Dead And Alive For The Mockingjay

by Nash Albacea

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

It figuratively killed me a million times, then gradually resurrected me in such an overwhelmingly hopeful way that I’ve never expected. What an absolute manipulative game of life; and the deaths were just a few commotions to prove that it’s bounded by reality.

Quote from Katniss Everdeen | Mockingjay © Suzanne Collins | Photo credit: weheartit.com | Edited by yours truly

“Dead, but not allowed to die. Alive, but as good as dead.” This is the quote that encapsulates what I felt while reading 98% of Mockingjay, the third book in the Hunger Games trilogy written by Suzanne Collins. The other 2% was literally a heart-stopping felicitous event, and Ms. Collins has all of my pennies for that. Honestly, reading Mockingjay (or should I say, the trilogy) was quite an experience for me. It was utterly heart-shattering that I almost halted turning the pages because of the pain and misery; but I got so addicted to it as if I can’t last a night without reading a word or two despite my very bed-longing self.

Speaking of my addiction, I came up with a list of things that left me dead and alive because of Mockingjay. As you read through the post, you’ll find photos that I edited to stand for the quotes. I don’t own the original photographs, and I know that they are not the exact visualization as described from the book, but I can only work with what I have. this is also a mix of character reviews and open letters to some characters, so there’d be a shift from third person to second person (yeah, I know my writing sucks). Won’t make this prologue go longer, so let’s jump to my Mockingjay bucket list:

1. The First Person Perspective Effect
There is always a limitation to any perspective. When the book’s written in third person omniscient, the good thing is you know everything that is happening in different places at one time; the bad thing is, you don’t have an in-depth knowledge about one character’s retrospection and introspection. When the book’s written in first person perspective, you know too much about one character: how he/she thinks, how he/she reacts, what he/she remembers, what he/she associates, how he/she perceives another person. I believe that this kind of perspective is a technique to allure the readers to the lead character. As for Hunger Games, I did not feel the effect of the first person perspective until I’ve reached Mockingjay. I got too absorbed, involved, and attached. I can predict how Katniss will act and react to a stimulus. I feel the pain, I feel the indifference, I feel the misery, I feel the reluctance; and most of all, I feel the drive. It affected me too much that I am also trying to numb the tormenting fate that she went through whilst in District 13, away from Peeta. It was so limited, it was so myopic. But still, I got hooked and I fell in love with the technique. Effective, I must say.

2. Plutarch Heavensbee
Plutarch is sick. Figuratively sick. Though I pity him that while he is the Head Gamemaker, he is also being used by the authorities. He didn’t really have the power. What he had was just a reflection. In spite of his great piece of work in the 75th Hunger Games (read: the clock arena), he was just one piece in District 13′s games. Sorry for ya, Plutarch. Go play with your TV station.

3.  Mourning
I am mourning for the deaths of Cinna and Finnick, two of my most favourite characters. If I am too Belladramatic,  I would have begged for a break, for a mourning period. But no. This is the Games. Nobody mourns. Everybody moves on and goes for the next kill. Oh wow, guess I was also a piece in their Games? Anyhow, didn’t it cross your mind that how Collins designed the Hunger Games was also how she wrote the book? Narrowing down, that was how she developed Katniss? No pauses. If someone dies, we move on. She moves on. Yes, there were nightmares. But she keeps on walking, keeps on running, until she finds a dandelion.

4. President Snow (an open letter)
Pity. Sorry, Snow. You were not the real enemy. You were just a piece in someone’s plan. Someone who’s more powerful than you. I thought I was gonna label you as the ultimate antagonist, but I was wrong. Well, you were not totally bailed out of your sins. I just found you so vulnerable in the end. Regardless of what you’ve done to Panem, I am very thankful for your honesty. You were very helpful to my thinking, albeit that was your last attempt to manipulate Katniss. You may have succeeded, but hey, you’re dead now. No more victory party, eh? *insert evil grin*

5. President Coin (an open letter)
You were no Lord Voldemort, but, I must admit, you were so great. So great, you were the real Head Gamemaker in the Games (read: life). But that’s just me. Agreeable or not, you spun everything around you like they were all your puppets. The best part was, some need not be instructed! You would have lived had Katniss never found Snow and had the talk. But you got busted in the end. Too bad. Would have been a perfect villain story. Thank you for bringing us to our senses. My political views were affirmed because of your last decision: to bring back the Hunger Games. Coin, you are The Real Enemy.

6. Gale Hawthorne
Every action of Gale was justifiable. He did not change, as others would say. If you remember, Katniss always mentions that Gale used to say nasty things about the Capitol while they were hunting. In Gale’s defense, I bet he had pure intentions of defying and obliterating the Capitol when he joined the rebels and made those bombs with Beetee. The rebellion was Gale’s only chance to be proactive to what he believed in. He was so like Katniss. In fact, the thought that his fire might even be stronger than hers is highly possible. Gale was full of wrath and rage and passion to dethrone the Capitol. He had the chance, so he uninhibitedly grabbed it. I know I may sound so defensive of Gale, but I’m just trying to rationalize his characterization in the Mockingkay. We should’ve seen it coming as Collins left foreshadows in the previous books. As regards the ending of Gale-Katniss tandem/love team, I think it was well-justified by Collins in the last page. Of all the people whom Katniss loves the most, that would be her family, most especially her sister, Prim. Gale, being the steward of Katniss’ family since she entered the arena, could not bear the guilt of being the person behind the death of Prim. They are good combat partners, yes. But apparently, not in romance. Katniss and him… they collide. They explode. Always on fire, and no more tranquility–which Katniss needed the most after all that had transpired.

