While there are a lot of empowering female characters in the books and the movie industry, one the world still keeps close to their hearts is Katniss Everdeen (who was played byJennifer Lawrence). It might have been 10 years sinceThe Hunger Gamesmovie wasreleased, but the fans of the franchise love to revisit the picture due to the fact that itshows how one individual can changethe world for the better.
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Not only is Katniss's altruism and selflessness awe-inspiring, but she proved to be quite an intriguing and complex character. Her development also captivated manyfans too since her strong leadership skills and tactical mindset helped her come up with some wise and deeply resonating quotes. But which ones proved to be the most memorable? While Katniss had quite a few witty and sarcastic one-liners, there were some that were a lot more inspiring than others.
Updated on January 31st, 2022 by Kayleigh Banks:With Lionsgate have recently announced that they will produce a prequel to The Hunger Games (via Deadline), many fans are hoping that there will be some references to Katniss Everdeen's family. Although the new movie is likely to be shown from the perspective of President Snow (or before he got into power), it would be great to see if there was another empowering Everdeen that refused to tolerate any of his nonsense. This way, fans will be able to see where Katniss got her great orator skills and how they were destined to bringhim down all along.
Katniss Everdeen To Everyone:
"If You Think For One Second That The Capitol Will Ever Treat Us Fairly, You Are Lying To Yourself. Because We Know Who They Are And What They Do. This Is What They Do, And We Must Fight Back."
While Katniss might have been willing to follow Snow's orders inCatching Fireto maintain peace and the safety of everyone, she seems to have dropped this approach inMockingjay - Part 1.By now, she knows that if they want things to change then they would have to do it themselves since the Capitol would promise anything to make store they maintain control.
Although Katniss might not have wanted to be the leader, it was great to see her finally embracingand making somepowerfuland inspiring speeches that resonated deeply with the Districts. She opened their eyes to the corruptness that was within the Capitol and made it clear that they did not have to be "pawns" anymore. They deserved a chance to be free. The only way to do that was if they fought back.
Katniss Everdeen To Peeta Mellark:
"I'm Not Going To Leave You. I'm Not Going To Do That."
Although Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) weren't on the best of terms when they entered the Games, especially since Katniss couldn't get a good read on him or his plan, that didn't stop her from trying to help him. When she came upon him hiding among the rocks, she wasted no time checking him over for injuries and refused to abandon him when he insisted.
Katniss even risked her own life to make sure they got the correct medical supplies to treat Peeta's life. Considering she doesn't know him as well, it was quite amazing to see how far she would go to help a stranger as it just served to highlight how selfless and good she was. It was certainly a quality that inspired many fans to adopt a similar approach.
Katniss Everdeen To President Coin:
"The Victors Will Be Granted Immunity And You Will Announce That In Front Of The Entire Population Of 13 [...] Or You Can Find Yourself Another Mockingjay."
President Coin (Julianne Moore) might have been reluctant to have Katniss as the leader of the rebellion, but there was no doubt that she was the right person for the job. Katniss might not have known a lot about politics or military warfare initially, but sheproved to be a fast learner once she negotiated a great immunity deal for the other Victors.
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It certainly impressed the likes of Coin and Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), as they recognized that Katniss had the power to inspire hundreds of people. The fact that she refused to let them walk all over her and made demands that put the needs of the people above all shows that she wasn't interested in the power or the glory. Katniss just wanted to live in a better and fairer world, where there would no longer have to follow a tyrannical leader.
Katniss Everdeen To Effie Trinket:
"I Volunteer As Tribute."
One of the most memorable moments of the entire series is whenKatniss volunteers in her sister's place. It's what sparks the sequence of events that leads to a nationwide uprising, and it's the relationship between Katniss and Prim (Willow Shields) that gives the story so much heart.
Prim keeps Katniss grounded, inspires her, and gives her hope. But when Katniss volunteers, it gives other people hope: that goodness still exists, and that love is the most important thing in this bleak world - so important that it can save them.
Katniss Everdeen To Her Daughter:
"I'll Tell You How I Survive It."
