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At the end of Mockingjay, when the government headed by President Snow has been defeated, Katniss is invited to shoot Snow with an arrow given to her by the new leader, President Coin. Just as she’s about to carry out her duties and execute Snow, Katniss turns and shoots Coin (with whom she’s become greatly disillusioned), killing her instantly. The arrow sums up Katniss’s dilemma as Mockingjay: she’s forced to stick to a script—in this case, she’s supposed to use her arrow to kill Snow, according to Coin’s wishes. At the same time, an arrow is a weapon, and the only one who can control a weapon is the person who carries it. Thus, the arrow represents Katniss’s potential for going “off-script,” disobeying authorities, and using her considerable talents for her own purposes.
Arrow Quotes in Mockingjay
The Mockingjay quotes below all refer to the symbol of Arrow. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 18
Quotes
I don't think they quite know what to do with the three of us, particularly me. I have my Mockingjay outfit with me, but I've only been taped in my uniform. Sometimes I use a gun, sometimes they ask me to shoot with my bow and arrows. It's as if they don't want to entirely lose the Mockingjay, but they want to downgrade my role to foot soldier. Since I don't care, it's amusing rather than upsetting to imagine the arguments going on back in 13.
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Chapter 26
Quotes
"I brought you this." Gale holds up a sheath. When I take it, I notice it holds a single, ordinary arrow.
"It's supposed to be symbolic. You firing the last shot of the war."
"What if I miss?" I say. "Does Coin retrieve it and bring it back to me? Or just shoot Snow through the head herself?"
"You won't miss." Gale adjusts the sheath on my shoulder. We stand there, face-to-face, not meeting each other's eyes.
"You didn't come see me in the hospital."
He doesn't answer, so finally I just say it.
"Was it your bomb?"
"I don't know. Neither does Beetee," he says. "Does it matter? You'll always be thinking about it."
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Arrow Symbol Timeline in Mockingjay
The timeline below shows where the symbol Arrow appears in Mockingjay. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
Peeta continues describing the final moments of the Hunger Games. Katniss fired an arrow at the force field trapping the competitors in the vast arena of the Games. Flickerman...
(full context)
...going to do. Katniss thinks of the destruction in District 12, and remembers shooting an arrow at the force field during the Hunger Games. She did so, she recalls, because she...
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Chapter 4
...ground. They proceed by elevator to the surface of the Earth, armed with bows and arrows they’ve been issued by the district. At the surface, there are wild animals, such as...
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Chapter 5
...Katniss to the weapons he’s been designing. He presents Katniss with a lethal-looking bow and arrow, fitted with scopes and gadgetry—the bow, he explains, is voice-activated. He also shows Gale guns,...
(full context)
Chapter 6
...which she’ll wear during her time “in the field.” He also supplies her with special arrows, some of which are explosive. Boggs, Coin’s strong, muscular assistant, enters the room, accompanied by...
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Chapter 7
...fight the Capitol’s hovercrafts. Paylor, impressed with her courage, advises her to use her flaming arrows. Together, Katniss and Gale fire at a “V” of hovercrafts. Katniss succeeds in setting fire...
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Chapter 24
...Katniss and the rest of the mission with elaborate clothes that conceal their weapons—bows and arrows. Peeta praises her designs, and Tigris blushes with pride. The group thanks Tigris and leaves...
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Chapter 26
...Coin to keep her alive. Gale arrives at Katniss’s house, and shows her a single arrow, with which she’s supposed to kill Snow and end the war. Katniss asks Gale about...
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...if she’s sleepwalking. At the end of the ceremony, she is meant to fire an arrow at Snow. Just before she’s about to shoot him, she realizes that he was telling...
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