Career Tributes, commonly known as Careers, were tributes who trained throughout their life to compete in the Hunger Games. They attended a special combat academy trained by prior victors and staff usually until they turned 18, when they would volunteer for the Games. Careers came from the wealthier districts: 1, 2, and 4, where being a tribute for the Hunger Games was seen as a great honor by both the district populace and tributes themselves. Both prior to and during the Games, it was common for the Careers from 1, 2, and 4 to band together as an alliance, commonly known as a "Career pack". However, the Career Tributes would occasionally extend the alliance to a tribute who showed physical prowess or had a useful skill, regardless of their district. The Careers in the 74th Hunger Games were led by Cato.
History[]
Inception and Early Years[]
It is unclear when the Career districts began training tributes in advance for the Hunger Games. At the time of the 10th Hunger Games, the Games still lacked many of the features that would appear in future installments, and the 10th Games itself did not have Career tributes as were known in later Games, however a pattern had already emerged wherein victory favored the more well-fed and Capitol-friendly districts of 1 and 2, with Districts 4 and 11 being fairly strong contenders as well. While the Capitol could see the pattern, the districts often didn't watch the Games or even care about the outcome other than their own friends or family, so the concept of organized training for the Hunger Games likely had yet to emerge or was in an early stage itself. After becoming an apprentice Gamemaker, Coriolanus Snow instituted several reforms, such as the creation of the Victors' Villages, which he hoped would encourage a better class of tribute to volunteer.[1] It is likely such a view encouraged victors from the future Career districts to start training programs for the Games.
Presumably at some point during the early history of the Hunger Games, as the future Career districts began accruing victors, informal training programs emerged and likely were started by these initial victors. Since Districts 1, 2, and 4 were the most affluent districts, more resources were available to support such programs. As the programs began producing more victors over the years, these training programs presumably became more formalized with the establishment of dedicated institutions and staff for training larger classes of potential volunteers for the Games. Despite such programs being blatantly illegal, as one of the few official rules of the Hunger Games forbid training prior to the Games, the Capitol turned a blind eye to such practices. An inferred explanation for this is the Career districts' greater loyalty to the Capitol and the added "excitement factor" Careers bring to the Games.
Once the training programs in the Career districts were firmly established, the appearance of Careers became a perennial feature of the Hunger Games and so did victors hailing from these districts. It is unknown when or by whom the term "Careers" was coined to describe the trained tributes from 1, 2, and 4, but the name eventually became a catch-all term to describe them.
A number of Career victors were named from the earlier Games, including the consecutive victories of the siblings Gloss and Cashmere of the 63rd and 64th Games and Augustus Braun for the 67th Games from District 1; Brutus for an unspecified Games and Enobaria for the 62nd Games from District 2; and Finnick Odair, the youngest victor in Hunger Games history at 14, for the 65th Games and Annie Cresta for the 70th Games from District 4.
74th Hunger Games[]
In the 74th Hunger Games, the Career pack consisted of seven members total: the female tribute from District 4, the boy from District 3, Cato, Clove, Marvel, Glimmer, and Peeta. All four tributes from Districts 1 and 2 were specially trained with a specific weapon and were able to retrieve it at the Cornucopia: Cato with a short broadsword, Marvel with javelins (throwing spears), Glimmer with a bow and arrows (though she was actually a poor shot), and Clove with a wide variety of knives. The group teamed up with Peeta to find Katniss, though several members were contemplating on whether or not they should kill Peeta early before going after Katniss. The pack didn't fare too well, however, as the boy from District 4 died in the bloodbath on the first day—either due to his lack of skill or very small size.
