As a long-time admirer of Suzanne Collins’ masterpiece, I must say that the ending of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2″ left me utterly spellbound and thoughtful. The way Katniss takes down President Alma Coin is not only a testament to her unyielding courage but also a stark reminder of the harsh realities of power and tyranny.
As a die-hard fan of Suzanne Collins’ groundbreaking novels “The Hunger Games,” I can say that the series offers a complex portrayal of humanity through the eyes of its heroine, Katniss Everdeen. It’s never black and white for Katniss; everyone isn’t just good or evil. Her life has been marked by the horrific sight of children being forced to fight and die in the cruel games controlled by the powerful Capitol as a means to keep the twelve districts in line following a past rebellion. So, when it comes to the climax of the series, in the two-part film “Mockingjay,” based on the book with the same name, why does Katniss ultimately decide to take down President Alma Coin, the leader who seemingly spearheaded the revolution Katniss had longed for? That’s a question I still grapple with.
The answer is actually pretty complicated … and it also ties directly to Katniss’ complicated history with authority figures at large, including the corrupt President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland), the controller of the Capitol for decades who may or may not have murdered many of his own political opponents. Here’s exactly why Katniss kills Coin, what she discovers about the woman who runs the mysterious (and well-hidden) District 13, and why Snow and Coin are equally horrifying villains.
Who is The Hunger Games’ President Coin?
As a die-hard fan, I’d like to take a step back for a moment. In the first “Hunger Games,” both in the book and movie, I remember how I cheered as Katniss stepped forward as a tribute from District 12, sacrificing herself to save her sister Primrose Everdeen (Willow Shields), and being paired with Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) as their district’s male tribute. The two of them spun an incredible tale of love to the districts and the Capitol, which ultimately led to them both winning against all odds. However, Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), their mentor, quietly told Katniss that President Snow was infuriated by her swift humiliation.
Even though they sometimes form alliances with previous winners during their games, Peeta and Katniss remain united – right up until the final moments, when Katniss recalls the true adversary and discharges an arrow at the shield enclosing the arena. The shield shatters, freeing Katniss from the debris alongside a handful of other tributes. However, Peeta is apprehended by the Capitol, leaving Katniss in District 13 with her newfound ally – President Coin – standing alone.
To say Coin isn’t thrilled about Katniss’ attitude and lack of camera-ready instincts is an understatement (she actually grouses, quite a bit, about the fact that she could have ended up with the charming, captivating Peeta instead). Still, the two work together as well as they can until Coin overplays her hand, killing someone Katniss loves.
Who is The Hunger Games’ worse villain: Coin or Snow?
It is unequivocal that President Snow is a malevolent figure. For numerous decades, he orchestrates the public execution of children as entertainment. His active participation in the 74th Hunger Games – specifically, Katniss Everdeen’s debut – stems from his suspicion that she might not comply as easily as expected. This notion is further developed in the prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” where we see a young Coriolanus Snow (portrayed by Tom Blyth) being manipulated and deceived by another defiant District 12 tribute, Lucy Gray Baird (played by Rachel Zegler). When Snow is apprehended by Coin following the successful rebellion against the Capitol, he shares a secret with Katniss – a truth she recognizes because he has nothing left to lose.
President Snow shares with Katniss a past event: Aircrafts, seemingly from the Capitol, had attacked a group of children prior to his capture. This incident prompted medics to intervene, tragically claiming the life of her sister Prim, who was among them and working as a medic. The first bomb was not a problem for Katniss; it was the second one disguised as aid (supposed medical supplies dropped via parachutes) that took Prim’s life. Snow claims that the Capitol didn’t send the second bomb; instead, it was the rebels, under Coin’s orders. When Katniss questions her friend Gale Hawthorne about this, he verifies Snow’s truthfulness, hinting that she should have suspected this all along due to their agreement not to deceive each other. Unbeknownst to Katniss at the time, Coin assigns Katniss — symbol of the rebellion — the task of executing Snow publicly. However, instead of carrying out the assigned task, Katniss takes a different course of action.
Why did Katniss kill President Alma Coin instead of President Coriolanus Snow?
As President Coin triumphantly addresses the rebels and citizens of the Capitol, assuring them they’re finally liberated from President Snow’s oppressive rule, I, Katniss Everdeen, remain poised backstage, ready to — seemingly — execute Snow with my trusty bow and arrow in front of thousands. However, in a shocking twist, I instead target Snow, but at the last possible moment, I change course and send an arrow straight into Coin’s heart, taking her life. Snow erupts in laughter before meeting his own demise at the hands of the outraged and bewildered crowd. In a desperate bid to end my own life, I attempt to consume a cyanide pill hidden in my pocket, but Peeta intervenes just in time, preventing my suicide and leading to my arrest for Coin’s murder.
In the movie franchise, Katniss is spared from punishment, while in Suzanne Collins’ novel, she’s found not guilty of murder due to temporary insanity. Regardless of the legal outcome, here’s why Katniss ultimately takes Coin’s life at the end of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.” She foresaw that, given the opportunity, Coin would grab power just as Snow did before her and oppress parts of Panem. (It’s worth noting that Coin was contemplating initiating a new Hunger Games involving only Capitol children, an idea strongly opposed by Katniss and other former participants of the Games.) By killing Coin, Katniss guaranteed that tyranny in Panem could truly cease, instead of persisting under a new ruler who falsely promises change and hope.
Both parts of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” are streaming on Starz now.
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2024-12-04 22:30