Gale Hawthorne

"Leave the district. Run off. Live in the woods. You and I, we could make it."

- Gale, to Katniss

Gale Hawthorne was Katniss Everdeen's best friend and hunting partner. In order to not cast suspicion on Katniss and Peeta Mellark's highly publicized strategic romance, Gale is presented as Katniss's cousin. He bears a resemblance to Katniss, which makes their cover believable.

He will be portrayed by Liam Hemsworth in the film adaptation of the book.

Biography
Gale has three siblings: Rory, the second oldest; Vick; and the only girl, Posy. Trying to support his family after his father died in the same mine explosion that killed Katniss' father, he has to apply for tesserae multiple times. He is eighteen, possibly nineteen in the late chapters of Catching Fire and Mockingjay. He hunts often, mostly with Katniss, that being how they met. When Katniss was twelve, and he fourteen, both of their fathers died in the same mining accident, and they soon became hunting partners. Katniss says that at fourteen, "Gale already looked like a man." It is later mentioned he was over six feet tall. Similar to many people from The Seam, he has olive skin, straight black hair, and gray eyes. He admits to being in love with Katniss in Catching Fire, and their relationship grows in each book. Also, he hates The Capitol and has scars on his back from when he was whipped in Catching Fire after being caught hunting illegally.

The Hunger Games
Gale is first introduced in The Hunger Games when he comes to the woods and shows Katniss a loaf of bread that he got by trading a squirrel with Peeta's father. The two of them talk about the Hunger Games and the reaping while they eat the loaf of bread in the woods. Gale later tells Katniss that they can run away and avoid the reaping, but they both agree that they can't leave their families. At the reaping Gale along with his family are sitting near the stage where it will take place, Gale gives Katniss a ghostly smile since the odds are not in his favor. When Katniss volunteers to take Prim's place in the Hunger Games Gale holds Prim back from stopping Katniss to enter the Games in her place. In the Justice Building, Gale comes into the room and he tells Katniss that she can can win and gives her advice for the Games. Gale says she is stronger and that they just want a good show, and to show them how good she is. He also says he will protect and help her family in her absence. Gale watches the Games on television. In the arena, Katniss realizes that it would be to her advantage to feign love for Peeta, but she feels guilty because she is confused about her feelings for Gale.

Catching Fire
In Catching Fire, Gale is now working at the mines to earn money to provide for his family since he is too old to be reaped in the Hunger Games. Gale is upset and jealous about the affection between Peeta and Katniss seen during the Hunger Games. Since he is working in the mines, he can no longer hunt with Katniss every day. Later on Katniss and Gale go into the woods and Gale surprisingly and unexpectedly kisses Katniss, which leave her even more confused about her feelings. The kiss is reported to President Snow, who threatens to kill Gale if Katniss does not obey his orders to present the appearance that Katniss is madly in love with Peeta. Katniss realizes she can no longer be seen with Gale, and resolves to run away with him (and their families) to escape what she increasingly suspects will end with their deaths at the hands of President Snow. Initially Gale is elated, though less so when he hears Peeta will come along. Ultimately, though, he rejects the plan because he does not want to desert all their friends in District 12 and leave them to the mercy of the Capitol. Gale places his ideals above Katniss, while Peeta picks Katniss before anything else. Gale is caught illegally hunting and is whipped almost to death, but Katniss intervenes and puts herself in the path of the whip; her mother is later able to treat him. When Gale recovers enough to speak him and Katniss talk and their affection for each other becomes deeper and Katniss becomes more confused but knows that she loves him. Although Katniss is supposed to be Peeta's lover in public, she is unable to forget Gale. When Gale finds out about the Third Quarter Quell he is depressed when Katniss must go since she is the only living female tribute of District 12. While in the Justice Building he goes to the room to say his final farewell to Katniss and declares he loves her, she replies "I know" rather than returning his affections. After she is taken away for the Quarter Quell. After Katniss blew up the force field the Capitol firebombed District 12, but Gale found out and first went to evacuate his and Katniss' famiy and then other citizens of the district. Katniss and Gale meet up in District 13. Gale stays by her side until she awaken and he explains everything that has happened in her absence. He tells her that District 12 has been bombed and destroyed, but he managed to evacuate about 10% (less than 900 people) of the population, including their families.

Mockingjay
In Mockingjay, Gale lives in District 13 and spends time with Beetee designing weapons to use against the Capitol. Katniss becomes uncomfortable with the brutality involved in some of Gale's weapons. He is one of the main characters and has a deeper relationship with Katniss while Peeta is a prisoner of the Capitol, but their relationship goes through a number of strains throughout the book. He saves Prim's life during an air raid, and volunteers for an extremely dangerous mission to rescue Peeta from the Capitol. Gale and Katniss even get to hunt together again on the grounds of District 13. He is part of the "Star Squad" that sets out to assassinate President Snow, though he gets separated from Katniss. Afterward, Katniss' sister is killed in a method akin to one he devised. While Katniss can never be sure that it was Gale's weapons that did it, their relationship is torn apart, as she is unable look at him the same way again. He is later said to have taken "a fancy job" in District 2, which Katniss is relieved to hear.

