023, it's the The Hunger Games | Contributed

The second quote examines a different aspect of Hume’s philosophy, the answer to the question “is the sun guaranteed to rise tomorrow morning?”

One of philosophy’s greatest debates, Hume’s answer to this question would be no.

Collins quotes: “That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will rise.”

The debate between deductive and inductive reasoning is a core theme of Sunrise on the Reaping, with conflict between protagonist Haymitch Abernathy and Lenore Dove stemming from their differing beliefs on this matter.

One believes that just because something happened in the past, it will continue to happen in the future – in this case, the Hunger Games reaping. Meanwhile, the other believes that the reaping is not a certainty, and that acknowledging it isn’t inevitable can lead to a different future.