Gale Hawthorne

* 74 ATT
* 75 ATT

"*You haven't hurt people, Katniss. You've given them an opportunity. They just have to be brave enough to take it.*"
―Gale, to Katniss**Gale Hawthorne** was Katniss Everdeen's best friend and hunting partner. He was fiercely devoted to his family and to Katniss and was a true rebel and visionary at heart. He was in love with Katniss and was forced to watch as she volunteered for the 74th Hunger Games in the place of her sister and faked a romance with Peeta Mellark in order to stay alive. After the Games, he became a threat to the Capitol through his semi-romantic relationship with Katniss and was used to gain leverage over her. He escaped The Bombing of District 12 and managed to save 929 others. In District 13, he became a soldier for the rebellion and fought on Katniss' side for the remainder of the war.

## Biography

### Early life

"*We could do it, you know. Leave the district. Run off. Live in the woods. You and I, we could make it.*"
―Gale, to KatnissGale was the oldest child of the Hawthorne family with three younger siblings (Rory, Vick, and Posy) the last of whom was born shortly after their father died in a mining accident that also killed Katniss' father. After his father's death, Gale struggled to provide for his family with help from his mother, Hazelle. To help feed his family, he hunted illegally in the forest adjacent to District 12, and he applied for tesserae many times.

At 14 years old, he met Katniss, who was 12 years old and also lost her father in the same mine explosion. They crossed each other's paths while hunting in the woods outside of District 12. Despite their initial misgivings about one another, the two slowly warmed up and become close friends. They attended the same school, only but really met at the mine site when it blew.

He and Katniss once saw a rogue boy and girl running from a Capitol hovercraft in the woods and failed to help them as the boy was killed and the girl kidnapped. Gale also helped Katniss shot a deer together in the woods to sell its meat for enough money to buy a nanny goat for Prim.

### 74th Hunger Games

The morning of the reaping, Gale came out from the woods and showed Katniss a loaf of bread that he got by trading a squirrel with Peeta's father. The two of them talked about the Hunger Games and the reaping while they ate the loaf of bread and goat cheese in the woods. Gale later told Katniss that they could run away and avoid the reaping, but they both agreed that they couldn't leave their families alone. Gale had been single-handedly supporting his mother and three younger siblings ever since his father was killed; with him gone, they would starve. Gale was always angry with the Capitol and the state of the Seam, and he often let out his anger on Katniss in the privacy of the woods. Gale also mentioned that he might like to have kids one day, if not for the fact that they would likely lead very difficult lives in the Seam.

At the reaping, Gale gave Katniss a ghost of a smile, since the odds weren't exactly in his favor: He had 42 slips in the reaping ball. When Katniss volunteered to take Prim's place in the Hunger Games, he held a screaming Prim back from Katniss as she made her way to the platform. In the Justice Building, Gale entered the room and told Katniss that she was stronger than the Capitol and could win the Games. Gale also advised her to make a bow if there wasn't one in the Cornucopia. He promised to protect and provide for her family in her absence. As Peacekeepers dragged him out the room, Gale shouted, *"*Katniss, remember*"* Katniss never found out what he wanted her to remember (he was going to reveal he loved her).

With Katniss gone, Gale took over all of the duties that she normally fulfilled to support her family. He hunted for the majority of Prim and her mother's meals and gathered the supplies for her mother's apothecary. Although he asked for nothing in return, Prim and her mother repaid him with what little milk and medicine they could spare. Gale watched the Games on television, both at home and in school, as was required, and suffered greatly to see her in danger. He watched a lot of the Games with Prim and Katniss' mother, as it brought all three of them comfort to watch them together instead of alone. In the arena, Katniss realized that it would be to her advantage to feign love for Peeta, but she felt guilty because she was confused about her feelings for Gale. Gale found it very painful to watch Katniss play out her romance with Peeta, although he guessed that it was at least partially a sham on Katniss' part.

