Mockingjay
question
How would you have ended it?
TJ
Sep 28, 2013 11:21AM
I know y'all don't like the edning. Neither do I. Here you can write how it would have ended if you had anything to say about it.
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Despite others opinions, I really enjoyed the ending. I loved the entire series exactly the way it was.
The book might have been better if it had been left as a cliffhanger, making you wonder. Or maybe Collins did exactly that, but too well because nobody sees what really happened.
We are supposed to believe that the fascist capital and communist rebels were equally evil, and Katniss saved the day by turning at the last moment, paving the way for a utopia to be born and she could live peacefully at home for the rest of her life. But really, she’s a crazy anarchist, and Snow was lying.
Let me explain. Snow was using children to shield his palace, had no intention to bring refugees into his compound (and had the peacekeepers shoot into the crowd). He knew the war was nearly over, and not in his favor. So, he plots a way to kill his arch enemy, President Coin. He allows the rebel army to approach the crowd of children (The large group is the first we see of the rebels in the city. Rooftop snipers were peacekeepers and Katniss never saw who was shooting.) When the army was within view, a capital ship appears and drops parachute bombs to the children. Some explode, the rebels rush forward, and the rest explode. This accomplishes two objectives for Snow. 1) It kills off rebels, Snow goes down fighting. 2) It lays a foundation of distrust and conspiracy against Coin.
Contrary to what Katniss comes to believe, Coin did not send the bombs in to turn the tide against Snow and to mess with Katniss. Snow was all but defeated already, and Coin didn’t know where Katniss was. (She would have had no way of knowing Katniss would be at that particular flag pole the instant the bombs went off, especially if she had arranged the event weeks before as Katniss suspects.)
As a result of Snow’s last move, Katniss comes to suspect Coin. Snow spends the entire series playing mind games with the tributes, and he doesn’t stop. You could argue that Snow had no idea Katniss was on that flagpole either, which is fine. He didn’t have to; she would have learned of the event and come to suspect Coin even if she had been someplace else. The fact that she was there, and she witnessed her sister’s death, only helped to aid Snow. Or, you argue it was only chance Katniss walked into Snow’s cell, and he could not have planned on the opportunity to plant the seed of doubt in her mind. But again, he didn’t have to. Gale never talked to Snow but he was beginning to have is doubts about Coin as well. (Gale was also not a witness to the bombing, proving that conspiracy against Coin as spreading, as Snow would have planned.)
I think Coin was good all along. She even said she wanted to give each district the chance to govern themselves, an idea Katniss scoffed at (she is an anarchist, remember). She didn’t send Peeta in to harm Katniss, she felt he was rehabilitated enough that he could help. And you know what, he was.
But what about Coin’s asking the surviving tributes if the Hunger Games should continue? That was a test. She had to know which of the survivors she could trust. Maybe, in keeping with her plan of self-governed districts, she hoped to send these tributes back among their people to lead in a new era. But she couldn’t do so unless she was sure they would not hold grudges against some of the population. She didn’t want a repeat of past events.
But Snow’s last brainwashing attempt was a success. In the climax of the book, when given the chance to execute Snow, Katniss instead shoots Coin in the heart.
In the heart. Not the eye, as Katniss was so famous in district 12. Good thing for Coin too, because I don’t think she died. Katniss believes she died, but she was brainwashed by Snow to be an assassin and had to be told of her success to get her to stop. But capital hospitals conducted far more amazing medical procedures throughout the series than removing an arrow from a recently shot victim. (A shot to the eye would have entered the brain, causing more serious damage.)
Katniss is put on trial, and is determined to be mentally unstable. It is decided to tell her Coin is dead, and some other figure (one she trusts, but who isn’t as strong as a leader as Coin) is the new President. A new order is begun, in which each district is self-governed. Except for coal producer 12, which is in ashes, had always been small, unfit for rebuilding and people aren’t using fossil fuels in the new utopia anyway. So what to do? How about making the whole area a hospital for mental cases! You could even build factories to develop medicine and other supplies! Here’s a list of the first residents: A presidential assassin, a chronic alcoholic, and a mentally vacant child with her grandmother. Peeta eventually returns, even though he is mostly well (as Coin believed when she sent him back to the fight). Since he voted “no” in Coin’s poll, he was allowed to assist in rebuilding the country and was delayed in returning. Also, he was mentally deranged at one time, so he could easily get permission to live in the asylum district (self-committed, if you will.) His return is 100% keeping with his character throughout the book.
