Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: Why is poison Coriolanus Snow's signature way of dealing with his enemies?

In Suzanne Collins' prequel to The Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the readers are taken back in time to witness the younger years of the notorious President Coriolanus Snow. Set in the aftermath of a devastating civil war that rocked Panem, the novel explores Snow's involvement in the 10th Annual Hunger Games as a student mentor.Snow, a member of the once-prosperous Snow family, now lives in the Capitol with his grandmother and cousin Tigress. After losing his parents in the war, Snow and his relatives struggle to make ends meet. However, Snow excels in his studies at the Capitol Academy and is chosen to be a mentor for the upcoming Hunger Games, a chance to restore his family's wealth.But Snow is paired with Lucy Gray Baird, the female tribute from District 12, the poorest district in Panem. Initially anxious about the arrangement, Snow and Lucy form a bond as he sneaks food to her to prevent her from starving. Other mentors follow suit, secretly providing nourishment to their tributes. This act of kindness sparks an idea in Snow's mind, leading him to propose the concept of sponsorships and betting to support the tributes during the games, an idea that would later become integral to the Hunger Games.However, amidst the excitement and preparations for the games, tragedy strikes when bombs explode during a tour of the arena, killing several tributes and mentors. Lucy briefly considers escaping, but she chooses to help the injured Snow instead. The Hunger Games commence, and most tributes meet their demise due to starvation, sickness, and weakness. Lucy, cunning and resourceful, hides in the darkness to survive.During this time, Snow encounters a fellow mentor named Sejanus Plinth, who loathes the Capitol and the games. Snow convinces Sejanus to leave, explaining that he can make a more significant impact with his beliefs if he stays alive. As a tribute attacks them, Snow is forced to kill for the first time.Back in the Capitol, Snow recalls the genetically modified snakes that were used in a previous incident and realizes they may hold the key to eliminating his enemies. He drops a cloth with Lucy's scent into the snake tank, allowing the reptiles to grow accustomed to her scent. When the snakes are released into the arena, they attack all the remaining tributes except Lucy. She is left surrounded by the snakes, unharmed and embraced by them.Lucy ultimately emerges as the winner of the Hunger Games and is returned to District 12. Meanwhile, Snow faces repercussions for his relationship with Lucy and is forced to become a Peacekeeper in District 12, far from the retribution he had hoped for. He reunites with Lucy in the district, and their relationship deepens as Snow gains empathy for the people in the districts.However, chaos and uncertainty envelop District 12 as rebellion plots are uncovered. Snow secretly records evidence that reveals the plot to help District residents escape. Tragedy befalls their fellow conspirators, leaving Snow and Lucy as the only witnesses to the murders.As Lucy decides to leave for the North, Snow contemplates betraying her by destroying evidence of his crimes. In a heated moment, he fires a gun into the trees where Lucy has fled, unsure if she was hit. With no time to waste, Snow disposes of the evidence and returns to District 12 and ultimately to the Capitol.In the epilogue, it is revealed that the Hunger Games were the brainchild of Dean Highbottom, Snow's critical principal, and Snow's father. Frustrated by Highbottom's mistreatment, Snow poisons him, marking the beginning of his signature method of dealing with his enemies. Snow continues his rise to power as a Game Maker and implements his own ideas into the games.Lucy's ultimate fate remains unknown, as she either died in the forest or escaped Panem. The actions and choices made by Snow in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes shape the calculating and ruthless persona he becomes in The Hunger Games trilogy.In the upcoming film adaptation of the book, fans eagerly anticipate how the story will be brought to life on the screen. With a star-studded cast, including Tom Blyth as a young Snow and Rachel Zegler as Lucy, early reviews have praised the performances and the faithfulness to the source material. As fans of The Hunger Games franchise eagerly await the release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the origins of Snow's signature method of dealing with his enemies will be brought to life in a new and captivating way.