79-462: Peeta Mellark is a fictional character of The Hunger Games trilogy written by American author Suzanne Collins . He is portrayed by actor Josh Hutcherson in The Hunger Games film series . Peeta is the male tribute representing District 12 in the 74th annual Hunger Games, alongside female tribute Katniss Everdeen (portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence ). Together, they defy the rule that
158-411: A "feast" is announced, in which items each tribute needs desperately will be placed on a table for them to take, organized by district. Peeta strongly suggests that Katniss does not go, knowing she will be in danger. She agrees to stay with him but, having received a bottle of sleep syrup from her mentor, Haymitch Abernathy , she puts him into a drug-induced sleep and seizes the opportunity to slip away to
237-450: A barbed-wire net pod during the attack. The squadron repeatedly debate whether or not they should kill Peeta, and even Peeta himself asks to be killed to stop endangering them, but Katniss refuses to when realizing she cannot bring herself to let him die. She even kisses him for a period of time, which actually makes him stable. Realizing he cannot convince anyone to kill him or leave him to die, Peeta insists on remaining cuffed instead since
316-500: A beating from his abusive mother to feed a starving Katniss which ended up as love at first sight. Katniss had always felt indebted to him for this kindness, but never worked up the courage to thank him. Often, he would stare at her in school. Sometimes Katniss would make eye contact with him, only for his eyes to quickly flit away. During an interview with Caesar Flickerman preceding the Games, Peeta admits on national television to having
395-650: A class 2014-2016 that examined the themes in The Hunger Games world titled "The Hunger Games: Class, Politics, and Marketing". The class was offered for the school's American Studies Program and covered topics of oppression, feminism, food deserts, rebellion, the publishing industry, and social media marketing. The course's professor, Stef Woods, believes that using the fictional world of Panem to discuss real word problems helps students better understand sociopolitical issues in American society. The phrase "may
474-503: A decade to persuade Katniss to start a family. He still has moments where his hijacking will try to take over again, causing Peeta to clench onto something until the attempt passes. Peeta is the same age as Katniss, making him 16 years old in The Hunger Games and 17-18 in Catching Fire and Mockingjay . Peeta is of "medium height, stocky build" and has "ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead." He has blue eyes. He
553-471: A disadvantage. They have met none of them, as they are the newest victors. Peeta hopes to play on their sympathies to gain protection from others in the arena and support from sponsors for Katniss. To this end, he lies to everybody on national television, saying Katniss and he had secretly got married before the Quell was announced, and that Katniss is pregnant. This shocks both Katniss and the whole of Panem. At
632-563: A few other tributes were part of a plan to safely retrieve Katniss and Peeta from the arena with hopes that they would take on roles to start a revolution against the Capitol. Knowing that the Head Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee, is secretly leading the revolution, Katniss goes to District 13, long believed to have been razed decades ago. Gale explains that after Katniss destroyed the arena, President Snow had District 12 firebombed. There
711-411: A game called "Real or Not Real" in which Peeta will ask them a question about something he believes may be true and the members will confirm whether they are real or a hijacked memory. The squadron eventually comes to the conclusion that President Coin had deliberately sent Peeta to Katniss' squad in hopes that he will go mad and kill her because Coin sees Katniss as a political rival. Unfortunately, during
790-628: A girl and then a boy, who grow up in a world without the Hunger Games. To cope with her lingering PTSD, Katniss often spends time recounting every kind deed she has ever witnessed anyone do. A prequel to the trilogy, titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes , was released on May 19, 2020. The novel is set 64 years before The Hunger Games events, during the 'Dark Days' which led to the failed rebellion in Panem. The story follows an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, whose family name has fallen from grace as
869-549: A long-standing crush on Katniss. She assumes this is merely part of his strategy to win favor from wealthy Capitol sponsors. Once inside the arena, Peeta allies himself with the "Career" (from districts 1, 2 and 4) tributes and tricks them into believing he will lead them to Katniss. However, after Katniss knocks down a hive of Tracker Jackers on her pursuers, she herself is stung with the insects venom, rendering her disoriented and vulnerable. Peeta urges Katniss to run and stays to fight fellow tribute Cato while she escapes. He survives
