The sad truth of Gale killing Primrose. Intentionally or a horrible mistake.

[Robert]

But there's plenty he can be blamed directly for. We condemn this kind of terrorist bombing, but we make an exception when Gale does it, just because we like him?

[esthermarie]

I think people make more of an exception with Gale is because we just don't the circumstances surrounding everything. No one is ever sure of who ordered the bomb drop. I personally think it was Coin. Gale designed the bomb that killed PRim, so in that way, yes, he is responsible; many lives were lost, but there was no conceivable way he could have ordered the bombs to be dropped. First he had no authority to do so, and second, he was busy running around trying not to get himself or Katniss killed. Also, I'm not so sure he would've, even if he was in the position to do so. Maybe its just me wanting to think he's above wanting to kill children though. The thing is, anyone can/or want to create a weapon of destruction, but the point is if they use or not, even if they have the capability. I think Arina said it well. This seems to be more or less why people are more forgiving where Gale is involved, myself included.

[Robert]

People are being forgiving because they like Gale. There is plenty of responsibility to go around. Yes, Coin approved of the bombs, and gave the order to drop them, and likely sent Prim there to be killed by the bombs. But the bombs were Gale's idea. The bombs were used as designed - go back and reread what he says when he proposes this terrorist tactic. Gale didn't mean for Prim to be killed by his bombs. But those other children killed by his bombs weren't any more guilty of anything than Prim was. They didn't send people to the games.

Even putting aside targeting children, the basic technique of bombing civilians and then rebombing to kill medics is a war crime, regardless of who does it.

[Claire]

I think it's unfair that Gale is the only one singled out in the book for killing children. I mean didn't Katniss vote to send the Capitol children into another Hunger Games. You could argue that she therefore indirectly caused the deaths of more children because she agreed to it. And for the sake of Prim of all people! Pretty sure Prim wouldn't have wanted that. I think the whole story line was harsh on Gale really, and a way to get him out of the picture romantically.

[Amy]

Trina wrote: "I just finished re-reading this book last week. Gale helped create the way the bombs were used. Through the book he is talking with Beetee about thinking like your prey. The tactic used at the end ..."

This is how I read it too.

[Brittany]

So not intentional...

[Zabada]

Amy wrote: "Trina wrote: "I just finished re-reading this book last week. Gale helped create the way the bombs were used. Through the book he is talking with Beetee about thinking like your prey. The tactic us..."

Agree completely

[Brittany]

Claire wrote: "I think it's unfair that Gale is the only one singled out in the book for killing children. I mean didn't Katniss vote to send the Capitol children into another Hunger Games. You could argue that s..."

Yezah it did seem a little messy...like she was struggling to get him out as a love interest

[Zabada]

Brittany wrote: "So not intentional..."

Nope not intentional

[[deleted user]]

Robert wrote: "People are being forgiving because they like Gale. There is plenty of responsibility to go around. Yes, Coin approved of the bombs, and gave the order to drop them, and likely sent Prim there to be..."

and what if I'm neutral between Gale and Peeta? what if i'm not 'forgiving' gale because i like him, but because i understand that the book was intended to show human nature at its worse, and that during wars ppl make mistakes?


besides, even if gale hadn't came up with that idea of the bomb, what would have stopped coin from sending prim out there to die? or finding some other way to kill prim?

[Courtney]

Gale's story unfolds in the background of the novel and in many ways he was psychologically tortured more than the main character. He was forced to watch his love fight to the death, kill other children and gradually team up with another man/boy who and openly professed his love for her and certainly couldn't be trusted not to make a play for her while dying in her arms.

There was so little this frustrated young man, Gale, could do to free himself from that torment, except use the skills and knowledge he had to hit at the target he hated the most, the Capitol. His frustration turned into a cold blooded hatred that Katniss couldn't' relate to as she'd had to defend herself in hot blood so often she seemed to forget that others were being affected, on their own and by what was happening to her.

