Mrs. Everdeen

"I'm trying to get past rejecting offers of help from her. For a while, I was so angry, I wouldn't allow her to do anything for me."

- Katniss about Mrs. Everdeen

Mrs. Everdeen is the mother of Katniss and Primrose Everdeen and the wife of the late Mr. Everdeen.

Biography
Healer by trade, Mrs. Everdeen didn't always live in the Seam of District 12. When she was young, she lived in the Merchant area, the better part of District 12. Loved by all, she helped in her father's apothecary shop, and became an expert at the trade.

Mr. Mellark, Peeta Mellark's father, had loved Mrs. Everdeen. He had always wished to marry her, but she married Mr. Everdeen instead, a kind but lowly coal miner. Mr. Mellark explained this to Peeta years later on his first day of school.

Mrs. Everdeen gave everything up to marry Mr. Everdeen, including her house, her job, her friends and family. She moved to the Seam with her husband. After his death in a mine explosion when Katniss was 11 years old, the Mayor gave the families of the miners killed in the explosion post-humous medals and a small amount of money meant to last the family a month until Mrs. Everdeen could find employment. The bereaved widow fell into a severe depression, spending most of her time in bed or in a chair, leaving her unable to care for her children. The money ran out and Katniss ended up having to support the family. Only after Katniss came home with the burnt bread that Peeta gave her Mrs. Everdeen began to recover. Katniss has never forgiven her for this period of time.

Regarding the Games
Mrs. Everdeen has not completely escaped from the games. When she was young, her best friend Maysilee Donner was chosen as the female tribute for the 50th Hunger Games, along with Haymitch Abernathy. Maysilee died, leaving her sister, Mrs. Undersee, and Mrs. Everdeen alone in their grief. Maysilee's parents gave Mrs. Everdeen her pet songbird after her death.

The Hunger Games
On the day of the reaping, Mrs. Everdeen gave Katniss her blue dress for the reaping and braided her hair. During the reaping, Mrs. Everdeen was shocked when her youngest daughter Prim was chosen and even more when her eldest daughter, Katniss volunteered for her place. Mrs. Everdeen came to see Katniss to say her final farewells. While in there, Mrs. Everdeen wept due to the high odds of her not coming back. Katniss made her promise not to leave Prim alone and take care of her no matter what happens to her. Mrs. Everdeen promises and stays with her until the peacekeepers come in and take her and Prim away.

Catching Fire
Mrs. Everdeen was overwhelmed when President Snow visits them. She tells Katniss that he looks pale and strange. During President Snow's and Katniss' conversation, Mrs. Everdeen comes in and offers him cookies and tea. She took this as a way to check up on them, and on her way out she gave Katniss a look to know if everything is well. After he leaves, Katniss lies and tells her that everything is good; this relieves her. Mrs. Everdeen takes care of her family and anyone who goes to her for medical help. When Gale is whipped, Katniss and Peeta take him to her. Mrs. Everdeen and Prim care for Gale's and Katniss' injuries. Mrs. Everdeen uses a special medical treatment with snow. Katniss yells at her, telling her to do everything she can and questioning her about everything she does to save Gale. Mrs. Everdeen joins Haymitch and Katniss and fills them in on Gale's condition, Katniss apologizes for her behavior to her mother and she forgives her. Mrs. Everdeen helps Katniss during her wedding dress shoot. When the Third Quarter Quell is announced, Mrs. Everdeen is surprised when President Snow tells all of Panem it will reap past victors; Katniss will be reaped since she is the only living female victor from District 12. Mrs. Everdeen, along with Prim, does everything to comfort Katniss after it is announced. After Katniss is reaped, Mrs. Everdeen and Prim go to the justice building but cannot say their goodbyes due to a new procedure. After Katniss leaves, Mrs. Everdeen and Prim cry together knowing the odds are strongly against her. When District 12 is bombed, Gale saves her and Prim.

Mockingjay
Mrs. Everdeen works at the hospital in District 13, but is treated as a nurse, not a full healer. She takes care of the ill along with Prim. The Everdeen family is still close and remain that way. They move to a larger room after Katniss demands to keep Buttercup for Prim. When Katniss finds her prep team abused, Katniss takes them to be treated by her mother. Mrs. Everdeen treats them back to health and tells her to take it easy on them since they are still hurt mentally due to the abuse. After Katniss returns from shooting a propo in District 8 and recovering from an attack by the Capitol, Mrs. Everdeen cares for Katniss in the hospital. When Katniss awakens, Mrs. Everdeen is upset that she did not notify her that she was leaving. Katniss apologizes and promises her that next time she will. Mrs. Everdeen continues to care for Katniss in the hospital until she is fully healed.

During the bombing of District 13 by the Capitol, Mrs. Everdeen makes it to the bunker she, Katniss and Prim were assigned to. When Katniss questions Prim's location, Mrs. Everdeen becomes worried because she left ten minutes before her. She is relieved when Prim and Gale show up right before the door was shut and locked. Mrs. Everdeen stays with her family in one area during the first bombing, and afterwards goes to the first aid station to help heal the wounded and ill. Before Katniss goes to the Capitol with her squad, she says her final goodbye to her family. When Prim is killed in the bombing at President Snow's mansion, Mrs. Everdeen goes to District 4 to head up a new hospital rather than than return to District 12 which was now too painful for her. Haymitch gives Katniss a note that has a phone number Katniss can call her mother. The two mourn over Prim's death together over the phone.

Family
Mrs. Everdeen has two daughters, Katniss and Primrose. Her husband, Mr. Everdeen, died five years before in a coal mining accident. She also has two grandchildren, an elder girl and younger boy, from Katniss and Peeta.

Primrose died in Mockingjay, leaving Mrs. Everdeen unable to go back to District 12 due to the pain of her death.

Work
Though never formally trained, Mrs. Everdeen is a healer, with extensive knowledge of natural remedies from having grown up in the apothecary in the merchant's district. Following her recovery from her grief over her husband's death, Mrs. Everdeen started a small apothecary business for people in the Seam. She has helped many people in the Seam who go to her for various things including both injury and sickness. In Catching Fire, Haymitch tells Katniss that there used to be a lot of whipping before the Head Peacekeeper Cray took over and that it was Katniss' mother that people would go to for aid. Head Peacekeeper Thread whips Gale (and accidentally Katniss) while he and Katniss were out hunting, and Mrs. Everdeen treats Gale and Katniss with the help of her youngest daughter, Prim.

Personality
Quiet and not talkative, Mrs. Everdeen does not waste her breath on unnecessary chatter. She has a habit of leaving the sane realm and heading into her own little world, but she is always aware and ready when a patient comes to call. Katniss is always amazed when she is brought a wounded or sick patient: "she morphs from someone who calls her daughter to kill a spider to a woman immune to fear", Katniss says. Mrs. Everdeen however lost hope and was devastated after her husband died which resulted in Katniss keeping the family alive. She would sit and stare hopelessly into space acting dreary and helpless most days. However, before Mr. Everdeen's death, it was said that she was full of life, and was very in love with him.

Description
With blonde hair and blue eyes, Mrs. Everdeen was a real beauty. Katniss says she now looks worn down and beaten. Her coloring makes her stick out at the Seam, where people have dark features. Primrose takes after her appearances. When she's sleeping, Katniss says she looks "worn, but not so beaten down"

Film portrayal
Mrs. Everdeen is played by Paula Malcomson in the movie adaptation of The Hunger Games.

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