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#1732776691672948-476: A panic attack and loses the ability to function as the Mockingjay. A rescue mission is mounted that succeeds in rescuing Peeta, Johanna and Annie. However, Peeta has been brainwashed to kill Katniss, and he tries to strangle her to death upon their reunion. He undergoes experimental treatment to try to cure him. Katniss does not have hope for his recovery, and decides to give her all to the rebellion and die in
1027-505: A prize and then saw footage of the Iraq War . She described how the two combined in an "unsettling way" to create her first ideas for the series. The Hunger Games is the first book in the series and was released on September 14, 2008. The Hunger Games follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen , a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th Hunger Games in place of her younger sister Primrose Everdeen . Also selected from District 12
1106-493: A rule change allowing tributes from the same district to win as a team. Katniss finds a seriously wounded Peeta, and, rather than working compete alone and being unencumbered by him, she risks her life and nurses him back to health. Haymitch advises her to feign feelings for Peeta in order to gain wealthy sponsors who can provide crucial supplies to the " star-crossed lovers " during the Games. As she allows herself to get close to Peeta, she develops real feelings for him. When all of
1185-451: A series of young adult dystopian novels written by American author Suzanne Collins . The series consists of a trilogy that follows teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen , with a prequel set 64 years before the original series. The Hunger Games universe is a dystopia set in Panem, a North American country consisting of the wealthy Capitol and 13 districts in varying states of poverty. Every year, two children, one boy and one girl, from
1264-418: A surprise attack of "pods" (deadly surprises such as flesh-melting light and mines triggered by people passing by), Peeta actually does lose his sanity temporarily in the midst of the chaos and tries to kill Katniss once again, but she rolls out of the way of his gun in an attempt to crush her skull. He becomes responsible at least in part for the death of one of their team members, who he accidentally throws into
1343-510: Is Peeta Mellark , who once saved Katniss from starvation when they were children. They are mentored by their district's only living victor, Haymitch Abernathy , who won 24 years earlier and has since led a solitary life of alcoholism . Peeta confesses his longtime secret love for Katniss in a televised interview prior to the Games. This revelation stuns Katniss, who usually does not allow herself to think of romantic attraction due to her traumatic childhood and her fear of losing future children to
1422-470: Is "broad-shouldered and strong." Part of Peeta's left leg was amputated following the 74th Hunger Games, forcing him to walk with the aid of a prosthetic leg for the rest of his life. In the 2012 film adaptation, his leg is never amputated. Peeta is repeatedly described as charming, generous, kind and likable, and possessing a self-deprecating sense of humor. He first confuses and later inspires Katniss with his determination to maintain his identity while inside
1501-429: Is chosen, he will volunteer in his place. Katniss makes Haymitch promise that if Peeta is the male tribute, she and Haymitch will work together to keep Peeta alive, even at the expense of Katniss's life. It is a torn alliance for Haymitch. When Haymitch is drawn as the male tribute, Peeta automatically volunteers to take his place. Many of the other returning tributes are friends with each other, but Katniss and Peeta are at
1580-532: Is confused about her feelings and is uncomfortable to be with him because of her close friendship with Gale Hawthorne, who also has strong feelings for her. At the start of the Victory Tour, Peeta expresses his desire to be friends with Katniss; while he knows that she will risk her life to save his, he does not know her favorite color. Later, he tries to give part of his winnings to the families of District 11's most recently fallen tributes (Rue and Thresh) and
1659-486: Is considered mentally stable and finally back to his former self. Upon returning home, he plants primroses, the flower which Prim was named after, in memory of her. Katniss and Peeta resume their lives together in what remains of District 12, fall back in love, and move in together (although it's unknown if they got married). In the epilogue, Katniss and Peeta have two children together. It is implied by Katniss that Peeta wanted to have children first and that it took years to
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#17327766916721738-417: Is he initially responsible for making the Capitol fall in love with Katniss, Katniss herself says Peeta would be invaluable to the revolution because of his ability "to turn his pain into words that will transform people." Entertainment Weekly said Peeta, as well as Gale Hawthorne , were "thinly imagined". MTV listed five reasons why Peeta is "badass", and that "Peeta gives [Katniss] a run for her money in
