Mockingjay discussion

I've been in some discussions on Goodreads, and I've seen that people keep assuming Gale was bad because he left Katniss.
Most of theses persons reasons are that he didn't really love her, or he was being selfish, etc.
To me however, I think Gale didn't go back to District 12, because it was probably tramatic for him. I mean, he was there the day it was bombed.
So yeah, comment if you feel the same way, or don't(feel the same way, I mean), or even if you can't decide.

maybe he couldn't face Katniss after what he did, albeit indirectly, to Prim? I dunno...

Yeah I don't think he left cause he is a bad guy. He just wanted to continue to be a part of the resistance and he was offered a good job at district two. Katniss didn't want to see him anymore because of the bomb which I thought was totally unfair because he had been helping with the resistance. It wasn't his fault they used it to kill Prim. It was a cheapy ending.

I agree Mika. Either that or he just didn't really love her anymore after what happened. And she had already chosen Peeta so....

I agree.
It's not that she had already "chosen" Peeta, I think it's more that he knew she would end up with Peeta because that's who she needed to survive. Heck, he knew this even before Katniss did.
The way the final choice was made didn't even seem like it was out of love, but more out of survival. It's what she needed. Sorry to offend anyone who thinks differently but that is how I see it.
I think Gale loved her enough to let her go. Why should he hang around
anyway? People just love to hate the guy and see his flaws.
And I know she loves him too. I know a lot of people say she didn't love
him, but I think she truly did.
So yes, I agree with you 100% :)

Amanda (Gale's Wife) wrote: "I agree.
It's not that she had already "chosen" Peeta, I think it's more that he knew she would end up with Peeta because that's who she needed to survive. Heck, he knew this even before Katniss d..."

i agree with you. very well put.

Nya wrote: "Amanda (Gale's Wife) wrote: "I agree.
It's not that she had already "chosen" Peeta, I think it's more that he knew she would end up with Peeta because that's who she needed to survive. Heck, he kn..."

Thank you :)

If I had to guess, I would bet that Gale needed to make a change for himself in order to try to get on with life after all that had happened.
Like someone else said, his last memory of the place would have been fleeing after the bombing. Not exactly something happy to go home too.
I think he got into the resistance and it's fighting and it consumed him. I think he knew that He and Katniss wouldn't be able to get past all that had happened with the loss of Prim. Whether it was his fault directly or indirectly, or not his fault at all, there would always be the question of would the outcome have been different if he hadn't had that idea. I think he probably feels some level of guilt for it regardless, and would always wonder if Kat blamed him. That's a lot for anyone to get past.
Leaving to a new district gave them all a chance to try to grieve and then move on and try to build a new life.
As far as Katniss ending up with Peeta, I do believe she loves him. I know she always cared about Gale and I believe she felt a loyalty to him for his help in making sure her family was always taken care of. I think she felt a level of love for both boys and don't in any way feel she would be 'settling' by choosing either one.

Amanda (Gale's Wife) wrote: "I agree.
It's not that she had already "chosen" Peeta, I think it's more that he knew she would end up with Peeta because that's who she needed to survive. Heck, he knew this even before Katniss d..."

You hit it SPOT ON! That is exactly what I think...I couldn't have said it better myself!

Christie wrote: "If I had to guess, I would bet that Gale needed to make a change for himself in order to try to get on with life after all that had happened.
Like someone else said, his last memory of the place wo..."

Thankyou! That was awesome!

You can love someone and still give up on them. At some point, chasing after someone who constantly pushes you away would be exhausting, mentally draining, and overall bad for your health. Add that he was in 12 during the bombings, most of the people he knew are dead, I believe going to District 2 was the best thing for him.

i think the death of prim also really hit him. you could feel that he gave up when he and katniss talked about the bombing in the capitol. i think he realised that katniss could never be able to put that thought away...

AT first i was mad at Gale for leaving Katniss what i think is she does kinda have some feelings for him dont yall think? And i think he left because like Prim died and district 12 got bombed like maybe it was to devistating for him to be there and remember all the memories that happened there..idk im probally just babbling...

