Why Mockingjay's ending isn't satisfying

[Dan]

Good stories don't happen to people. They happen because of people. But Katniss' story happens to her.

In Hunger Games, we see her change and adapt, but most of that adaptation is forced upon her by Haymitch, allowing for only a few moments of real decisions on her part: volunteering for the Games, saving Peeta, Rue, and the berries. In Catching Fire, we again see her attempting to change, but ultimately most of what happens is forced upon her (again, by Haymitch and others). The end, when she takes out the forcefield and the aftermath, is so random I found it jarring.

But by far the worst was Mockingjay. We see Katniss at her worst, and we see her recover. We see her willingly offer her life in District 2, when she puts down her bow to offer peace. She then goes through a remarkable and amazing transformation (which seems at odds with what she just did), and we get the sense that maybe, just maybe, she will break out and stop being a puppet. She takes some initiative and attempts to assassinate Snow. But as great as the fighting scenes in the Capital are, they largely happen TO Katniss, not BECAUSE of her. She decides to press on after Bogg's death, but in large part because of him. She is funneled toward the end, and after all this effort to transform her, all her sacrifices and those of her team, her free will is again stripped from her by a random spout of fire that inexplicably burns her despite multiple layers of clothing and her own distance from the explosion. (Either she is too stupid to remove her clothing, or she is much closer to the explosion than we are led to believe.)

We then see her lose whatever sense of control she spent most of Mockingjay obtaining. Her final decision to shoot Coin is special, but not enough to overcome the readers' sense of betrayal.

Prim's death is sad, as is Finnick's and many others. Whether they were necessary or not is open to debate. What matters is that stories should happen BECAUSE of people, yet the entire trilogy consists of Katniss reacting to this, or coerced into doing that, etc. She doesn't make many meaningful decisions. When we finally get a glimpse of real choice, it is taken away from Katniss and the rest of the story is determined by Haymitch, Peeta, Snow, and others.

This, I believe, is why the events may or may not be to your liking, but almost everyone agrees that they are unsatisfied by the book's ending. The central theme, Katniss' freedom, is left the same as it was on page one of Hunger Games. Her leash changes hands, from the Capital, to the Rebels and Haymitch, even finally resting with Peeta and Greasy Sae at the end. But she is still leashed, incapable of doing anything by herself and instead constantly riding along more powerful characters' decisions.

Do you agree or disagree?

[Kristen]

I wasn't unsatisfied by MJ. I would have liked a little more detail in the epilogue, but it was alright.

And actually, everything you emphasize for taking enjoyability away from the story due to things happening to Katniss rather than because of her, seems a heck of a lot more realistic than the other way around.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't have a whole lot of control over global events, myself, since I'm just an average person who isn't involved in government or anything.
Life isn't something you can manipulate. Particularly in this type of a situation, there is absolutely no control for someone like Katniss, who is still just a kid, despite all she's been through. I mean, other than making the choice to fight for the cause you believe in. Which she does.

Personally I don't get why some people are so unsatisfied with the end of the series. It seemed like the natural progression for things as we are introduced to them in book 1 - oppression leading to unrest, rebellion, war, and overthrow of the government all told from an instrumental teenage girl's POV. Kinda saw that coming just from reading the description on the back of Hunger Games.

[[deleted user]]

I think the ending, like the rest of the series, is very well done. Mockingjay is a much deeper and more intelligent book than the other two.

[Hailey]

One of the things I didn't like was the end of the book. Katniss does all these big things and then you go to an epilogue that is barely a full page of anything. It's kinda dissappointing to follow a whole series and lead the ending to that. I am not asking for another book or anything like that. But, I believe a little detail might have made things better.

For instance, in the epilogue we kinda just say goodbye to Gale.. that doesn't make sense to me since he was such a big part of this series. Then there is also the Peeta plus Katniss thing, yes, we all know they are in love but where did it go? we turn the page,to find Peeta and Katniss talking allwhile the kids are playing. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing wrong with it but it's a pretty big time skip. a lot of big important things must have happened. Sure, I don't need to know every single detail of theirlive but a little detail wouldnt have hurt anyone.I love Suzanne Collins and her writing. But basically what I'm trying to say, that the epilogue was a big let down the book.

I don't know who does and doesn't agree with me. but this ismy opinion on the book. Feel free to comment on whatever you agree on or disagree on

[Iris]

Well damn Dan, that's the best explanation of disappointment I've ever heard. And I must say that you make a very compelling argument. I agree. It makes so much sense.