1817-468: Is in recovery and is still in love with Katniss. Most of the squad are killed along the way, including recently married Finnick. As Katniss approaches Snow's mansion, she sees a group of Capitol children surrounding it as human shields . Suddenly a hovercraft drops silver parachutes on the children, who reach for them, hoping they bear food. Some of the parachutes explode, creating carnage. The advancing rebels send in medics , including Primrose Everdeen. Then
1896-507: Is made to watch “Peacekeepers” kill a man who led the three finger salute to the two victors. Before the Victory Tour, President Snow visits Katniss and tells her he is aware that she was faking the affection towards Peeta, and that her actions in the arena have sparked a rebellion – one that can only be averted if she presents her and Peeta's attempt at joint suicide in the arena as an act of love-crazed teenagers rather than as defiance. Katniss and Peeta think they are going to become mentors for
1975-462: Is not even human, but rather an evil "mutt". This leads him to try and strangle Katniss when he is reunited with her in District 13. The doctors of District 13 try to undo his hijacking, but the process is slow and turns his terror into confusion, where he is unable to differentiate what is real and what is not, especially when it came to his love for Katniss. When the rest of the victors' journey to
2054-487: Is nothing left. Peeta is captured by the Capitol and is tortured physically, emotionally, and mentally. His feelings and memories are distorted with hallucinogenic tracker jacker venom, in a mind-control technique known as "Hijacking." The Capitol uses this method to turn Peeta against Katniss, making him believe that she is not only responsible for the death of his family, friends and the destruction of District 12, but also that she tried to kill him numerous times and that she
2133-808: The Harry Potter series in NPR ’s poll of the top 100 teen novels. On August 17, 2012, Amazon announced the Hunger Games trilogy as its top seller, surpassing the record previously held by the Harry Potter series. As of 2014, the trilogy has sold more than 65 million copies in the U.S. alone, with The Hunger Games selling over 28 million copies, Catching Fire over 19 million, and Mockingjay over 18 million. The series has been sold in 56 territories and translated into 51 languages. A prequel novel, titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes , about
2212-418: The populist fight against oligarchy ." All four books have been favorably received. Praise has focused on the addictive quality, especially of the first book, and the action. Young adult fiction author John Green , writing for The New York Times , compared The Hunger Games with Scott Westerfeld 's The Uglies series . Catching Fire was praised for improving upon the first book, and Mockingjay
2291-478: The "Dark Days"), in which District 13 was destroyed, one boy and one girl from each of the twelve remaining districts, between the ages of 12 and 18, are selected by lottery to compete in an annual pageant called the Hunger Games. The Games are a televised event in which the participants, called "tributes", are forced to fight to the death in a dangerous public arena. The lone victor and their home district are then rewarded with food, supplies, and riches. The purposes of
2370-538: The 50th Hunger Games (the second Quarter Quell). President Snow draws the card showing what the theme of the Quarter Quell will be and announced, “.. that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors.” Katniss becomes the female tribute, as she is the only living female District 12 victor. Peeta makes Haymitch promise to work to save Katniss, not him. He also vows that if Haymitch
2449-440: The Capitol to fight, Peeta is initially kept behind because he is considered too unstable to be sent into combat. However, President Coin changes her mind and sends him not only into combat but assigns him to Katniss's squadron. Katniss theorizes that Coin has sent Peeta to remove her as an obstacle to Coin's future as President. Despite the fact that the members of the squadron do not trust him, they help with his recovery by creating
Peeta Mellark - Misplaced Pages Continue
2528-488: The Capitol wallows in excess, the districts can barely afford to feed their children." Author Suzanne Collins also mentions the themes of " just war ", gladiatorial combat and hunger. War as a result of climate disaster, and the power and illusions of television have also been cited as themes. Others have mentioned revolution and rebellion as themes. "Although it’s... aimed at young adults, it presents potentially quite subversive ideas of mass revolution, economic sabotage and
2607-521: The Capitol, a city in the Rocky Mountains . The Capitol is lavishly rich and technologically advanced, but the districts are in varying states of poverty. The trilogy's narrator and protagonist, Katniss Everdeen , lives in District 12, the poorest region of Panem, located in Appalachia , where people regularly die of starvation. As punishment for a past rebellion against the Capitol (called
2686-476: The Capitol, led by District 13 and its President Alma Coin . The Capitol lied about the district being destroyed in the Dark Days. After a standoff with the Capitol, the District 13 residents took to living underground and rebuilding their strength. The District 12 survivors find shelter with them. Katniss also learns that Peeta is alive and is being tortured and forced to speak on national television discouraging
