Haymitch and Katniss: How Alike Are They Really?

"This is the moment, then. When we find out exactly just how alike we are, and how much he truly understands me." - Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

 This quote, within the new context of Haymitch's entire background is essential. I've seen people comment that we didn't need this prequel because we know what happened to Haymitch from the original trilogy. 

*This article contains spoilers for Sunrise on the Reaping. 

I disagree. It's necessary. Suzanne Collins is warning us and we need to listen. We need to understand why Katniss succeeded in changing the status quo and the backdrop of this second rebellion in the Hunger Games. Because it is still relevant to the current political climate in our world. Suzanne Collins only writes when she has something to say, and she really has something to say. 

So, exactly how alike are they? How does their history shape them? 

Poor Seam Families

We know that District 12 was subject to extreme poverty. The main industry of coal mining was dangerous, demanding and exhausting work, and the miners weren't paid enough to live off. They lived in the Seam, an area of the district with tiny, rundown homes without hot water or even reliable electricity. 

Both Haymitch and Katniss grew up in the Seam where food security was lacking. This forced them to work in some way to feed their families. Especially as they both lost their fathers in mining accidents which left them without the pittance of an income earned in the mines. 

This pushed them into adult roles while still children. One difference is how their mothers coped with the loss of their husbands. Katniss' mother fell into a deep depression and neglects her daughters. Understandable but dangerous as they nearly starved to death until Katniss figured out what she could do to help. 

For Haymitch, his mother threw herself into work, running a laundry business and providing what she could for her sons. She knew how to minimise waste, everything was used until it couldn't be used any more. Flour sack shorts that were turned into cleaning rags when they could no longer be worn. Collecting ashes to make soap and using an old flint striker for fire instead of buying matches. 

Breaking the Law

Because of this, both of them ended up going outside of the law to provide for their families. Katniss hunted and gathered, leaving the district to the woods. This is classed as poaching, per Capitol law and would result in severe punishment. Haymitch works for a bootlegger, a woman named Hattie who made white liquor in the woods to sell. Also very illegal. 

They both do this in full awareness that their actions are illegal. They rely on the peacekeepers benefitting from their illegal work and turning a blind eye to it. This alone is a form of rebellion because they are flouting the laws of the Capitol. Whatever their reason, breaking the law is rebellion.

Propaganda and Anti-Capitol Sentiment

Both Katniss and Haymitch recognise the propaganda for what it is and resent the way they are forced to live and endure everything. Haymitch maybe understands it a little better. The poverty and starvation doesn't sit well with either of them.

"District 12, where you can starve to death in safety." - The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins.

 They save their 'dangerous' opinions and thoughts for their trusted confidants. Katniss' hunting partner, Gale and Haymitch's girlfriend Lenore Dove. Both of their partners are much more vocal and angry about the Capitol's mistreatment. But that doesn't mean they don't nurse rebellion in their hearts.

Haymitch would love to see a birthday when there's no Reaping. Katniss is unwilling to consider having children that she would have to watch go into the Reaping. She eventually does have children, but only long after she is certain they can be raised without fear of the Hunger Games. 

Unconventional Reaping

Neither of them were reaped in the normal way. Katniss volunteered for her sister Primrose. Possibly the first time ever that anyone in 12 volunteered for the Hunger Games. Even family loyalty only goes so far. Unlike the Career districts where volunteering was common and expected.

"What I did was the radical thing." The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins.

Haymitch feared for Lenore Dove, after Woodbine Chance's attempt to flee. She was trying to help Woodbine's mother and the threat of harm to her caused Haymitch to try to intervene. For this, he was basically forced to volunteer since Woodbine Chance became ineligible after his death.

Victory Subversion

Both Katniss and Haymitch won their games by subverting them. By attempting suicide so there would be no Victor at all. These acts are seen as rebellious because they were doing something that would make the Games look bad, and the Capitol look bad by proxy. There is a reason the Games have a Victor, a tiny dribble of hope so the districts will continue to accept the status quo. 

Objectively, we can all agree that what the Capitol is doing with the Hunger Games is bad. Forcing children to kill each other and forcing the people in the districts to celebrate it and participate as an unwilling audience. Imagine watching your child die on television, or kill another child. The pageantry and the performative aspects make it all worse. Panem et circences: bread and circuses. 

