End of Mockingjay (SPOILER ALERT!!)

[Former_Member]

Was any one else suprised at the end (or close to the end) of Mockingjay when they proposed another Hunger Games but this time only with the children from the Capitol and Katniss agreed to it? I know that she ended up killing that woman but when they went around the table and Peeta said 'no' I was sure Katniss was going to say 'no' too, but when she said 'yes' my jaw dropped!

[Former_Member]

I was astonished. I was sure she would say no. But I as soon as she said it was for Prim I got it. I got the anger and hurt was speaking.

[Former_Member]

I was surprised, but knowing how much anger she had at that moment, it made sense. I was more surprised that sweet Prim was killed.

[Former_Member]

I agree Amber - I was heart broken that Prim was killed.

[TheStoryTimeLady]

I agree with all the above. I was shocked when Prim was killed. I thought for sure she would live.

[Former_Member]

I couldn't believe that the author killed of Prim! She was Katniss' reason for doing the things that she did, I still shake my head when I think about that!

[Former_Member]

I was so shocked I could have crawled in the book and smacked her.

[Former_Member]

I agree Savannah - I was MAD.

[Former_Member]

I totally CRIED when I read that Prim died. Yes, she was the root of the all three books, and then she just...isn't there? sigh...the world these days...SOB...

But yeah, I guess I wasn't really surprised when Katniss agreed to the new Hunger Games. I think she was more concerned that Snow's granddaughter is most likely going to die and wanted to prove a point over her sister then the fact that 23 more kids were going to die. But think about... what would happen to the Capitol's victor?

[Former_Member]

Yeah I couldn't believe it when Prim died! It was hard enough when Rue died (and we knew that was going to happen) but Prim as well!! *sob*

Madge, Rue and Prim represented the young and innocent and not one of them lived :(

[Former_Member]

I think Collins had to have Katniss say yes in order for her (and the reader) to realize that with President Coin in charge it would be no better than with President Snow. The simple fact that Coin suggested another Hunger Games as retribution for what the Capitol had done showed that she was the same kind of creature as snow. When Katniss said yes and felt the anger and hatred behind her desire to see Capitol children die, that was when she realized, and me as well, that Coin and District 12 were not the solution, but just another turn in the cycle of death and violence Panem was built upon.

I was definitely shocked, though, but afterward I felt like it made sense. It also put Katniss on a level playing field with the people who invented the Hunger Games in the first place 76 years earlier, because she understood the rage that made people think it was acceptable, and in turn, realized that innocent people dying for other's crimes is wrong no matter how angry you are.

And yes, Prim dying sucked!!

[Former_Member]

I really wasn't that surprised she voted that way. I think at that point Katniss, while having had to grow up quickly as she was the one the family depended on to survive, grew up and lost any innocence she may have still had as the story went on. At the end, when she realized that while she could not stop the games, perhaps by agreeing she could somehow in the future change the way they were played.

It's funny, I am 50 (shhhhhh!) and these books really sucked me right in! I really kept wanting my fairytale ending and while I knew it wouldn't be that type of ending, I was surprised when Prim died. I had to go back and re-read a couple of times to make sure I understood what happened.

[Former_Member]

Eddita-you're not the only 50 year old to read them! My mom loves the books and she's 52. My grandma loved the first (couldn't finish the others because of the violence) and she's in her upper 70s and my grandpa read them all too! haha.

Emily, You made some awesome points!

[Former_Member]

I just finished the book and have been dying to read this discussion! The book was amazing! A little hard to follow at times, but I got it at the end. I also agree that it is so sad that Prim died! :'(

[Former_Member]

I really appreciated the ending. I was fearing a sugar coated version of Katniss that would step up and come out of it shining. That's not how war works. What I found horribly heartbreaking was what happened to Peeta. From the beginning he just wanted to die himself and with dignity and they even took that away from him. Then Katniss lost Prim. To me her only redeeming quality was her ability to love and that was her anchor centering around Prim. So she was broken and finally did step up and really become the mockingjay, but it was bittersweet and that's how it should be. War and death are not glorious. The ending of Mockingjay was like a breath of fresh air for me.

