Katniss Everdeen

Katniss Everdeen is the main protagonist and narrator of The Hunger Games trilogy. After her younger sister, Primrose Everdeen, was reaped in the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss volunteered to take her place as the female tribute from District 12. This action set in motion the events of the entire series. She is the female victor from District 12 for the 74th Hunger Games, and the female tribute from District 12 for the 75th Hunger Games. Katniss is the oldest daughter of Asterid and Burdock Everdeen.

Physical description

Katniss has long black hair, which she normally pulls back into a long braid, olive skin, and gray eyes[2]. After the fire in the 74th Hunger Games, after her time in the arena, her hair turned at least six inches short[26], it is an unknown if it was grown back - though most likely it was after her full body fix in the Capitol. She is small in stature and thin for her age as she was generally malnourished because of her district's poverty. She is thus one of the smallest tributes in her Games, but due to her outdoor life, she is strong for her size.[20] She is also known as "The Girl on Fire" during the Hunger Games; she earns this title from her fierce personality and the outfits created for her by her stylist, Cinna.[18] Katniss is not very image-conscious, to the dismay of Venia, one of her stylists[18][13][4]. In the first book, her hearing in her left ear is destroyed[29] because of the explosion caused in the arena[28], but it is fixed in the Capitol in the end, as are all of her other major and more minor injuries including the erasing of any scars from her years of hunting[30]. Before entering the arena the first time, Katniss had many minor scrapes and cuts, and her outward appearance was very much imperfect. However, after she won, they were repaired by the Capitol doctors, including replacing the hearing in her left ear[30]. Most notable about her appearance and demeanor, however, was the image she unconsciously projected, as noted by her co-tribute Peeta[20]. In Peeta's interview, he says that a lot of boys like Katniss when asked if he likes anyone at home[21][22].

In The Hunger Games, Katniss wore worn-out clothes with hunting boots[2], and sometimes wore her father's old hunting coat[11]. During the reaping, she wore her mother's blue dress[2]. At the parade in the capitol, she wore the costume that Cinna made that gave her the name "The Girl on Fire." She wore a black unitard representing coal and lit them with synthetic fire that doesn't burn but can be quenched by a solution made to counter it.[18] He keeps the theme by designing Katniss's interview dress[16], a gown made completely of precious jewels in flame colors, reflecting the lighting to make her look like she is "engulfed in flames." [21] During the Hunger Games, she wore a hooded black jacket that fell down to her thighs and reflects body heat, tawny trousers, a sturdy brown belt, and a green button-up shirt. She also wears her Mockingjay pin.[22] Cinna also designs her Victor dress, keeping the theme of fire, yet toning it down to candlelight to symbolize innocence other than the fiery spirit for which the theme was first created[30][32].

Personality

Katniss has strong and independent survivalist instincts due to her difficult past and is good at thinking outside the box. She is not socially adept and has a hard time making friends[2] due to the emotional strain on her life which has made her hard and cold. She is more concerned about feeding her family than being social, making her awkward around people. Though Katniss can be rather blunt, misanthropic, sarcastic, bitingly cynical, and cold, she has a very vulnerable side which she only shows around her family[47][48][1], and she has a natural maternal instinct as showed when she comforted Prim[2][17] and helped Rue[27][24][28][29][33]. She is not very good at acting for the camera[22][62][71] and comes across best when she is herself[63]. She is usually very logical except for times when her emotions get in the way[11][20][22][26][54][57][7][67].

Katniss has a habit of biting her nails when she is nervous or anxious[20][22][29][13] and must consciously stop herself from doing so when around others[20]. After she became a victor she could not think of a good reason to break the habit[13]. However, after joining the rebellion she appears to have stopped biting her nails as she does not mention doing so.

Katniss is very strong, stubborn, and determined. Often, she will react first and ask questions later[22]. She will do anything to survive[23][25][26][27]. Even when she allied with Rue, she said she hoped that she didn't have to be the one to kill her[24][28]. Yet when it came to Peeta, she tried her best to figure a way for them both to survive[34][35][36][10][37][38]. This independent streak did not go well in the regimented confines of District 13[1][61][74] and Katniss largely did what she wanted and ignored her daily schedule[6][1][74]. She had to discipline herself to undergo military training in order to prove that she could be sent into combat[74], and her unwillingness to take orders was perceived as her greatest weakness. This was targeted during her individual exam, but she was able to realize this and pass.[75]

Even though she can sometimes be a bit self-centered and self-reliant, she does have noble traits, protecting those she loves[2][11][27][36][13][44][1]. For example, caring for Prim[2][11][25][35], looking out for Rue[27][24][28][29][33], and ending Cato's life mercifully even though he caused her so much pain[3] or when she shields Gale to keep him from being whipped, even when it means a lash for herself[44]. Katniss has an instinct to protect those who are weak[50][56] such as Rue[27], Wiress[50][57], and her prep team[62].

Unlike her younger sister, she is not a natural born healer[26][33]. She once ran from the house in fright while Prim and her mother cared for a dying man[26]. She even had trouble healing Peeta, being squeamish, and reluctant to care for him unclothed[34]. Instead, she is more like her father, being skilled at hunting and gathering.

Similar to her father, Katniss had a rebellious streak. She was a fiercely determined and resourceful fighter and was reasonably easy to underestimate[23]. Due to this, she was almost always in disagreement with authority figures[33][45][1][64] and liked to use her own resources when it came to survival (the instincts of a true survivor)[12][23][25]. Katniss was loyal to no one and had issues when it came to trusting others[12][20][16][21][53][54][57][59][60][7][1][72], but this grew to be her one of her greatest strengths.

In Mockingjay, it is shown that Katniss dislikes being a "pawn" and hates having the weight of Panem on her shoulders[62][71].

Katniss suffers from PTSD from her experiences in the Hunger Games throughout the series. This includes frequent nightmares and night terrors of those she killed and tried to kill her, avoidance of others/isolation, irritability, and favoring the wilds of the forest over human contact.[76]