CATCHING FIRE Digital Reading Party discussion

How do you think Gale’s whipping changes things for Katniss?

It is the catalyst that forces to recognize that she can inspire change. Until then, she was too afraid for her own life to think about protecting anybody but her immediate family and loved ones. But Gale's whipping shows her that if she doesn't take the opportunity to take on the Capitol that they will continue to hurt innocents forever.

In the book it is a bit ambiguous, but I always chose to believe that Gale did this intentionally to prove this to Katniss and inspire her to become the mockingjay. It was an incredible sacrifice of his body to shine the light on the horror of capitol oppression.

The whippings made Katniss realize that she needs to stay and fight and not be a coward.
It seems to be at this moment that Katniss really becomes the Mockingjay. If it was not for Gale and his belief to help end the oppression of the Capital then it would have been the end of Panem.

It sparked feelings in her that I think she was forcing herself to ignore. She knows she has to put on a show with Peeta to appease President Snow so she chooses not to think about her actual feelings for him or her actual feelings for Gale. But after the whipping, she was forced to consider what a life without him would look like and it made her realize that she cares deeply for him.

She finds her self responsible for anything that happens to anybody she loves . Katniss usually suppresses her feelings but when she saw him get hurt possibly because it was her own actions in the first place that brought changes to district 12 , she realized that she cares about him way too much .

Although I didn't understand why Peeta and others kept asking to go away or she'll make it worse for him..??

First, they were probably afraid that Thread would whip him more if she put up a fuss, just to teach her a lesson.

Second, they probably (correctly) thought he wouldn't want her to see him in that condition, and wanted to save him the humiliation.

Makes sense , we'll thank you

I think Gale's whipping makes Katniss realize that she needs to fight the Capitol. Before this she was just trying to save the ones she cared about, and when that didn't work, run away, but after this assault on someone she loves she knows she can no longer play on President Snow's terms. She has to try to start a rebellion.

Stephanie wrote: "I think Gale's whipping makes Katniss realize that she needs to fight the Capitol. Before this she was just trying to save the ones she cared about, and when that didn't work, run away, but after t..."
I agree with you! she should start a rebellion. She was only trying to save the ones she craes about and love.