Katniss Everdeen is the protagonist of the Hunger Games trilogy. A brave and principled young woman, Katniss must learn to navigate her role as a symbol of the rebellion while confronting new and old traumas. At the start of the novel, Katniss feels lost and hopeless. After being controlled by the Gamemakers for so long, she struggles to regain her sense of identity outside the role she played for the Capitol. Her experiences in two Hunger Games arenas have left her mistrustful of powerful people, complicating her decision to ally herself with Coin and the rebels. Katniss tends to blame herself for the Capitol’s slaughter of many of her loved ones and deals with intense guilt as a result. Early on, she proclaims, “I hate almost everybody now. Myself more than anyone” (10).

Despite this misanthropic statement, Katniss remains a compassionate and caring person. She cares about her loved ones to the point that she is willing to sacrifice her life for them. Katniss takes on the role of Mockingjay in the hopes of protecting everyone she loves and atoning for her guilt, though she wonders, “Could any good I do possibly outweigh the damage?” (12). In battle, Katniss shies away from especially brutal or cruel tactics.