Katniss Everdeen killed President Alma Coin for a combination of reasons, primarily stemming from Coin’s increasingly ruthless and dictatorial tendencies that mirrored those of the deposed President Snow.
Here’s a breakdown of the key motivations:
- Vengeance for Prim: The most significant factor was Katniss’s belief that Coin was directly responsible for the bombs that killed Primrose Everdeen, Katniss’s younger sister, during the final assault on the Capitol. Katniss learned this from an imprisoned Snow, and though initially disbelieving, she later came to accept his reasoning – that Coin had orchestrated the attack to frame Snow and solidify her own power, [according to MSN].
- Fear of a New Tyranny: Katniss saw in Coin a leader just as, if not more, dangerous than Snow. Coin’s willingness to sacrifice innocent lives, including children, to achieve her goals, and her proposal to hold a “symbolic” Hunger Games with Capitol children, solidified Katniss’s belief that Coin would perpetuate the cycle of violence and oppression they had fought so hard to end. This was particularly evident when Coin proposed one last Hunger Games using Capitol children as a way to punish the Capitol, [according to Quora].
- To Break the Cycle of Violence: Katniss’s ultimate goal was to establish a truly free and peaceful Panem. She recognized that if Coin, with her thirst for power, were to take Snow’s place, the entire revolution would be in vain and the violence would continue. By eliminating Coin, Katniss hoped to break that cycle and allow for the possibility of a new, just government, [according to Quora].
Essentially, Katniss saw President Coin as a corrupt and manipulative individual who was as bad as, if not worse than, President Snow. Her actions were driven by a desire to avenge Prim’s death and to prevent the establishment of a new dictatorship, ultimately giving Panem a chance at genuine freedom and peace.
Was Katniss going to kill herself after she killed Coin?
Great question! He knew she had a plan. Durán Rafaela she didn’t know she was going to kill herself until after she’d killed coin. Realized she couldn’t force the people she loved to see her tortured and broken. So she’d end it.