We learn from Finnick, I believe, the secrets of President Coriolanus Snow, to include why his breath smells like blood, namely, “mouth sores that will never heal” (chapter 12, p. 172). Supposedly, the roses he wears are to cover the smell of blood on his breath. As these sores are a consequence of poisons, the roses take on another meaning, I think, one we see again and again in Mockingjay.
Snow uses roses to unsettle Katniss; he thinks correctly that she will think of him when she sees or smells a rose and that this will drive home his determination to find and kill her. Hence the rose in the Victor House, the roses dropped with the bunker busters on District 13, and the rose breath of the lizard mutt-tations.
I think, though, beneath the narrative line ‘roses over blood’ is an image Ms. Collins wants us to take away as a symbol of how wars are packaged and presented as public goods rather than tragic necessities. Seeing how the tributes, citizens, and survivors of District 12 are transformed from victims to victors capable (if living) of voting for a Capitol-children Hunger Games production.
Your thoughts?
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I also especially liked the imagery of this detail. The unpleasant blood smell coming from Snow all the time is witness to his sins…and he attempts to cover by distorting the natural beauty of roses and their natural scent….pretty lies to cover ugly truth. This was very effective for me.
Again, read tremendously false. Was unable to suspend disbelief. She did not supply the rationale for the story arc. The book felt like a video game, rather than a serious reflection.
Sorry, Sunshine, but I loved the book and found it to be incredibly moving and realistic in a way few other can authors achieve.
The duality of roses, the flowers we use for funerals and weddings, with their beauty and their thorns, makes them fascinating symbols throughout literature. When I teach Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily,” my students always have a great time with the all the complexity of the rose symbolism, and we don’t even get into the medieval stuff (our apologies, Mr. Eco).
I especially like the contrast between roses and primroses. Evening primrose, the rather scraggly plant that is Prim’s namesake, has little in common with the hothouse flowers in Snow’s mansion. Katniss’s ironic (and, of course, decepetive) “yes” vote for the new Games, intended to lull Coin into a false sense of security, is made as she looks at the false rose that goes in Snow’s lapel, and her declaration that she is doing this for Prim (rose), reveals to Haymitch the true nature of her plans.
Elizabeth wrote:
” Katniss’s ironic (and, of course, decepetive) “yes” vote for the new Games, intended to lull Coin into a false sense of security, is made as she looks at the false rose that goes in Snow’s lapel, and her declaration that she is doing this for Prim (rose), reveals to Haymitch the true nature of her plans.”
I guess I didn’t read as much premeditation into the assassination. It was clear early on Snow=Coin (4 letter names was a tip off) although I kept getting flashes from The Empire Strikes Back (complete with hologram maps).
I can see that the yes vote was a message to Haymitch. I just read the yes vote as demonstrating how difficult it is to forgive and move on from horrors like the hunger games (capitol punishment, anyone?) and the desire for retribution which is all too human. That is why she says it is for Prim.
He should have been called President Ice
Because Katniss = fire
And he = snow
Trying to put out her fire.
President Ice reminds me of Dentyne Ice though.
(Worst comment on this website ever, sorry)
Can someone help me understand why Katniss credits herself so much in the books for starting the rebellion and ending it, and essentially changing their world?
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but the impression I have of her is more a symbol and pawn used by others for a rebellion that was already on progress.
She had her moments of greatness but never came the groundbreaking moments I expected of her-she just kept waking up in hospitals while everyone died.
I know she may have started murmurs of a rebellion during the Hunger Games but why did she REALLY do to incite an entire nation’s rebellion, and essentially be credited with power I feel she never had?
Sorry if I’m overthinking this, I just feel that for the main character she didn’t do as much as she would dramatically credit herself for.
Thanks
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