2765-460: The Games must have one victor, unintentionally inciting a rebellion against the authoritarian government of Panem . Peeta is first introduced at the reaping for the 74th Hunger Games when he is selected as the male tribute representing District 12 alongside female tribute Katniss Everdeen. Prior to the reaping, Katniss and Peeta had only interacted once: at age eleven, when Peeta deliberately burned two loaves of bread in his family's bakery and took
2844-472: The Hunger Games are to provide entertainment for the Capitol and to remind the districts of the Capitol's power and its lack of remorse or forgiveness for the failed rebellion of the current competitors' ancestors. Each book in The Hunger Games trilogy has three sections of nine chapters each. Collins has said this format comes from her playwriting background, which taught her to write in a three-act structure ; her previous series, The Underland Chronicles ,
2923-422: The Hunger Games. However, she believes that Peeta is only feigning love for her as a tactic for the Games. In the arena, Peeta saves Katniss's life multiple times without her realizing. Katniss allies with Rue , a young tribute from District 11 who reminds Katniss of her sister. When Rue is killed, Katniss places flowers around her body as an act of defiance toward the Capitol. The remaining tributes are alerted to
3002-508: The Minotaur, which kills them in a vast labyrinth . Collins says that even as a child, she was stunned by the idea since "it was just so cruel" to force Athens to sacrifice its own children. Collins also cites as a classical inspiration the Roman gladiator games. She feels three key elements create a good game: an all powerful and ruthless government, people forced to fight to the death, and
3081-490: The Quarter Quell, a special Hunger Games that occurs every 25 years that comes with a change in rules, usually to make them more gruesome than the normal Games so district citizens are reminded of the violence of Panem's first civil war; their loss is the reason the Games were established. The new twist for the 75th Games is that the tributes will be chosen from living victors. District 12 has only 3 living victors: Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch, their constantly drunken mentor who won
3160-467: The Reaping , was announced on June 6, 2024. The novel is set 24 years before The Hunger Games events, during the 50th Hunger Games won by Haymitch Abernathy , and is set to release on March 18, 2025. A film adaptation was announced by Lionsgate also on June 6, 2024, and is set to be released in theatres on November 20, 2026. Major themes of the novels include distrust of authority (of adults and
3239-409: The act to spare the citizens of District 12. Katniss's best friend, Gale Hawthorne , confesses his love for Katniss, which shocks and confuses her. Katniss and Peeta tour the districts as victors and plan a public wedding. While they follow Snow's orders and keep up the ruse, Katniss and Peeta inadvertently fuel the rebellion, and the mockingjay pin she wears becomes its symbol. District by district,
Peeta Mellark - Misplaced Pages Continue
3318-447: The arena and his refusal to become a "piece" in the Capitol's game. An accomplished painter and baker on account of working in his family's bakery his whole life (Suzanne Collins named the character Peeta because "Pita" is a kind of bread), Peeta also excels at hand-to-hand combat, camouflage, handling knives, and starting fires. Peeta also has a remarkable talent for speaking to crowds. People tend to "embrace everything he says." Not only
3397-433: The arena is shaped like a clock, with 12 sections, and each section is triggered at the same time each day. Different hours indicated different tortures such as blood rain, acid fog, killer monkeys, a giant wave, and so on. During the daring time, Katniss then realizes that she also has feelings toward Peeta. As they formulate a plan to kill the remaining tributes, Wiress is killed and Katniss is attacked by Johanna, who removes
3476-502: The characters' lack of resolute behavior, and Jennifer Reese of Entertainment Weekly stated that there was little distinction between Peeta and Gale and the series lacked the "erotic energy" seen in the Twilight series. J.C. Maçek III of PopMatters stated, "While the film saga does capture the action of The Hunger Games , the novels are most assuredly the heart of the story. They are nothing less than 'The Writer’s Cut' of
3555-573: The citizens of Panem begin to stage uprisings against the Capitol. Snow announces a special 75th edition of the Hunger Games—known as the Quarter Quell —in which Katniss and Peeta are forced to compete with other past victors, effectively canceling the wedding. Katniss believes that Peeta should survive these Games instead of her, and dedicates her life to saving him. Peeta, in turn, dedicates his life to saving her, and they both acknowledge
3634-450: The coolness category". On March 23, 2011, Lionsgate began casting the role of Peeta for the film of The Hunger Games . According to The Hollywood Reporter , contenders for the role included Josh Hutcherson , Alexander Ludwig (later cast as Cato), Hunter Parrish , Lucas Till , and Evan Peters . On April 4, 2011, Lionsgate announced that Hutcherson would play the role. The Hunger Games trilogy The Hunger Games are
