Madge Undersee

Madge Undersee is the daughter of the mayor of District 12 and is Katniss Everdeen's girl best friend. Although she is one of the first characters introduced in The Hunger Games, not much of her past is revealed. Madge began school at 5 or 6 years old and was in the same class as Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen. Madge did not have to opt for tesserae, since her father, the mayor, was wealthy. She was the only one who sat with Katniss during lunch at school, and neither one liked talking about "girly" things like dresses or boys, like most of the girls at their school. She was the one who gave Katniss the mockingjay pin in the book. Unlike most supporting characters from the book, she was completely absent from the film.

The Hunger Games
Madge first appears on reaping day in The Hunger Games, when Katniss and Gale are selling their bounty for the day. General chatter is made until Gale compliments her expensive dress. Madge states she wants to look nice if she is picked to go to the Capitol. This angers Gale, causing the meeting to end shortly. Collins makes a point of mentioning Madge's mockingjay pin.

The last time Madge is featured in the first book is right before Katniss leaves for the Capitol, before The 74th Hunger Games begin. She visited Katniss in the Justice Building room and asks Katniss if she will accept a token to represent District 12 in the Games. Madge gave Katniss her gold mockingjay pin as a token for District 12, (although in the film, Katniss buys it from Greasy Sae at The Hob) and Katniss agrees, somewhat amazed at this new side to the usually quiet Madge. Madge then kissed Katniss on the cheek, convincing Katniss that Madge had truly been a friend.

Catching Fire
In Catching Fire, it is said that since Katniss returned from the 74th Hunger Games, she and Madge spent more time with each other. Katniss took Madge to the woods to learn to shoot a bow and arrow. Madge, a great pianist, tries to teach Katniss to play piano, but Katniss prefers to hear Madge playing piano.

During the Harvest Festival, Katniss offers to return the Mockingjay pin, but Madge passionately refuses. Katniss later learns that the pin was a family heirloom that has been passed down from her aunt, Maysilee Donner. Later, Madge gave some of her mother's headache medicine to help Gale after he was beaten by the Peacekeepers. After the Quarter Quell is announced, Madge helps Katniss by giving Katniss her father's newspaper, which holds polls in the Capitol on who is most likely to be victor of the Games.

Mockingjay
Katniss sees the remains of Madge's home. After speaking to Thom, who was in front of their house, Katniss finds out that Madge and her family, as well as the two people who worked for them, did not survive the destruction of District 12.

Film
Madge does not appear in the film.

Personality
Madge was quiet and solitary in school like Katniss, which contributed to their friendship. However, she can be urgent, strong, and steadfast in her way of speech. She was also very cautious, if not slightly suspicious/wary of people she didn't know, becoming distant and closed if offended. Since Katniss had only talked to Madge a few times in the course of their acquaintance, she never thought of Madge as a "friend." Their relationship changed, though, when Madge visited Katniss in the Justice Building and gave her the mockingjay pin. Katniss describes her as quiet, kind, and brave.

Physical description
Madge had blond hair, usually worn down, and normally dressed in a drab school girl outfit; however, on the day of the reaping she wore a white dress, with her hair tied back with a pink ribbon, and a mockingjay pin that would "keep a family in bread for months." Gale remarked that it was a pretty dress, ( Katniss was not sure if it was irony or a true compliment) and Madge replied that she wanted to look good if she was going to the Capitol. Her appearance was much unlike those in the Seam, but as most in the wealthier end of District 12. She is skinny, but not bone skinny, since she has money to buy food.

Family
The daughter of the Mayor, Mr. Undersee and Mrs. Undersee, Madge was an only child, living with her mother and father in District 12. In Catching Fire, it was revealed that her mother's sister, Maysilee Donner, was a tribute in the Games for the Second Quarter Quell. Maysilee was killed by candy pink birds with long beaks, and Haymitch held her hand until she died in the Games.

Katniss Everdeen
"Cookies. A pin. I am getting all kinds of gifts today. Madge gives me one more. A kiss on the cheek. Then she's gone and I am left thinking that maybe Madge really has been my friend all along."

- Katniss after parting with Madge

Madge and Katniss were in the same grade in school. Since Madge was quiet and didn't have a group of friends, she and Katniss were often paired together for projects and sat together during lunch. Katniss states that most people would "expect her (Madge) to be a snob, but she's alright," implying that Katniss respected her. When Madge makes her first appearance in the series, she answers the back door of her house to buy strawberries from Katniss and Gale. She wishes Katniss luck, and the pleasantry is returned. Later, after the reaping, Madge visits Katniss in the Justice Building, and gives her the mockingjay pin, and a kiss on the cheek. In Catching Fire, Madge and Katniss begin to spend more time together. Madge begins to teach Katniss piano, while Katniss takes her across the district boundary into the forest, where she teaches Madge to hunt. Katniss visits Madge in her house before she leaves for the Victory Tour. Katniss' thoughts on Madge also change when she finds out about Maysilee Donner and the effect it had on Mrs. Undersee, making her respect Madge even more. Katniss seemed very disapointed when she learned about Madge's fate.

Gale Hawthorne
It is unknown whether or not Madge and Gale met before the series, but their conversation before the reaping, at Madge's back door, is frosty, alluding to the fact that Gale doesn't think very highly of her; he harasses her for not having to enter for tesserae. In Catching Fire, after Gale is flogged by Thread, Madge shows up at Katniss's house to give Katniss six vials of her mother's morphling to help Gale cope with the pain. It is unclear whether Madge does this out of concern for Gale, her friendship with Katniss, or simple human kindness. Katniss is annoyed at Haymitch's suggestion that Gale and Madge are romantically involved, even though there is no foundation for this suggestion.

Madge Undersee Madge Undersee