I do not believe Gale was involved in the decision regarding who the bomb was to be used upon, and although he felt guilt that a weapon he created was used against his own people, it was Katniss' own worry that turned him away. They were parting ways already. She couldn't understand his determination to obliterate the Capitol, and he couldn't understand how she could think hiding away and ignoring it would work.

They were not destined to be together and were pushed further apart by a horrible twist set in motion by a power hungry Coin.

[M.]

Gale thought of a strategy to be used against the Capitol, I'm not even sure that he helped make the bomb (I don't think he did). Regardless, how is it his fault that the rebels used the bombs against their own people? I guess we can only fault him for being naive, but then we have to blame everyone else as well, including Katniss.
It's understandable that Katniss would always partially blame Gale for Prim's death because the rebels used his strategy but to say that Gale killed Prim is really going too far. Let's place the blame where it belongs. Katniss didn't end up with Gale anyways, so why the hate?

[Zabada]

Michelle wrote: "Gale thought of a strategy to be used against the Capitol, I'm not even sure that he helped make the bomb (I don't think he did). Regardless, how is it his fault that the rebels used the bombs agai..."

Good question. It is written that they are both satisfied with their lives in the end to my way of seeing it.

[Robert]

Claire wrote: "I think it's unfair that Gale is the only one singled out in the book for killing children. I mean didn't Katniss vote to send the Capitol children into another Hunger Games. You could argue that s..."

He's not. Snow and Coin get the lions share of the blame. Katniss only voted yes, because she knew that if she voted no, Coin would have found some excuse to lock her up. Because of Katniss, there was no new Hunger Games.

[Robert]

Michelle wrote: "Regardless, how is it his fault that the rebels used the bombs against their own people?"

That it was used against his own people isn't the important part. What he is being held accountable for is a war crime.

[Crystal]

if you create something to hurt others and it probably going to be used against you. He had to take responsiblity, plus he seemed heartless when he wanted to trap people in the mountain. He wasn't the boy she thought he was...

[Zabada]

rawr? wrote: "Robert wrote: "People are being forgiving because they like Gale. There is plenty of responsibility to go around. Yes, Coin approved of the bombs, and gave the order to drop them, and likely sent P..."

exactly, Coin was out to put chinks in Katniss' as the Mockingjay anyway she could for Katniss defying her autority if not out right by her actions/reactions alone. I believe Coin would have found someway to hurt Katniss by killing or having Prim killed.

[Zaria]

Robert wrote: "This is not a plane crash. This bomb functioned exactly as designed. The most you could do is to say maybe he didn't expect it to be used on civilians, and not against children. I don't know if he ..."
I disagree. To me Gale cared. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have talked to Katniss about it. And if he did know about the bomb and what it would be used fore, he was a GREAT actor. Did we forget that Gale was with Katniss and Peeta and two other people who I can't remember the names of. After every thing that happened during the war, I highly doubt that he knew how his bomb was going to be used. But if he really did want to be Katniss's friend (at least) he would have gone back to district 12 with her and Peeta. He would have been there to support her regardless if she chose Peeta or not. he wouldn't have ran off to district 2 like a coward...

[Rashika (is tired)]

Zabada wrote: "rawr? wrote: "Robert wrote: "People are being forgiving because they like Gale. There is plenty of responsibility to go around. Yes, Coin approved of the bombs, and gave the order to drop them, and..."

Exactly.. :/ Coin wanted revenge and she used prim for that..

[Rashika (is tired)]

Zaria wrote: "Robert wrote: "This is not a plane crash. This bomb functioned exactly as designed. The most you could do is to say maybe he didn't expect it to be used on civilians, and not against children. I do..."

i dont think gale ran off to district two like a coward.. he ran away because he knew katniss would never feel the same about him again after what happened to her sister and he couldnt stand the thought of being hated by Katniss. Plus it would be really awkward for both of them.

