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"It's as if someone fashioned a small golden bird and then attached a ring around it. The bird is connected to the ring only by its wing tips. I suddenly recognize it. A mockingjay."
Katniss Everdeen on the mockingjay pin[src]
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A replica mockingjay pin.

The mockingjay pin was Katniss Everdeen's tribute token in the 74th[1] and 75th Hunger Games. Through Katniss, the pin became a symbol of rebellion,[2] though the birds themselves already had rebellious associations.[1]

History

The pin originally belonged to Madge Undersee's aunt[3] Maysilee Donner,[2] a District 12 tribute who died in the 50th Hunger Games.[4] It's unknown whether or not Maysilee wore the mockingjay pin into the arena.

The Hunger Games

Katniss receiving the mockingjay pin in The Hunger Games: Illustrated Edition.

Katniss receiving the mockingjay pin in The Hunger Games: Illustrated Edition.

When Katniss first saw Madge wearing the pin, she thought that it could keep a family fed with bread for months, since it was made of finely crafted gold.[5] When Madge came to bid Katniss farewell, she gave it to her as a symbol of District 12 and made her promise to wear it in the arena.[1] Cinna later affixed it to Katniss' shirt while they were in the Launch Room, as Katniss had completely forgotten about it. He revealed that it had barely passed the review board because the Gamemakers thought the point could be used as a weapon.[6]

Rue, who had a special relationship with the mockingjays back in District 11, decided that she could trust Katniss after seeing her wear the pin. She rejected Katniss' attempt to give it to her, saying she had her own good luck charm.[7] After the end of the Games, Katniss found it in her room in the Training Center just before leaving to return home.[8]

The Hunger Games film

Cinamokingajay

Cinna showing Katniss her pin on her arena uniform.

In the first movie, Katniss got her pin at the Hob from Greasy Sae, and she gave it to her younger sister Primrose Everdeen as a gift, promising that it would protect her. Prim returned the pin to Katniss after the reaping because she felt Katniss needed it more. Additionally, the concept of a tribute token was seemingly eliminated from this film; Cinna appeared to sneak in the mockingjay pin, pinning it to the inside of Katniss's jacket to hide it and holding a finger to his lips. Later, during the victor crowning, President Snow also took notice of the pin and examined it.[9]

Catching Fire

Following Katniss's joint victory with Peeta Mellark, her pin became a symbol of the rebellion.[10][11][2] However, when they stopped in the Capitol on their Victory Tour, Katniss discovered that the pin had ironically spawned a new fad there; it was replicated as a fashion accessory and even used as the basis for tattoos, because "everyone [wanted] to wear the winner's token". Plutarch Heavensbee showed Katniss his watch, which displayed a fleeting image of the mockingjay pin to hint that he was trustworthy[10] and tip her off about the clock arena.[12]

Cinnapinsthemockingjaypin

Cinna pins Katniss's mockingjay onto her sleeve.

Katniss wore the mockingjay pin into the arena for a second time in the third Quarter Quell. Effie Trinket had her wig specially done in metallic gold to match Katniss's pin, and she arranged for Peeta and Haymitch Abernathy to receive gold tokens as well in order to mark them all as a team.[2] Peeta's token was a gold locket with Katniss's mockingjay engraved on its lid.[13]

Design

In the books, the pin was described as being small and made of gold. It depicted a mockingjay in flight, attached to the ring encircling it only by the tips of its wings.[1]

Mockingjay sketch by TOB

An approved sketch of the mockingjay by O'Brien.

The mockingjay featured on the cover of The Hunger Games holds an arrow in its beak, and it is attached to the ring by its wingtips and tail feathers. This was designed by artist Tim O'Brien. His wife Elizabeth Parisi, Creative Director for Hardcovers at Scholastic, was responsible for The Hunger Games trilogy's book covers, and she has characterized the creation of the mockingjay pin as a collaboration. According to O'Brien, "It is not just a picture of a bird. It is something vulnerable. It is a symbol of the main character, Katniss, who is tough and beautiful at the same time."[14] Before the final version was adopted, he had submitted a design for an arrow and an alternate version of the logo that had the mockingjay's right wing pierced with a chain.[15]

Trivia

  • The pin worn by Katniss in the first film was based on the cover design of the first book. The piece was created by jewelry designer Dana Schneider, who was also responsible for creating Peeta's locket for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.[16][17]
  • Variations of the pin, burning with fire, were also used as logos for the film franchise.
    • The pin evolved throughout the series: The first pin variation was inspired by the cover design of the first book, but for Catching Fire, the arrow was gone, and the mockingjay faced right in an attacking position. In Mockingjay (and the end credits of Catching Fire), the mockingjay was seen spreading its wings, and it was centered in the middle of the circle.
Mockingjay Pins

Fan-made variations of the pin for each book/movie.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Hunger Games, Chapter 3
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Catching Fire, Chapter 14
  3. Catching Fire, Chapter 7
  4. Catching Fire, Chapter 12
  5. The Hunger Games, Chapter 1
  6. The Hunger Games, Chapter 10
  7. The Hunger Games, Chapter 16
  8. The Hunger Games, Chapter 27
  9. The Hunger Games (film)
  10. 10.0 10.1 Catching Fire, Chapter 6
  11. Catching Fire, Chapter 10
  12. Catching Fire, Chapter 27
  13. Catching Fire, Chapter 20
  14. ‘Hunger Games’ logo is brainchild of Brooklyn couple
  15. Wayback Machine archive
  16. Entertainment Weekly: The story behind Peeta's Catching Fire necklace and the Mockingjay pin by Lindzi Scharf. November 22, 2013.
  17. Dana Schneider's website danaschneider.com.
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