The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
Table of Contents
An Analysis of Major Characters
Katniss Everdeen
Katniss Everdeen is the main character, narrator, and protagonist of The Hunger Games. She is a 16-year-old girl who has grown up in the Seam part of District 12 in Panem, a place that appears similar to a post-apocalyptic America. Katniss’s father died when she was 11 years old, and her mother developed severe depression after his death, so that Katniss has been responsible for caring for herself and for her younger sister, Prim. She has provided for the family by hunting and gathering. She spends a significant amount of time in the woods, despite being forbidden from doing so, with her best friend, Gale, who also hunts and gathers to support his family.
Katniss’s physical appearance plays an important role in the novel. It is important to note her physical dissimilarities to the actress who played her in the novel. In the novel, Katniss is described as having long, straight black hair, gray eyes, and olive skin. While she might be attractive, her hard life has led her to neglect her appearance in many ways. Her stylist, Cinna, along with her prep team, is able to play up her appearance.
Katniss’s little sister, Rue, is drawn in the reaping and selected to participate in the Hunger Games. Katniss is a very dedicated sister, having already gone to considerable effort to keep Rue safe before the reaping ever occurs. Her biggest fear is that Rue would be selected in the reaping. Therefore, to volunteer to take her place is not out of character for Katniss. However, she is not fearless; she is very scared to be a tribute in the Games. Moreover, while she volunteered to take Rue’s place, it is important to realize that, at least at that point in the story, Katniss would not have volunteered to take any other child’s place. On the contrary, she has been the one responsible for caring for her family; her absence places her mother and sister in a precarious position.
When Peeta announces his love for her in his pre-game interview, Katniss does not know whether or not to...
Sign up to continue reading An Analysis of Major Characters >