I know this is branching off the topic slightly, but I really want to hear your opinions.
Regardless of everything that happened in the book, Katniss definitly wanted to see Gale in the woods. So, why didn't she go after him? I don't know maybe she did. But we can never truly know, because the book skiped a big part of her life. But then again "Mockingjay" does hint at her never trying. It's that moment right after she finds out Gale is in District 2, and she tries to convince herself he's already kissing someonelse.
It seems like she still liked him, but just gave up. We think she stayed with Peeta for the reasons listed above(all are comments), but in the book Katniss never says she didn't want to be with Gale , because it suposedly was his fault for killing Prim.

I agree, in the woods it definitely felt like she still loved him.
Katniss isn't one to chase after boys or fight for them. That's why she was convincing herself that he was kissing other girls. The thought of that probably made it easier for her to let him go. Though i don't think she ever really does let him go. I also think that's how she ended up with Peeta,other than her need for survival, she didn't fight or chase after him. He came up to her.
She just never came across as someone who would chase after a boy. I think that's why she gave up on him, even though i think she still loved him. As more than a friend.

Book Worm wrote: "I know this is branching off the topic slightly, but I really want to hear your opinions.
Regardless of everything that happened in the book, Katniss definitly wanted to see Gale in the woods. ..."

I think it's that Gale knew her better than she did, and saw that Peeta was better for her, like she came to realize when she talks about the dandelion. He just realized it first. Although Katniss could have done everything to change that if she wanted. I really wanted her to be with Gale, but I saw that Peeta was right for different reasons. Damn, I'm going to cry more if I think about her not getting Gale.

Celise wrote: "Book Worm wrote: "I know this is branching off the topic slightly, but I really want to hear your opinions.
Regardless of everything that happened in the book, Katniss definitly wanted to see Ga..."

I completely agree.
I found it funny that she was angry when Gale said "she will pick the one she needs to survive" or something along those lines yet in the end he was right. That's what seh did.
It always makes me want to cry, definitely the story of my life.

Amanda (Gale's Wife) wrote: "Celise wrote: "Book Worm wrote: "I know this is branching off the topic slightly, but I really want to hear your opinions.
Regardless of everything that happened in the book, Katniss definitly w..."
It just saddens me because without Peeta, Gale could have had her. They could have run off and maybe I wouldn't be crying. No, I definitely wouldn't be because there would be no story. She still had a choice and I just wish she had chosen differently. Though if she had chosen Gale I know I would be saying the same about Peeta. It's kind of a lose-lose situation.

Celise wrote: "Amanda (Gale's Wife) wrote: "Celise wrote: "Book Worm wrote: "I know this is branching off the topic slightly, but I really want to hear your opinions.
Regardless of everything that happened in ..."

Yeah that's what i always thought.
I wish it ended differently, i don't know how i'd have felt if it were the other way around. I love Peeta, but i don't think i'd have been that upset if he didn't get Katniss.

I think Gales leaving was to protect Katniss from anymore pain from Prims death

i loveeeeeeeeeeee gale and was sooo sad he left...the author didn't really give much info on that which was sorta like that was a major part in the love part of the book....well he probably feels like poop for killing prim...(remember in the hunger games before katniss left he told her he would always take care of prim???)...yeah he also probably couldn't stand the bombing and the fact that katniss is with peeta??? i mean what guy/girl would actually wanna stay around and watch there love go around kissing and being together with another person apart from themselves?????

Yes!

Hahaha yeah i think you're right on that danielle. poop is the word i was searching for !!

Honestly? If you want my theory, Gale never left and never went to District Two. That was all a lie fed to Katniss to keep the Mockingjay sane.
I strongly believe, as much as it breaks my heart, that Gale died during that break-in at the Capitol when he was taken away. That they took him away and killed him before that bomb that he was blamed for even went off.

Besides this theory though and if you asked my second opinion if he really did just up and leave Katniss for District 2, I agree with Charlie. Knowing it was his bomb, he was overwhelmed with guilt and the thought that his creation killed someone close as family. He loved Prim, took care of her when Katniss wasn't around, made sure she didn't starve.
He knew Katniss was unstable enough as it was and seeing him would probably only further set her off. It was best for him to stay away. If she really wanted to see him, really wanted him back, she could have gone to District 2. Love is a two-way street after all and Gale did all he could for Katniss.

