Character Analysis Of Haymitch In Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games

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In Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, the only living winner of the Hunger Games from District Twelve is Haymitch Abernathy. The Hunger Games are basically a death sentence, especially to those who hail from the outer districts. It’s a reminder that all of Panem is controlled by the Capitol and “at their mercy” (18). Haymitch is introduced right off the bat as a “paunchy, idle-aged man” and being very drunk. (19) “But at least two families will pull their shutters, lock their doors, and try to figure out how they will survive the painful weeks to come.” (10) Being forced to kill people takes a toll, especially when these kids are still so young. They’re being forced to fight for their lives and through Haymitch, Collins presents a character …show more content…

Despite the winnings he received from it many years before and the presumed celebrity he became after he won, he still shows the repercussions of what the Games really do to a person. He’s the only winning Victor that we are introduced to in the story and actually get to know. He’s constantly drunk, especially in the first few incidences were introduced to him; Katniss comments that he’ll be “incoherent by the time we reach the Capitol.” (56) She even calls him a “wreck” as well. (24) Haymitch shows the effects of winning the Games; not only has he continued to be forced under the Capitol’s control, he also has to coach the two Tributes year and year and watch them die. It takes its toll. He shows that nobody really wins the Hunger Games. He may have survived his Games, but he still has to come back and watch as more young kids die. He also serves as an adversary to Katniss and Peeta. He comes out of his drunken stupor enough to coach them, promising that if they “don’t interfere with [his] drinking,” he’ll “stay sober enough to help” the two. (58) And he does just that. He orders Katniss to “do exactly what the stylists tell” her to; he knows that being an attractive to the audience is important. (88) And informs them what to do during their training sessions: “Spend the time trying to learn something you don’t know…Save showing what you’re best at until your private sessions.” (92) He even

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