President Snow sends roses to Katniss at several points in the novel—most shockingly, just after he orders her home, District 12, to be bombed. Because roses are typically a sign of affection and love, Snow’s message—that is, the juxtaposition of roses and violence—is far more appalling than violence by itself could ever be. This kind of juxtaposition is typical of the government’s political “style”: during the Hunger Games, for instance, the government combines entertainment and pleasure with violence. In general, then, roses symbolize the government at its gaudiest and most terrifying.
Roses Quotes in Mockingjay
The Mockingjay quotes below all refer to the symbol of Roses. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 1
Quotes
No one will fully understand—how it's not just a flower, not even just President Snow's flower, but a promise of revenge—because no one else sat in the study with him when he threatened me before the Victory Tour. Positioned on my dresser, that white-as-snow rose is a personal message to me. It speaks of unfinished business. It whispers, I can find you. I can reach you. Perhaps I am watching you now.
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Roses Symbol Timeline in Mockingjay
The timeline below shows where the symbol Roses appears in Mockingjay. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...District 12 before she’s discovered. As Katniss turns to leave she notices a small white rose lying on her dresser. She realizes that this rose—clearly placed here only a few days...
(full context)
Chapter 11
...which she finds in ruins. She also notices a huge pile of white and red roses, which she assumes is an ironic gift from President Snow, matching the rose in the...
(full context)
Chapter 25
...to see Katniss one more time. Katniss notices that there is a bed of red roses in his cell, whose color contrasts with Snow’s sickly, almost green skin. She also considers...
(full context)