Not long after, Glimmer and the District 4 girl were killed by tracker jacker stings, which resulted from a nest of the muttations being dropped on them by Katniss. As Katniss went to retrieve Glimmer's bow, Cato saw Peeta aid her in her escape. This led Cato to severely wound Peeta's leg and abandon him. The group later recruited the boy from District 3 because he could reactivate the land mines located around tributes' starting plates. At some point, the Careers dug them up and used the mines as a defense by positioning them around the supplies they amassed from the Cornucopia bloodbath, ready to detonate if anyone attempted to steal their supplies. For this reason, the Careers exhibited confidence at leaving their supply stocks in the open. The Careers presumably memorized where the mines were hid, so as to not put themselves at risk. Unfortunately, Foxface was able to navigate across the mines herself, allowing her to safely take small amounts of food. Unintentionally however, the land mines were placed in such a way that they could destroy the supply stocks entirely if several of them were to explode. This is what happened when Katniss shot a burlap sack and let several apples fall, leveling the pyramid and the nearby Career base.
Shortly after Katniss blew up the Careers' supplies, Cato killed the boy from District 3 out of anger. Minutes later, Marvel speared and killed Rue, and Katniss avenged her ally by shooting an arrow into Marvel's neck (chest in the film), further reducing the pack to just the tributes from 2. At the feast a few days later, the Careers took another loss when Thresh killed Clove and stole the pack designated for District 2 along with his own, leaving Cato as the last Career. Furious at the lost of his district partners, Cato hunted down Thresh in vengeance. The two battled during a rainstorm, and Cato emerged victorious.
Having made it to the final three, Cato was forced into a final confrontation with Katniss and Peeta, the two other remaining tributes, by being chased by a pack of wolf mutts. The three were forced back to the Cornucopia and took refuge on top of it. Cato immediately attacked the tributes from 12, taking Peeta in a chokehold while Katniss aimed at him, leaving them at a standstill. Cato almost killed Peeta, but Katniss shot his hand and Peeta knocked him off the edge of the Cornucopia. Wolf muttations tore at him all night until Katniss was able to mercy kill him at dawn.
75th Hunger Games[]
In the 75th Hunger Games, or the Third Quarter Quell, the Career pack originated with Enobaria and Brutus from District 2 and Gloss and Cashmere from District 1. Tributes from District 4 were not part of the Career pack, as Finnick Odair and Mags allied with Katniss and Peeta.
When the Quarter Quell started, the Career pack made for engaging Katniss and her allies, but were ultimately driven back long enough by Katniss and Finnick to allow them and the other members of their alliance to escape. With their biggest rivals fleeing into the jungle, the Careers regrouped and set about eliminating the remaining victors still within the vicinity of the Cornucopia. Once the Cornucopia was under their control, the Careers presumably ventured into the surrounding forest themselves to hunt the remaining victors throughout the arena.
Upon their return to the Cornucopia and their determination that it was the centerpiece of a clock, Katniss' alliance was once again attacked by the Careers, with Gloss inflicting the first casualty by killing Wiress. Katniss immediately retaliated by shooting Gloss in the head (chest in the film), killing him instantly. Cashmere was the second Career to fall when Johanna killed her with her axe. With their District 1 allies eliminated, Brutus and Enobaria ultimately fled back into the forest, where they remained hidden until the end.
At some point during the endgame of the Quell, Brutus and Chaff fought, with Brutus emerging victorious. Enraged upon witnessing this, Peeta fought Brutus, avenging Chaff's death by killing Brutus in single combat. Enobaria, meanwhile, fought her way to Beetee, managing to grievously injure him with a knife before Finnick drove her back into the forest. When Katniss destroyed the arena, Enobaria was captured alongside Peeta and Johanna, and they were all taken back to the Capitol.
Second Rebellion[]
Little is known on the status of most Career victors with the onset of the Second Rebellion and whether they sided with the rebels or remained loyal to the Capitol. Enobaria was taken to the Capitol to be tortured for information, as well as Annie Cresta, a Career victor from District 4. Annie, alongside Johanna Mason and Peeta Mellark, was ultimately saved by District 13's forces. Enobaria was released prior to District 13's mission and allowed to return to District 2. The reason for this remains unclear, although it is likely due to Enobaria having no knowledge of the victor conspiracy and being a victor from District 2, a district still loyal to the Capitol at the time. Once District 2 fell to rebel forces, Enobaria joined the rebellion and was among the victors that survived to vote on the 76th Hunger Games proposed by Alma Coin.