3713-468: The cornucopia, Katniss allies with Finnick Odair, Mags, and Peeta. Later, Peeta comes in contact with a force field and his heart stops. Katniss and Peeta’s efficient ally, Finnick Odair, succeeds in reviving him with CPR. Finnick Odair is the District 4 male victor tribute and a stunningly good-looking young man. The three soon band together with a few other tributes: Beetee and Wiress from District 3, and Johanna Mason from District 7. Eventually, they find out
3792-599: The early days of the Hunger Games, featuring a young Coriolanus Snow as the protagonist , was released on May 19, 2020. By 2023, the prequel had sold over 3.5 million copies in North America and was available in 39 languages across 39 territories. The Hunger Games trilogy takes place in an unspecified future time, in the dystopian, post-apocalyptic nation of Panem , located in North America . Panem consists of twelve (originally thirteen) districts ruled by
3871-438: The encounter with Cato but suffers a stab wound on his leg. He camouflages himself into the rocks and mud alongside a riverbank, slowly dying of blood poisoning until Katniss finds him days later. Following an announcement proclaiming there can now be two winners, if both originate from the same district, Katniss and Peeta become allies. Katniss realizes that if they play up the love story they may garner viewers' affections. Later
3950-604: The executive producers. The cast includes Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow, Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird, and Hunter Schafer as Tigris Snow. It was released on November 17, 2023. A film adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping is set to be released on November 20, 2026. A West End stage production based on The Hunger Games is set to premiere in autumn 2024. The play will be written by Conor McPherson and directed by Matthew Dunster . The Hunger Games , alongside with 2012 film Brave , has been credited with increasing female interest in archery . Immediately following
4029-421: The fact that their relationship developed under duress. Haymitch warns her that the danger is far from over. The authorities are furious for their act of defiance, and the only way to try to allay their anger is to continue to pretend that her actions were solely because she was madly in love with Peeta. On the journey home, Peeta is dismayed to learn of the deception. Catching Fire is the second installment in
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#17327766916724108-467: The feast. The medicine gifted to them by the Capitol is strong enough to heal both of their wounds by morning. After killing Cato, Katniss and Peeta are the only remaining survivors. However, an announcement shortly afterwards revokes the previous revision, allowing for only one victor. Peeta suggests that Katniss should kill him, enabling her to return home. Katniss instead suggests they commit suicide by consuming poisonous berries known as Nightlock. Before
4187-481: The films themselves." In his review Mike Ruiz argues that The Hunger Games film does not have the first-person narrative that is in the original novel. As a result, Ruiz contends the novel is better than the film. The last book, Mockingjay , was criticized by Dan Shade of SF Site , who felt that Katniss is a weaker character than her comrades and less resolute in her journey to the Capitol, and that with respect to her vendetta against President Snow, her actions in
4266-705: The finale are inconsistent with her established character. On November 5, 2019, the BBC News listed The Hunger Games on its list of the 100 most influential novels . Lionsgate Entertainment acquired worldwide distribution rights to a film adaptation of The Hunger Games , produced by Nina Jacobson 's Color Force production company. Collins adapted the novel for film herself, along with director Gary Ross . The cast included Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, and Liam Hemsworth as Gale. The first film began production in Spring 2011, and
4345-523: The first 12 districts are selected via lottery to participate in a compulsory televised subjugation, disguised as battle royale death match called The Hunger Games . The minimum age requirement for being able to participate in The Hunger Games is 12, and the number of tickets put into the lottery increases by one every year. However, for every one ticket put into the lottery, that person would get one set of rations. Aided by nuclear weaponry ,
4424-417: The game's role as a source of popular entertainment. A contemporary source of inspiration was Collins' recent fascination with reality television programs . She says they are like The Hunger Games because the Games are not just entertainment but also a reminder to the districts of their rebellion. Collins says that while she was channel-surfing the television on a quiet night, she saw people competing for