Once Katniss became one of the final eight tributes alive, the Capitol sent camera crews to District 12 to interview her family and friends. When asked about her friends, everyone directed the camera crews to Gale. However, the Capitol people thought that Gale was "too handsome and too male" to be Katniss' best friend without jeopardizing Katniss' on-screen romance with Peeta. Therefore, Gale was presented in the interviews as Katniss' cousin. Gale and Katniss both resented this falsehood.

Gale, as well as his mother and siblings, greeted Katniss at the train station when she came home from the Hunger Games.

### Working in the coal mines

Once Gale graduated, he began working in the coal mines. The work was exhausting and dangerous, and especially disheartening for Gale, whose father was killed in the mines and who is “only really alive in the woods.” He worked twelve hours a day and had only Sundays off. He spent all of his Sundays hunting in the woods with Katniss. The two remained best friends, but their relationship was complicated by Katniss' on-screen romance with Peeta Mellark.

Katniss, confused about whether or not she actually loved Peeta and feeling like she somehow betrayed Gale during the Games, fell out with Peeta and devoted her time to Gale and his family. She hunted in the woods every day and gave all the produce to the Hawthornes. She offered to give the Hawthornes a share of her winnings so that Gale didn't have to work in the mines, but Gale refused to allow this. He was even uncomfortable with Katniss hunting for his family, although his mother Hazelle didn't object.

Gale and Katniss didn't see each other alone until a few weeks after the end of the Hunger Games, at their meeting place in the woods. They shared an emotional reunion. At the end of a day of hunting, Gale spontaneously kissed Katniss and told her that he “had to do that, at least once.” Unfortunately, the kiss was filmed by security cameras, and President Snow found out about it. The kiss only added to his suspicion that Katniss didn't really love Peeta. Snow visited Katniss and told her that her “flaunting her preference for Gale” over Peeta was unacceptable. He threatened to kill Gale and his family if she didn't convince Panem she was truly in love with Peeta.

In an attempt to placate Snow, Peeta proposed to Katniss on the Victory Tour. Gale, clearly hurt and betrayed by this, refused to come to the Harvest Festival dinner at the mayor’s house. Later, Katniss took him to her father’s lake for the first time, and finally explained her actions in full. She admitted that her engagement to Peeta was fake, and that Snow was unconvinced by their romance and was probably going to kill all of Katniss' friends and family. She asked Gale and his family to escape into the woods with her. He agreed happily and confessed that he loved her. He was disappointed by her reply that she couldn't love anyone romantically at such a perilous time. He was further angered when he found out that Katniss planned to bring Peeta along into the woods. Finally, when Katniss let slip that uprisings began in District 8, Gale refused to run with her, telling her that it was their duty to fight for a free Panem.

### Attacked by Peacekeepers

After his spat with Katniss at the lake, Gale went to the Head Peacekeeper's house to sell a wild turkey from the woods to Cray. Upon on arriving, however, he found that Cray was replaced by a new Head: the bloodthirsty, Capitol-loving Romulus Thread. Gale was arrested for poaching, forced to plead guilty, and whipped at least forty times. Upon arriving at the whipping post, Katniss threw herself in front the whip and took a lash across her face before she, Haymitch, and Peeta convinced Thread to stop the punishment.

Gale was rushed to Katniss' mother and Prim, who set about treating him with their limited supplies. Katniss was very distressed throughout the whole process and went berserk when her mother refused to give Gale more painkillers. Madge brought Gale morphling, an expensive painkiller from the Capitol, before the pain got too bad. Katniss spent the night at Gale’s side, holding his hand, stroking his face, and even kissing him. Katniss realized that running away or trying to placate the Capitol would be cowardly and wrong, and vowed to “stay…with Gale and cause all kinds of trouble” with him. She finally understands his lifelong need to rebel against the Capitol.