[Robert]

I don't think he ran away either. He just needed a clean break, to start over. I was watching a documentary about Japanese soldiers who committed war crimes in WWII. You might think they were just inherently monsters. But they weren't. They weren't monsters before the war, and afterwards, they tended to be very peaceful people, haunted by what they had done. Gale's bombs were a war crime. He's accountable for his actions, but I don't think he was a monster. Coin and Snow, they are monsters. Coin should have said no. Coin created an environment where the worst in everyone was encouraged. There was no need even to invade the Capitol. They could have layed seige to it. Coin used the opportunity to eliminate potential rivals.

[Daniel]

Jose wrote: "Gale is gulity of murder. I dont care if he orders to bomb the place he still killed Prim. I was shocked and had tears in my eyes shame on you Gale shame"

I really think you guys need to read the book again. Gale did not kill Prim. He only helped design the bombs. He probably didn't even know it was going to be used on children. Coin did that to break Katniss and show her who had the power. Coin knew Katniss had enough respect and power behind her to be made the one in charge after the rebellion.

[Jo]

Margarita wrote: "He killed Primrose. That is all there is to it. He might have had gotten orders to do it, but if he truly loved Katniss the way he said he did, he wouldn't have done it. In the end of the book, to ..."

Page 137: "Taking the fundamental ideas behind Gale's traps and adapting them into weapons against humans. Bombs mostly ... Endangering offspring in order to draw in the actual desired target, the parent. ... At some point Gale and Beetee left the wilderness and focused on more human impulses. Like compassion. A bomb explodes. Time is allowed for people to rush to the aid of the wounded. then a second more powerful bomb kills them as well."

It was an invention created from Gale's traps he used for hunting that him and Beetee implemented on humans for war.

Page 288: "...it was a masterful move on Coin's part. The idea that i was bombing our own helpless children instantly snapped whatever frail allegiance my people still felt to me. There was no real resistance after that. Did you know it aired live? You can see Plutarch's hand there. And in the parachutes. ... 'Im sure he wasn't gunning for you sister, but these things happen'"

It was Plutarch who set the bombs off, not Gale. His plan though as the first section of story says -- endangering the offspring to get the main target, the adults. Which they do accomplish. His plan but he was not the one who actually set the bombs.

[Chelsea]

I guess you could say that Gale killed Prim indirectly... - horrible mistake.

It was Coin and her crazy ambitions. She had the power to do so.

Gale was likeable in the first book but the war obivously changed him, maybe for the worst? Gale can be a horrible person but would he really kill Prim on purpose?... I think not.

[Zabada]

Daniel wrote: "Jose wrote: "Gale is gulity of murder. I dont care if he orders to bomb the place he still killed Prim. I was shocked and had tears in my eyes shame on you Gale shame"

I really think you guys need..."
I agree Coin was jealous of Katness' popularity with the people. Capital and those of the rebellion as well Katness had the people (as in capturing an audiance) Coin was trying to prove she was in charge.

[Zabada]

Chelsea wrote: "I guess you could say that Gale killed Prim indirectly... - horrible mistake.

It was Coin and her crazy ambitions. She had the power to do so.

Gale was likeable in the first book but the war obi..."

I agree it seemed war and the idea of war was changing Gale from the time in the wood with Katniss talking of rebelious things to him saving the people of District 12 to the mountain in District 2 to helping Beetee design the bombs and interst in weapontry. That interest was there from the beginning. The power, the training it was all reshaping him and how he viewed life. He did not kill Prim and the children. That was Coin all the way using the bombs designed by Beetee and Gale. They all changed from what they had been through.

