Mockingjay Theme of Friendship

When going to war, it's good to have friends to rely on; they watch your back, and when things get dark, they give you a reason to keep on fighting. In Mockingjay, though, Katniss starts losing her friends one by one. Many die in battle. Those who survive the fighting have been damaged in other ways: Peeta has been "hijacked," Haymitch has sunken completely into alcoholism, Gale has been morally compromised by his involvement in the war. The loss of these important friendships really hurts Katniss, and near the end of the novel, she completely loses her will to live. The good thing is, though damaged, some friendships can be rebuilt with time.

Questions About Friendship

  1. Who is Katniss's best friend in Mockingjay?
  2. Which is the greater act of friendliness in this book: removing someone's handcuffs or replacing them?
  3. With so many other trust issues coming up, should Katniss even trust her friends? Can she?
  4. If all the characters we encounter in this book, which one would you like to be friends with and why?
  5. Why is it that Katniss and Peeta are able to rebuild their relationship, while Katniss and Gale cannot?