Blog Post #4: Mockingjay- Setting

***SPOILER ALERT*** in the middle of the post

In the book Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins, there are several settings. One is Panem in general, it is taken place millions years after now. Panem, is kind of a...destroyed phase of the earth. There is only North America left in the time period, known then as Panem, and it is separated into 12 districts. There was once a 13th district, but it has denied power the Capitol (the capitol of Panem is actually called "The Capitol") and has went into war with them, and vanished off the face of the earth. But has actually started their own independent district underground! And now, district 12 has been destroyed by the Capitol, and the people of district 12 have now gone to live in district 13 underground. This is one of those settings in the book, district 13. But there are many other settings that come up in the book too! Like for example, district 12 (they go back to visit a few times) and the woods that Katniss and Gale go to hunt in.

My main focus in this post is the setting of district 13. I chose this plot because it is very unique. I mean, how many times do you ever read about a setting that is underground in a destroyed planet in a book?!? This plot is very significant to the plot because without it, Katniss and her family would probably not be rebelling against the Capitol, but actually on the Capitol's side! District 13 was made to rebel against the Capitol, which is actually going into action now because there is about to be a war in the book! Also, 13 is a very strict place to live in too! Everyday the citizens of district 13 have to put their arm in a arm scanner thing, and scan their schedules onto their arms! They have to report to a place in 13 every part of the day and do "chores", they do things like, help the kitchen with the meals, report to special meetings, and so on. But they do get to eat, but they have special times when they can have their meals and they have to eat everything they are given, even if they don't want to. There can even be punishments if you give your food to others because the food gives you all the energy you need for the day.

Katniss will probably not be the Mockingjay (the symbol of rebellion) if she didn't live in district 13. It is VERY strict with rules, and Katniss likes to deny them all. If these rules didn't make her go crazy and sort of force herself into breaking them, the president of district 13, Coin, wouldn't see her as a Mockingjay most of the time (even if she did break all the rules in the Hunger Games.)

Collins makes this setting of 13 really stand out just by, having this as her setting! Her setting she uses are very unique, which is what you need for a Sci-Fi book. But she uses her description so beautifully that you can almost imagine yourself in that place at this very moment. For example, "My first impulse is to cover my nose to block out the stench of soiled linen, putrefying flesh, and vomit, all ripening in the heat of the warehouse. They've propped open skylights that crisscross the high metal roof, but any air that's managing to get in can't make a dent in the fog below. The thin shafts of sunlight provide the only illumination, and as my eyes adjust, I can make out row upon row of wounded, in cots, on pallets, on the floor, because there are so many to claim the space." (pg 88) This is a quote of when Katniss goes and visits a hospital in district 8 right after the bombing by the Capitol, she goes there to make a video for a propaganda video encouraging the rebellion. In this quote, you can feel the hotness of the room surronded by all those people, you can imagine the people moaning of pain on the floor, and you can smell the wounded flesh right then and there. Collins uses her description to show you (not tell you) the scene, she's introducing you to this place. She wants the reader to see and feel this place, and her description does that.

Without this specific setting, this story would probably be totally different. If Katniss moved to district, for example, district 2, she would be on the Capitol's side because district 2 is a kiss up to the Capitol. She would be a whole different person because of the brainwashing they would do to her. They would courpt her and turn her into a minion like everyone in district 2 is. They actually like watching people die every year in the Hunger Games! You can tell the people of that district is very...different because the kids in that district volunteer to perform in the Games! While others pray every year not to be chosen. Which is why this setting, is very important.