[Former_Member]

Emily, I totally agree with you. It was necessary for Katniss to agree to (much to the dismay of the reader). I believe Collins wanted us to pause and think, "Why? Why?!!! Why would Katniss agree to such a thing?" In our indignation at her decisions we can explore how pain and hurt perpetuate themselves when the wounded no longer care about the greater good. It forces us also to really take a look at the tricky business of governing people. I personally, kept asking myself, "What would I do if I had to govern the Districts?"
In a global sense, the people of the Capitol are not so much different than the people here in the US. I know there are many people who look at our excess and cannot comprehend that we throw away food when their own children are starving. They don't understand how we can afford to put "bling" on our cell phone cases and they cannot afford shoes. I believe that is why food is such an important "character" in all three books. To force us to look at the stark contrast of what we have and what others don't - and to be greatful for how easy it is for us here.

My other thought is this - the theme of fire is used throughout the book. I think it is no accident that Katniss is from a coal-mining district. Like coal, she is the fuel that fires up the districts to rebel. The three books take us through the evolution of how powerful fire is - and ultimately consumes and transforms what it is burning. Katniss experienced this consumption and transformation. I also believe it no accident that Peeta gives her life and hope from a loaf of burnt bread. Katniss is a phoenix. We find her rising from the ashes at the start of the series and transformed. By the end of the trilogy she has been returned to the ashes again - and Collins gives us hope that she will again rise.

[WillowbrookArtistry]

I thought the ending was what it needed to be. I really appreciated that Collins' didn't give the fairytale ending like so many young adult fiction authors do! As if Katniss and Peeta could have a simple, instant reunion after what they've been through! I think she handled it all very well, Peeta's hijacking was distressing because she made it so real that he'd never be the same again, and personally I think she made us grasp the gravity of that and really feel Katniss' loss. For me, it made it so much more real, how the characters were so deeply affected and changed by what they went through.

I was a bit surprised by Katniss agreeing to the games. I wonder if it was because losing Prim meant losing one of the last bits of herself? If Prim had lived I don't think she would have agreed to it.

I really loved the very brief conversation between Gale and Peeta. I thought that was brilliant because it almost sets us up and answers our impending questions about Katniss being with Peeta. I kept thinking that through the books...what if Gale had volunteered? She absolutely needed Peeta though IMO, much as I love Gale, they are too similar. The way they drifted apart though once their mutual dependance on each other wasn't there was also very sad, and the fact he's just gone once it's all over. And her mother. I think that was really well done and as the reader you really feel the loss.

Prim's death was awful. I found myself wondering how it would have been different without her. There'd have been no rebellion! Nothing for Katniss to protect.

Was anyone else really sad about poor Finnick? I loved him as a character, and him and Annie. Such a shame he died!

[Former_Member]

I loved the epilogue! The ending was a little strange, but the epilogue was perfect. Blonde haired with grey eyes; brown haired with blue eyes. <3

[LythaStudios]

Just joined today! So happy to find a Hunger Games team. :)

So - I don't think Katniss actually wants to have another Hunger Games with capitol children. It is a ruse she has to go through, to get Coin to trust her and let her follow through with the execution.

Remember - Coin has already tried to kill Katniss (by sending Peeta to join her squad). And the reason given - Katniss hasn't proven she's on Coin's side. And where Katniss goes, people follow. The final Hunger Games, using the capitol kids, is Coin's idea. If Katniss doesn't side with Coin there, and show she'll be loyal to Coin, I don't think Coin would let Katniss live, and certainly not put herself in range of Katniss's bow.

Katniss says there is no point living in a world where people settle their differences by killing children. There is no way she would actually want another Hunger Games. Her dispair at even being asked shows that.

In that room, she realizes the only way to get rid of Coin, who she clearly sees is Snow's equal in evil, is to perform like she is on Coin's side. Only then will she have the opportunity to act.

There's my .02. :)

Now... who should play Coin in the movie?