Though it did mention her sending Gale letters, which furthers my belief that Gale is actually dead.

I feel as if every 1 here doesn't think that she actually loves Peeta, and it's just love by circumstances, not love by nature (like Gale). I think that she truly DID come to love Peeta, and I'm sure it was painful for Gale to leave her with so much guilt. Even though I'm a hard core Peeta fan, I love Gale. It broke my heart knowing how much pain he must have been in to make that decision. But I still think that Peeta and Katniss go very good together, and will love each other to death.

Wow Ellie, that could be possible. makes my heart break that he would do such a thing though...i just can't see him do that..

Artemis wrote: "I feel as if every 1 here doesn't think that she actually loves Peeta, and it's just love by circumstances, not love by nature (like Gale). I think that she truly DID come to love Peeta, and I'm su..."

I agree whole-heartedly! + I am a hard core Peeta fan too! Haha!

Ellie wrote: "Honestly? If you want my theory, Gale never left and never went to District Two. That was all a lie fed to Katniss to keep the Mockingjay sane.
I strongly believe, as much as it breaks my heart, ..."

It couldn't have happened. He talked to Katniss after the bomb went off about it being his bomb.

Celise wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Honestly? If you want my theory, Gale never left and never went to District Two. That was all a lie fed to Katniss to keep the Mockingjay sane.
I strongly believe, as much as it brea..."

When? I don't recall and tons of people on tumblr have had the same theory as me.
When I get home from work, I need to crack open Mockingjay and check this out

Meagan wrote: "I do think that he could not face Katniss because of the bomb. Granted, he may not have known she was there but still, before you kill your enemy you need to know of your casualties."

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Celise wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Honestly? If you want my theory, Gale never left and never went to District Two. That was all a lie fed to Katniss to keep the Mockingjay sane.
I strongly believe, as much as it brea..."

yeah, I also remember gale and katniss having that conversation, so he was definitely still alive.

THE LOVE GALE HAD FOR KATNISS COULDN'T COMPARE WITH THE LOVE PEETA HAD FOR HER AND I THINK THAT GALE NEW THAT. PLUS THE BOBMING OF PRIM CERTAINLY DIDN'T MAKE ANYTHING BETTER WITHIN THEIR RELATIONSHIP..I MEAN HOW CAN YOU FACE THE ONE WHO KILLED THE PERSON YOU'VE BEEN FIGHT FOR ALL YOUR LIFE????? PLUS DISTRICT 12 WAS TOTALLY OBLITERATED, WHATS HE TO COME BACK TO??
I DON'T THINK GALE IS A BAD GUY, I JUST DON'T THINK HE WAS THE RIGHT GUY. COULD HE CHASE THE NIGHTMARES OF THE ARENA AWAY???
OH AND ....IS HE EVEN STILL ALIVE??? DISTRICT 2 MY ASS!!

Gale probably knew since he designed the bombs that killed Prim, he would never gain back Katniss' relationship as a friend because it would be to hard for her to accept that he didn't really kill Prim. He probably was trying to let Katniss live her life with Peeta and let her try to accept that he didn't kill Prim. Even though I'm TEAM PEETA ALL THE WAY, I feel really bad for Gale and that his relationship with Katniss is basically gone forever. Oh I wish Suzanne Collins wwould write a 4th book!!!!!!!!

Apparently he went there because he was offered a job. I just want to know what that job was...

Oh, Team Gale :P

Amanda (Gale's Chosen One) wrote: "I agree.
It's not that she had already "chosen" Peeta, I think it's more that he knew she would end up with Peeta because that's who she needed to survive. Heck, he knew this even before Katniss d..."



I did not think of Peeta and Katniss coming together because of survival...(weird I know since Gale did say she would choose the one she needed to survive or something so) thanks for pointing that out ! XD

Gales leaving: This just shows me that Gale didn't come back because he knew it would hurt her. He loved her enough to care about her feelings. He knew it would just make things worse, so he did a very strong thing in leaving. It wasn't heartless, it wasn't selfish, it wasn't wimpy, and it doesn't make him a jerk. That's one of the more caring things he's ever done. 