Want more proof that Katniss is nuts at the end? Remember the white lizard mutts that bit people’s heads off? They never existed. Katniss is the only one who could see them or hear them. These creatures were so uncontrollable they attacked peacekeeper, rebel, and Avox alike, but stopped instantly never to be seen or heard again once Katniss reached street level. Most likely, she witnessed an attack by peacekeepers and lost her mind, imagining these creatures. Peeta, whose mental wellness was improving, was still struggling with game-type combat situations. Yet he was remarkably calm when these things were supposed to be around. I think it is because through his eyes, they were under attack by humans in white peacekeeper uniforms.
If the lizard mutts were real, it would have been a pain to clean them out of the capital's sewer's after the war. In the process, people like Tigress were probably mistakenly killed. I don't want this sad chain of events to happen, so I again insist these mutts were just figments of Katniss's imagination. Finnick and the others died at the hands of peacekeepers in white, or when a certain trident came flying back at them.
Annie spent most of the book being crazy, so why isn’t she in the asylum too? Well, she did start to show signs of stability when she was around Finnick, so maybe she is living happily in district 3. But I doubt it, since news of Finnick’s untimely death would most likely have pushed her further over the edge. Sadly, I suspect suicide. Notice in the last chapter of the book we learn of Katniss keeping up with Annie and Finnick’s newborn baby, but there is no mention of how mom’s doing. Maybe the baby is being raised by Johanna, who finally has somebody to love. Just keep her way from water, else she’ll get all Rainman.
Also, I feel sorry for Thom. Think about this guy’s sad life. He spends months as a refuge in 13, but never gets noticed or mentioned by any of his ‘friends’. He doesn’t even get to set at their lunch table! (Even Delly got to sit at the cool table once she became useful halfway through the last book, after being mentioned once in passing during book one.) He probably doesn’t even get to fight because of his age (or other hero’s got waivers). After the war, weeks pass before he is allowed to go home. What is he doing during that time? I suspect he was drafted to help with rebuilding efforts someplace more useful, like district 2. When he finally gets to his home district, he finds it is being turned into an asylum. Also, nobody from the outside has thought of helping to clean up the area. He is greeted by bodies rotting on the street, and he has to clean it up. He sits out in completing this grisly task with just a shovel and a cart. After all that, the only mention we get of him is in the very last chapter of the very last book, when crazy Miss Popular finally says hi to him… because she needs a ride home in his cart.
Why does Gale stay in district 2, of all places? “Hi, I blew up your mountain”
We never heard back from Ceaser. That would have been a good way to end the book, a final interview with Peeta just speaking his mind. Lay the foundation of the new era, and leave us guessing which guy Katniss will pick. Cliffhangers were what Collins was best at anyway.
We are supposed to believe that the fascist capital and communist rebels were equally evil, and Katniss saved the day by turning at the last moment, paving the way for a utopia to be born and she could live peacefully at home for the rest of her life. But really, she’s a crazy anarchist, and Snow was lying.
Let me explain. Snow was using children to shield his palace, had no intention to bring refugees into his compound (and had the peacekeepers shoot into the crowd). He knew the war was nearly over, and not in his favor. So, he plots a way to kill his arch enemy, President Coin. He allows the rebel army to approach the crowd of children (The large group is the first we see of the rebels in the city. Rooftop snipers were peacekeepers and Katniss never saw who was shooting.) When the army was within view, a capital ship appears and drops parachute bombs to the children. Some explode, the rebels rush forward, and the rest explode. This accomplishes two objectives for Snow. 1) It kills off rebels, Snow goes down fighting. 2) It lays a foundation of distrust and conspiracy against Coin.
Contrary to what Katniss comes to believe, Coin did not send the bombs in to turn the tide against Snow and to mess with Katniss. Snow was all but defeated already, and Coin didn’t know where Katniss was. (She would have had no way of knowing Katniss would be at that particular flag pole the instant the bombs went off, especially if she had arranged the event weeks before as Katniss suspects.)
