Haymitch Raising/taking Care Of Geese Has Always Intrigued Me So Much And As A Textbook Over-analyzer

Haymitch raising/taking care of geese has always intrigued me so much and as a textbook over-analyzer I decided to look into it. Now Suzanne may have chosen geese at random, but that won’t stop me from looking for some deeper meaning and this is what I found.

Geese are monogamous, meaning they live in permanent pairs through out the year. And historically, they have been seen as rather easy prey to target especially by the first European colonizers when they came to America. And what else come in pairs and have been seen as easy targets within the Hunger Games? Tributes, especially tributes from district 12.

However, there is also some literary and rhetorical significance to Haymitch raising geese as well. Once again, geese are often associated with the phrase “silly goose” and “goose” means “fool” or “silly one” in many modern languages in which geese have been seen as foolish or helpless. Much of the same can be said for all of the previous tributes Haymitch mentored before Katniss and Peeta. So there is something particularly moving about the fact that Haymitch takes care of geese because of the ways that they mirror the tributes.

However, the same can, in many ways, be said of Haymitch who had gained a reputation for being the drunk and silly mentor who never led his tributes to victory. However, we know just how much the odds were against those tributes and we know just how much trauma Haymitch endured during his own games and from watching tribute after tribute die. And yet, he survived and he played an important part within the rebellion in which he becomes likened to the quote “all his geese are swans.”

And this makes Haymitch (unconsciously) taking care of geese that much more impactful and adds a bit more depth even if it was unintentional on Suzanne’s part.

For a few months I had an idea to remake one of those weird looks from the movies. So this one is inspired by tradescantia plant as its leaves are bright and shiny just like the person in question (so surprising haha)

it makes me so happy to see plutarch fanart! thank you so much for making them!!!

awww thank you!⁠ ♡

I'm glad you like it, i hope to make some more as thg wasn't just a phase hehe

ok Tigris DEFINITELY a cat person soo what if she lives with ten or so cats??? what if

How do you feel about Johanna Mason?

What do you think about Johanna’s strategy in her first games?

What are your favorite Johanna moments?

What do you think about the movie’s depiction of Johanna?

Thank you so much :)

@curiousnonny

I love Johanna Mason, her path is interesting and layered.

Tricky strategy turned out to be a good move, given that tributes usually stick to their chosen types. Maybe it wasn't just a method to survive on the arena, but also a kind of way for the little girl to 'rebel': to show that they aren't her masters, she cannot be controlled, she is unpredictable. And she continues to be unpredictable. That's why people are scared of her.

The movie version of Johanna is great; her appearance and demeanor. Except that her d13 interaction with Katniss wasn't fully shown. I love Johanna in these moments and I think this part of story is very important for understanding her character. Johanna is used to being prickly, frightening, sarcastic, such behavior helps her survive alone in this terrible world. But it seems to me that this is only the outer armor that she's just used to wear, being kind and warm means appearing vulnerable again (who can be trusted with that side of her?). And now she is again frightened and afraid of water, returning to the image of that weak crying girl that she once was. But now she isn't weak at all, but psychologically traumatized, in need of safety.

I would like to believe that in post-canon she had that kind of safety and someone to be around :(

The bird in thg is a very interesting symbol that flies through the whole story.

First of all, in many cultures, the bird has become entrenched as a symbol of freedom. Then it is not surprising that it was the bird - the mockingjay, that became the symbol of the uprising against the oppression of the regime. And this bird has a voice - the voice of oppressed people.

- The Mockingjay will not lose her voice.

The voice of this bird is a song. Not only metaphorically, but also literally - such as the hanging tree song or mockingjay whistle (the same idea was later transferred to tbosas, but Lucy Gray Baird is a different kind of bird, a songbird).

Mockingjays cannot repeat words, only a motive, but the melody is repeated over and over again, louder and louder and it will not be possible to drown it out. Just like it is almost impossible to extinguish a flame lit by a spark.

From here comes the connection of fire and birds - the phoenix bird. I don't know how to develop this idea further, but Katniss has become this combination. Has freedom risen from the ashes? Or history repeats itself, just like the cycle of the phoenix's life?

The phoenix is a symbol of renewal, and it was the bird that renewed Panem.

By the way, the emblem of the Capitol is also a bird - an eagle, which is a reference to the Roman Empire, where the eagle on the banner symbolized the power and dominance of the god Jupiter, the main god of the pantheon.

In general, "bird parallels" often appear in relation to Katniss:

- I am Cinna’s bird, ignited, flying frantically to escape something inescapable. The feathers of flame that grow from my body. Beating my wings only fans the blaze. I consume myself, but to no end.

But it seems to me curious and important that such comparisons apply not only to the main character, but also to other characters, for example, Primrose:

- I notice her blouse has pulled out of her skirt in the back again and force myself to stay calm. “Tuck your tail in, little duck,” I say, smoothing the blouse back in place. Prim giggles and gives me a small “Quack.”

- The small white bird tinged in pink dives down, buries her claws in my chest, and tries to keep me afloat.

Or Rue:

- Rue, who is dressed in a gossamer gown complete with wings, flutters her way to Caesar.

- "We sing at home. At work, too. That’s why I love your pin,” she says, pointing to the mockingjay that I’ve again forgotten about.

and even to the Capitolians:

- I stand there, completely naked, as the three circle me, wielding tweezers to remove any last bits of hair. I know I should be embarrassed, but they’re so unlike people that I’m no more self-conscious than if a trio of oddly colored birds were pecking around my feet. (+ their special Capitol accent).

Panem is a kind of "bird state", which is funny. But apart from jokes, symbolism of the birds is very interesting and versatile, there is always something to think about. The symbol is simple, but understandable and beautiful.

THG is a great example of how to harmoniously and beautifully fit this symbolism into the plot so that it becomes not only poetic beauty, but also a driving idea of the story.

✺THG Series Exploration: Mockingjay✺

6: The imagery and symbolism of the birds in The Hunger Games Series is a steady theme throughout the books. Let's chat today about the meaning and meta, and share all the art.

Mockingjays

Mockingbirds

Jabberjays

Hummingbirds

Grooslings

Turkeys

What else????