After Katniss kills Coin, the immediate aftermath is a mixture of chaos and the reshaping of Panem’s political landscape.
Here’s a breakdown of what happens:
- Coin’s Death and Snow’s Death: Katniss’s unexpected action at Snow’s execution creates a chaotic scene. Snow, who was already gravely ill and awaiting execution, is killed in the commotion, possibly by choking on his own blood or being crushed by the crowd.
- Rise of Commander Paylor: In the power vacuum left by Coin’s assassination, Commander Paylor of District 8 steps up and is democratically elected as the new president of Panem.
- Abolition of the Hunger Games: Under Paylor’s leadership, the Hunger Games are permanently abolished, and the arenas are dismantled.
- Panem’s Transformation: Panem begins to transition into a democratic constitutional republic, [according to The Hunger Games Wiki].
- Katniss’s Fate: Katniss faces a trial for Coin’s murder. Her medical records (detailing her mental and emotional state after the war) are presented by her doctor, and she is ultimately deemed mentally unstable and acquitted. She is allowed to return to District 12 under Haymitch’s care.
- Life After the War: Katniss struggles to cope with the trauma of the war and the loss of her sister, Prim. With Peeta’s help, she slowly begins to heal, and they rebuild their lives, eventually marrying and having children. They create a book to memorialize those who died and find solace in their new family.
- Other Characters:
– Gale Hawthorne: Takes a job in District 2 and doesn’t interact with Katniss again.
– Katniss’s Mother: Moves to District 4, where she establishes a hospital, unable to deal with the pain of her losses in District 12.
– Haymitch Abernathy: Returns to District 12 and continues to be a presence in Katniss’s life, though he mostly drinks.
The ending of the Hunger Games trilogy brings about a new era for Panem, marked by the end of the totalitarian regime and the hope for a more just and peaceful future, although the scars of the past remain, particularly for characters like Katniss.
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.
Was Katniss going to take Nightlock after killing Coin?
Yes, she planned to eat the nightlock pill so that she wouldn’t have to face the consequences of killing Coin. Peeta stopped her. The whole crew had them in case they were captured. That’s why we hear Peeta asking for them a couple times, etc.