* Food Scarcity: The districts are impoverished, with food being scarce and often of poor quality. Families struggle to survive, and many are forced to make difficult choices.
* Extra Food for Survival: Tesserae are a form of government assistance where families can receive an extra ration of grain in exchange for their child's name being entered into the reaping an extra time. The more tesserae a family claims, the higher their chances of being selected for the Games.
* Survival Instinct: The desire to feed their children trumps the fear of the Games. Many families are so desperate that they believe it's a better gamble to have a chance at winning the Games than to starve.
* Lack of Alternatives: The Capitol controls the districts ruthlessly. There are no other options for families to secure food except through tesserae or illicit means.
* Desperation and Hope: While knowing their children face a horrifying death, families are forced to rely on the slim hope that their child might win the Games and bring glory and wealth back to the district.
The tesserae system highlights the brutal reality of the Hunger Games. It exposes the Capitol's manipulation and the desperation of the districts, making it clear that survival, not glory, is the driving force behind many of the tributes' choices.