The Girl on Fire and the Boy with the Bread

In ‘The Hunger Games’ written by Suzanne Collins, several relationships develop and in particular the relationship between Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Peeta’s crush on Katniss began on the first day of school, when they were five. He clearly recalls Katniss wearing a red plaid dress and having her hair in two braids. The first time Katniss noticed Peeta, was on a heavily raining afternoon. Katniss had tried selling Prim’s baby clothes in the public market with no success. Katniss’ family was starving and hadn’t eaten anything for three days straight but old dried mint leaves that were found in the back cupboard and boiled water. Katniss tried searching in the garbage bin behind the Mellark Bakery for food, only to find it completely empty. The baker’s wife scolded her to move on. Katniss sat in the rain, leaned up against a tree. She felt tired, weak and sick and came to the realisation that she had nothing to take home to her family. Then she heard a clatter in the bakery, and a women screaming. The baker’s son, Peeta, had purposely burnt bread and tossed two loaves in Katniss’ direction. She stared at the loaves in disbelief. He didn’t even know her but he threw the bread knowing that if anyone saw him it would result in a beating. Katniss couldn’t explain his actions. This gave her hope.

During the train ride from District 12 to the capitol, Haymitch vomits and falls in the mess because of all the spirits he has drunken, and Peeta offers to clean up. Katniss thinks that Peeta is only being kind to work his way inside of her and decides to have as little to do with him as possible.

Peeta confesses his love for Katniss during an interview with Caesar Flickerman (this plays an important role during later in the story, dur...

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...atniss thinks to herself “The most dangerous part of the Hunger Games is about to begin.” (p. 436)

The reason why they are both alive by the end of The Hunger Games is because of the romance between them, even though it wasn’t 100% authentic, it was enough to trick the audience and the Gamemakers. If Peeta hadn’t mentioned his love for Katniss there is a possibility that the rules wouldn’t have changed and they wouldn’t have got sympathy from the people of Panem and this could have lead to less gifts which were vital for survival in the arena.

On the train back to District 12, Peeta discovers this entire romance thing between himself and Katniss was an act and a strategy to keep both of them alive. Peeta is devastated and disappears in his room and isn’t seen by Katniss until they arrive in District 12, where they have to act like they are in love. For the audience.