The Hunger Games series was a genre-defining YA series that truly connected with a generation of readers and still continues to be widely popular. While Katniss is truly one of the best YA heroines of the times, Peeta arguably is one of the kindest YA heroes out there, and Gale is one of those YA heroes that doesn't fit into the alpha-male stereotype at all.
These two boys are wonderfully empathetic, kind, and caring. They are willing to help and be helped. Fans are split on who is the real hero of the series. Here are some quotes that will help them decide.
10 Peeta: "Our Lives Aren't Measured In Years"
Peeta gives one of the most heartwarming speeches in Catching Fire, when they are in District 11. Talking about the death of Rue and Thresh, he says, "Our lives aren't measured in years. They're measured in the lives of people we touch around us."
Peeta has a way with words that can quite capture exactly what he's feeling and what people want to hear. When Katniss is struggling to speak, he speaks beautifully on her behalf in this manner, providing comfort and something of a practical use at the same time, by donating a month of their earnings.
9 Gale: "You're Stronger Than They Are"
Gale is the one who rightly points out that Katniss has an actual shot at winning the games because she's stronger. Gale knows Katniss more than anyone at that point - he knows her skills, her abilities. He knows that she can hunt and that she's good at shooting. He knows that she's a survivor.
When he says this, Katniss is reassured, for the first time, of the probability of succeeding. His pragmatic encouragement was exactly what she needed.
8 Peeta: "Always"
Katniss has incredibly difficult nightmares, which have her waking up shouting and screaming. When Peeta comes to comfort her, she calms down. She asks him if he would stay with her. Without missing a beat, he holds onto her and says this line.
It is a moment that truly emphasizes Peeta's consistency and dedication to Katniss. This one word is able to capture what kind of a person he is - someone who will stick by her, always.
7 Gale: "You're Here With Me"
After having been through the Hunger Games, Katniss is very shaken up when trying to hunt. When she aims to shoot at an animal, she imagines it to be one of the tributes and she panics. She is frightened and scared and only Gale is able to comfort her.
He holds her and says that she's safe and that she's okay and with him. Gale provides her with much-needed safety and warmth.
6 Peeta: "That's A Tough Act To Follow"
Peeta is generally the sweetest guy ever, but even he can be sarcastic when needed. When Plutarch Heavensbee is introduced as the new head Gamemaker, Peeta snidely makes this remark. He makes this reference to Seneca Crane, whose "benevolence" got them in this position, and whose death was made possible by Snow himself.
To sign up after Seneca is indeed something. And Peeta here shows that even he is capable of saying what needs to said, however impolite.
5 Gale: "It's A War, Katniss"
Gale is quite unlike Katniss and Peeta. He has that spirit of rebellion in him already, and he isn't worn down by the physical and psychological toll the Games takes on a tribute. Right from the beginning, viewers can see that Gale isn't satisfied by their meager existence.
Katniss never looks beyond survival, but Gale does. So when the rebellion was finally in front of them, Gale doesn't shy away. He knows what a war means. He knows what it implies and he can handle it.
4 Peeta: "They Don't Own Me"
The night before their first Games, in a conversation between Peeta and Katniss, viewers get to actually hear Peeta's opinion and formulate a fuller image of him. He too has that streak of rebellion, but it is more quiet and more inward than outward. He doesn't want the Capitol and the Games to change him and he doesn't just want to be another piece in the game.
Peeta is very strong, and there is a sort of purity to him that wouldn't have helped him survive the Games on his own because he refuses to play on their terms. And as Haymitch and Katniss clearly note, no one decent ever wins the Games. But Peeta does, because of Katniss, going on to prove this even more.
3 Gale: "I Don't Stand A Chance If He Doesn't Get Better"
When Peeta arrives at District 13 after having been tortured, Gale understands what it means for him and Katniss. Gale isn't mean-spirited and he doesn't see a person's downfall as his own prosperity. He knows that Katniss is better than that. More importantly, he knows he is better than that.
He wants a fair shot at winning her over and Peeta being in his condition doesn't give him that.
2 Peeta: "I Volunteer As Tribute"
In a recall from The Hunger Games, Peeta volunteers on behalf of Haymitch in Catching Fire to be with and protect Katniss. As soon as the Quarter Quell is announced, Peeta heads over to Haymitch to make sure that they save Katniss' life. When Katniss makes her way to Haymitch's, much later, she makes a deal with him to save Peeta because they both know that out of the three of them, Peeta deserves it the most.
It a testament to Peeta's decency and commitment that he volunteers to put himself through the ordeal of the Games again. Katniss never had an option, but he did. The fact that he doesn't take it goes to show what sort of a person he is.
1 Gale: "I'm Staying Here"
In Catching Fire, when the rebellion is slowly beginning everywhere, Katniss proposes to run away with Gale. She had been through a lot and it is understandable why her first instinct was to run.
But Gale, on hearing about the uprisings, sees the opportunity. He knows that their current existence isn't safe and that they were slaving away and starving. He knows that Katniss provided the districts with a spark that could potentially change things and he makes it very clear that he is a man of principles. He's more worried about their collective existence than about their personal struggles.
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September 07, 2020 at 05:30AM