7. Primrose Everdeen (an open letter)
Sweet, sweet, Prim. I’m sorry that you have to die. You sparked the realizations of Katniss. You brought back her reason. You understood. But you had to die. You had to, for so many reasons. You had to, for balance’s sake. You had to, for the character development of the people you left. You had to, so the book will preserve its interpretive side. If you lived, then we might as well be watching Telenovelas where every good person lives and every bad person dies or goes to jail. But no. As I’ve said, this is the Hunger Games. Anybody can die, then we’re off to the next kill. *PS: Buttercup misses you so much.*

8. Haymitch Abernathy
All my respects are offered to Mr. Haymitch Abernathy despite his awfully drunken self. I wouldn’t say that he’s an archetypal old wise man, but he should get all the credit for protecting Katniss in all intents, purposes, and means. HE IS THE MAN. As he wasn’t able to get over the Games, his boundless mentoring over Katniss and Peeta was exceptional and stand-alone. He might not have the best of methods, but he always achieves his target ends. He might not have the best relationship with Katniss and Peeta, but he kept them alive to the very end. That I’m emphatically sure of. Without Haymitch, our beloved tributes would have died. He’s a master strategist amidst the sea of stinky nasty power-hungry manipulative authorities. He, himself, even had to manipulate the two just to keep them breathing. And I must say that he made it to the end with flying colors. Haymitch, you are The Real Ally.

9. Peeta Mellark (an open letter)
Peeta. I don’t even know how to start, where to start. Your absence in a number of chapters made me extra anxious. The first person perspective effect was at work. It influenced and devoured me altogether to the extent that I was drowned in misery everytime your name was not mentioned in a couple of pages. Now I guess I can never put into words how much anguish your absence in the first part of the book costed me.

The teddy bear inside me longs for Peeta | “Where are you now?” | Photo credit: weheartit.com | Photoshop action: www.rockienolan.com

“Where is Peeta?” a little voice inside me always says as I turn each page without seeing his character. Collins made me too attached to him since book one, Hunger Games. I ended Catching Fire hoping that Mockingjay will open its doors with Peeta resurfacing from his captivity. But he did not. Anyhow, I’ve got three major theories why Collins made the plot a little fluctuating on Peeta’s end:
1.  To live up to the interpretive dimension of the book – that not everything we need at the moment comes in whole package that makes life easier;
2.  For Katniss Everdeen’s character development – Peeta’s absence was the height of her misery, Peeta’s return with the hijack case was the height of her coerced somewhat-indifference and coerced patience. It was also one of the conflicts that our heroine had to supass; and
3. For Peeta’s character development – that no matter how much Tracker Jacker venom was injected into his system, he is and will always be Katniss’ Real Ally
*I’d actually like to think that one reason behind this plot is to allure the readers towards Peeta, though that’s a wishful and biased thought considering that not everyone, i.e. readers, chose Peeta.

More so, Peeta balances Katniss. Amidst the raging fire in Katniss’ character, Peeta was able to penetrate and instill his compassion in Katniss’ core. Thus, a full-fledged warrior with a heart–that’s Soldier Everdeen.

10. Katniss Everdeen
In my humble opinion, I think what supposed to be a metaphor for Katniss became as concrete as it ever was in book three. The Mockingjay turned into an overrated label for her. If my analysis is correct, the term Mockingjay was overused in this book and it would have been a good style if the said metaphor was preserved in its purest form. Nevertheless, I’m sure no one would contest if I say that our Katniss absolutely fulfilled the prophecy laid for the Mockingjay. She had awaken the districts into their senses, transformed the crowd, and killed the Enemy. I still stand firm that the book would’ve been more beautiful if the word Mockingjay was not tossed around like something you utter in a daily convo. Moving on, Katniss as the girl on fire was and is still the most perfected metaphor in the trilogy. The fire was her core character. Had it not been the case, we won’t be having a brilliant trilogy that is The Hunger Games. The fire had driven Katniss to levels that we did not expect (but soon predicted) and the fire led us to one of the greatest endings in YA history. We all have the fire to thank for that. To Katniss, you have a one helluva character! And no one, I repeat, no one has fearless passion, raging destruction, and unpredictable warmth all in one core but you.

11. The Archetypal Three
At the end of the day, them three were all that was left: Haymitch, Peeta, and Katniss. Solid! It has always been the case. And I loved it so much.

12. Dandelion

The Dandelion | Katniss Everdeen’s choice | Mockingjay © Suzanne Collins | Photo credit: weheartit.com | Edited by yours truly

“What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that.” -Katniss, Chapter 27, Mockingjay

Peeta and Katniss | Last scene | Mockingjay © Suzanne Collins | Photo credit: Nadia Esra | Photoshop action: www.rockienolan.com | Edited by yours truly

Peeta: “You love me. Real or not real?“
Katniss: “Real.“

BEST ENDING EVER!!! *standing ovation with tears*

Which team do I belong?
You were my life while I was reading the trilogy and I did not even recognize the feeling right away. I did not expect this. I did not see it coming, honestly. As I was even having second thoughts in book two. But then, Collins made me fall in love with you. She made me realize how important you are and how much you have dug into my heart already. Hence, I choose…

TEAM PEETA | Mockingjay © Suzanne Collins | Photo credit: weheartit.com | Edited by yours truly

Team Peeta! Hell yeah!!!

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To all the Hunger Games fans out there, let’s all have a book discussion! Which team do you belong to, and why? What are your thoughts about the plot of the book?

Keep those weapons on guard!