[Janese]

I don't want to offend anyone, but I think it's really naive to blame Gale for Prim's death. Gale & Beetee's only aim was to free the district citizens from the sadistic governing of the Capitol. They didn't start the war, but once in the midst, they did what they could to help their people. You cannot discount the ambitions & motivations of people like Snow and even Coin. They will stop at nothing to acheive power. Coin wanted Katniss out of her way, and wanted to be the new President of all of Pan Em. She would've used any means to accomplish that. If not the bomb, it would've been something else, regardless of who would have been killed. In fact, if Coin couldn't kill Katniss directly, getting Prim killed would be the next best thing because it broke Katniss. Nothing Gale thought up or didn't think up could have stopped Coin.

[Zabada]

Janese wrote: "I don't want to offend anyone, but I think it's really naive to blame Gale for Prim's death. Gale & Beetee's only aim was to free the district citizens from the sadistic governing of the Capitol. T..."

Agree completely. Worded very well.

[Zabada]

EveMargot wrote: "it was not Gale's fault that prim died if he had known that the bomb could possibly hurt prim he would have never invented it"

I don't know about not inventing, he would have done
everything possible to save Prim for Katniss.

[Hannah]

Gale didn't. Kill her. He created the bombs but he didn't no how they would be used. He wouldn't ever do anything 2 hurt katniss or prim. He might not have been in the plane when the parachutes feed . He might of indirectally killed primrose

[Idalis]

I dont think Gale ment to kill Primrose intentionally but when he found out it happened he feld like a coward and left Katniss all alone which was good because in the end she ended up with her true love, Peeta.

[ℂᖺαᖇᒪἷ℮ ⊰1017 &Tardis⊱]

Gale in no way killed Prim!
Okay. A, Coin put Prim in there, she dropped the bomb. Prim wasn't supposed to leave 13. Coin stole the Capitol hovercraft, COIN PRESSED THE BUTTON. You've heard all the comparisons, but here I go again: Someone invents a machine gun. Something that couldn't be used for anything besides killing people. Someone shoots someone with that gun. Who's fault is it? Also, Beetee was a big part in making the bomb, no one hates him! It was 95% Coin's fault, 4% Beetee's fault (he had a bigger part in making the bomb then Gale) and about 1% UNINTENTIONALLY Gale. Why he made the bomb at all: Do you really honestly think that the rebel army is going to defeat a huge army of peacekeepers who aren't afraid to kill, if the rebels don't kill? Because that is completely untrue. Someone would have to be brave enough to be the one to kill people (TODAY: soldiers that come back from Iraq, they killed people, to keep America free. We give them support, not hatred ((or at least we should))) Gale thought his bomb would destroy the Capitol. And if it had, we all be loving him, but since Coin didn't use it like that, now everyone hates him.

[[deleted user]]

I honestly don't think Gale killed Prim purposely, it was a horrible mistake. I have always been a Gale fan and Prim wasn't meant to be there. He went to District 2 so Katniss wasn't reminded of Prims death. Thats how much he loves her, i always liked them as a couple!

[Rashika (is tired)]

Janese wrote: "I don't want to offend anyone, but I think it's really naive to blame Gale for Prim's death. Gale & Beetee's only aim was to free the district citizens from the sadistic governing of the Capitol. T..."
i agree.. :) and yeah nicely worded (like zabada said)

[Rashika (is tired)]

Lauren wrote: "I honestly don't think Gale killed Prim purposely, it was a horrible mistake. I have always been a Gale fan and Prim wasn't meant to be there. He went to District 2 so Katniss wasn't reminded of Pr..."
IKR?? and then you have ppl who say that gale was a coward so he fled to district 2.

[Robert]

ℂᖺᗩᖇᒪἷᙓ ❀Gale❀ wrote: (TODAY: soldiers that come back from Iraq, they killed people, to keep America free. We give them support, not hatred ((or at least we should)"

Gale's bomb was not in any way analogous to US soldiers in Iraq. It is, hovewever, very much like Al Qaeda bombings. One of their favorite terrorist techniques is to detonate a bomb, and then when people rush in to provide aid, a second bomb is detonated. Gale's bomb was ripped right out of Al Qaeda's playbook.

