The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games Character Analysis Paper

Maybe life isn’t about avoiding the bruises. Maybe it’s about collecting the scars to prove we showed up for it. - Hannah Brencher. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is about a young woman from District 12 named Katniss Everdeen, her fellow tribute is Peeta Mellark, and her mentor is Haymitch Abernathy. Katniss wants to win the Games for her sister Prim, and later, for her ally Rue. Peeta wants to win, or at least live as long as he can in the Hunger Games. Haymitch wants his Tributes to win. He has been mentoring ever since he won the Games, and is the only mentor for District 12 Tributes, so he wants one of them to win. But, the problem for Katniss is that she is one against twenty-four, and

One way Haymitch shows the trait objectionable is when they start to get to know Haymitch. “‘So, you’re supposed to give us advice,’ I say to Haymitch. ‘Here’s some advice. Stay alive,’ says Haymitch, and then bursts out laughing. . . . Haymitch considers this a moment, then punches Peeta in the jaw, knocking him from his chair. . . . I brace myself to deflect his hit, but it doesn’t come. Instead, he sits back and squints at us” (57). This detail shows the character trait objectionable because Haymitch should be instructing the Tributes, and not hitting them. This is one of the first times that Katniss starts to dislike Haymitch. Katniss and Peeta both find Haymitch offensive when he does this, because he is their lifeline in the Games, and if he is drunk half the time, he cannot get them sponsors and help them out. Another way that Haymitch shows he is objectionable is “‘In public, I want you by each other's side every minute,’ says Haymitch. We both start to object, but Haymitch slams his hand on the table. ‘Every minute! It’s not open for discussion! You agreed to do as I said! You will be together, you will appear amiable to each other. Now get out’” (92). This detail illustrates Haymitchs’ trait objectionable because Peeta and Katniss do not want to ‘appear amiable to each other’ and want to disagree with Haymitch. After all, it is not traditional in the Hunger Games. Haymitch wants to try a new tactic with Peeta and Katniss because

These traits let Haymitch help Katniss and Peeta be gainful. Haymitch isn’t the most colorful and jolly person, and it shows, but he cares for Katniss and Peeta more than he realizes. He is blunt and short-tempered, so it causes him to appear more sullen and hostile. Haymitch is a giant part of Katniss and Peeta winning the games. In the beginning, Katniss states that it's obvious why no one from District 12 ever wins, but during the games, Haymitch sends gifts and tries to communicate with her to help her out. He is not like any other mentor in the Games, but he has the spunk that allows him to be successful. Haymitch might not be seen as a nice person, but no matter what people act like on the outside, you never know what they are going through on the inside. Even though he is unhinged, unpredictable, and objectionable, Haymitch finds his way through life and battles his inner demons. Going back to the quote at the beginning of my essay it said: Maybe life isn’t about avoiding the bruises. Maybe it’s about collecting the scars to prove we showed up for it. Haymitch went through the games and has had to watch all of the District 12 tributes die every year since. By the end of the book, Haymitch realizes he isn’t alone, and because of him, two tributes won from District 12, making history. Haymitch is such a huge part of The Hunger Games and is always behind the scenes helping