Sacrifice Quotes in Mockingjay

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

"Wait! Where are Jackson and Leeg 1?"

"They stayed at the Grinder to hold the mutts back," says Homes.

"What?" I'm lunging back for the bridge, willing to leave no one to those monsters, when he yanks me back.

"Don't waste their lives, Katniss. It's too late for them. Look!" (22.38-41)

Throughout the book, characters are forced to make some major sacrifices. But they also make these sacrifices willingly. Sometimes no one notices what they've done. Here, Homes encourages Katniss to move away from grieving over them and make their sacrifices worthwhile by saving herself. Ironically, soon after this Homes will be sacrificed too; by the end of the chapter, he won't make it above ground alive.

Quote #8

Far below, I can just make out Finnick, struggling to hang on as three mutts tear at him. As one yanks back his head to take the death bite, something bizarre happens. It's as if I'm Finnick, watching images of my life flash by. The mast of a boat, a silver parachute, Mags laughing, a pink sky, Beetee's trident, Annie in her wedding dress, waves breaking over rocks. Then it's over. (22.52)

This is such a sad moment. Finnick made it through two Games only to be torn apart by mutts. At least he had the happiness of being married to Annie and getting to live with her for a few days. Now it's all gone. And Katniss can only watch in disbelief as her dear friend slips away.

Quote #9

I fall into a doorway, tears stinging my eyes. Shoot me. That's what he was mouthing. I was supposed to shoot him! That was my job. That was our unspoken promise, all of us, to one another. And I didn't do it and now the Capitol will kill him or torture him or hijack him or – the cracks begin opening inside me, threatening to break me into pieces. (24.70)

Katniss is so overcome with emotion that she feels "cracks begin [to] open" within herself, just as they opened on the street mere moments ago. Her sense of self is being ravaged by the war just as the Capitol city is. Here, she fears she's sacrificed Gale unknowingly – that she didn't protect him (by killing him) the last time she had a chance to do so.