[Melissa]

If I remember right, when Gale and Beetee were discussing the strategy that effectively killed Prim, Katniss was horrified that Gale was thinking that way - that killing people like that could be for the greater good.

I feel that Katniss, knowing that 13 (Coin) killed her own people to further her interest and a swift end to the war and her eventual takeover, and that it was an idea that Gale came up with was too much for Katniss to bear.

[Emily]

I guess the best way to put it is this: while he was not DIRECTLY responsible for Prim's death, he was INDIRECTLY responsible, since he set in motion the events that lead to her death. The amount of blame/guilt that is attributed to that is a matter of opinion. If I were Katniss, I think I'd blame him quite a bit. Emotions are not rational, after all, especially when it comes to protecting (or failing to protect) those we love.

[Marti]

there should even be a dissucion Gale created the bombs yes.but Coin created the plan to set them off in that area where she knew the medics woule be. so Katniss got her revenge with that arrow

[Daniel]

Emily wrote: "I guess the best way to put it is this: while he was not DIRECTLY responsible for Prim's death, he was INDIRECTLY responsible, since he set in motion the events that lead to her death. The amount o..."

He did not set in motion the events that lead to her death. That would be like placing blame on the makers of guns for all the deaths the guns bring. It's just ridiculous. He was just a soldier in a war.

[Marti]

Daniel wrote: "Emily wrote: "I guess the best way to put it is this: while he was not DIRECTLY responsible for Prim's death, he was INDIRECTLY responsible, since he set in motion the events that lead to her death..."

thank you! Gale didnt do any thing.

[Janese]

ℂᖺᗩᖇᒪἷᙓ ❀Gale❀ wrote: "Gale in no way killed Prim!
Okay. A, Coin put Prim in there, she dropped the bomb. Prim wasn't supposed to leave 13. Coin stole the Capitol hovercraft, COIN PRESSED THE BUTTON. You've heard all the..."

EXACTLY!

[Janese]

Emily wrote: "I guess the best way to put it is this: while he was not DIRECTLY responsible for Prim's death, he was INDIRECTLY responsible, since he set in motion the events that lead to her death. The amount o..."

I beg to differ. Gale did not set in motion the events that lead to Prim's death. Those events were actually set in motion by Katniss herself by defying the Capitol, becoming the Mockingjay, and "leading" the revolution. And even furthermore because of course if Katniss was involved, her little sister would want to be involved as well.

What Gale did was come up with an idea, that is all. The idea was made real by others and used for destruction by others. As I have said before, if it weren't that particular bomb, there would have been something else. Coin was determined to frame Snow and destroy Katniss. The fact that Gale's idea was used is really happenstance.

I agree that emotions are irrational, and i can understand Katniss not being able to look at him the same. I wanted her with Peeta, anyway. What I don't understand is how readers can truly believe Gale responsible for something completely outside of his actions and/or control.

[Emily]

Janese wrote: "Emily wrote: "I guess the best way to put it is this: while he was not DIRECTLY responsible for Prim's death, he was INDIRECTLY responsible, since he set in motion the events that lead to her death..."

You do have a point. We can really look at the beginning of the book series as the beginning of the events that caused Prim's death. I think it's a tricky thing to pinpoint, because you can go back as far as you want, but the major events were set in motion by Katniss.
I don't blame Gale, though, and wouldn't even if he had been even more responsible. He knew that they were at war, and that he had to do what he could to further the cause. I wonder if he would have done everything the same, had he the ability to do it all over again? I bet so. I wonder if Katniss would do it all the same? In other words, was it worth it to lose Prim in order to defeat the corrupt government(s) and end the Hunger Games?

[Robert]

Daniel wrote: "He did not set in motion the events that lead to her death. That would be like placing blame on the makers of guns for all the deaths the guns bring. It's just ridiculous. He was just a soldier in a war."

