Haymitch Abernathy was an integral part of the Hunger Games series, but his backstory was an interesting aspect that fans didn't get to see.
Haymitch Abernathy was one of the most polarizing figures to come out of the Hunger Games franchise, and a lot of that stemmed from what fans didn't see. Woody Harrelson portrayed the character who was originally created for Suzanne Collins' YA book trilogy on which the movies are based. As the lone District 12 mentor for Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, it was revealed that Haymitch won the annual Hunger Games event when he was just 16 years old. Here are the details behind his win and how it affected him for the decades that followed.
While much of Haymitch's early life was left a mystery, some interesting tidbits were unearthed through the books and subsequent movies. At 16, Haymitch was reaped in the Second Quarter Quell, which was the special name for the 50th Hunger Games. The fellow District 12 tribute was a girl named Maysilee Donner, with who he formed an alliance for a brief time in the arena. While fighting off Career tributes with a knife he acquired from the Cornucopia, Maysilee saved Haymitch's life by killing the lone surviving attacker with a poisonous dart. As the number of tributes dwindled, Maysilee decided to go off on her own. Shortly after, she fell victim to bird-like Mutts with sharp beaks.
In time, it came down to Haymitch and the District 1 female tribute as the final two opponents. The pair faced off, and Haymitch was severely injured to the point that he had to hold in his own intestines as he crawled away from the other tribute. As he approached a nearby cliff, the girl attempted to finish him off by throwing her ax in the direction of his head. Unlike Haymitch, the girl didn't know that the arena was surrounded by a force field. Haymitch dodged the ax, allowing it to bounce off of the force field and fly right into her own head. As the last one standing, Haymitch was named the victor of the Second Quarter Quell, but his life didn't get easier after the big win.
What Happened To Haymitch After He Won The Second Quarter Quell
President Snow wasn't too pleased with Haymitch and his actions involving the force field in the arena. As punishment for the stunt leading up to the win, Snow had had Haymitch's mother, younger brother, and girlfriend killed. Basically anyone he truly cared for was taken away from him mere weeks after his victory. Not only did he suffer from the deaths of his loved ones, but Haymitch also encountered severe PTSD from his experiences in the Games. For the next few decades, he carried the trauma with him, turning to alcohol to repress his feelings. It also didn't help that Haymitch mentored tributes that went on to die for years to come.
By the time Haymitch mentored Katniss and Peeta, he isolated himself from the rest of District 12. He was still a drunk, but Katniss' ignition of the rebellion gave Haymitch a new sense of purpose. He emerged as a key member of the Second Rebellion, which ultimately gave the districts more control over Panem after overtaking the Capitol. Despite another victory, Haymitch never had the chance to rid himself of the horrors he endured before the Hunger Games story came to an end.
ncG1vNJzZmirk6eyprrRmqWtZpOkunC01KeenqpdnK6usdJmn5qxnZ7BqXnWqKVmbWCptW60wKmnnqaVmXqvsdetZLCgkal6qbvWaA%3D%3D