[Nikki]

I disagree that the ending was bad. I liked the ending. Although I agree with the Epilogue comments. That was way to short and empty devoid of the passion and feeling that was throughout the entire novel. Just like... Oh we have kids and we are still scarred from the events prior. But nothing else.


However, I overall like the ending. I don't feel like Katniss had much control over anything EXCEPT how she reacted to things or situations. She gained control when she rebelled against authority. They could barely control her. She shot at hovercrafts in 8 when she was supposed to duck and cover. She ditched her schedule and training whenever possible. She gave a list of demands when she became the Mockingjay forcing the President to keep her word in front of district 13. She ignored Haymitch in district 2 and made a speech for peace. She made the command take her to district 12 right after it was destroyed even though that could have compromised their position. In the end, she chose to go into the capital after snow and to assassinate coin.

The deaths were sad but did not take away from anything instead making the story more profound.

[Jessica]

I felt that the ending was very abrupt. She could've spent a little more time in the ending and the epilogue. But really, there have been very few instances where I'm actually satisfied with an ending, so this book isn't the first and most certainly won't be the last.

[Shima]

honestly i think things happening TO katniss is exactly what made the books so especial! katniss is just a teenager and she is faced with rebells and master minds and fully grown men leading countries, things are not supposed to happen because of her! the whole idea is that it could have happen to anybody. it was stated a thousand times that katniss herself wasn't important she was just a symbol. she was just a girl but destiny made it so it was her small decisions that had a huge impact.
i hated the ending myself but that doesn't mean it wasn't good, it was actually the only possible ending. it was just so damn depressing, gale gone forever and prim dead despite everything and katniss turning into a well housewife. the hopelessness of it all was the problem not that it was a bad ending.

[Lovetoread47]

I enjoyed the books. I was sorry to see it end. I was sad about Finnick, Prim, Boggs and other characters in Katniss' Posse die I wish Finnick would have lived. He & Annie had just gotten married; then to read that he had a child, it broke my heart. Prim's death although unfortunate & sad, was the necessary antagonist to set the wheels in motion for Katniss to grieve, grow and realize. She needed to grieve for everyone that had died, she needed to grow from being a big sister and reluctant daughter to just being Katniss and taking care of herself. Furthermore, with the death of Prim, came the realization who the true enemy was and the pawn that she was in a controlling, manipulative deadly game. I would have liked to read about the future of Gale, Katniss' mom, Haymitch, Annie & Finnick's child, Johanna, and Enobaria. If they all found happines, success and love. Other than that, I was not surprised that Katniss and Peeta ended up together. I was happy that she and Peeta had children. Because she never wanted to have children. It was a great series.

[Kristine]

On what do you base your argument that a good story must be about what the protagonist causes to happen rather than what happens to them outside of their control?

It would be very limiting. The Hunger Games was all about something the protagonist had happen to her rather than something she made happen. As Plutarch in the CF movie says 'moves and counter moves'. It's how you react to what life gives you.

[Manualban]

I did NOT like the ending I almost cried! Everything happened too quickly starting in chapter 25, I think that katniss should ended up with gale and living somewhere else, 12 is basically a graveyard! I can't imagine my children playing in the ahes of people I knew!
And prim... Her death was stupid, I didn't like that! Or finnick, that was too sad as we'll!

[Marcy]

Shima wrote: "honestly i think things happening TO katniss is exactly what made the books so especial! katniss is just a teenager and she is faced with rebells and master minds and fully grown men leading countr..."

I agree with this sentiment. Most books seem to be about the people who are in a position to make things happen, or at least in the given situation, but it's interesting to read something where our main character is someone who isn't in that kind of position. It makes it more relatable. :)

While "Mockingjay" was my least favorite of the trio, I didn't have any issue with the ending :)

[Manualban]

I like most of the book, like I didn't have a problem with it but when the end comes... It's just fast, plane and not finished!

[Manualban]

Maddie wrote: "Dan wrote: "Good stories don't happen to people. They happen because of people. But Katniss' story happens to her.

In Hunger Games, we see her change and adapt, but most of that adaptation is forc..."