Yes, he did. The analogy between Gale's bomb and the gun doesn't work. Using a gun to shoot people in war is not a war crime. Using Gale's bomb was a war crime. Since it could only be used for a war crime, designing and making it is also a war crime.

[Estefania]

I felt so sad when I finished the book. The problem for me is that Gale came up with such a devastating idea. I know there was a war out there, but for me dropping bombs and then doing it again to kill all the posible survivors is just horrible. I don't think Gale actually wanted to kill Prim, but I think he sees her death as a colateral damage.I think Gale changed a lot in a negative way. Otherwise he would've stayed with Katniss no matter what. In my opinion choosing his military work over the girl he was supossed to love shows that his love wasn't that deep after all or that his priorities changed.

[[deleted user]]

Estefania wrote: "I felt so sad when I finished the book. The problem for me is that Gale came up with such a devastating idea. I know there was a war out there, but for me dropping bombs and then doing it again to ..."

yeah, well when it's war and ppl are dying, priorities tend to change, and then its no longer about one person, its about everyone. yes, gale created the idea of trapping those ppl in the mountain and was all 'hyped' to kill everyone in there; and he also created the idea for the bombs that killed prim. but think about the mental state he was. he had seen katniss in the hunger games, watched her with someone else, was whipped in front of everyone,his family was suffering, and he saw his district bombed, with the majority of ppl dying. he would have felt angry, helpless and basically worthless. And considering katniss was pretty much only concerned with peeta during the first half of mockingjay; he was also alienated from her. he did what he felt was neccessary because he wanted to fight for something better, not just for him, but for his family, and like it or not, katniss and prim as well.

[ℂᖺαᖇᒪἷ℮ ⊰1017 &Tardis⊱]

Robert wrote: "ℂᖺᗩᖇᒪἷᙓ ❀Gale❀ wrote: (TODAY: soldiers that come back from Iraq, they killed people, to keep America free. We give them support, not hatred ((or at least we should)"

Gale's bomb was not in any way..."

Is it not? Al Queda's bombs, as far as I know are meant to kill citizens. The bomb Gale had a part in was meant to kill the Capitol. Aren't US solders meant to take down corrupt governments in Iraq? Is the bomb in Mockingjay more about the strategy or about the intention? It could've used any evil strategy to kill people--which is terrible yes. But again my point about the soldiers was that say what you will-soldiers form the US kill people. Fact of life. But they are not considered bad people because they kill evil people, no?--Gale's intention was to kill evil people. Coin's intention was to kill civilians.
If the US had created that double exploding bomb and dropped on the HQ of the corrupt leaders, they would be heroes. That's Gale. Coin is the one that is Al Queda dropping it on innocent civilians.

[ℂᖺαᖇᒪἷ℮ ⊰1017 &Tardis⊱]

Janese wrote: "ℂᖺᗩᖇᒪἷᙓ ❀Gale❀ wrote: "Gale in no way killed Prim!
Okay. A, Coin put Prim in there, she dropped the bomb. Prim wasn't supposed to leave 13. Coin stole the Capitol hovercraft, COIN PRESSED THE BUTTO..."

THANK YOU!

[Jennifer]

i have to kind of disagree. I feel Gale was more responsible for Prim's death then anything. Gale had a pretty high rank in 13's military. It was his idea and strategy to have the bombs go off in front of the capitol and have the second bombs go off and make it look like it was the capitol killing their own children, when in fact it was 13. And since he had such high rank, i believe he knew who was being sent out at the time. he knew prim wanted to help the people and knew she had the gift of healing and he knew coins plans to take over the capitol and become president. i think he also knew that coin was just using the mockingjay as a ploy and that as soon as the war was over she would be killed too. i felt like gale was responsible and if he loved Katniss then, he could have at least advised Prim to stay home. but then again he gave me the creeps from the first book and yet "alls fair in love and war".