Why do you think the Capitol insists on having children kill instead of growing up into adults?

Because having children kill forces the districts to witness the most profound violation of innocence imaginable. The Capitol doesn’t just want control—it wants total psychological submission, and using children ensures that grief, fear, and helplessness seep deep into every household. Adults may be expected to face war or conflict, but turning children into killers turns the Games into an unholy spectacle, something that shocks the conscience and crushes rebellion before it can take root.

There’s also a performative cruelty here: watching young tributes die—or worse, transform into ruthless players—feeds the Capitol’s thirst for entertainment while reminding the districts that their lives and values mean nothing compared to the Capitol’s power. It’s a form of punishment wrapped in glittering propaganda.

And for those who survive, like Katniss or Peeta, the emotional scarring becomes a quiet rebellion—the Capitol may control their bodies for a while, but it can’t fully own their humanity. That tension is what ultimately sparks change.