Lepidus Malmsey Character Analysis in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Lepidus is a young reporter with the Capitol News who’s assigned to cover the Hunger Games. He’s the first to interview Lucy Gray and Coriolanus, and he’s later assigned to cover the mentors in the Academy’s auditorium. Like many in the Capitol, Lepidus doesn’t view the tributes as being fully human; he once likens Jessup to a “loyal dog.”

Lepidus Malmsey Character Timeline in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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

...and finds herself face to face with a camera. The accompanying reporter introduces himself as Lepidus Malmsey. As Lepidus asks questions, Lucy Gray explains that she’s not really District 12; she’s... (full context)

The news cameras approach Coriolanus and Lucy Gray. Lepidus asks about Sejanus and asks why Sejanus is bringing sandwiches; doesn’t the Capitol feed the... (full context)

...stands. Lucky struggles to make hosting interesting; the Games have never had a host before. Lepidus arrives in the hall to interview Pup live, but the morning is boring. After lunch,... (full context)

...back to Lucky, who celebrates since they’ve hit the halfway mark; 12 tributes are dead. Lepidus interviews Juno, who insists Bobbin died under suspicious circumstances and demands to see footage. With... (full context)

...District Five girl emerges and Mizzen, Coral, and Tanner hunt her down and kill her. Lepidus interviews her mentor, Iphigenia, who can’t remember whether the girl’s name was Sol or Sal.... (full context)

...and then runs into a tunnel, just as Reaper enters the arena. In the auditorium, Lepidus interviews Lysistrata, who firmly insists Jessup was bitten by a Capitol raccoon. Lepidus claws at... (full context)

...in a tunnel somewhere, 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... (full context)

...through Panem’s flag until it falls. The audience is aghast; this demands punishment. Clemensia tells Lepidus that this is “stupid,” and she’ll feed Reaper when he earns it. The students in... (full context)

...spend the afternoon watching Lucky try to get his parrot to talk. Coriolanus talks to Lepidus whenever he can, which results in more food gifts for Lucy Gray. Finally, Reaper emerges... (full context)

...from the bombing; Coriolanus should keep this a secret and prepare something to say to Lepidus. Dr. Gaul says there will be repercussions and then Coriolanus leaves, thinking about the paper... (full context)

...auditorium erupts in applause for Lucy Gray. She suggests the audience remember Gaius Breen, so Lepidus interviews Coriolanus and his classmates. Coriolanus is the only one able to connect Gaius’s death... (full context)

...Treech leaps out and splits her skull. Urban stalks off the stage, while Persephone allows Lepidus to interview her. Coriolanus, Clemensia, and Vipsania—the final three mentors—arrange their chairs in a line. (full context)

...fire. The cameras cut back to the arena, where Lucy Gray is still hiding. When Lepidus approaches Coriolanus for an interview, Coriolanus continues to insist that Lucy Gray isn’t really district.... (full context)