### Third Quarter Quell

Gale spent the next few days at Katniss' house, receiving free care and treatment from her mother and Prim. Eventually he went home and began working in the mines again, but ever since his whipping, there was a crackdown in District 12. The Capitol’s laws were enforced brutally, food was scarce and expensive, and the mines were paying less than ever. Furthermore, the merchant families stopped bringing Hazelle laundry because of the Hawthorne family's association with Katniss. Rory took out tesserae, which upset Gale greatly. He was devastated by the news that Katniss would be a tribute in the Quarter Quell and told her that they should have run away when they had the chance. He helped Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch in their training efforts by teaching them all about snares and trapping.

Gale watched the Quarter Quell from afar and was horrified when Peeta falsely proclaimed that he and Katniss were married, and that Katniss was pregnant. When the victors were broken out the arena, the Capitol bombs District 12. Gale managed to rescue 929 people and lead them into the woods. With only two bows and a fishing net, he managed to feed them all for three days before they were rescued by District 13. Gale was at Katniss' bedside when she regained consciousness from her concussion and tells told her that District 12 was gone.

### District 13 Rebellion

Gale started living in District 13 and spent lots of time with Beetee designing weapons to use against the Capitol. Katniss became uncomfortable with the brutality involved in some of Gale's weapons. He developed a deeper relationship with Katniss while Peeta was a prisoner of the Capitol, but their relationship underwent a number of strains, especially when they conversed about Peeta. When Katniss visited the remains of District 12, Gale went along to protect her. On their way back to District 13, Gale comforted Katniss and reassured her everything would work out. When Peeta was interviewed with Caesar Flickerman, Gale tried to go to Katniss to help her when she left the room, but Boggs attempted to stop him. Gale and Katniss talked about the situation, and she told him that she'd be the Mockingjay, the symbol of the rebellion. She and Gale went hunting like they used to and the two of them enjoyed their time together until he asked her why she cared for her prep team so much. Katniss told him that they helped her a lot in the Hunger Games. Gale became mad about this and left. He and Katniss went to the weapons room where Beetee was inventing weapons for the rebels. There, Gale was allowed to pick out a weapon and chose a large military bow and arrow.

Gale went with Katniss and the others to shoot propos for the rebellion. Gale and the group arrived in District 8 to film their propaganda at a hospital. While there, the Capitol attacked the hospital and Gale, along with Katniss and the others, battled the enemy. After the battle, they met at the command room in District 13 and discussed the propaganda. They decided to allow Katniss to go back in to combat and shoot more propos when she was ready. Gale went to comfort Katniss when she healed. Gale went back to Beetee and helped him make military weapons.

The tension between Gale and Katniss grew. Gale tried to be normal around Katniss, but she knew he saw a controversial interview with Peeta and tried to not talk or say anything about it. Gale told her it was to protect her since she was too stressed, but an enraged Katniss told him to stop lying to her. Gale and Katniss went to District 12 to shoot another propo. When shooting one at Katniss' house, Gale asked to see his house, but Cressida told him to retell the night of the bombing. Later Gale and Katniss kissed because they were both in pain and the only way they felt they could escape the pain was doing that.

#### Rescue of Peeta Mellark and aftermath

After the interview with Peeta, the entire district retreated to safe bunkers during the bombing. Gale saved Prim's life during an air raid because he went to check the Everdeen compartment to make sure it was clear and found Prim and Buttercup. The two made it to the bunker in time before the doors were closed and locked. After Katniss and Finnick broke down emotionally during a propaganda shoot due to the impact of Peeta and Annie's torture, Gale was the first to volunteer for an extremely dangerous mission to rescue Peeta, Johanna, Enobaria and Annie from the Capitol. Gale safely made it back to District 13 and received medical attention. After Gale was healed, he went to build weapons with Beetee. Katniss was sad that he made weapons that could hurt innocent people in the process, and he told her he was playing by the rule book Snow played with: none.

