Birds in Books

THE HUNGER GAMES

In The Hunger Games Trilogy the symbol of rebellion is simply a bird called a Mockingjay. The complicated history of the Mockingjay is what makes it such a perfect symbol of rebellion for Katniss Everdeen.

The ruler of Panem was the dictator President Snow who kept his city under control through the use of force, threat, punishment and murder. He was afraid that his city would rebel against him when they had the upper hand so he sent out a mutation; a bird that was created so that President Snow could spy on the civilians of Panem. This mutation was the Jabberjay.

The Jabberjay could repeat whole human conversations perfectly. The were sent into suspected rebel headquarters to find out information for President Snow. The rebels quickly realised what was happening and started feeding the capital lies; thus humiliating them. The Jabberjay project was quickly abandoned and was left to die by the Capitol. What the Capitol had not anticipated on however was that the Jabberjays would reproduce with the female Mockingbirds; thus creating the Mockingjay.

The Mockingjay had lost its ability to reproduce human conversarions but when it heard a melodious tune it could repeat it perfectly and beautifully. This complicated history is why I believe that it is truelly the perfect symbol of rebellion for Katniss Everdeen.

Her history is just as complicated as the Mockingjay's history.

Her mother moved from the rich part of the mining District 12 to the poorest part of the District called the Seam for love. Katniss's mother and father had children; Katniss herself and her little sister Primrose. They lived happily until her father was killed in a mining accident when she was eleven years old. This left her mother distraught. She remained inconsoluble for years before she returned to what was going to be her 'normal'. Her mother was never the same after her fathers death. At the age of eleven Katniss was determined to keep what remained of her family alive and she cared for her family ever since.

The Mockingjay was abondoned and was left to fend for itself. It rose and became a blooming population and technically rebelled against the Capitol's wishes. Katniss Everdeen did the same thing. She was left to fend for herself after her father died and her mother went into extreme trauma shock. She was left to die by the Capitol in The Hunger Games but rebelled by saving both herself and her proclaimed lover Peeta Mellark.

The were both abondoned but both rose and fought back against the Capitol. The both fought for their wellbeing and they both succeeded. These complicated beginnings of both Katniss herself and the humble Mockingjayare what make me believe that the Mockingjay is in fact the perfect symbol of rebellion for Katniss Everdeen.

DIVERGENT

Birds are also used a symbol of importance in the Divergent trilogy.

Tris Prior (also known as Beatrice in the beginning of the book) starts off in the Abnegation Faction; the faction that values selflessness. She then transfers to the Dauntless Faction; the faction that values bravery. She starts Dauntless initiation and soon realises that to officially fit into the Dauntless community she must prove her bravery through one simple act. She gets a tattoo. The tattoo that she gets is of three ravens flying across her collar bone. Each of the three ravens represents one of her family members; her brother Caleb, mother Natalie and her father Andrew. She got them to remind her that even though they are of different factions that they will always be with her no matter what.

Tris Prior also faces her fears whilst using the fear serum throughout Dauntless initiation. The fear serum induces the persons greatest fears and makes them believe that they are in a real life situation. One of Tris's fears is of being attacked by crows. In her fear she was in a meadow. She was defenceless when the crows started to attack her. I interperet this fear not only of crows attacking her but the fact that she could not fend them off or kill them. The fact that she was completely at the mercy of a greater force was what I interpereted her fear as once I had looked closely at it.

HARRY POTTER

Birds are definately are major part of the Harry Potter series.

Owls are used as a mode of communication throughout the whole series. It is how magical folk such as witches and wizards communicate with each other all over the world. They are not only a form of communication but they are also extremely close to their owners and form a close bond with them.

Harry Potter and his owl Hedwig share this bond and are extremely close friends. Owls are portrayed as loyal and trustworthy animals throughout the series. They will protect their owners from harm and all types of predators. In the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Hedwigs life is taken whilst he is protecting Harry from Death Eaters. This brave and selfless act of bravery from Hedwig shows the bond that is formed throughout Harry's years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft  and Wizadry.

It shows how Harry has developed his relationships with his friends and all who support him in his journey throughout the wizarding world. Hedwig; being one of those helps to show his emotional development throughout the series. When Harry satrted his wizarding schooling in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone Hedwig was beginning to form a relationship with Harry and the bond that they were making was the starting point for a long journey of love, adventure, death and loss.


~ Mockingjay On Fire