4503-460: The government), class discrimination and caste , resistance , the ethics of entertainment , and most notably, the origins and effects of war. Social inequality, unaccountable governance and violence against children have also been suggested as prominent themes. "In the world of the 'Hunger Games', the Capitol lives a life of extravagant wealth and consumption. Meanwhile, out in the 'districts', millions of people work dangerous jobs with low pay. As
4582-453: The hands of the crowd watching the execution. Katniss attempts to commit suicide, but Peeta stops her and she is instead arrested. Katniss is tried, but the jury believes she was mentally unfit, and she is sent home to District 12. Both Katniss's mother and Gale take jobs in other districts. Peeta regains his sanity. Katniss settles down with him, and the two "grow back together." After many years, she finally agrees to have children. They have
4661-450: The kiss is not real as it is like “kissing someone who’s drunk.” After she recovers from Peeta's attack, Katniss and a team known as the "Star Squad", composed of Gale, Peeta, Finnick, a camera crew , and various other soldiers, are assigned to film propaganda in relatively quiet combat zones. Katniss, however, decides to go to the Capitol to kill Snow, pretending Coin gave her that mission. Peeta still struggles with his brainwashing, but he
4740-407: The knowledge that Peeta has been captured and will now be tortured and killed, Katniss is furious and loses the will to live. Gale informs her that the Capitol has destroyed District 12 in retaliation, and after some hesitation, Katniss joins the rebels. Mockingjay , the third and final book in The Hunger Games series, was released on August 24, 2010. Most of the districts have rebelled against
4819-515: The last district instead successfully rebelled against the Capitol and moved underground following a secret peace treaty. The novels in the trilogy are titled The Hunger Games (2008), Catching Fire (2009), and Mockingjay (2010). Each was adapted into a film, forming The Hunger Games film series , with Mockingjay split into two feature-length motion pictures. The first two books were both New York Times best sellers , and Mockingjay topped all US bestseller lists upon its release. By
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#17327766916724898-438: The odds of the Games in his favor after seeing Lucy Gray defiantly sing during her reaping ceremony. During his time spent mentoring Lucy Gray, Snow begins to fall in love with her and must choose between her and his promising political future. Collins credits her character Lucy Gray as having introduced the concept of entertainment into the Hunger Games with her performative and musical talent. A new prequel, titled Sunrise on
4977-535: The one Gale was helping to devise, and she breaks off her friendship with Gale. Coin then asks the surviving victors to vote on a final Hunger Games, involving the children of high-ranking Capitol officials (including Snow's granddaughter). In order to gain Coin's trust, Katniss and Haymitch cast the deciding votes in favor of the scheme. However, at what is supposed to be Snow's execution, Katniss instead kills Coin with her bow. Snow laughs, then dies from either choking or at
5056-416: The other tributes are dead, the rule change is abruptly revoked. With neither willing to kill the other, Katniss comes up with a solution: a double suicide by eating nightlock, a poisonous berry. This forces the authorities to concede that they have both won the Games, just in time to save their lives. During and after the Games, Katniss's genuine feelings for Peeta grow, and she struggles to reconcile them with
5135-566: The other's opposite intentions. At Haymitch's urging, the pair teams up with several other tributes and manages to destroy the arena and escape the Games. Katniss is rescued by rebel forces from District 13, and learns that the Capitol has captured both Peeta and their District 7 ally, Johanna Mason . Katniss ultimately learns—to her surprise—that she had inadvertently been an integral part of the rebellion all along; her rescue had been jointly planned by Haymitch, Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee , and District 4 victor Finnick Odair , among others. At
5214-490: The pain in his wrists helps him stay focused in reality instead of succumbing to madness. Further on in the Capitol, the nightmares in Peeta's mind become so intense that he is on the brink of losing his sanity, but Katniss manages to reach him. After the rebels win the war, Katniss is driven to depression and mental instability due to the death of her sister, Prim. Peeta's hijacking is soon mostly recovered by several doctors and he
5293-435: The process. Throughout the novel, Katniss sees how ruthless Gale is. He does not seem to value human life as much as she does. He feels no sympathy for the enemies to the rebellion, and he feels fine with torture and murder, even of innocent civilians, to advance the rebellion. She struggles to reconcile this with the fact that she still cares for Gale. Amid her crushing loneliness and her PTSD, she kisses Gale, but he says that
5372-510: The realization Katniss has staged her love for him all along. Peeta and Katniss embark on the Victory Tour, an event strategically timed in-between each Hunger Games, where the victors visit the other 11 districts as a reminder about the Games and for the Capitol to reinforce its power over the Districts. Peeta and Katniss have barely interacted since the Games; Peeta holds some resentment towards Katniss for faking affection for him, and Katniss
