The Relationship between Katniss and Peeta

     In life we develop relationships with many people. The relationship can be a solid friendship or a relationship built on hatred. In The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins, two characters’ relationship stand out. The relationship is between the main character Katniss, and Peeta. These two characters have been through a lot together and that has morphed their relationship. Their relationship was built on their harsh experiences.
     Their relationship starts to form in The Hunger Games. The first time they met is when they were young. Katniss’ family was poor and she had to rummage for food. She then comes upon some scraps of food in the trash. When she tries to get it, she is chased away by Peeta’s mom. Peeta sees Katniss and feels bad for her. He decides to burn bread and pretend it was an accident. When he does this, he is beat and told to throw the bread away. Instead, he gives the bread the Katniss. From this point, Katniss feels that she owes him for helping her out in a time when she was suffering. During the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta pretended to be in love to win the audience. They worked together in the Games when the rules were changed. The change was that two people could win the Games. After outlasting everyone in the Games, the rules were changed again. The rule only allowed one win. This forced Katniss to potentially kill Peeta, or Peeta to kill Katniss. But Katniss had another idea. She and Peeta threaten to commit suicide so ther was no winner. The Games end with both of them alive. During the Games, Katniss pretended to be in love with Peeta. For Peeta, he genuinely fell in love with Katniss. This was the start of their relationship.
     Their relationship developed in Catching Fire. After winning the Hunger Games, Peeta and Katniss went on tour to visit the districts. During their trip, Katniss often had nightmares. After hearing Katniss yell, Peeta came to comfort her. This went on for much of the trip. When this was done, it was time for the 75th Hunger Games. As a special event to celebrate 75 years of the Games, former winners were pitted against each other. Katniss and Peeta had to participate in the Games again. During the Games, they still played as lovers. But now, they were married lovers. Not only were they married, Katniss was pregnant. This was to cause an uprising. Because of their suicide attempt, they caused a rebellion. Katniss being pregnant and them being married was a way to get them support and to give something to rebel about. During the Games, Peeta and Katniss worked together and with the help from their new allies. During the end of the Games, a hovercraft came and took some of the competitors. These competitors were taken to District 13, a district that was thought to be destroyed. District 13 had become the center of the rebellion. They took Katniss, but not Peeta. They were being separated. This separation caused a problem in the future. Their relationship developed to a friendship, and a weapon for the rebellion.
     In Mockingjay, their relationship is almost destroyed. After being rescued from the Games, Katniss becomes the face of the rebellion. Katniss was part of propaganda and supported the rebellion. For Peeta, he was taken prisoner. While in prison, he was drugged to the point where his memories were morphed. He remembered Katniss as being an evil person. For example, when someone tried to defended Katniss from what Peeta said he responded, “Because she’s lying! She’s a liar! You can’t believe anything she says! She’s some kind of mutt the Capitol created to use against the rest of us”. He participated in interviews where he talked about stopping the war between the Capitol and the rebellion. When Peeta was rescued from his prison, he was in a demented state. When Katniss tried to talk to Peeta, Peeta started choking her. He was changed, and these changes lead him to despise Katniss. But Katniss did not give up. She tried to help him get back to his former state. After much therapy, the original Peeta was retrieved. While helping, she realized how much she cared for Peeta. The book ends by Peeta asking if Katniss loved him. She replied, yes. There friendship evolved to a romantic relationship.
     Over the course of the series, their relationship grew strong. After enduring a harsh journey they came out as better than they went in. This shows that there bonds were strong. There experiences did not break their bonds, but strength them.