Katniss Everdeen: A Characterization
Katniss Everdeen is the 16-year-old protagonist and narrator of the novel "The Hunger Games." She has long, dark brown hair and lives with her family in the poorest part of the coal mining city of Panem, in District 12. Her family consists of her little sister Primrose, her mother, and their cat Buttercup. Her father died in a mine explosion when she was 11 years old.
Katniss's hobbies include hunting and going into the woods with her best friend Gale. She does not have many friends because she spends most of her time going to school and hunting to keep her family alive. Her only friends are Gale, Peeta, Madge, Cinna, and Rue. Although Peeta has been in love with her since they met on the first day of school, Katniss has never been interested in boys. Even when she falls in love with Peeta during the Games and realizes her feelings for Gale at the same time, she is still confused about her emotions and not ready for a serious relationship.
After her father's death, Katniss had to take care of her family because her mother became depressed and could not take care of them anymore. She had to be mature at a very young age to keep her family alive by going hunting for food almost every day and selling things on the black market. This behavior shows that she is self-sacrificing because she gave up any other hobbies and friendships to spend her whole life taking care of her family. However, she says that she only does this for Prim because she is angry at her mother for leaving them alone after their father's death.
Katniss is protective, especially of her sister and later of Rue because she reminds her of Prim. She is empathetic and compassionate, always feeling bad when someone dies. She understands that she should hate the Capitol and not the other tributes who are in the same situation as her. She is also unsentimental, with her main goal being survival. During her time in District 12, she learned that feelings are not helpful in reaching that goal.
Katniss is rebellious and wayward, often sending a clear message against the superiors or breaking their rules, knowing she could be killed for her actions. She is determined to protect her loved ones, even if it means risking her own life. She is mature for her age and understands that the system she lives in is unjust.
Overall, Katniss Everdeen is a complex character with many admirable qualities, including self-sacrifice, empathy, and determination.