As a result of Snow’s last move, Katniss comes to suspect Coin. Snow spends the entire series playing mind games with the tributes, and he doesn’t stop. You could argue that Snow had no idea Katniss was on that flagpole either, which is fine. He didn’t have to; she would have learned of the event and come to suspect Coin even if she had been someplace else. The fact that she was there, and she witnessed her sister’s death, only helped to aid Snow. Or, you argue it was only chance Katniss walked into Snow’s cell, and he could not have planned on the opportunity to plant the seed of doubt in her mind. But again, he didn’t have to. Gale never talked to Snow but he was beginning to have is doubts about Coin as well. (Gale was also not a witness to the bombing, proving that conspiracy against Coin as spreading, as Snow would have planned.)
I think Coin was good all along. She even said she wanted to give each district the chance to govern themselves, an idea Katniss scoffed at (she is an anarchist, remember). She didn’t send Peeta in to harm Katniss, she felt he was rehabilitated enough that he could help. And you know what, he was.
But what about Coin’s asking the surviving tributes if the Hunger Games should continue? That was a test. She had to know which of the survivors she could trust. Maybe, in keeping with her plan of self-governed districts, she hoped to send these tributes back among their people to lead in a new era. But she couldn’t do so unless she was sure they would not hold grudges against some of the population. She didn’t want a repeat of past events.
But Snow’s last brainwashing attempt was a success. In the climax of the book, when given the chance to execute Snow, Katniss instead shoots Coin in the heart.
In the heart. Not the eye, as Katniss was so famous in district 12. Good thing for Coin too, because I don’t think she died. Katniss believes she died, but she was brainwashed by Snow to be an assassin and had to be told of her success to get her to stop. But capital hospitals conducted far more amazing medical procedures throughout the series than removing an arrow from a recently shot victim. (A shot to the eye would have entered the brain, causing more serious damage.)
Katniss is put on trial, and is determined to be mentally unstable. It is decided to tell her Coin is dead, and some other figure (one she trusts, but who isn’t as strong as a leader as Coin) is the new President. A new order is begun, in which each district is self-governed. Except for coal producer 12, which is in ashes, had always been small, unfit for rebuilding and people aren’t using fossil fuels in the new utopia anyway. So what to do? How about making the whole area a hospital for mental cases! You could even build factories to develop medicine and other supplies! Here’s a list of the first residents: A presidential assassin, a chronic alcoholic, and a mentally vacant child with her grandmother. Peeta eventually returns, even though he is mostly well (as Coin believed when she sent him back to the fight). Since he voted “no” in Coin’s poll, he was allowed to assist in rebuilding the country and was delayed in returning. Also, he was mentally deranged at one time, so he could easily get permission to live in the asylum district (self-committed, if you will.) His return is 100% keeping with his character throughout the book.
Want more proof that Katniss is nuts at the end? Remember the white lizard mutts that bit people’s heads off? They never existed. Katniss is the only one who could see them or hear them. These creatures were so uncontrollable they attacked peacekeeper, rebel, and Avox alike, but stopped instantly never to be seen or heard again once Katniss reached street level. Most likely, she witnessed an attack by peacekeepers and lost her mind, imagining these creatures. Peeta, whose mental wellness was improving, was still struggling with game-type combat situations. Yet he was remarkably calm when these things were supposed to be around. I think it is because through his eyes, they were under attack by humans in white peacekeeper uniforms.
If the lizard mutts were real, it would have been a pain to clean them out of the capital's sewer's after the war. In the process, people like Tigress were probably mistakenly killed. I don't want this sad chain of events to happen, so I again insist these mutts were just figments of Katniss's imagination. Finnick and the others died at the hands of peacekeepers in white, or when a certain trident came flying back at them.
Annie spent most of the book being crazy, so why isn’t she in the asylum too? Well, she did start to show signs of stability when she was around Finnick, so maybe she is living happily in district 3. But I doubt it, since news of Finnick’s untimely death would most likely have pushed her further over the edge. Sadly, I suspect suicide. Notice in the last chapter of the book we learn of Katniss keeping up with Annie and Finnick’s newborn baby, but there is no mention of how mom’s doing. Maybe the baby is being raised by Johanna, who finally has somebody to love. Just keep her way from water, else she’ll get all Rainman.