Gale and Beetee went to District 2 to assist the group in taking down The Nut. Gale and Katniss' relationship grew deeper as the two spent the night comforting each other. Gale and the others went to The Nut where they tried to think of a plan to attack it and thus take control of District 2. Gale conceived a plan that involved blowing up the inside of The Nut, which upset Katniss because it would kill innocent people. After some arguments with Katniss, they decided to bomb The Nut, but leave the train station open so the people inside The Nut can escape. Gale visited Katniss in the hospital when she awakened from her gunshot and the two argued about what has happened. Gale informed her of District 2 siding with the rebels. Later, Gale, along with Beetee, met with Katniss, Johanna, Delly, Finnick, Annie, and later Peeta at lunch. Gale told Peeta he has changed, and Johanna agreed with him. Gale took Katniss aside and told her Peeta had changed and wasn't seeing her for who she truly was.

#### Battle of the Capitol

He was part of the "Star Squad" that went rogue and set out to assassinate President Snow, though he got separated from Katniss. Before Katniss went to guard Peeta, Gale pulled Katniss away and asked her about her plan to head out on her own, and Katniss said he should go with her. Gale helped the team take cover in an apartment and they witnessed a broadcast that showed footage of the squad members' supposed deaths. Gale tried to calm Peeta down and promised he would kill him if it came down to it. The squad traveled underground in the tunnels and were attacked by lizard mutts. Gale and the squad were able to make it out of the tunnel, but lost Finnick, Jackson, and a few others to the mutts. The squad split up; Gale followed Katniss. The two of them battled off Peacekeepers and headed to President Snow's mansion. After almost dying from a trap activated by a pod, Gale was taken away by Peacekeepers. As he was being taken away, he mouthed, "shoot me," to Katniss. but she found herself unable to do it.

Afterwards, Katniss' sister was killed in a method he devised. Gale wasn't informed that his trap was the one that killed Prim, but deep in his heart he knew it to be true. Gale visited her before Snow's death and gave her a sheath with one arrow to shoot at Snow. Katniss asked if it was his bomb that killed Prim. Gale told her he wasn't sure and told her to shoot straight before he left. While Katniss could never be sure that it was Gale's trap that did it, she realized she could never be able to look at him, much less love him, the same way again, and let him walk away without a word.

### Moving to District 2

Gale moved to District 2 after Paylor was elected president, where he secured a fancy job working for Panem's new government as a military captain. Katniss found herself relieved by this instead of feeling any longing or anger, as she herself believed that Gale would eventually forget her and would soon be "kissing another pair of lips."

## Relationships

* Katniss Everdeen (crush, hunting partner, friend)
* Beetee (friend, co-designer)
* Hazelle Hawthorne (mother)
* Rory, Vick, and Posy Hawthorne (siblings)
* Thom, Bristel (co-workers)

## Appearance

At 14, Gale already looked like a man. He was over six feet tall. Similar to many people from the Seam, he had olive skin, straight black hair, and grey eyes. People who had never met or barely knew them thought that Gale was Katniss' cousin. He had scars on his back from when he was whipped over 40 times by Romulus Thread.

## Personality

Gale was passionate about fighting against the Capitol. He had many opinions that would be considered radical and would result in him getting punished. He only truly felt alive when he was outdoors, which made working in the mines feel like hell. He cared deeply for Katniss and intensely tried to make sure she and her family were safe.

He was prone to jealousy and had controversial opinions on what was fair to do to another person. Conversely, he also would risk his life for freedom and fighting against injustice. He disliked having to pretend he was Katniss' cousin. He had a fiery personality somewhat similar to Katniss', which is why Katniss decided to be with Peeta: his gentle and sweet nature was what she needed.

## Trivia

* A "gale" is an intense gust of wind. Him being named this is potentially a reference to his temperament.
* Gale was the only surviving soldier in Squad 451 who was not a Hunger Games victor.