One of my friends says Gale went off to sulk in D2 and he decided to stay there while Katniss had kids. It's kinda funny when you think about it but it does go deeper than that.

So, I think that he's guilty or he's sad because Katniss thinks his bomb killed Prim and besides that, I think, that HE thinks District 2 is his place.

District 2 (mansonary) is where peacekeepers are trained and they manufacture weapon. It's possible that Gale went there to learn more about weapons and stuffs about bombs or an updated version of snares. He's one of them obviously, one of the Mansonary people. He likes weapons and he's into war strategies and stuffs.

Its unfair for both of them. Gale could never handle see Katniss everyday after what he could've done.

Clearly you want a new life after all that, right?

I feel that after prims death and afterthe hunger games gale knew that peeta was the only one who could truly comfort katniss after all that happenened in the arenas and gale would of made it harder for katniss to greive her sister

I feel like Gale left for good reasons, but never bothered to simply ask or talk to Katniss. They just left the anger in teh air when he didn't do anything directly on purpose. With that said, I was Team Gale. I wanted to see Katniss run back to him and I guess, get a start over.

Jennifer wrote: "Yeah I don't think he left cause he is a bad guy. He just wanted to continue to be a part of the resistance and he was offered a good job at district two. Katniss didn't want to see him anymore bec..."

What I took from it was that Katniss would always connect him to Prim's death. Not that she didn't want to see him, she probably still really likes him, but she will just always connect the two together and it makes her sad. It's not her fault that she feels that way. Gale probably went to district two first because he was offered a job, and second because district twelve brings bad memories, and he probably didn't want to watch Katniss and Peeta living happily together. He still loves her though, and that is the last reason why he left. My opinion.

I see it from both perspectives. I mean I see how it could be traumatic for him to just be near Katniss again. He could feel like she betrayed him, because he loved her and she didn't love him back. I also see that he was just a wuss and couldn't face Katniss even after all those good years of friendship.

As many of you have already said, I believe that Gale left because of the bombing. And I recall Katniss realizing she'd never be able to think about Prim, and the bombing without connecting it to Gale. So I fell that they did love each other, would never end up together, but loved each other. But then after the bombing, Katniss' love fore Gale kind of...changed. Like, I feel that she wasn't sure she could trust him completely again even though she loved him. But I think that if Katniss had been able to put that away and forgive Gale for it, I think Gale would have been around to be uncle to those two adorable children.
But then again, he might not have, having always been...a bit jealous of Peeta and her relationship.

Hope I don't offend anyone with my point of you. :) just thought I'd out it down since there's a discussion about it. :)

Ellie wrote: "Celise wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Honestly? If you want my theory, Gale never left and never went to District Two. That was all a lie fed to Katniss to keep the Mockingjay sane.
I strongly believe, as ..."

Ellie wrote: "Honestly? If you want my theory, Gale never left and never went to District Two. That was all a lie fed to Katniss to keep the Mockingjay sane.
I strongly believe, as much as it breaks my heart, t..."

I agree with Celise. I just finished the Mockingjay. Katniss and Gale talked shortly before she assassinated President Coin.

I think Gale would have gone to District 2 regardless if the bombing killed Prim or not. From the very beginning Gale was an activist. He wanted change and he wished to be part of it. I think District 12 is a retreat for Katniss and the others, whereas District 2 will be actively participating in rebuilding Panem. I think Katniss would have been able to move past Gale's part in Prim's death, but she just needs time. Even without his connection to Prim's death I believe Katniss would have chosen Peeta. Both Peeta and Gale are great guys, but Peeta makes Katniss a better person. He helps compensate for her weaknesses-recklessness, blinded by anger, black and white way of looking at life, act now think later personality, ability to forget compassion etc.- and Gale only reinforces them because he shares many of Katniss' weaknesses. If there was a fourth book I think Katniss and Gale would salvage their friendship. I'd love to know what job he has and more about the further development of Katniss' relationship with Peeta.

i think Gale thought Katniss would not be able to stay near him because of what happen to Prim but that was not his flout so she cant blame him and she needed Peeta.

I don't think it was because he was a bad person, it was because he knew life would never be the same in District 12. Gale and Katniss needed to move on because they could never be friends again. Life in that district would never be the same, so he did it to move on with life.