Catching Fire

by

Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen

The protagonist of Catching Fire, Katniss is an enormously brave and resourceful young woman who struggles with great challenges despite her age. She is the victor of the Hunger Games shortly before the beginning… read analysis of Katniss Everdeen

Peeta Mellark

The handsome, politically savvy, and immensely compassionate co-champion (along with Katniss Everdeen) of the Hunger Games, Peeta struggles with conflicted feelings for Katniss throughout the book. He’s very attracted to Katniss, and professes his… read analysis of Peeta Mellark

Gale Hawthorne

A friend of Katniss Everdeen and a fellow resident of District 12, Gale is a resourceful, rugged young man, for whom Katniss has had romantic feelings at many points. He and Katniss have been friends… read analysis of Gale Hawthorne

President Coriolanus Snow

The tyrannical leader of the government of Panem, President Coriolanus Snow appears in only a few chapters of Catching Fire, but his presence suffuses the entirety of the book—as Katniss puts it, he could… read analysis of President Coriolanus Snow

Haymitch Abernathy

District 12’s middle-aged, alcoholic, lazy former champion in the Hunger Games, Haymitch is an enigmatic presence in Catching Fire. While he struggles with alcoholism and acts childishly to Katniss at many points, Katniss is… read analysis of Haymitch Abernathy
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Plutarch Heavensbee

The current Head Gamemaker, Plutarch initially strikes Katniss as a vain, superficial, and heavily sadistic man—in other words, the perfect Head Gamemaker. Only in the novel’s final pages is it revealed that Plutarch is secretly… read analysis of Plutarch Heavensbee

Effie Trinket

An employee of the Capitol, Effie Trinket is Katniss Everdeen’s personal escort during both the Hunger Games and the subsequent Victory Tour. She’s punctual and precise, and plans Katniss’s complicated visits throughout Panem. It’s… read analysis of Effie Trinket

Finnick Odair

A young, beautiful, and intelligent champion of the Hunger Games, he competes in the 75th Hunger Games alongside Katniss. Finnick is known to be seductive and manipulative, and he is enormously popular in the… read analysis of Finnick Odair

Johanna Mason

A young, wily Hunger Games victor who returns to the Games to compete against Katniss. Johanna is aggressive and bold, and almost immediately Katniss dislikes her. Gradually, Katniss comes to respect her more after… read analysis of Johanna Mason

Beetee

A brilliant and eccentric Hunger Games competitor who previously won the Game using his vast intelligence and resourcefulness. Though Katniss suspects Beetee of treachery at several points during the Games, she eventually realizes that he… read analysis of Beetee