Instead of being allowed to die, they are kept alive because if they got a quick death the Capitol would have to admit their failure to control these district kids. Lifelong punishment and psychological torture sends a stronger message than allowing them to die. A more effective deterrent and a way to avoid creating martyrs for a rebellion. 

Losing Those They Wanted to Save

Haymitch ended up in the games because he anted to save Lenore Dove and his family. They were killed anyway, so he pushed people away for fear that anyone who got too close to him would meet the same fate. 

"And so, I drive away anyone and everyone who could ever have been considered dear to me." - Sunrise on the Reaping, Suzanne Collins.

 Katniss wanted to save Prim and she lost her anyway. She also kind of lost her mother and Gale too, as they never returned to District 12. Gale, she will forever blame Prim's death on. She got to keep Peeta and Haymitch at least and eventually found a life of peace. 

Communication and Understanding

Katniss isn't good at manipulating people or faking things. She can hide her emotions but she can't act in a certain way. She emotionally moves people when it is real, like when Rue died or the hospital in District 8 was bombed. She can't be coached into it. Haymitch is better at that stuff, he understands how to work a crowd and how to elicit certain emotional responses. He pulled off the arrogant rascal angle in his games. 

What we do see is how they can understand each other and communicate without words. Katniss knew what Haymitch wanted based on the timing of sponsor gifts or the lack of them. I do believe that when Katniss was getting severely dehydrated and searching for water, he would have sent it if she was really close to dying from it, but he wanted her to find it on her own. 

Katniss understood the meaning behind the gifts such as when she finally opened up to Peeta and talked about something personal and they were rewarded with the stew. Or when he wouldn't let Katniss go to the feast so he sent her sleep syrup and she realised what he intended. He could predict her actions and she could see the unspoken messages in his gifts. 

Mags did something similar when Haymitch was in the arena, although it was more about showing him support and comfort to keep him going. She mentioned wanting to protect her district partner in her games, and this was her intention with the bean and ham hock soup, a staple funeral food in 12. Or the strawberry ice cream and coffee after Maysilee died. 

We know from Sunrise on the Reaping that Haymitch knew Katniss' father very well and I think this helps him predict her actions because she is so much like Burdock. And her choice of allies in the Quarter Quell being people that Haymitch allied with in his games. This is why he's not surprised that Katniss wants to team up with Beetee, Wiress and Mags. 

Betrayals of the Worst Kind

Both characters deal with significant betrayals and manipulation. Haymitch is set up to betray Lenore Dove or at least feel like he has. By feeding her the poisoned gumdrops. Or when the neighbours failed to put out the fire in his home because their cistern was empty. Haymitch blamed himself for that because he was supposed to fill it on Reaping day and instead went to see Lenore Dove. 

Katniss was betrayed by the rebels, especially Coin. Whoever it was that really dropped the parachute bombs, I believe it was the rebels, there is no way that Prim was there by accident. She was thirteen, not old enough to be a soldier per District 13's own rules. So why was she on the front line in live combat? Someone high up in the chain of command had to approve sending a thirteen year old into the front line. That was intentional and once Katniss began to doubt who did it, she realised the truth about Coin. 

"Nothing has changed. Nothing will ever change now." - Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

 This is the moment when Haymitch and Katniss perform their most important non-verbal communication. Katniss agreed to the Capitol Hunger Games because she needed Coin to trust her so she could eliminate her. Haymitch understood that, and understood that she was speaking as the Mockingjay, the character the rebels had wanted her to play. Not as Katniss. Which is why he agreed to it and carried the vote. Because he knew what she was doing and why and he finally ensured there would not be another sunrise on the Reaping. 

He kept his promise to Lenore Dove. Not by himself, but by finding someone the same as him but luckier and at the right time to make it happen and make it stick. Katniss couldn't save her sister but she could make sure no child in Panem would have to worry about sending their kids into an arena to kill each other. She eventually felt safe enough to have a family of her own. 

I always liked Haymitch as a character and Sunrise on the Reaping really cemented that for me. He's not just the violent drunk who hates everyone and avoids people. He feared letting anyone in because they would be harmed or killed. Imagine what it was like for him to see his childhood friend's daughter go into that arena, for him to be responsible for trying to keep her alive. Heart-breaking. 

Thanks for reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Haymitch and Katniss and their parallels and relationship. 

Emi the Cat Lady 💜