While Katniss becomes a beacon of hope for the rebellion as the Mockingjay, it’s not exactly a role she’s comfortable with. For one, at this point in the story, she’s an emotional wreck. She’s suffering from PTSD after having to participate in the Hunger Games 2 years in a row. District 12 has been bombed and Peeta is being held prisoner by the Capitol. Second, she doesn’t particularly care for the rebellion and only agrees to be the Mockingjay so Alma Coin wouldn’t do anything to Peeta. Well, that along with a desire for revenge against Snow (like wanting to kill him herself) as well as that she can’t just remain neutral and live her life. I mean she helped orchestrate the escape from the arena by shooting an arrow into the force field. With her hometown being destroyed, she has nowhere else to go but District 13 and what she might want might not matter as far as Alma Coin is concerned. Also, in some way she was responsible for starting a revolution, whether she intended to or not. But as a Mockingjay, she’s basically a pawn of Coin who she doesn’t really get along with.

A good parody describing her state of mind as the Mockingjay would be “Carry On, Wayward Son,” by Kansas. The original version describes a soldier’s thoughts as he questions the moral legitimacy of his actions in war. In the Hunger Games version, I have Katniss viewing herself as a revolutionary symbol for a cause she’s basically dragged in and doesn’t have much interest in. Well, other than personal perks like having Coin grant immunity to the imprisoned victors at the Capitol as well as the privilege to kill Snow herself.

 

“Carry On, Mockingjay”

Sung by Katniss Everdeen

 

Carry on you Mockingjay

There’ll be peace when it’s on its way

Lay your weary head to rest

Don’t you cry no more

 

Ah

 

Once I rose above the noise and confusion

Just to get a glimpse beyond the illusion

I shot an arrow in the arena, but it knocked me out

 

Though my eyes could see I still was a blind girl

Though my mind could think I still was a mad girl

I hear the voices when I’m dreaming,

I can hear them say

 

Carry on you Mockingjay

There’ll be peace when it’s on its way

Lay your weary head to rest

Don’t you cry no more

 

Masquerading as a girl with a reason

My charade is the event of the season

And if I claim to be a wise girl,

Well, it surely means that I don’t know

 

On a stormy sea of moving emotion

Tossed about, as a tool for their motives

I play their game to free my Peeta,

But I hear the voices say

 

Carry on you Mockingjay

There’ll be peace when it’s on its way

Lay your weary head to rest

Don’t you cry no more

 

Carry on,

You will always remember

Carry on,

Nothing equals the splendor

Now your life’s no longer empty

Surely Peeta waits for you

 

Carry on you Mockingjay

There’ll be peace when it’s on its way

Lay your weary head to rest

Don’t you cry,

Don’t you cry no more,

 

No more!