Manipulation in Mockingjay

     Humans are not perfect; we use nasty tricks to get what we want. Tricks like blackmail and threatening are used to accomplish our goals. One trick that we use is manipulation. Manipulating is a way to manage and influence a person to your benefit. In my book Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, manipulation is a way that a rebellion force and a corrupt government control their followers. Both use different methods of manipulation, but they still use manipulation to control and influence their followers.
     The Capitol uses sick and wanton acts of manipulation to control their citizens. The Hunger Games was an event that had teenagers fight to the death. During a special event of the Games during Catching Fire, the second book of the series, former victors were pitted. One thing that was said was very interesting. The reason for the special event was to show the citizens that even their strongest is not strong enough. The Hunger Games were already a way to manipulate the citizens by showing them that they have no control, but now, the Games were used to show that the citizens and the developing rebellion is no match for the Capitol. Also, the Capitol took a main character named Peeta, an ally of Katniss, the main character. They poisoned him so that the poison would alter his memory. The Capitol changed memories of him and Katniss having a good time to memories that depicted Katniss as evil. They had him speak against the rebellion and Katniss. People listened because of his natural born power for speaking. The Capitol used cruel ways to manipulate people to stay powerful.
     Not only did the Capitol use manipulation to get their ways, but the rebellion used manipulation as well. Scenes of destruction and interviews were used as propaganda. The rebellion hacked into the Capitol’s broadcasting system and aired clips of propaganda. The clips exploited the Capitol’s malicious acts. The rebellion also manipulated certain people. A quote in the book showed how President Coin, the leader of the rebellion, used Katniss. Boggs, a member of the rebellion said,
     “Here’s as much as I know. The president doesn’t like you. She never did. It was Peeta she wanted rescued from the arena, but no one else agreed. It mad matters worse when you forced her to give other victors immunity. But even that could be overlooked in the view of how well you performed.”
     This shows the manipulation of the rebellion. The president didn’t like Katniss, but she manipulated her by making her think she did. She did what Katniss asked for to make Katniss think she liked her. Coin was just using Katniss as a puppet to promote the rebellion. The rebellion used manipulation to their needs as well.
     Both sides of the war used manipulation to influence people, but used different methods. The Capitol used the Hunger Games to make the districts feel weak and pitiful. The rebellion used their propaganda to show the world the cruelty of the Capitol. The rebellion aired scenes of destruction caused by the Capitol. They showed interviews of people and their experience with the Capitol. The Capitol used sadistic methods to manipulate its citizens. They showed teenagers brutally kill and slaughter each other for entertainment. It showed the power of the Capitol. They both manipulated certain people as well. The Capitol poisoned Peeta and changed his memories. The rebellion used mind games to manipulate Katniss. Both sides used manipulation as a way to control people.
     Manipulation is a resourceful trick shown in this book if done correctly. Both sides of the war use manipulation well and allow them to have an advantage. The rebellion has amassed a group of followers by using its propagandas and the Capitol used The Hunger Games as a way to strike fear into its citizens.