I tottaly agree! At the end is like she is only the face of the rebellion and not the spirit... I felt frustrated with all that.
But, the only time she made dessitions almost all of her group died and she chooses Peeta over Gale (but that is just a dessitions I I think she did wrong)

[Leah]

I Just finished Mockingjay today. I have to admit the book was great, but there are some parts that left me upset, wanting more, or needing answers. I do not know about anyone else…but I really do want to know if Coin dropped the exploding parachutes that killed Prim or it was Snow and he was just lying.
I do also come to the end feeling unpleased with how Katniss's life is just "blah." I expected it maybe to end a little better than that considering she was the face of the rebellion. One last thing I found myself wanting to know at the end was…What exactly is Gale doing in D2? Who is he With? Has he come to terms that Katniss has chosen Peeta? I feel like nothing came to a true conclusion for me, and left me mildly sad.

[Jan]

From the moment Prim died, I thought that what I was reading wasn't real. Everything seemed to be happening in a haze. And then it turned out that it WAS real. And that this was what war, and being a focal point for revolution, had done to our beloved Katniss.

Real or not real?

It was all to real... There was no storybook ending... Someone had to sacrefice everything. The fact that Peeta and Katniss came together made it bearable. I think the author did a fabulous job of conveying all those feelings and trauma's to the reader, who fellt as hopeless as Katniss.

The ending was horrible, but completely fabulous because of it. The series could not have had a more fitting ending, and in the end Peeta and Katniss survived, which was always the best they could hope for, and these two broken people finally realised that they BOTH needed each other.

Great, great, GREAT ending to a brilliant series.

[Kristine]

Renee wrote: "I didn't like the ending, because Katniss had already been through so much going to the arena twice, losing Finnick and in the end her sister dies and she has to leave her mom and go back to the ru..."

It seems to be a fault in the book that so many people miss the reason why Katniss votes yes.

It was to do with keeping Coin's trust. Boggs told Katniss that unless Coin believed she had Katniss's full support she'd see her as a threat.

If she had voted 'no' it's unlikely Coin would have trusted her to be armed in her presence for the execution of Snow. However, Katniss kills Coin instead and there's no more Hunger Games.

[Kristine]

Renee wrote: "I didn't like the ending, because Katniss had already been through so much going to the arena twice, losing Finnick and in the end her sister dies and she has to leave her mom and go back to the ru..."

It seems to be a fault in the book that so many people miss the reason why Katniss votes yes.

It was to do with keeping Coin's trust. Boggs told Katniss that unless Coin believed she had Katniss's full support she'd see her as a threat.

If she had voted 'no' it's unlikely Coin would have trusted her to be armed in her presence for the execution of Snow. However, Katniss kills Coin instead and there's no more Hunger Games.

[Jan]

Sandra wrote: "Dan wrote: "Good stories don't happen to people. They happen because of people. But Katniss' story happens to her.

In Hunger Games, we see her change and adapt, but most of that adaptation is forc..."

Because you want to know how things turm out, and want to read something that is not storybook, but rather, within the context of the fictional setting, realistic? Really, I GET why people found Katniss' trauma's hard to read. It's not easy watching somebody you love suffer, and even though it's fiction you still feel for her.

I think that's the power of this book, the fact that you really don't want to read it because of how bad it gets. War destroys people, even the ones that survive, and there is no reset-button and no HEA guaranteed.

[Kristine]

I have to disagree with Dan's assessment.

First of all, that most people dislike the ending. With an overall rating of 4.3 stars, it seems that most people do like the ending.

Katniss is a pawn and she knows it but she continually strives to do things on her own terms. She's no puppet.

Let me make a list.
Illegal hunting
Volunteering for the Games.
Shooting an arrow near the Gamemakers
Defying Haymitch and grabbing a backpack instead of immediately fleeing from the Cornucopia.
The flowers surrounding Rue
Putting Cato out of his misery instead of letting the mutts finish him off
The berries
Interfering when Gale is whipped.
Hanging an effigy of Seneca Crane
Wanting to be a martyr for the rebellion by dying in the QQ.
Shooting an arrow through the force field
Refusing to be MJ without conditions attached
Ignoring Haymitch and fighting in District 8
Not attending meetings etc in District 13
Making a break for the Capitol
Killing Coin instead of Snow

We are all victims of circumstance. No one has full agency over their life. I don't know what's expected of a 17-year-old with no political power of her own. She survives two Hunger Games. She's the face of the rebellion. She inspires the Districts to defy the Capitol. She successfully infiltrates enemy territory. She assassinates a head of state. Stops the Hunger Games and saves Panem from another tyrant. Wow. I'd like to see you do that.