Also, I feel sorry for Thom. Think about this guy’s sad life. He spends months as a refuge in 13, but never gets noticed or mentioned by any of his ‘friends’. He doesn’t even get to set at their lunch table! (Even Delly got to sit at the cool table once she became useful halfway through the last book, after being mentioned once in passing during book one.) He probably doesn’t even get to fight because of his age (or other hero’s got waivers). After the war, weeks pass before he is allowed to go home. What is he doing during that time? I suspect he was drafted to help with rebuilding efforts someplace more useful, like district 2. When he finally gets to his home district, he finds it is being turned into an asylum. Also, nobody from the outside has thought of helping to clean up the area. He is greeted by bodies rotting on the street, and he has to clean it up. He sits out in completing this grisly task with just a shovel and a cart. After all that, the only mention we get of him is in the very last chapter of the very last book, when crazy Miss Popular finally says hi to him… because she needs a ride home in his cart.
Why does Gale stay in district 2, of all places? “Hi, I blew up your mountain”
We never heard back from Ceaser. That would have been a good way to end the book, a final interview with Peeta just speaking his mind. Lay the foundation of the new era, and leave us guessing which guy Katniss will pick. Cliffhangers were what Collins was best at anyway.
Finnick and Prim would have lived, but everything else would have remained the same.
Gale did get a little too dark and Coin probably would have been worse for Panem than Snow. Peeta ultimately was exactly what Kaitness needed. However, if Prim did not die from a bomb that Gale most likely created, Kaitness probably would have ended up with Gale.
Part of me thinks that Collins killed off Finnick simply so that she didn't have his character interferring with the Gale - Kaitness - Peeta triangle at the end of the story. His death was so quick and so wasteful and doesn't get enough of a second thought from Kaitness.
Gale did get a little too dark and Coin probably would have been worse for Panem than Snow. Peeta ultimately was exactly what Kaitness needed. However, if Prim did not die from a bomb that Gale most likely created, Kaitness probably would have ended up with Gale.
Part of me thinks that Collins killed off Finnick simply so that she didn't have his character interferring with the Gale - Kaitness - Peeta triangle at the end of the story. His death was so quick and so wasteful and doesn't get enough of a second thought from Kaitness.
I liked the ending. It was about war and the effects of war and SC did a great job conveying that with the terrible cost, hollowness, depression, PTSD etc. But it was also a hopeful ending with Katniss happily married to Peeta and with children.
I don't see Prim being the reason for Gale and Katniss to finally call it quits on their relationship. It was simply the excuse. They had different values and Gale had witnessed Katniss and Peeta growing close again. He knew it was over before the bomb did its work.
Maybe a little expansion on the fate of secondary characters and plot lines may have been good and easily fixed by Katniss reading the unopened mail on her mantle piece or a mention when compiling her book.
Katniss and Peeta's 'growing together' is easy to get a sense of by re-reading Catching Fire. In fact, any more detail in MJ and SC would have been repeating herself. For bonding over the book - see CF and Katniss and Peeta working on the plant book when Katniss is recovering from an injured foot. For comfort from nightmares and sharing a bed - see CF and the nights on the train. For affectionate hugging, kissing etc - see CF and the day on the roof of the training centre. For feeling the 'hunger' - see CF and the beach but imagine it at night, in bed, no cameras to inhibit or lightning strikes to interrupt.
I don't see Prim being the reason for Gale and Katniss to finally call it quits on their relationship. It was simply the excuse. They had different values and Gale had witnessed Katniss and Peeta growing close again. He knew it was over before the bomb did its work.
Maybe a little expansion on the fate of secondary characters and plot lines may have been good and easily fixed by Katniss reading the unopened mail on her mantle piece or a mention when compiling her book.
Katniss and Peeta's 'growing together' is easy to get a sense of by re-reading Catching Fire. In fact, any more detail in MJ and SC would have been repeating herself. For bonding over the book - see CF and Katniss and Peeta working on the plant book when Katniss is recovering from an injured foot. For comfort from nightmares and sharing a bed - see CF and the nights on the train. For affectionate hugging, kissing etc - see CF and the day on the roof of the training centre. For feeling the 'hunger' - see CF and the beach but imagine it at night, in bed, no cameras to inhibit or lightning strikes to interrupt.
