Katniss Everdeen's mockingjay pin in The Hunger Games is one of the most iconic images from the entire franchise. In the film series, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) received the pin from one of the merchants in the Hob. But in the books, it was a gift from someone who was completely left out of the films — Madge Undersee.
In The Hunger Games, each tribute was allowed one token from their home district to remind them of their friends and family during the Games. Katniss selected the mockingjay pin. But as Katniss went on to become the face for the rebellion against the Capitol, the mockingjay became the symbol of the rebellion. The mockingjay represented something that was never meant to exist, just like the rebels who stood against the Capitol.
Anyone familiar with The Hunger Games books or movies knows how powerful that symbolism is to the story. Understandably, fans were upset when the movie changed the story of how Katniss got the pin. In books, Madge Undersee was the daughter District 12's mayor and Katniss' classmate. She was the only one in their class who sat with Katniss at lunch and while they were never too close, she was Katniss' only friend. So because of that, Madge thought it was fitting to give her friend a parting gift when she decided to volunteer in her sister's place for the Hunger Games. Unbeknownst the Katniss at the time, the pin she received previously belonged to Madge's aunt, Maysilee Donner, who died in the 50th Hunger Games.
As the mayor's daughter, Madge came from one of the wealthier families in District 12. Katniss' father died before the events of the story, so her family was always struggling to make ends meet. That made Katniss and Madge unlikely friends, which made their friendship all the more endearing and unexpected. Because of that, Katniss was likely extra touched by Madge's gift, which was why she carried it with her through the entirety of the rebellion. While Madge played a small yet pivotal role in Katniss' story, she was tragically killed in the District 12 bombings.
When The Hunger Games were adapted into a movie series, Madge was cut from the films altogether. Her role in giving the mockingjay pin to Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss was passed off to Hob vendor Greasy Sae. In District 12, the Hob was a black market where Katniss and her best friend Gale went to trade and sell the excess game they caught. It was an incredibly important place to Katniss, so it made perfect sense for the Hob to be where the mockingjay pin came from.
District 12 was a huge part of Katniss' identity. The Hunger Games took her away from home and eventually led to its destruction, but the pin was a reminder of where it came from. The fact that it came from a place in District 12 that Katniss held dear only increased the emotional significance for her. Since Madge was her only friend, it was a sweet touch that she gave Katniss the pin in the books. But since Greasy Sae represented the District 12 that Katniss knew and loved, having her give the pin held an entirely different emotional gravitas.
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