[Vrishika]

but the ending just leaves you wanting more !!!!!!!
so either suzane should write another book (which is not possible) or should have given a complete satisfying ending soooooo ? and when you rate a book the rating is not entirely based on how the book ends but on the whole book(its writing and whether it was enjoyed while reading or not!)

[Kristine]

According to the Amazon breakdown on ratings for MJ (there isn't one for Goodreads but it has a slightly higher overall rating) the majority give it five stars. And you give five stars if you are completely satisfied with it. Otherwise it's four stars, or three.

So all this 'why does everyone hate the ending' or 'but almost everybody agrees', is plain false. Although it can seem that way because people are often more vocal with their complaints that their praise.

A fourth book wouldn't fit the overall arc of the trilogy which is about the Hunger Games. Once they were over, that's the end of the story. It was also the end of Katniss's and Peeta's adventures and they settle into a quiet life. Hardly exciting for those who read the trilogy as a dystopian/sc-fi/adventure. The romance was really a subplot.

Peeta and Katniss's growing together would follow the same trajectory as their relationship in the Games and the Victory tour. It would take time for Katniss to pull herself out of her depression and Peeta to either recover his memories or make new ones with Katniss.

You might like this: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6554253/...

It's fan fiction but very well done. I think it's quite a plausible imagining of how it might have happened - complete with continued media interest in the Mockingjay and the star-crossed lovers.

[Pardina]

I didn't quite get why people disliked the ending, so thank you for explaining it so well!
I found it an alright ending, not exactly satisfying but good enough to not disappoint me. Considering that Katniss is a teenage girl who is at the start of the book, living in a regime that had started about 100 years ago, I'm not quite sure what people expect of Katniss when they say that the story happens to her. As if she'd realistically be able to overthrow a system she was born into using a bow and arrow and knowledge of coal.

[Emy]

I agree that she rushed the end and i think that was sooo frustrating. That i didnt Like it, but i think it was the right ending. Katniss kills coin because she knew that coin will became another Snow, coin have the exactly same ideas as snow and katniss knew that for all that snow said. Even she realize it before when coin sends peeta it was to kill katniss Even boggs told her to not trust so really katniss save panem of a dark or darker future with Coin as president so nobody knew or understant that but katniss did it. Coin was cruel and bad she didnt care to kill everyone, rebels children good or bad, when she sends the bombs she wants another hunger games so the future of pamen was going to be the same with coin and Only katniss understood that. Katniss is Broken beyond repair so going to live an 12 was the best for her but everybody abandoning her? That was cruel. Katniss was never want to fight again her Mother for me is a complete ugly human and gale only care about fight since the begining when katniss ask him to leave. Peeta's love for her is inmense so he went with her as soon as he could so for me was a very good ending but i truly expectect to read more details ...the author just cut Everything in a blink. And the president they choose was the best they can have and all these happens because of katniss

[Emy]

Ema I agree that she rushed the end and i think that was sooo frustrating. That i didnt Like it, but i think it was the right ending. Katniss kills coin because she knew that coin will became another Snow, coin have the exactly same ideas as snow and katniss knew that for all that snow said. Even she realize it before when coin sends peeta it was to kill katniss Even boggs told her to not trust so really katniss save panem of a dark or darker future with Coin as president so nobody knew or understant that but katniss did it. Coin was cruel and bad she didnt care to kill everyone, rebels children good or bad, when she sends the bombs she wants another hunger games so the future of pamen was going to be the same with coin and Only katniss understood that. Katniss is Broken beyond repair so going to live an 12 was the best for her but everybody abandoning her? That was cruel. Katniss was never want to fight again her Mother for me is a complete ugly human and gale only care about fight since the begining when katniss ask him to leave. Peeta's love for her is inmense so he went with her as soon as he could so for me was a very good ending but i truly expectect to read more details ...the author just cut Everything in a blink. And the president they choose was the best they can have and all these happens because of katniss

[Brianna]

Hailey wrote: "One of the things I didn't like was the end of the book. Katniss does all these big things and then you go to an epilogue that is barely a full page of anything. It's kinda dissappointing to follo..."
I feel the same way. Suzanne could have added more to the epilogue. It was so disappointing because it lacked so much detail. The rest of the book was good though.