The pin symbolizes “a creature with a spirit of its own”. The bird depicted on the pin, the Mockingjay, was an actual bird created by the Capitol. The birds broke free from the Capitol and began a life of their own. The birds symbolize that “not all living things can be controlled by the Capitol”, they are a symbol of rebellion and resistance. The pin was given to Katniss as a symbol of District 12, to wear while she was in the arena. While in the arena, the pin helped Katniss gain an alliance with a young girl, who only began to trust Katniss after seeing the gold pin she wore above her heart. In the second book of the three part series, the pin means so much more than it was ever meant to. The pin becomes a symbol of rebellion, after Katniss
