Mockingjay Chapter 8 Quotes
Mockingjay Chapter 8 Quotes
How we cite the quotes:
(Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote 1
Gale, who I have never seen cry, has tears in his eyes. To keep them from spilling over, I reach forward and press my lips against his. We taste of heat, ashes, and misery. It's a surprising flavor for such a gentle kiss. He pulls away first and gives me a wry smile. "I knew you'd kiss me."
"How?" I say. Because I didn't know myself.
"Because I'm in pain," he says. "That's the only way I get your attention." He picks up the box. "Don't worry, Katniss. It'll pass." (8.69-71)
What kind of relationship do Gale and Katniss have? Based on Gale's comments here, it seems like an unbalanced one. She only expresses love or care for him when he is "in pain." Otherwise, at least in his opinion, she doesn't appear to notice him. And it does seem like Katniss is more inclined to reach out and give physical comfort when Gale is obviously hurting.
Quote 2
There's no District 12 to escape from now, no Peacekeepers to trick, no hungry mouths to feed. The Capitol took away all of that, and I'm on the verge of losing Gale as well. The glue of mutual need that bonded us so tightly together for all those years is melting away. Dark patches, not light, show in the spaces between us. How can it be that today, in the face of 12's horrible demise, we are too angry to even speak to each other? (8.57)
Here, Katniss is questioning the very foundation of her friendship with Gale. Before, in hard times when they were allies, they were the best of friends. Now that their situation has totally changed, though, does that mean their friendship is changing as well? Katniss can't tell whether their friendship has the strength to make it through this latest development – or whether it even should.