5451-399: The rebellion. She agrees to become the "Mockingjay", the symbol of the rebellion. In return, she demands immunity for Peeta, Johanna Mason, Annie Cresta , and Enobaria , fellow Games victors captured by the Capitol. Katniss also demands the privilege of killing President Snow herself. When Katniss realizes that the Capitol will keep torturing Peeta as long as she fuels the rebellion, she has
5530-656: The release of the first Hunger Games film, many archery vendors experienced a significant upsurge in business, with their lessons fully booked and recurve bows on long periods of back-order. In a 2016 report, approximately half of the girl archers surveyed were influenced by The Hunger Games to take up the sport. The three-finger gesture used in the books to express unity with the rebellion has been used in real-life protests in Thailand (2014, 2020) and Myanmar (2021). American University in Washington D.C. offered
5609-459: The remaining Snows live in poverty and struggle to keep up appearances in post-war Panem. Snow becomes a mentor for the 10th annual Hunger Games as his final project before graduating from school. Snow shows great commitment in mentoring his tribute Lucy Gray Baird from the impoverished District 12 because her winning means he will be awarded a monetary prize that will cover his university tuition. Though skeptical at first, Snow believes he can turn
5688-412: The rest of the parachutes explode, killing Primrose just as she sees her sister. Later, Katniss, also injured, awakens from a coma to learn that the rebels have won, and Snow is awaiting execution at her hands. When she meets Snow by chance, he claims that it was Coin who secretly ordered the bombings in order to strip away the support of his remaining followers. This bomb also matches the description of
5767-596: The series, released on September 1, 2009. In Catching Fire , which begins six months after the conclusion of The Hunger Games , Katniss learns that her defiance in the previous novel has started a chain reaction that has inspired rebellion in the districts. President Snow threatens to harm Katniss's family and friends if she does not help to defuse the unrest and marry Peeta. Meanwhile, Peeta has become aware of Katniss's disingenuous love for him, but while he feels sad, he does not pressure her in any way. He has also been informed of Snow's threats, so he promises to help keep up
5846-413: The time the film adaptation of The Hunger Games was released in 2012, over 26 million copies of the trilogy were in print, including movie tie-in books. As of 2023, the series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and continues to be a significant influence in young adult literature and popular culture. The novels were all well received. In August 2012, the series ranked second, exceeded only by
5925-414: The tracker from her arm. Once Katniss regains consciousness, she realizes that Beetee had designed a way to destroy the force field surrounding the arena. She triggers it and destroys the field, setting off a chain of events. A rebel-controlled hovercraft arrives and rescues Katniss, Finnick, and Beetee. However, Peeta, Johanna, and Enobaria were captured by the Capitol. Finnick, Beetee, Haymitch, Johanna, and
6004-469: The two are able to get the berries into their mouths, a final announcement is made pleading for the two to stop: both they and the viewers are informed that Katniss and Peeta are declared joint official winners of the 74th Hunger Games. Later, the two learn President Snow considered their actions to be an act of rebellion against the Capitol. After their last interview, in which the two continue to affect their romantic feelings for one another, Peeta comes to
6083-520: Was praised for its portrayal of violence, well-realized worldbuilding , and romantic intrigue. The series received criticism regarding its reality TV "death game" theme being derivative of earlier works, particularly Battle Royale , as well as The Running Man , The Long Walk , The 10th Victim , and Series 7: The Contenders . The series was also criticized for the romantic plotline: Rollie Welch of Ohio's The Plain Dealer criticized
6162-568: Was released in March 2012. For Catching Fire , Ross was replaced as director by Francis Lawrence ; the film was released in November 2013. Lawrence then directed Mockingjay , Part 1 and Part 2 , released in November 2014 and November 2015 respectively. The prequel was adapted for film , with Francis Lawrence as the director. The film was produced by Lawrence himself alongside Nina Jacobson, and Brad Simpson with Suzanne Collins as one of
6241-565: Was written in the same way. She sees each group of nine chapters as a separate part of the story, and comments still call those divisions "act breaks". Collins says she drew inspiration for the series from both classical and contemporary sources. Her main classical source of inspiration is the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur , in which, as a punishment for past crimes, Minos forces Athens to sacrifice seven youths and seven maidens to
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