According to your previous post about Peeta's perspective during the mission, do you think he was exactly THE ONE who put Katniss out of the flames or he was just near her and got burned in the process?
Good question. We can’t know absolutely what happened, but I don’t believe that Collins mentions his hands by accident.
Katniss only knows that Peeta was present in the City Circle when she sees him recovering in the burn ward. Then she fixates on his burn-scarred hand at the meeting. The same hand that likely prevents her from taking the nightlock tablet moments later. Hands that lifted her up the ladder to escape the lizard mutts in the sewer. Hands that protect.
It’s just my theory, but I think it has symbolic validity. Plus I just like the imagery it presents - it feels rather poetic. Much more so than him just being in the same place at the same time.
Colin’s has Peeta in the burn unit longer than Katniss as his burns are worse and cover more of his body.
Just before Katniss enters the City Circle, just after Gale has been captured Katniss removes her red cape and turns it inside out, so that she’s wearing a BLACK cape.
The first time (The Hunger Games) Katniss and Peeta are in the City Circle together it’s right before Cina lights their BLACK capes on fire with synthetic flames. Peeta tells Katniss “I’ll rip off your cape if you rip off mine.” Hello foreshadowing.
Two more excellent observations! I love Collins’s use of foreshadowing and symbolism. Her use of colour is intriguing, too.
These aren’t my A game examples, but maybe more like things I’ve thought about.
I read a post not long ago pointing out that Peeta was a “wiz” with fires, and that Katniss was the Girl on Fire, and that’s why she needed him to tame her fire. Only they were talking about the dandelion in the spring bit, not this bit.
Peeta had worked with fire his whole life, and wasn’t afraid of getting burned.
Katniss actually said that burns were the worst kind of pain to her.
She witnessed her Prim burn to death, right before the flames hit her. She may not have been in as dark of a place as Denethor, but certainly not capable of saving herself in the few seconds that were pertinent to survival.
I’m really hoping that S.C. insisted on having a few of these hero Peeta moments in Mockingjay. They aren’t all recognizable as Peeta, because Katniss is not fully aware of what’s going on around her all the time. Instead the author leaves you clues, like she felt “strong arms” lift her. A lot of the moments are probably instinctual for Peeta.
But back in 12 Katniss finds herself tucked in bed at night, even though she’d passed out on the living room floor that afternoon. I guess Greasy Sae could have fetched Haymitch, but my bet is on Peeta.
EXCELLENT.
