The Hunger Games

by

Suzanne Collins

Peeta Mellark Character Analysis

Peeta is the male tribute from District 12. He’s quietly loved Katniss for years, and is willing to sacrifice himself for her. He grew up as the baker’s son and is built with broad shoulders, accustomed to lifting heavy sacks of flour. Peeta’s love for Katniss makes him willing to defy the rules of the Hunger Games and threaten to commit a double suicide with Katniss, forcing the organizers of the Hunger Games to change the rules. In other words, his love of Katniss allows him to show, with Katniss, that the ruling Capitol can be defied.

Peeta Mellark Quotes in The Hunger Games

The The Hunger Games quotes below are all either spoken by Peeta Mellark or refer to Peeta Mellark. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Division and Control Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

Maybe if I had thanked him at some point, I’d be feeling less conflicted now. I thought about it a couple of times, but the opportunity never seemed to present itself. And now it never will. Because we’re going to be thrown into an arena to fight to the death. Exactly how am I supposed to work in a thank-you in there? Somehow it just won’t seem sincere if I’m trying to slit his throat.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Related Symbols: Bread
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3 Quotes

Peeta Mellark, on the other hand, has obviously been crying and interestingly enough does not seem to be trying to cover it up. I immediately wonder if this will be his strategy in the Games. To appear weak and frightened, to reassure the other tributes that he is no competition at all, and then come out fighting.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 40
Explanation and Analysis:

“At least, you two have decent manners,” says Effie as we’re finishing the main course. “The pair last year ate everything with their hands like a couple of savages. It completely upset my digestion.” The pair last year were two kids from the Seam who’d never, not one day of their lives, had enough to eat. And when they did have food, table manners were surely the last thing on their minds.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Effie Trinket (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 44
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

A kind Peeta Mellark is far more dangerous to me than an unkind one. Kind people have a way of working their way inside me and rooting there. And I can’t let Peeta do this. Not where we’re going. So I decide, from this moment on, to have as little as possible to do with the baker’s son.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 49
Explanation and Analysis:

The people begin to point at us eagerly as they recognize a tribute train rolling into the city. I step away from the window, sickened by their excitement, knowing they can’t wait to watch us die. But Peeta holds his ground, actually waving and smiling at the gawking crowd. He only stops when the train pulls into the station, blocking us from their view.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 59
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

Rebellion? I have to think about that one a moment. But when I remember the other couples, standing stiffly apart, never touching or acknowledging each other, as if their fellow tribute did not exist, as if the Games had already begun, I know what Haymitch means. Presenting ourselves not as adversaries but as friends has distinguished us as much as the fiery costumes.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark, Haymitch Abernathy
Page Number: 79
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

I can’t help comparing what I have with Gale to what I’m pretending to have with Peeta. How I never question Gale’s motives while I do nothing but doubt the latter’s. It’s not a fair comparison really. Gale and I were thrown together by a mutual need to survive. Peeta and I know the other’s survival means our own death. How do you sidestep that?

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark, Gale
Page Number: 112
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10 Quotes

“He made you look desirable! And let’s face it, you can use all the help you can get in that department. You were about as romantic as dirt until he said he wanted you. Now they all do. You’re all they’re talking about. The star-crossed lovers from District Twelve!” says Haymitch.

Related Characters: Haymitch Abernathy (speaker), Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 135
Explanation and Analysis:

“…Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to…to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games,” says Peeta.

Related Characters: Peeta Mellark (speaker)
Page Number: 142
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

Peeta, who’s been wounded, is now my ally…it just makes sense to protect each other. And in my case—being one of the star-crossed lovers from District 12—it’s an absolute requirement if I want any more help from sympathetic sponsors.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 243
Explanation and Analysis:
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Peeta Mellark Quotes in The Hunger Games

The The Hunger Games quotes below are all either spoken by Peeta Mellark or refer to Peeta Mellark. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Division and Control Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

Maybe if I had thanked him at some point, I’d be feeling less conflicted now. I thought about it a couple of times, but the opportunity never seemed to present itself. And now it never will. Because we’re going to be thrown into an arena to fight to the death. Exactly how am I supposed to work in a thank-you in there? Somehow it just won’t seem sincere if I’m trying to slit his throat.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Related Symbols: Bread
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3 Quotes

Peeta Mellark, on the other hand, has obviously been crying and interestingly enough does not seem to be trying to cover it up. I immediately wonder if this will be his strategy in the Games. To appear weak and frightened, to reassure the other tributes that he is no competition at all, and then come out fighting.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 40
Explanation and Analysis:

“At least, you two have decent manners,” says Effie as we’re finishing the main course. “The pair last year ate everything with their hands like a couple of savages. It completely upset my digestion.” The pair last year were two kids from the Seam who’d never, not one day of their lives, had enough to eat. And when they did have food, table manners were surely the last thing on their minds.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Effie Trinket (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 44
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

A kind Peeta Mellark is far more dangerous to me than an unkind one. Kind people have a way of working their way inside me and rooting there. And I can’t let Peeta do this. Not where we’re going. So I decide, from this moment on, to have as little as possible to do with the baker’s son.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 49
Explanation and Analysis:

The people begin to point at us eagerly as they recognize a tribute train rolling into the city. I step away from the window, sickened by their excitement, knowing they can’t wait to watch us die. But Peeta holds his ground, actually waving and smiling at the gawking crowd. He only stops when the train pulls into the station, blocking us from their view.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 59
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

Rebellion? I have to think about that one a moment. But when I remember the other couples, standing stiffly apart, never touching or acknowledging each other, as if their fellow tribute did not exist, as if the Games had already begun, I know what Haymitch means. Presenting ourselves not as adversaries but as friends has distinguished us as much as the fiery costumes.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark, Haymitch Abernathy
Page Number: 79
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

I can’t help comparing what I have with Gale to what I’m pretending to have with Peeta. How I never question Gale’s motives while I do nothing but doubt the latter’s. It’s not a fair comparison really. Gale and I were thrown together by a mutual need to survive. Peeta and I know the other’s survival means our own death. How do you sidestep that?

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark, Gale
Page Number: 112
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10 Quotes

“He made you look desirable! And let’s face it, you can use all the help you can get in that department. You were about as romantic as dirt until he said he wanted you. Now they all do. You’re all they’re talking about. The star-crossed lovers from District Twelve!” says Haymitch.

Related Characters: Haymitch Abernathy (speaker), Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 135
Explanation and Analysis:

“…Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to…to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games,” says Peeta.

Related Characters: Peeta Mellark (speaker)
Page Number: 142
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

Peeta, who’s been wounded, is now my ally…it just makes sense to protect each other. And in my case—being one of the star-crossed lovers from District 12—it’s an absolute requirement if I want any more help from sympathetic sponsors.

Related Characters: Katniss Everdeen (speaker), Peeta Mellark
Page Number: 243
Explanation and Analysis: