Based on the events in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay , President Alma Coin, leader of District 13 and the rebellion against the Capitol, displayed characteristics that suggest a questionable moral compass and ultimately villainous intentions.
While initially appearing as a formidable opponent to President Snow’s tyrannical rule and presenting herself as fighting for a more just Panem, Coin’s actions reveal her to be primarily driven by a desire for power and control.
Here’s why many consider her to be a villain:
- Manipulative and ruthless: Coin was not above using manipulation and ruthless tactics to achieve her goals. She exploited Katniss as the symbol of the revolution and was willing to sacrifice lives to gain power.
- Desired to continue the Hunger Games: One of the most damning pieces of evidence against Coin’s character was her proposal to hold a “symbolic” Hunger Games with the children of the Capitol’s elite after Snow’s defeat. This proposal mirrored the very cruelty the rebellion was fighting against and suggested a perpetuation of the cycle of violence and oppression.
- Orchestrated the bombing of Capitol children and medics: President Snow revealed to Katniss that Coin was responsible for the bombing that killed many Capitol children and rebel medics, including Katniss’s sister Prim. This act highlights her willingness to engage in morally reprehensible actions to achieve her objectives, using the deaths to frame Snow and solidify her own power.
- Autocratic tendencies: While portraying herself as a leader fighting for freedom, Coin showed signs of autocratic tendencies, such as postponing elections indefinitely, suggesting a desire to consolidate power and establish her own dictatorship.
Ultimately, Katniss recognized that Coin’s hunger for power and willingness to employ ruthless methods made her potentially as dangerous, if not more so, than President Snow. Katniss’s decision to assassinate Coin instead of Snow underscores the belief that Coin posed a significant threat to the future of Panem and its chance for true liberation.
Why did Snow laugh when Katniss killed Coin?
Great question! Katniss believed in the value of all human lives. Snow knew he was dying and made sure Katniss understood how ruthless Coin was in her goals and so when she shot Coin, he laughed because he knew he had convinced Katniss that Coin wasn’t a good leader either, and that Katniss saw a third option for the future.
Is Coin good or bad in Hunger Games?
But yeah, Coin is evil. She tried to trigger Peeta into murdering Katniss and then sent a 13 year old to get blown up when the first idea failed.