I liked the ending, but I agree that it was a bit rushed and some chapters needed a little more detail. Personally I would have liked a talk between Katniss and Peeta about how they truly felt for each other instead of just trying to forget all that they went through and start a life that eventually and ultimately brought them together. I wanted a little more emotion from Katniss towards Peeta.
I finished the third book yesterday and I'm so dissapointed...I think it's too much drama, Prim dying, Katniss going totally insane and then Snow messing up with her...I get it was a war, but after all they went through, they deserved a little bit of a happy ending...Other than that, I enjoyed the book.
I liked it the way it was, but I think there should have been a couple more chapters to add more detail from the last few chapters.
I feel that the story was rushed to meet the end and some additional chapters will be awesome. But I will not want to change anything in the Epilogue. I love it the way it is.
I like the ending pretty well, the only thing was A) It was really, really sudden, B) When Prim died, it only took away from the story, I wouldn't have put it in, and C), I think that the release of Katniss was a little un satisfying. However, I still loved it.
I wake up, already beginning to forget the realistic dream. Sun is shining through my window in District 12. My sister, Prim, is snuggled up against my side.
Today is Reaping Day.
I get out of bed, careful not to disturb Prim. She rolls over but doesn't wake. Quietly, I pull my boots on and strap my bow and quiver to my back. I exit the house and step out into the sunshine. I stealthily creep to the fence and listen for humming, but it's silent. Looking around to make sure nobody sees me, I climb to the top and drop down.
I'm able to relax once I'm in the woods. This is the one place where I'm able to feel at home. I tip-toe through the underbrush and see a deer. Drawing the bow, I aim and let the arrow fly. It pierces the deer's heart, and it dies painlessly. Grinning at my victory, I walk to the deer. The smile dies from my lips as I consider the size of it, and how full this place will be of Peacekeepers.
"I hope you're happy," I say to the animals in the woods. "I just did your work for you."
A branch snaps, and Gale appears from the trees. "Talking to yourself, Katniss?"
I rush up to him and throw my arms around him. I hear a crinkle and pull back. "What's that?"
"A treat," he tells me, and pulls out bread.
I grab it from him and inhale its lovely scent. "This must have cost a fortune! How'd you get it?"
He winks. "That's a secret."
I roll my eyes and take a bite. The taste makes my taste buds rejoice.
He says, "And may the odds--"
"Be ever in your favor," I finish, in the capitol spokesperson Effie's silly voice.
"You know," Gale says seriously, "we could just take off. Run away. Right now." He looks at a deeper part of the forest.
I've thought about it, and I've never had the nerve to. But right now my heart thumps at his suggestion. "What about Prim?"
"We'll take her with us," he promises.
I stretch and finish off the rest of the bread. "Let's go get her, then."
"You want to?" he asks, disbelieving.
"It's either that or live the rest of my life in District 12. If I don't get reaped, anyway." I start jogging towards the fence. Gale follows me hesitantly. After we land on the other side, I say, "Go to your house and find some extra food, whatever you can afford to take. Then meet me back here."
He nods and takes off.
I sprint towards my house and run through the front door. "Prim," I say, shaking her awake.
"What?" she murmurers sleepily.
"We're leaving with Gale. Now."
She bolts awake. "Really?"
"Yes," I say, "now get up and get dressed. Don't wake mom."
She nods her little head and does what she's told. Meanwhile, I'm raiding the kitchen. I leave some food for mom, and I mostly just take non-perishable food items. I pack it all in a little bag, and as an afterthought stuff some of mine and Prim's extra clothes in there.
I look at Prim "Are you ready?"
She nods, nervous.
Before we leave I write a note to our mother, just telling her that I'm taking Prim, we're safe, but we'll never come back. It's a little harsh, but she hasn't been the one working her butt off to feed the family.
Prim and I take off, hurrying to get to the fence without being seen. Gale's already waiting for us, his own bag slung over his shoulder. Without a word, we go over the fence, helping Prim get up and down. As soon as our feet touch the ground, we're running. Prim keeps up surprisingly well.
I hunt when we're hungry, but mostly we just keep going. At night we feel safe enough to stop, so we all curl together to keep warm, not daring to start a fire. The next day we're moving again, just getting farther and farther into the woods.
After a few more days we stop, grinning like idiots. We're safe now. We hug each other and cheer as loud as we want to.
