Gale Hawthorne

Gale Hawthorne is Katniss Everdeen's best friend and hunting partner.

Biography
Born and raised in the Seam of District 12, Gale is used to living on the verge of starvation. He appears in The Hunger Games as Katniss Everdeen's best friend, although their relationship seems to border on romantic.

Katniss
Looking almost exactly alike, Gale and Katniss could easily pass as siblings. And by their close friendship, you would have thought they were. In The Hunger Games, it is said that Gale is the person who knows Katniss best. In actuality, the two had only known each other for four years prior to The Hunger Games.

The two met each other formally at the ceremony following their fathers' deaths. Both were awarded Medals of Valor for being the eldest children of the deceased coal miners. Later that year, they met again out in the forbidden woods beyond District 12's fence. Both had been going to the woods for some time, being as the woods were their families' main source of food. Gale was fourteen at the time, and Katniss was twelve. When Gale asked her what her name was, she replied in a whisper, making him believe that she said "Catnip" at first.

Their relationship grew from a mild trust to becoming something a little more than best friends. In Catching Fire, Gale proved this when he suddenly and unexpectedly kissed Katniss on the outskirts of the woods (the action was reported to President Snow, who later confronted Katniss). Also, on another occasion (in the woods), Gale managed an "I love you" to his crush, hoping for her to answer likewise but Katniss stumbled upon her words and only managed an, "I know" back. Gale and Katniss are both in love with each other, but things are complicated when she doesn't want to hurt Peeta.

Gale is very open with Katniss, and would never try to control her. At the end of Catching Fire, Katniss notes that Gale would never keep secrets from her, right before he informs her that District 12 has been destroyed.

In Mockingjay, Katniss and Gale's relationship continues to become more romantic. However, after Prim, Katniss's sister, is killed by a firebomb created by Gale, the relationship is torn apart, as Katniss will never be able to look at Gale again without associating him with her sister's death.

Peeta
Gale has a grudge against Peeta Mellark, Katniss's lover, and tried to hate him for his loyal and undying love for her. But, as Gale states, Peeta is a hard person to hate. In Mockingjay, Gale and Peeta talk about their relationship with Katniss and he does not bear a grudge on him anymore. Katniss said they talked like friends.

Work
In The Hunger Games, Gale Hawthorne was not yet working in the coal mines, and was mainly supporting his family through tesserae and the money and meat he made from poaching. By Catching Fire, Gale had turned nineteen and was working in the coal mines. This gave a little more money, but left him less time to hunt. He still made time to hunt, when able. This job took place of the tesserae, but did not help his family in finances.

His poaching was stopped in Catching Fire, after Katniss and Gale got into a heated argument. Gale was caught with a fresh turkey when he went to sell it at the Head Peacekeeper, Cray's, home. Unknown to Gale and the rest of the community, Cray had been replaced by another Head Peacekeeper, Thread. Gale was forced to admit his guilt and was then whipped horribly. Peeta was with Katniss when the two witnessed Gale's whipping. Peeta had told Katniss to leave when he saw the scene, knowing full well that Katniss would try to stop Thread but even with his warning, Katniss rushed to Gale's aid, getting lashed herself in the process. Peeta and Haymitch had to step in before Thread could hurt Katniss. The whipping was soon brought to an end and Gale was rushed to Mrs. Everdeen, Katniss' mother, for medical treatment. Katniss was by Gale's side during the treatment and kissed him once out of worry, which brought Gale back to consciousness. Both Katniss and Gale had to stop their treks into the woods after that.

At the beginning of Mockingjay, he works as a soldier in District 13, however, in the end he moves to District 2, where he currently lives and works.

Personality
Gale enjoys a good laugh now and then. He can be quick to anger, but always keeps it under control. His hatred for The Capitol boldly shines. He will rant about the Capitol and District 12 and everything he can think of out in the woods, where he thinks no one can hear him. He his brave and willing to fight for what he believes and for Katniss' love. He is willing to do anything to protect Katniss and her family.

Gale is an idealist, trying to believe the world can change for the better. This is proved by his commitment to the rebellion. He said he would rather stay and fight then run off with Katniss in the woods. He is quite the rebel, fighting for what he believes in no matter what the odds.

Family
Gale looks out for his three siblings, Rory, Vick, and Posy, and his mother, Hazelle, by himself. His father died in the same mine accident as Katniss's father did. Gale originally supported his family by illegally hunting and applying for extra tesserae. As of Catching Fire, when he is too old for the Games, he works in the same mines as his father used to, twelve hours a day.

Even though Katniss wants to help him, he refuses every coin and help she offers, excluding the meat she brings over. Katniss and her family are just like family to him, as they look out for each other and share many things in common. At the end of Catching Fire, Gale saves Prim and Mrs. Everdeen when the Capitol bombs District 12.

Description
Just like Katniss and most people from the Seam, Gale has black hair and olive skin and shares Katniss's grey eyes. They look so alike that people believe them to be cousins in Catching Fire. In Catching Fire, it is explained in further detail that, when the Capital sent out interviewers, most people lead them to Gale. The Capitol's interviewer reached the Hawthorne's, where most or all people have the Seam 'look'(black hair, olive skin, gray eyes), and (Katniss' comment) "So some smart guy made/said he's my cousin." Muscular and good looking, girls flock to him — though he seems to have eyes for Katniss alone. She describes Gale as a guy who could have any girl he wanted, because of the way girls whisper about him. She also describes him as smelling like oranges, or sometimes alder smoke.