The Hunger Games Character Analysis

Katniss Everdeen

Katniss is the sixteen-year-old protagonist of The Hunger Games, and the story is told from her perspective. She is fiercely protective of her family and practical, having learned to care for her mom and… read analysis of Katniss Everdeen

Peeta Mellark

Peeta is the male tribute from District 12. He’s quietly loved Katniss for years, and is willing to sacrifice himself for her. He grew up as the baker’s son and is built with broad shoulders… read analysis of Peeta Mellark

Gale

Gale is Katniss’s hunting companion at home. He also lives in the Seam and is responsible for keeping his younger brothers from going hungry. Gale promises to look after Katniss’s family while she’s participating in… read analysis of Gale

Primrose Everdeen

Prim is Katniss’s little sister. With blonde hair and blue eyes—rare in their area of District 12—Prim is young, innocent, and not as strong or independent as Katniss. Katniss is fiercely protective of her. Against… read analysis of Primrose Everdeen

Katniss’s mother

Katniss and Prim’s mother is from a wealthier merchant class within District 12, but she moved to the Seam to marry their father for love. When her husband dies in a mining accident, however, she… read analysis of Katniss’s mother

Haymitch Abernathy

Haymitch is the only surviving winner of the Hunger Games from District 12, which makes him the mentor for Peeta and Katniss. He’s constantly drunk, only sobering up after Peeta and Katniss aggressively ask… read analysis of Haymitch Abernathy

Cinna

Cinna is Katniss’s stylist for the games, earning her the nickname “girl on fire” with the costumes he designs. Cinna becomes Katniss’s friend, instructing her to be herself for the interviews. Unlike other residents of… read analysis of Cinna

Effie Trinket

Effie is the escort of the tributes from District 12, meaning she steers the tributes through the rituals of the Games. She wears a pink wig and speaks with the affected Capitol accent. Though she… read analysis of Effie Trinket

Minor Characters

Rue

Rue is the twelve-year-old female tribute from District 11. Small, young, and innocent, she reminds Katniss of Prim. She and Katniss become allies before she is killed in the Games. In death, Katniss treats Rue with such respect that District 11 comes to support Katniss.

Thresh

Thresh is the male tribute from District 11. He shows mercy on Katniss at one point because he appreciates her kindness towards Rue.

Cato

Cato is the male tribute from District 2. He is a career tribute, meaning he’s trained for the Games his entire life. Strong and brutal, he’s the last one to survive other than Katniss and Peeta.

Clove

Clove is the female tribute from District 2. She is a career tribute, meaning she’s trained for the Games her entire life. She almost kills Katniss before Thresh interferes, killing her and saving Katniss.

Glimmer

Glimmer is the female tribute from District 1. She is very attractive, but dies from tracker jacker stings.

Foxface

Foxface is the female tribute from District 5. She is extremely sly and manages to survive until almost the very end by stealing food from the other tributes, but ultimately her own smarts trick her into eating poison berries Peeta had gathered without knowing they were dangerous.

Madge Undersee

Madge is the daughter of the mayor of District 12. She gives Katniss the mockingjay pin.

Caesar Flickerman

Caesar is a resident of the Capitol and the showy television host who interviews the contestants.

President Snow

The president of Panem, who is none too pleased when the Capitol’s control and power is faced down by Katniss and Peeta when they defy the rules of the Hunger Games and threaten to commit suicide rather than fight to the death.

Portia

A stylist, who works with Cinna to help create Katniss's style for the Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games Characters