We all pitch in to build a shelter. It's pretty good in my opinion, and stable enough to withstand storms. The game is good here and we're right by a freshwater stream. It's the perfect place to start our lives over.
And in the long-forgotten land of District 13, a rebellion starts to be planned.
Today is Reaping Day.
I get out of bed, careful not to disturb Prim. She rolls over but doesn't wake. Quietly, I pull my boots on and strap my bow and quiver to my back. I exit the house and step out into the sunshine. I stealthily creep to the fence and listen for humming, but it's silent. Looking around to make sure nobody sees me, I climb to the top and drop down.
I'm able to relax once I'm in the woods. This is the one place where I'm able to feel at home. I tip-toe through the underbrush and see a deer. Drawing the bow, I aim and let the arrow fly. It pierces the deer's heart, and it dies painlessly. Grinning at my victory, I walk to the deer. The smile dies from my lips as I consider the size of it, and how full this place will be of Peacekeepers.
"I hope you're happy," I say to the animals in the woods. "I just did your work for you."
A branch snaps, and Gale appears from the trees. "Talking to yourself, Katniss?"
I rush up to him and throw my arms around him. I hear a crinkle and pull back. "What's that?"
"A treat," he tells me, and pulls out bread.
I grab it from him and inhale its lovely scent. "This must have cost a fortune! How'd you get it?"
He winks. "That's a secret."
I roll my eyes and take a bite. The taste makes my taste buds rejoice.
He says, "And may the odds--"
"Be ever in your favor," I finish, in the capitol spokesperson Effie's silly voice.
"You know," Gale says seriously, "we could just take off. Run away. Right now." He looks at a deeper part of the forest.
I've thought about it, and I've never had the nerve to. But right now my heart thumps at his suggestion. "What about Prim?"
"We'll take her with us," he promises.
I stretch and finish off the rest of the bread. "Let's go get her, then."
"You want to?" he asks, disbelieving.
"It's either that or live the rest of my life in District 12. If I don't get reaped, anyway." I start jogging towards the fence. Gale follows me hesitantly. After we land on the other side, I say, "Go to your house and find some extra food, whatever you can afford to take. Then meet me back here."
He nods and takes off.
I sprint towards my house and run through the front door. "Prim," I say, shaking her awake.
"What?" she murmurers sleepily.
"We're leaving with Gale. Now."
She bolts awake. "Really?"
"Yes," I say, "now get up and get dressed. Don't wake mom."
She nods her little head and does what she's told. Meanwhile, I'm raiding the kitchen. I leave some food for mom, and I mostly just take non-perishable food items. I pack it all in a little bag, and as an afterthought stuff some of mine and Prim's extra clothes in there.
I look at Prim "Are you ready?"
She nods, nervous.
Before we leave I write a note to our mother, just telling her that I'm taking Prim, we're safe, but we'll never come back. It's a little harsh, but she hasn't been the one working her butt off to feed the family.
Prim and I take off, hurrying to get to the fence without being seen. Gale's already waiting for us, his own bag slung over his shoulder. Without a word, we go over the fence, helping Prim get up and down. As soon as our feet touch the ground, we're running. Prim keeps up surprisingly well.
I hunt when we're hungry, but mostly we just keep going. At night we feel safe enough to stop, so we all curl together to keep warm, not daring to start a fire. The next day we're moving again, just getting farther and farther into the woods.
After a few more days we stop, grinning like idiots. We're safe now. We hug each other and cheer as loud as we want to.
We all pitch in to build a shelter. It's pretty good in my opinion, and stable enough to withstand storms. The game is good here and we're right by a freshwater stream. It's the perfect place to start our lives over.
And in the long-forgotten land of District 13, a rebellion starts to be planned.
I didn't think the ending was bad. Maybe a little rushed. I think I'd just have drawn it out a little more, and given more details in the epilogue.
i would keep the ending the way it was i didn't see anything wrong with it
It should have ended with capitol crushing the rebellion. Gale, scorned by Katniss, betrays them to capitol. Peeta's conditioning gets the best of him and he murders Katniss in her sleep. Prim does not die. The final chapter could be the opening countdown to the next years hunger games. 13 districts are represented, on the female platform for 12 stands Prim with murder in her eyes.
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