Mockingjay: Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Katniss looks at the “unwashed bodies” of her prep team: Flavius, Venia, and Octavia. Flavius, Venia, and Octavia have “done” Katniss’s makeup throughout her two Hunger Games. Katniss gently approaches Venia and asks her what’s happened. Venia explains that “they” took them from the Capitol on the night that Katniss broke out of the Hunger Games. She adds that Cinna, Katniss’s loyal friend, requested that they be taken to District 13. Katniss is enormously confused—she finds it hard to believe that Cinna, who’s always been kind and gentle to her, would mistreat his own coworkers. Even Fulvia and Plutarch seem confused.

The guard explains to Katniss that Venia, Octavia, and Flavius have been imprisoned for stealing food. They were warned not to take food, and continued to do so. Nevertheless, Katniss yells at the guard to release the prep team. Plutarch urges him to do so as well, adding that he’ll take full responsibility. The guard releases Venia, Octavia, and Flavius, and they limp out of their cell.

Katniss leads Venia, Octavia, and Flavius to District 13’s hospital, and calls her mother, who is a skillful nurse. Katniss’s mother is welcomed into the hospital, where she examines the prep team and concludes that they’ll be all right. Meanwhile, Fulvia and Plutarch arrive at the hospital. Katniss points out that Coin is sending a message to all of them: comply with the rules of District 13, or face the consequences. Fulvia and Plutarch point out that they’re too important to the rebel cause to be punished in such a way, but Katniss responds that leaders, like Hunger Games contestants, are important—until they’re not.

Katniss leaves the hospital, remembering the terms of her contract—she’s entitled to go hunting with Gale above ground. They proceed by elevator to the surface of the Earth, armed with bows and arrows they’ve been issued by the district. At the surface, there are wild animals, such as turkeys and rabbits. As they hunt, Gale asks Katniss why she cares about her prep team so much—after all, their job was to make her look pretty before she was murdered. Katniss angrily defends her team, arguing that she’ll defend anyone who’s tortured for stealing bread. At the same time, Katniss can’t help but feel that Gale has a point—her prep team never seemed to mind that Katniss was going to almost certain death.

Katniss and Gale return from their hunt with a large number of kills. They take their food to Greasy Sae, an old resident of District 12 whom Gale managed to save. Sae takes their meat and promises to cook a good meal with it. Afterwards, Gale and Katniss make their way to the Collective, a huge hall where a meeting is about to occur. Gale points out the scar marks on the people’s faces, reminding Katniss that there was a pox epidemic in District 13 long ago.

Among the crowd of people waiting in the Collective, Katniss spots her friend Finnick Odair, another contestant in the previous Games. Finnick, who seems frustrated and exhausted, explains to Katniss that he’s worried his old friend and lover, Annie Cresta, will say something that could be construed as treasonous. Katniss runs to the front of the Collective, where Coin is about to speak, and tells her that she needs Coin to put Annie Cresta’s name on the “immunity list.” Coin Nods but says that this is unnecessary—the mentally ill (like Annie) aren’t punished for treason.

Coin tells Katniss that she’s about to announce that Katniss will be the mockingjay. Katniss, getting the message, runs away from the Collective. As she leaves, she hears Coin telling the crowd that Katniss has agreed to be mockingjay, on the condition that Peeta, Johanna, Annie, and Enobaria are granted immunity. Boos and jeers greet this news, and Katniss realizes that the people of District 13 wanted Peeta punished for his treason. She also realizes that she’s under a strict contract of loyalty and cooperation with Coin—if she “steps out of line,” she and her friends are as good as dead.