Summary and Analysis
Epilogue:
Chapter 27
Summary
Many years later, Katniss and Peeta are parents to a daughter and a son. For nearly fifteen years, Katniss was hesitant about having children even though Peeta has wanted children for all those years. Katniss is unsure how to tell the children about her and Peeta’s past, but Peeta assures her that everything will be okay.
To survive her constant fear that she and her family’s safety could be taken away in an instant, Katniss thinks about every act of goodness she has seen. Recalling these acts of goodness becomes a game to Katniss. Still, she thinks, there are worse games to play.
Analysis
The children’s faces show a strong blending of both Katniss and Peeta: The girl has Peeta’s blue eyes and Katniss’ dark hair; the boy Katniss’ gray eyes and Peeta’s blond hair. Essentially Peeta and Katniss will live on in their children.
A strong juxtaposition exists between the song that Katniss’ children know so well and “The Hanging Tree,” the song from Katniss’ childhood. The children’s song is comforting and warm, exuding safety and peaceful sleep, something that Katniss still struggles to enjoy and accept; “The Hanging Tree” song is anything but. Katniss worries that at any moment her world now built on family could be taken away from her.
To put her mind at ease, Katniss plays a game. She knows that, while the game might be boring, it could be a lot worse. The Mockingjay should know. She has played many terrible games.
The epilogue’s overriding purpose is to provide closure, indicating that both Katniss and Peeta will live on in their children. The children represent the ultimate form of rebirth. There is great hope at the end of the novel, hope for Katniss and Peeta and for all of the generations to come.