Haymitch Abernathy

Outer characterization

Haymitch Abernathy is Katniss and Peeta’s mentor in the novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. He is one of only two previous winners of the Hunger Games from District 12, and he therefore lives in a designated area of District 12 known as the Victors’ village. 

He is described as “a paunchy, middle-aged man” (Chapter 1, 95%) and “sturdily built” but “not particularly handsome” (Chapter 23, 21%). He is usually drunk and smells of alcohol.

Inner characterization

At first, Haymitch appears as a constantly drunk mentor who does not care about the fate of the tributes. As she gets to know and understand Haymitch, however, Katniss wonders whether Haymitch’s alcoholism is a crutch to help him cope with the trauma of the Games:

I’m wondering if Haymitch sobered up long enough to help...