Katniss Everdeen
With similar physical characteristics, Gale and Katniss could easily pass as siblings, as could many other children from the Seam. In The Hunger Games, it is said that Gale is the person who knows Katniss best, even though their acquaintance started only 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. Then when an animal was following her in the woods with Gale, she killed it, (even though it was good company) and Gale started calling her Catnip since.

Their relationship grew from a mild trust to becoming something a little more than best friends. In Catching Fire, Gale proved this when he appeared extremely jealous in regards to Katniss' pretend romance with Peeta Mellark, and suddenly and unexpectedly kissed Katniss on the outskirts of the woods. This was reported to President Snow, who later used this information to manipulate Katniss. When Katniss later proposed that they run away together, Gale managed an "I love you" but Katniss only replied "I know," and Gale was furious when she intended to include Peeta and Haymitch Abernathy in their plans. While Gale is clearly in love with Katniss, she remains conflicted by her feelings for both Gale and Peeta, as well as her own sense of unyielding independence, until the end of Mockingjay when she realizes she loves Peeta.

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. However, this implicit trust is challenged as Gale withholds information from Katniss in Mockingjay. Even though these lies by omission are due to concern for her mental wellbeing, Katniss feels betrayed.

In Mockingjay, Katniss and Gale's relationship continues to become more romantic but also more complex. The relative simplicity of hunting/gathering to stave off starvation is replaced with something not so straight forward - war. Even as they work together to overthrowing the Capitol a chasm seems to grow as their ideals and morals clash. Gale's win at all costs mentality, which was evident before in his words, are actually being put into practice. Whereas Katniss is still clinging to the hope of winning the war with limited casualties and some sense of morality, as Peeta would have done. In the end, it is Gale's contempt for applying ethics to his ideas that truly severs any relationship they had or could ever have. Primrose, Katniss's sister, is killed by a specific type of firebomb that may have been designed by Gale. Even though the order to use the bombs was given by President Coin, both Gale and Katniss know there's no going back for them after that.

Katniss returns to District 12, whereas Gale lives in District 2, working for the military.

Peeta Mellark
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 he states, Peeta is hard to hate. In Mockingjay, Gale and Peeta discuss their relationship with Katniss, and Gale appears significantly less bitter about their rivalry. They agree that Katniss will marry whomever she cannot survive without.

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 on Sundays with Katniss. This job took the 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 cruel 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 in the face herself in the process. Peeta and Haymitch had to step in before Thread could hurt Katniss more. The whipping was soon brought to an end and Gale was rushed to 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 when the new Peacekeeper decides, just to be safe, to run constant electricity through the fence that surrounds the woods so that no one can get in or out.

At the beginning of Mockingjay, he works particularly closely with Beetee, designing weaponry for District 13, and later goes in as a soldier on the ground to assassinate President Snow. Gale eventually moves to District 2, where he currently lives and continues working for the military.

Personality
Gale enjoys a good laugh now and then. He can be quick to anger, and often doesn't keep 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 is brave and willing to fight for what he believes and for Katniss' love. He is willing to do anything to protect his family.

Gale is an idealist, trying to believe the world can change for the better. This is proven by his commitment to the rebellion. He said he would rather stay and fight than run off with Katniss in the woods, despite his initial pleasure at the idea of leaving with her. He is quite the rebel, fighting for what he believes in, no matter what the odds or consequences.

Skills
Gale is good at trapping animals in snares and doing activities that occupy his mind (such as creating the bombs). He can also use a bow and arrow even though he's not as talented as Katniss. Later, he is able to transfer his skill in snares into a skill in designing military weapons and tactics.

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, Mrs. Everdeen, and about nine hundred other District 12 citizens when the Capitol bombs their home.

Physical description
Just like Katniss and most people from the Seam, Gale has black hair, 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 Capitol sent out interviewers, most people lead them to Gale. The Capitol's interviewer reached the Seam, where most or all people look similar, and "so some genius made him Katniss's cousin." Muscular and good looking, girls flock to him— though he seems to have eyes for Katniss alone (although it is mentioned before he was in love with Katniss, he had kissed quite a lot of girls.) She describes Gale as a boy who could have any girl he wanted, because of the way girls whisper about him. Johanna called him "gorgeous" and Katniss's prep team said, not everyone was born with camera-ready faces, with Gale as an exception. His good looks are mentioned throughout the series. She also describes him as smelling like apples, sometimes alder smoke and his skin smells like oranges.

Film portrayal
On April 4, 2011, Lionsgate confirmed that Liam Hemsworth will play Gale in the film adaptation of The Hunger Games.