CATCHING FIRE Digital Reading Party discussion

What do you think is the biggest factor that helps Katniss realize that fighting the Capitol is more important than running away?

Gale's whipping. Period. Although it is ambiguous in the book, I always thought Gale provoked it in order to open Katniss' eyes, and inspire everybody else and show them standing up to the Capitol was possible. She sees what Gale is willing to sacrifice to end the Capitol's hold on the districts and finds the courage to stand up not just for her own family, but to give hope to all the citizens of the districts.

The movie trailer where Gale takes down the peacekeeper shows a bit more that what I always guessed was true.

It would have to be Gale's whipping. It is the turning point in the whole series I believe. If it was not for Gale and the whipping, Katniss would have left and not become the Mockingjay and the symbol for the revolution.


It's because of Gale's braveness for taking the whipping that Katniss needs to fight not only for herself and her loved ones but for everyone and to show them that the Capital is wrong and they need to be stopped.

Do you think the news of rebellion in the districts from Bonnie and Twill had any influence in Katniss's decision?

I think it was a combination of a lot of things. Gale's whipping, meeting Bonnie and Twill, witnessing the murder of the man in D11 during the Victory Tour and also the report of uprisings among the districts when she's at Madge's house. She can't ignore that this is more than just her protecting her family.

Part of it was probably seeing district 8 on the mayor's T.V. Also Gale reminding her about how miserable the people of Panem well under Snow leadership. Also in District 11 seeing the Man get killed. Being in District 11 and seeing Rue's family reminded her of how much she loved Rue like she loved Prim. Bonnie and Twill told her about the condition in District 8, this showed her how horrible it was in other Districts beside her own.

I would say part of it from Gale's whipping, the man being killed during the Victory Tour, and the meeting of Bonnie and Twill have significantly impacted Katniss's decision.

The man being killed had shown Katniss how her presence in the other districts and the citizens showing support of Katniss, how the Capital does not seem to like how the citizens are starting to show restlessness and starting to slowly rebel.

Gale's whipping made Katniss realize that she can not go and run away with her family but to stay and fight for the others in District.

The meeting with Bonnie and Twill made Katniss realize that she can not only fight for those in District 12 but for the rest of the people of Panem.

I think that the four biggest factors that created Katniss's decision to fight were the District 11 man being shot (and just the whole cruelness of District 11 in general), meeting Bonnie and Twill and hearing of their hardships, Gale's whipping, an the District Eight uprising on the mayor's television. The man in District 11 opened Katniss's eyes to how cruel, inhuman, and unbelievably horrible the Capitol truly is, on top of all the evidence she had before so. Katniss watched as a man was shot straight through the head for singing Rue's tune, for making a salute to Katniss's young friend. Katniss meeting Bonnie and Twill emphasized once again the hardships the Capitol inflicts on its people, especially when she made the connection between Twill and Rue when Katniss offered Twill the entire roll of bread. Bonnie and Twill's families were killed, just like how Katniss's family was torn apart when her father died, and it proved to Katniss that she had to do something. She was the only one who could, and if Bonnie and Twill's families would give up their lives for the cause, then she should too. Gael's whipping made the decision to fight final. She stated after it "Prim... Rue... aren't they the reasons I have to fight?" She openly stated that she would fight, but that could only be brought upon by a serious thing happening, which was watching her best friend get whipped. Lastly (even though this cane before all of the others), the District Eight uprising told Katniss that she was not alone in her want and struggle to overthrow the Capitol.
Also let's not forget on the Victory Tour at the banquet in President Snow's mansion when Katniss's prep team told Katniss and Peeta to throw up so they could eat more food. This proved the selfishness of the Capitol, and this occupancy was what made Peeta think about fighting.