Katniss is the novel’s reluctant heroine and narrator. She primarily fits the hero archetype but also displays traits of the caregiver. While she demonstrates the courage, perseverance, and honor often associated with the hero archetype, she generally lacks the hubris that usually comes with it. Instead, she continually sacrifices to protect others, particularly those who fit the archetype of the innocent, namely Prim and Rue.

While she is an inherently pragmatic character, Katniss cannot help but be won over by kindness—a tendency that could leave her vulnerable. As much as she pretends to focus on her own self-interests, she genuinely cares about others and often prioritizes them over her own safety. Katniss is driven by the need to keep herself and her loved ones alive at any cost. This motivation endures throughout the book, as she often sacrifices herself for the sake of her younger sister, going so far as to volunteer for the Hunger Games in Prim’s stead. Even within the games, when Katniss might be better served by thinking of herself, it is the idea of protecting her sister from the trauma of watching her die that pushes her to action: “not only will I face death, it’s sure to be a long and painful one at Cato’s hand.