In the final scene ofMockingjay Part 2,Katniss is in the Meadow with Peeta and their children. Her baby daughter wakes from a nightmare, and Katniss is quick to comfort her, though viewers get the feeling she's mostly talking to herself (and the audience). "I have nightmares, too. Someday I'll explain it to you - why they came, why they won't ever go away. But I'll tell you how I survive it.I make a list in my head of all the good things I've seen someone do ..."
Years after the uprising, Katniss still has nightmares, but she's finally at a point where she's found a way to deal with them. This in itself is inspiring, as is her message of hope to her daughter. When she says, "there are much worse games to play," it reminds viewersthat kindness triumphs over violence. This iswhy Katniss chooses Peeta, andwhy they're so compatible.
Katniss Everdeen To Johanna Mason:
"Nothing Good Is Safe While He's Alive, And I Can't Make Another Speech About It."
Katniss is restlessfor much ofMockingjay,being locked up underground in District 13. One of the few positive things to come out of her time there is her renewed ambition to join the rebellion.
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She befriends Johanna (Jenna Malone) after she's rescued from the Capitol, and the two find that they agree on a lot of the same things. Katniss tells her that she's going to kill Snow (Donald Sutherland). While somefansmight be conflictedabout her choice, it does show that the movie was closely approaching the endgame now.
Katniss Everdeen To Gale Hawthorne:
"I Guess There Are No More Rules About What A Person Can Do To Another Person."
After getting out of the Games, Katniss feels alienated from Gale. He doesn't completely understand her experience or why it has changed her views so much, particularly when it comes to war and rebellion.
Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and Katnisssometimes refer to a rule book of violence and morals, but Gale insists that Snow threw it away long ago. Still, it's quite interesting to see Katniss try to maintain her sense of righteousness and mercy despite everything Snow has done to her.
Katniss Everdeen To President Snow:
"It Must Be A Fragile System If It Can Be Brought Down By Just A Few Berries."
At the beginning ofCatching Fire,Katniss comes home from a hunting trip to find an unwelcome guest in her house: President Snow. He has come to warn and threaten her, but it's thesight of him sitting in her house that scares her the most.
Snow wants Katniss to contain the spark she has created. Hetells her to convince him thatshe's in love with Peeta, that her actions in the first Games were done out of her out-of-control emotions. She hides her fear and remarks that his system isn't as strong as he'd like it to be, reminding him that she's still a threat, even if she doesn't want to be.
Katniss Everdeen To Peeta Mellark:
"I Do. I Need You."
AlthoughKatniss had gone into the Games pretending to love Peetain order to increase her odds of survival, it's was nice to see her drop this pretense the longer she got to know him. When the fans first met Katniss, she was very closed-off and independent. She didn't have many friends because she was always skeptical of everyone's intentions - especially in the dystopian world they lived in.
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That's why it was a pleasant surprise to see her open up to Peeta inCatching Fireand admit that she did need him in her life. For her to realize that there actually were people in the world who genuinely wanted to get to know and help her because she was a great person. For those who were similar to Katniss and had experienced this kind of loneliness, it did provide them with a bit of hope too.
Katniss Everdeen To Gale Hawthorne:
"With That Kind Of Thinking, You Can Kill Whoever You Want."
Thedifference betweenGale and Katnissbecomes very evident inMockingjaywhen the uprising really heats up.When she finds thatGale doesn't mind crushing civilians in a mine, Katniss feelsdisillusioned. Gale's reasoning, and Gale's ease with othering people, seeing them as villains and enemies, is a very dangerous approach.
Katniss realizesthat he's using the same reasoning that the Capitol uses when they send kids to the Hunger Games. It's a fine line, and crossing itallows one to kill whoever they want. Katniss's truepersonalityis revealed when she disagrees with Gale.
Katniss Everdeen To Gale Hawthorne:
"I, Of All People, Know That It Is Always Personal."
Galebelieves that murder isn't personal in the context of a war.But Katniss has been through the Hunger Games twice andconstantly has Snow's death threats on her tail, so of course, she disagrees.
Gale has no firsthand experience withcombat untilCatching Fire.For much of the first movie, Gale has been watching things play out from a distance, seeing how the rebellion unravels.Katniss, on the other hand, doesn't have the advantage of a bigger-picture perspective.
Katniss Everdeen To The Gamemakers:
"Thank You For Your Consideration."
