Jessup Diggs Character Analysis in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Jessup is the male tribute from District 12; Lysistrata is his mentor. Because of his stout stature and his obvious strength, Jessup is an unexpected favorite to win the Hunger Games. He’s quiet, though he and Lucy Gray befriend each other, and he is eventually willing to speak with Lysistrata. In the week before the Hunger Games start, as the Capitol refuses to feed the tributes, Jessup loses much of his strength and his health. Lysistrata comes to respect him deeply, especially after he shields her when the bombs explode during the mentors’ and tributes’ tour of the arena. Because of this, during interviews, she consistently insists that Jessup is a human, just like viewers in the Capitol. During his time in the Capitol zoo, a raccoon bites Jessup in the neck. Initially, he grows slowly (but unexplainably) odd, but near the end of the Hunger Games, it becomes clear he contracted rabies from the raccoon. Lysistrata helps kill him and save Lucy Gray by sending in water bottles that terrify him (rabies makes victims fear water). During her interview after his death, Lysistrata tells Lepidus that Jessup was loyal—and loyal like a person, not like a dog as Lepidus suggests.

Jessup Diggs Character Timeline in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The timeline below shows where the character Jessup Diggs appears in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...return and take the mic from her. Then, Mayor Lipp draws the District 12 boy, Jessup Diggs. The camera cuts to the reapings in the next districts, but Coriolanus only pretends... (full context)

...livestock cars is unexpected. He’s repulsed. The Peacekeeper moves to the second car and first Jessup, then Lucy Gray Baird, climb out. As the Peacekeepers shout at the other tributes in... (full context)

...sits down, accepts a sandwich, and encourages Coriolanus to join her. Then, Lucy Gray tells Jessup to accept a sandwich. After Jessup takes his, the other tributes rush Sejanus for theirs—all... (full context)

...are shackled in their cage, and at first Coriolanus can’t find Lucy Gray. But then Jessup nudges a pile beside him and Lucy Gray sits up. She unsteadily drags her chains... (full context)

...and she immediately finishes one packet. Then she explains she’s saving the second packet for Jessup, who’s her ally now. Coriolanus promises to get her more food and shares that people... (full context)

...vans and into a line with their tributes. Coriolanus and Lucy Gray are next to Jessup and Lysistrata. Reaper, Clemensia’s tribute, glowers at the ground. Lysistrata offers Jessup medicine for his... (full context)

...and Dean Highbottom review the performances from last night. According to Lucky Flickerman, Tanner and Jessup are the favorites to win, but Lucy Gray has more food gifts than anyone else.... (full context)

...family mausoleum tonight. He gives the box to Lucy Gray. She says she’d share with Jessup, but he isn’t eating and is acting weird. They all are, though; Reaper has apologized... (full context)

...12 at all—in fact, they’re almost Capitol. Lysistrata looks annoyed; in her interview she insists Jessup and Lucy Gray are devoted to each other. (full context)

...himself with morphling and Lysistrata rushes up, angry that Coriolanus is destroying her strategy with Jessup. (full context)

...Coriolanus shows Lysistrata Lucy Gray’s list of food on his communicuff and promises to help Jessup. Lysistrata apologizes for snapping and says she’s just upset because the Games seem revolting. She... (full context)

...calling everyone “monsters.” Onscreen, the gong sounds and the tributes race into the arena’s tunnels. Jessup, Tanner, Coral, and Reaper grab weapons first. Lucky encourages viewers to bet on their tribute... (full context)

...in front of the arena, where there are two dogs dressed as Lucy Gray and Jessup. Coriolanus’s communicuff pings, signaling more food. (full context)

Later in the evening, Lucy Gray races out of a tunnel alone. Jessup staggers out behind her, looking hurt. But soon, it becomes clear he’s sick. He swipes... (full context)

Lysistrata murmurs that Jessup has rabies. Rabies returned in the Capitol during the war, when people weren’t vaccinating their... (full context)

The drone flies in with the bottle of water—but as it flies over Jessup, Jessup swings at it with a board. The bottle cracks and Jessup becomes even more... (full context)

Lucy Gray drinks several bottles of water, pours a bottle over Jessup’s face, and closes his eyes with a handkerchief. She scoops up the food parcels Lysistrata... (full context)

...and their mentors. He introduces Lucy Gray as the most popular tribute, and Coriolanus crosses Jessup and Lysistrata off his mentor sheet. The rest of the evening is uneventful, so Coriolanus... (full context)

...since she hasn’t shown herself. Lucky starts the morning by having Lepidus interview Coriolanus about Jessup’s rabies scare. Coriolanus praises Lysistrata’s quick thinking and notes that Lucy Gray is loyal and... (full context)

...Lucy Gray. Finally, Reaper emerges from the tunnels. He arranges the dead tributes (except for Jessup) in a line and then drapes a piece of the flag over the bodies. He... (full context)

...The mentors now have assigned seating, and the only change in the arena is that Jessup’s body is with the other bodies. Nothing happens until midmorning, when Wovey, skeletal and ill,... (full context)

...Lucy Gray admits she killed Wovey, Treech, and Reaper (whom she insists had rabies like Jessup). (full context)