About the Main Characters
Her name comes from a plant with edible tubers called Sagittaria (katniss), from Sagittarius the Archer, whose name means He that throws arrows in Latin. She is portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence in the film adaptations The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.
Katniss and her family come from District 12, a coal-mining district that is the poorest and least populated district in the dystopian fictional autocratic nation of Panem. In the course of the first book, The Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to replace her sister, Primrose "Prim" Everdeen, after she is reaped (chosen) to compete in the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death. Katniss, following an alliance with Rue, a young tribute from District 11 who reminded Katniss of Prim but died in the arena, joins up with fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark. The pair compete in the Games together. Katniss uses her knowledge of hunting and archery to survive, and the two become the victors after defying the Capitol's attempt to force one to kill the other.
Throughout the next two novels, Catching Fire and Mockingjay, Katniss becomes a galvanizing symbol of rebellion against the oppressive Capitol.
Katniss Everdeen
Peeta Mellark
Peeta Mellark is a fictional character from The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.[1] 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 the Games may only have one victor, unintentionally inciting a rebellion against the authoritarian government of Panem.
Gale Hawthorne
Gale Hawthorne is a Seam resident boy who is two years older than Katniss, and shares her hunting skill, dark hair, olive skin, and grey eyes. Through hunting they have become best friends. Muscular and handsome, Gale has caught the attention of several girls in District 12. Like Katniss, Gale lives with his mother Hazelle and three younger siblings after his father's death in the same mining accident that killed Katniss' father. Being from the Seam, Gale and Katniss share a slight resemblance which had prompted Peeta to hope they were just cousins. The idea that they are cousins is used by the people of the seam to cover for his close relationship with Katniss so as not to suggest the "starcrossed lovers" storyline with Peeta is staged, as it is presumed her closeness with someone as good looking as Gale would draw suspicion. Though the suggestion that they are cousins effectively satisfies the press from the Capitol, it makes both Katniss and Gale very uncomfortable on several occasions.