Dear Sara,
What is the meaning of the symbol in the Hunger Games which has a bird and and arrow inside a circle?
-Melissa
Dear Melissa,
The bird is a Mockingjay, the arrow a sign of war. The Mockinjay came about as a result of a Capitol plan gone bad. In the first revolution against the Capitol, the Capitol genetically engineered Bluejays to act as spys, repeating conversations they were sent to overhear. This backfired when the revolutionaries found out about the birds and passed them false information. The jabberjays were all male and so weren’t supposed to reproduce but they ended up mating with mockingbirds in the outer districts thus creating mockingjays, which are later found throughout their world. Mockingjays are the birds you saw and heard in the movie that could sing and say a few words. The existence of the Mockingjays proves that the Capitol is not infallible and also represents a hope for freedom, and is a symbol of revolution. That is why Katniss wearing her Mockingjay pin is so important, and when her stylist has her in a dress that looks like a Mockingbird’s feathers Katnis herself becomes a symbol of revolution.
It’s In The Bag,
Sara Bellum, Editor-at-Large Buzzy Mag
