The Hunger Games characters - From Katniss to Rue - Meet the characters of the Hunger Games

From the heroine of the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen to the lowly tributes who fare the worst in the arena to the attendants that make Katniss unbelievably memorable, you can learn about all the Hunger Games characters right here. The hunger Games is the first novel in a three part trilogy from author Suzanne Collins. While it is targeted for teens, I am a teen three times over and found the story and characters very compelling. Each character adds such richness to the narrative and you will learn about teach in the prose that follows.

As in all novel length stories there are some characters with little attention, yet in any large scale adventure there are bit players, just like in life. Think about the guy at the coffee shop that sends you your morning pick me up, or the cleaning lady at your office, perhaps a crossing guard, or meter maid. Ms. Collins employs many minor characters to fill in her story.

The girl who will shock her world is as unassuming as they come. Sixteen years of age has taught Katniss way more than the average teen will need to know. She is missing her loving father, who died while fulfilling his role as part of District 12 in the coal mines. You see the districts that comprise Panem; the remnants of North America after an apocalyptic like event are numbers 1 through 12. There were 13 at one time, but it was destroyed by the Capitol, which is explained more as the book progresses.

Katniss has taken the reigns of the family as her mother has withdrawn due to the emotional toll of losing her husband. Katniss hunts for food for the family, including animals and plants to sustain their meager lifestyle. No one is rich in her district, so Katniss is able to fashion a positive outcome by trading in the local markets and with individuals providing the needs her family craves.

Katniss is fiercely protective of her twelve year old sister Primrose, called simply Prim. For Katniss, no sacrifice is too much to shield Prim, including volunteering to take her place when she is chosen to be District 12’s tribute, or contestant for the Hunger Games. In these “games” a boy and girl are selected from each district to compete for victory and significant rewards and riches for their district.

Through the initial book our heroine completes a journey of self discovery. We see her change as she adapts to the rigorous trials of the Hunger Games. Katniss will win your heart easily being herself, trying not to show emotion as the whole of Panem watches her every move and emotion throughout her trials and tribulations in the arena.

Katniss has a hunting partner as the Hunger Games begins in the form of eighteen year old Gale Hawthorne. There is never confirmation in a verbal way that Gale is anything more than a friend and confidant for Katniss, but as the father of two teenagers I understand there sometimes never is. Truly, the fact that Katniss allows anyone close tells us more than mere words could about her feelings for Gale.

As they prepare for the annual “Reaping” or selection of tributes, the two wonder if this is the year their “number” comes up. Due to some allowances for extra food plus his age, Gale has 42 entries into the drawing, which means he has a better chance of being selected than most. While this piece of the plot hangs in the air you get a feeling maybe the two of them will enter the arena together. For the sake of those who have not read I will save this result for your reading enjoyment.

Katniss has an unlikely partner as she boards the tribute train from District 12 to the Capitol and the Hunger Games. Peeta Mellark is the baker’s son; someone Katniss is sure is above the suffering and neglect she struggles against. With time the truth becomes clear that the misery is shared by all in this far flung district.

Peeta has a secret that slowly emerges throughout the first novel. Katniss thinks it is all part of the “Game”, a strategy cooked up by their mentor, Haymitch Abernathy. Haymitch is the only hunger Games victor from lowly District 12 and is charged with helping his representatives survive to claim victory.

Peeta tries his best to make Katniss see his affections for what they are, but she is only convinced that all of it is to give the audience on Panem the best possible “show”. You see the Hunger Games is a national event, televised around the clock with all citizens expected to view and take part in the rooting. Peeta succeeds as one part of the “star crossed lovers” not because of his acting ability, but because his heart has been claimed many years before by Katniss.

Haymitch is the sole Hunger Games Champion from the previous seventy-three contests to hail from District 12. He is known for more than that however as he reveals from the beginning when his arrival to the “reaping” shows us his tendency to enjoy the fruits of the vine, root and any other liquor. His crowning achievement of the “reaping” event is a face plant off the main stage.

Due to similarities in personality, Haymitch and Katniss clash from the offset. His words of advice and encouragement are delivered with such lack of feeling that Katniss and Peeta feel he is little or no help at all. Through time and experience in the arena through the “Games” his wisdom and knowledge is proven to be deeper than first understood.

Effie is the official government provided escort for the Hunger Games to District 12. Being such for this lowly district is not her life ambition and she does what she can to fulfill her duty in light of the probability that no winners can ever emerge from such a far flung locale. Effie helps the two teens in their transition from a place where the want is constant to the Capitol where they prepare for the “Games” amidst unending plenty.

Effie is no fan of Haymitch herself, but is linked to him and the tributes for better or worse. She hopes a good showing will provide her an opening to transition to another opportunity, so the success of her group is paramount. Her experience in the Capitol is of great help to all involved.

Cinna is the personal assistant that is charged with making Katniss as presentable as possible. Using his skills he sets out to make such an impression in the pre-Games activities that the crowd will not be able to forget Katniss. In the process he becomes her friend, which Katniss sorely needs in this foreign environment. It is Cinna’s initial chance to present a tribute and he is determined not to fail.

Rue is the female tribute from District 11, the youngest of the two dozen contestants. Katniss develops a fondness for Rue since she reminds her so much of her sister Prim. Rue is no wilting flower, however, proving herself able to survive and thrive in the arena. She and Katniss form an alliance to help each other survive against a lethal band of Career tributes led by Cato and Clove the boy and girl, respectively, from District 1.

Cato and Clove are two of the group known as Career tributes. This title derives from a lifetime of training and planning for selection at ‘reaping”. For the more affluent districts there is a prestige to being chosen for this task. Unlike Katniss and Peeta, who simply want to survive, the Careers are seeking to dominate and secure victory for the prestige as much as the material gains.

Claudius is the announcer who alerts the contestants to rules and events during the games.

Caeser is the media champion who interviews the tributes prior to the beginning of the games to introduce the twenty-four contestants to the citizens of Panem.

There are many minor characters, including many of the other tributes, Cinna’s team and others who combine to make the Hunger Games a very nice concoction. The above are the characters most central to the plot and story and the ones you are likely to remember the most.

As they say in the Hunger Games, “May the odds be ever in your favor!”