When Katniss is firstintroduced inThe Hunger Games,she is a spunky, outspoken, and courageousperson who doesn't care aboutpleasing other people.The trainingbefore the Games is the first instance where this becomes clear. Whenthe Gamemakers don't pay her attention during her demonstration, she is astounded by their lack of consideration.
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In her anger, she shoots out an apple from the mouth of a roasted pig that seems to be getting more attention than her. After this remarkable feat, she bows and sarcastically thanks them, whichmakes Katnisssomeone to watch out for in the arena.
Katniss Everdeen To Peeta Mellark:
"No. They Don't. Why Should They?"
At the end of the firstHunger Games, the Gamemakers change the rules and say that only one victormaylive. Peetastates the obvious: "One of us has to die. They have to have their victor." But Katniss doesn't agree with this.
This is the moment that changes the future entirely - the moment the world sees in her the leader of the rebellion. She asks, "Why should they?" and pulls out the berries to make sure she goes out on her terms and not theirs.
Katniss Everdeen To President Snow:
"I Never Wanted Any Of This."
Katniss is still a teenager, but the number of tragedies and difficulties she's experienced in life, and the way in which she continuesforward, somehow makes viewers forget that she's so young. In a few of her more vulnerable moments, she admits that she neverasked to be in the Games, to become a symbol, or to lead a revolution.She was just a child trying to survive.
The Capitol pushes herto do things shedoesn't want to, and later,the rebels thrust upon hera responsibility she doesn't want. However, even though she never wanted any of this, she knows she must continue to fight for the greater good and do what is right.
Katniss Everdeen To Finnick Odair:
"I Outgrew Them."
When Finnick asks her what happened to her pretty girl dresses, she says that she outgrew them. This is the momentthat viewers see that she isn't the same girl she was inThe Hunger Games.
InCatching Fire, viewers see a Katniss who is struggling to understand her role in everything. She no longer wishes to just survive for her own sake. She understands her role and is willing to support the movement against the Capitol. In the moment, it means wearing something meaningful, rather than something that will please Snow.
Katniss Everdeen To President Snow:
"If We Burn, You Burn With Us!"
This is easily one of the most iconic quotes in the series. Katniss has just witnessed the horrific violence that the Capitol inflicts on the outlying Districts, and she doesn't need to read from a speech to feel the spark of rebellion in her
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This is the moment whenshe evolves into the leader of the rebellion- into the leader the people around her already perceived her to be. She'sthe embodiment ofheroism as she shouts the words with angry tears in her eyes.
Katniss Everdeen To Peeta Mellark:
"We Keep Each Other Alive. That's What We Do."
Katniss evolves into someone who sees a life beyond survival. Over the course ofCatching Fire, viewers see how she starts to place Peeta's life ahead of her own.InMockingjay,she places the rebellion ahead of her own needs.In retrospect, it's clear that this begins with her care for Peeta.
In a way, their willingness to go to any length tokeep each other aliveis what keeps the movement going because it goes against the Capitol's belief in individualism, and the sole protection of individual interests.
Katniss Everdeen To The Lumber Rebel:
"I Am Done Being A Piece In His Game."
InThe Hunger Games, Peeta says that he doesn't want to just be another piece in the Capitol's Games.At this point, Katnissdoesn't have the luxury of thinkingthis way, but in the arena, she slowly comes to understand the value of Peeta's words.
Much later, inMockingjay - Part 2,she repeats his words in a momenttruly reflective of the journey she has made so far. It also speaks to Peeta's character that he is aware of his tiny role before the rebellion even begins.
Katniss Everdeen To Gale Hawthorne:
"I'm Not Afraid."
Katniss, in her more vulnerable moments, admits to being scared. She tellsGale that she's been scared since the Reaping. After her worst fearscome true when Prim's nameis picked, sheis forced to witness children die andis forced to kill some herself.
Through it all, shegoes through emotional distress, physical pain, and horrific trauma, so naturally, she's afraid. But when she is in front of people who need her to be strong, she holds her head up high. It's her loved ones who help her feel confident, supported, and less afraid.
NEXT:10 Most Memorable Quotes From The Hunger Games Movies
