The Hunger Games film series wouldn’t be the same without Haymitch Abernathy acting as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s mentor, and the history behind his Games explains why he was the best person for the job. When the audience meets Haymitch in the first movie, he’s a chaotic alcoholic who has very clearly experienced a lot of trauma throughout his life. He essentially tells Katniss and Peeta that they have no chance of surviving the 74th Hunger Games, but as Haymitch gets to know the District 12 tributes, he starts to see potential and is inclined to help them.
Throughout Katniss and Peeta’s first Games, the Third Quarter Quell, and the Second Rebellion in the Hunger Games franchise, Haymitch continues assuming his role as the two victors’ mentor. The three characters experienced something that almost no one else could relate to (at least, in District 12), which bonded them for life. However, Katniss and Peeta probably wouldn’t have survived the 74th Hunger Games without Haymitch’s help or influence, and his skills originated during his time in the arena — 24 years before Katniss and Peeta won.
Haymitch’s Hunger Games Win Showed How Smart & Resourceful He Is
Haymitch was 16 when he was one of the four District 12 children reaped for the 50th Hunger Games, aka the Second Quarter Quell, and won. A Quarter Quell happens every 25 years to “celebrate” the quarter-century anniversary of the First Rebellion’s ending. For the special occasion, the Gamemakers incorporate a twist into the Games — the First Quarter Quell featured the districts voting for their tributes, the Second had twice the amount of tributes (four from each district instead of two), and the tributes for the Third Quarter Quell were reaped from the existing pool of victors.
Despite facing off against 47 other tributes instead of the typical 23, Haymitch was the last one standing in the 50th Hunger Games. For most of the competition, Haymitch used his skills to survive in the overly cruel arena filled with mutations and poisonous elements and avoid disaster. The 16-year-old was also able to kill two of three Careers by himself before his fellow District 12 tribute, Maysilee Donner, saved him by killing the last one. Afterward, Haymitch and Maysilee formed an alliance and helped one another survive.
Haymitch’s intuition told him to head to the arena’s edge, but he and Maysilee split up once they got there. He then discovered the force field lining the arena, which would rebound anything thrown at it. Eventually, Haymitch and one District 1 female tribute were the only ones remaining. They engaged in a brutal fight that ended with her throwing her ax at Haymitch and him ducking, causing it to bounce off the force field and strike her in the head. Haymitch was then declared the winner of the 50th Hunger Games.
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Haymitch Used The Same Qualities To Help Katniss & Peeta In The Hunger Games
Haymitch exhibited great instincts and impressive skills during the Second Quarter Quell, which prepared him to mentor Katniss and Peeta. He passed everything that aided him during his Games onto Katniss and Peeta, including how to use the arena to their benefit and trust their intuition. Plus, Haymitch taught the District 12 tributes the importance of alliances (and when to break them at the right time). Ultimately, Haymitch’s guidance helped Katniss and Peeta win during The Hunger Games (and helped them survive outside the arena).
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is a multi-movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The films are based on the young adult dystopian book series by author Suzanne Collins. The first film was released in 2012, followed by Catching Fire in 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014, and Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015. In 2023, the fifth film in the series was released, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
- Created by
- Suzanne Collins
- Cast
- Jennifer Lawrence , Josh Hutcherson , Liam Hemsworth , Elizabeth Banks , Woody Harrelson , Stanley Tucci , Donald Sutherland , Lenny Kravitz , Willow Shields , Phillip Seymour Hoffman , Rachel Zegler , Tom Blyth , Viola Davis , Peter Dinklage , Hunter Schafer , Jason Schwartzman
