Katniss Everdeen Character Analysis

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins tells the story of a young heroine named Katniss Everdeen. Every year in Panem, the Capitol hold the Hunger Games. Two children, one boy and one girl,  are picked from each of the 12 districts and forced into an arena to fight to the death. Catching Fire follows Katniss’ life after being the crowned the winner of the 74th Hunger Games.

Sometimes it is hard to understand the purpose for characters throughout different novels. Who is Katniss supposed to be to us? Should she be admired or hated? Does she deserve our admiration?  She is no damsel in distress, she is a survivor. Katniss is a fighter who fights for the ones she loves and will do whatever it takes to preserve her own life. After reading this book, I believe that Katniss Everdeen should be looked at as a hero, who deserves respect and sympathy.

While reading through this novel, it is hard not to feel bad for the people in this world, especially Katniss. The number one thing she care about is keeping her family, friends and self alive. But no matter how hard she tries, it is never good enough to keep everyone out of harm’s way. After winning the 74th Hunger Games, she thought that things were safe for her but her actions during the games caused problems from the Capitol, and in turn problems for her. After an unexpected visit from President Snow, the text reads, “A visit from President Snow. Districts on the verge of uprisings. A direct death threat to Gale, with others to follow. Everyone I love doomed. And who knows who else will pay for my actions?”(30) She had thought that her actions in the Games did not matter, but they did and now her friends and family may have to pay for it. No matter what she does, Katniss will never be able to get a break.

With that being said, Katniss never lets her problems get the best of her even when the odds are stacked against her and she decided to handle everything head on . Even everything came to a head with her involvement in the rebellion in the different districts, Katniss realized that there was no hiding. She had to fight the problems that we being presented before her and end it. In the book, the text reads, “Could it be the people in the districts are right? That it was an act of rebellion, even if it was an unconscious one? Because, deep down, I must know it isn’t enough to keep myself, or my family, or my friends alive by running away. Even if I could. It wouldn’t fix anything. It wouldn’t stop people from being hurt the way Gale was today. A true leader is someone who deals with the adversity that is set in front of them. I have always believed that heroes and survivors don’t shudder with fear, but face that fear and take that challenge as it comes and Katniss has done just that.

I hold high respect for Katniss mainly because she is the one who has to be the face of the rebellion even if it wasn’t her intention and she carries that weight with her everywhere she goes. At one point, Katniss says,
She may not have been 100% ready for the rebellion, but she was apart of it whether she knew it or not. Her actions in the arena of the 74th Hunger Games had a direct effect on the people of Panem. She could have easily done nothing about it and had the districts handle it themselves. In turn, Katniss took on the role as their leader even though she really wasn’t prepared to handle that kind of responsibility in any way shape or form.

After reading through Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, I truly believe that we are supposed to respect Katniss. We are supposed to respect her strength throughout the games and everything that she has had to sacrifice at such a young age.

Brittany H. Prompt 6

Work Cited

Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic Inc, 2009. Print.