Reading Response 2: Mockingjay

For this week’s blog, I have decided to do Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games series is one of my favorite series besides the Harry Potter series, of course. Mockingjay is the continuation of Catching Fire. Mockingjay begins with Katniss being rescue by the rebels of District 13. Katniss is, then, convinced to become “the Mockinjay”: a symbol of the rebellion against the Capitol. Along with the agreement, she demands the president of District 13, President Coin, to grant all rights to kill President Snow, the dictator of the nation of Panem. However, Katniss soon realized that she is being used as a propaganda for the rebels. Not only that, but Peeta, her fellow District 12 member, is being used by the Capitol because he was captured during the Quarter Quell. Will any of these obstacles stop them from continuing their rebellion? What will happen to Peeta? Will the Capitol finds out about their rebellion? I guess you will have to read the book and find out.

Here is a short passage from Mockingjay:

"'We had to save you because you’re the mockingjay, Katniss,' says Plutarch. 'While you live, the revolution lives.' The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst to flames. I am the mocking jay. The one that survived despite the Capitol’s plans. The symbol of the rebellion."

This passage is extremely important to the book because it is the rising action of the plot. Not only that, but it’s the main point of the whole book and without it there would be no foundation within this plot. It is also important because Katniss is representing herself as a symbol for all citizens that want to rebel against the Capitol. She is their “mockingjay” and without her, there would be no rebellion.

The way Suzanne Collins wrote the Hunger Games trilogy is unique compare to all the other authors because she expresses the darkness within the trilogy. She shows the darkness of humanity in all its horror. There isn’t any “we’re all born good” sentiment, but rather the expressive idea that evil is a concept humans are capable of and it is shown at all angles throughout this book as well as the other two.