Strabo Plinth Character Analysis in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Strabo Plinth is a munitions magnate from District Two. With the fortune he amassed during the war (after the Snows’ munitions operation in District 13 was obliterated), he brought his wife, Ma Plinth, and son, Sejanus, to the Capitol. He bought their life in the Capitol—he funded the Academy’s reconstruction, and over the course of the novel, he writes checks to fund a new gym and a new lab for Dr. Gaul. Strabo and Sejanus are often at odds, since Strabo is obsessed with appearances and has no issue paying for the family’s spot in the Capitol’s inner circle, while Sejanus maintains that this is morally wrong. Coriolanus considers using Strabo’s interest in prestige and reputation to his advantage by blackmailing the man, but this ends up being unnecessary. Strabo is either unable or isn’t given the chance to buy Sejanus out of charges of treason in District 12, which result in Sejanus’s execution. Once Coriolanus returns to the Capitol, Strabo effectively adopts him—he needs an heir. Though Coriolanus finds Strabo intimidating, he comes to appreciate Strabo for the things, namely money, that he can provide the Snow family.

Strabo Plinth Character Timeline in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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

...a demerit. Coriolanus shares that Sejanus offered to trade tributes and suggests he could blackmail Strabo Plinth with that information, which makes Satyria laugh. (full context)

...noncommittally; her story doesn’t matter to him. Ma says that coming to the Capitol was Strabo’s way of keeping Sejanus out of the Games. They discuss how to get Sejanus out... (full context)

...could kill him. Coriolanus says Ma is waiting for Sejanus outside, but Sejanus humorlessly says Strabo isn’t out there. Strabo will wait until Sejanus is dead and then try to buy... (full context)

...surprise for the 12 remaining mentors. He leaps across his studio to where Sejanus and Strabo Plinth are sitting. Sejanus reveals that his family is establishing the Plinth Prize, which will... (full context)

...at the table and they discuss how poorly Sejanus fits in in the Capitol. But Strabo, she says, is convinced this is for the best. (full context)

An Avox maid signals to Ma that Strabo would like to see Coriolanus, so Coriolanus follows the maid to Strabo’s library. Strabo looks... (full context)

...also looks much happier. He explains that the Academy was going to expel him, but Strabo promised a gym in exchange for Sejanus getting to graduate. Sejanus insisted that Coriolanus graduate... (full context)

...Coriolanus seems to come back to life. Sejanus knows where he came from, and clearly Strabo and Ma care about Coriolanus. With Sejanus and a few others, there are enough recruits... (full context)

...that unlike Coriolanus, who’d just cheated, he’d engaged in “a treasonous act of rebel support.” Strabo wrote her a check for a new lab. (full context)

...snitch if anyone did. Dr. Gaul will know Coriolanus made the recording. She’ll probably call Strabo Plinth and Sejanus will be shipped home. It’ll all be fine. Coriolanus feels good about... (full context)

Over the next two days, Coriolanus tries to tell himself that everything will be fine. Strabo Plinth will come rescue Sejanus—but this also isn’t school, and the young Peacekeepers aren’t kids.... (full context)

...strokes his soft leather satchel, which was a gift from the Plinths. After he returned, Strabo Plinth asked to work something out. He bought the Snow apartment and the one underneath... (full context)

...Snow has invited Festus and Lysistrata for dinner, and he plans to give Ma and Strabo Sejanus’s box of personal effects. But before he can head home, Coriolanus heads for the... (full context)