Katniss’s mother

Katniss has a conflicted relationship with her mother. Following her father’s death, her mother fell into deep depression and now rarely speaks. As a result, Katniss has a difficult time feeling love and affection for… read analysis of Katniss’s mother
Minor Characters
Greasy Sae
An old resident of District 12 who sells food, supplies, and alcohol to a large chunk of the area’s population, and helps to raise funds for Peeta and Katniss during their time in the Hunger Games.
Darius
A friendly, likable Peacekeeper who occasionally spends time with Katniss, and is ultimately punished for his lenience in punishing Gale.
Seneca Crane
The Head Gamemaker, responsible for organizing the complicated challenges of the Hunger Games. He chooses to allow both Katniss Everdeen and Peeta to win the Games, and is ultimately executed for his lenience.
Venia
One of the attendants charged by the government with dressing and prepping Katniss for her public appearances, both during the Hunger Games and during her subsequent Victory Tour.
Octavia
One of the attendants charged by the government with dressing and prepping Katniss for her public appearances, both during the Hunger Games and during her subsequent Victory Tour.
Cinna
Katniss’s stylist and friend, responsible for designing the dresses she wears as a contestant in, and later a victor of, the Hunger Games. Cinna is a thoughtful, responsible man, whose interest in trust and friendship contrasts markedly with the superficiality of his profession.
Caesar Flickerman
The vain, superficial TV personality tasked with interviewing the contestants in the Hunger Games, Caesar Flickerman is a hugely popular figure in the Capitol and, thanks to the ubiquity of television, throughout Panem.
Mayor Undersee
The mayor of District 12, and father to Madge Undersee.
Madge Undersee
The daughter of Mayor Undersee, and a friend to Katniss Everdeen.
Romulus Thread
The Head Peacekeeper of District 12, following the “clamp down” on crime in the area.
Cray
The Head Peacekeeper of District 12, prior to the government’s “clamp down” on crime.
Bristel
A friend and crewmate of Gale.
Thorn
A friend and crewmate of Gale.
Bonnie
A young girl from District 8 who’s forced to leave with her friend and teacher, Twill, and head to the mysterious District 13 in order to join the rebel cause.
Twill
A middle-aged woman from District 8 who joins the rebel cause after witnessing the government’s violence and brutality first-hand. She takes care of Bonnie, and with her tries to reach District 13, where the rebel alliance is rumored to be based.
Flavius
One of the attendants charged by the government with dressing and prepping Katniss for her public appearances, both during the Hunger Games and during her subsequent Victory Tour.
Wiress
An elderly, somewhat odd Hunger Games victor who competes in the 75th Hunger Games alongside Katniss. Wiress seems eccentric and mentally unstable to many around her, but those who listen to her closely, such as Katniss and Beetee, recognize that she’s actually very intelligent and perceptive.
Claudius Templesmith
The official announcer of the Hunger Games.
Enobaria
A former champion of the Hunger Games, who returns to competition against Katniss. At the end of the novel, it’s revealed that Enobaria is a rebel, and thus a secret ally of Katniss and Peeta.
Cashmere
A former champion and career tribute (one who volunteers for the Hunger Games in the hopes of winning fame, glory, and money), who competes in the 75th Hunger Games against Katniss.
Brutus
A former champion and career tribute (one who volunteers for the Hunger Games in the hopes of winning fame, glory, and money), who competes in the 75th Hunger Games against Katniss.
Gloss
A former champion of the Hunger Games, who competes in the 75th Hunger Games against Katniss.
Mags
An elderly contestant in the 75th Hunger Games, and a former victor of the Games. Mags is very close with Finnick, and during the Games, they work together to survive.
Annie Cresta
A champion of the Hunger Games, beloved of Finnick Odair. Though we never see Annie in the novel, Finnick hears her voice during a psychological challenge during the Hunger Games. It’s made clear that Finnick loves her deeply.
Chaff
A former champion of the Hunger Games, who competes in the 75th Hunger Games against Katniss. Chaff is an old friend of Haymitch.
Seeder
A former champion of the Hunger Games, who competes in the 75th Hunger Games against Katniss Everdeen. Seeder is a resident of the same district as Rue, and seems to feel an unspoken connection with Katniss.
Cecilia
A middle-aged competitor in the 75th Hunger Games, and a mother of three.
Woof
An elderly competitor in the 75th Hunger Games.
Hazelle
Gale’s mother, whom Katniss likes.
Rory
Gale’s brother.
Vick
Gale’s brother.
Posy
Gale’s younger sister.
Rue
A young competitor in the Hunger Games from District 11, whom Katniss protected, but ultimately failed to save from death during The Hunger Games. Rue’s death causes Katniss an inordinate amount of guilt in Catching Fire.
Glimmer
A young competitor in the Hunger Games who was from District 2, and whom Katniss killed.
Marvel
A young competitor in the Hunger Games who was from District 1, and whom Katniss killed.
Primrose Everdeen
Katniss’s beloved younger sister, the person for whom she risked her life by entering the Hunger Games before the events of Catching Fire. While Prim barely appears in this novel, Katniss’s love for her is an important factor in many of her decisions.