Finnick Odair was among the victors saved from the Quell arena, alongside Katniss and Beetee, where they were brought back to District 13. Finnick played an active role in the rebel war effort by filming propos, one being the public broadcast of his marriage to Annie and another revealing the Capitol's sexual exploitation of the victors. During the Battle of the Capitol, Finnick served as a member of Squad 451, where he died fighting off lizard mutts to allow the other squad members to escape. He is survived by his wife Annie and his son.
Another District 2 victor, Lyme, actively supported the rebel war effort, specifically in District 2, and rose to the rank of commander. Lyme was among the leaders that spearheaded the rebel offensive that ultimately secured District 2 following the fall of the Nut. Lyme, however, was not present at the victors' meeting at the end of the war, presumably having died beforehand.
The status of other Career victors during the war remain unknown. Immediately after the end of the Third Quarter Quell, the Victors' Purge began and all victors were targeted by the Capitol for arrest and execution—the Careers were unlikely to be an exception. It is presumed the vast majority ultimately perished by virtue of the purge and the war itself. During the victors' meeting held by Alma Coin, only Enobaria and Annie were present as Careers, and are presumed to be the only surviving Careers alive at the end of the Second Rebellion.
Description[]
Career tributes were almost always the strongest, most agile, skilled, and flexible players in the Hunger Games, having been trained since they were children. During their years of preparation, Careers were rigorously instructed under the purview of dedicated staff and prior victors at their academies, and thus were continuously well fed and attained a muscular, athletic physique. Future Careers were also trained extensively in a wide range of weaponry that was expected to be available to them in the arena. This greatly enhanced their advantage by being physically conditioned for the combative rigors of the Games and being very familiar with weapons that most other tributes had never used. This training additionally allowed Careers to give a performance during their private Gamemaker sessions that was guaranteed to give them a good training score and thus court more sponsors. Together with their willingness to kill their opponents before the Games even began, cultivated from years of preparation and support, Careers entered the Games with a tremendous mental and physical advantage over their fellow tributes.
Despite the inherent advantages they entered the Hunger Games with, Careers often had the disadvantage of being overconfident, impulsive, and possessing a sense of superiority. In the movies, the Careers were very "chatty" and had the tendency to look down upon their competition, with Glimmer and Cato notably mocking other tributes they were going to kill or have killed. In contrast, the Career tributes were generally more stealthy and menacing in the novels. In both depictions, the Careers were very arrogant and often underestimated their opponents, therefore they would sometimes not think before acting.
Further disadvantages lay with their upbringing: Being well fed their entire lives, they were not as used to going hungry as tributes who had spent their lives in poverty and thus were very reliant on supplies secured from the Cornucopia and sponsors. Another disadvantage they had from being well fed their entire lives was their heavy weight, making it difficult for them to climb obstacles or chase a particularly light and speedy tribute. Though Careers were very effective in combative confrontations, their basic survival skills were generally quite poor; thus, if they did not remove their most dangerous opponents in the initial bloodbath, they gradually lost the initiative unless they could keep control of the Cornucopia supplies and eliminate their strongest opposition.
Selection[]
Career tributes were known to always volunteer for the Games, causing much more commotion during the Reaping than necessary. In the other districts (especially in poorer ones such as districts 10, 11 and 12), becoming a volunteer tribute was viewed as suicide. However, in Career districts, volunteering was very common, as the district populace eagerly supported the Games and thus saw volunteers' participation in it honorable, even if it meant risking their lives. Typically, Careers were 18 when they volunteered, allowing them to maximize their time in training beforehand. However, Careers could enter the Games at younger ages. Finnick Odair won the 65th Hunger Games at 14, the youngest ever tribute to do so. In the 74th Hunger Games, the Careers varied in age, with Cato being the only Career stated to be 18. Marvel and Glimmer were both 17 (as per the film), while Clove was the youngest of the Careers at 15 (also per the film).
Despite the institutionalized practice of training tributes for the Games, it is unknown if Career districts have a process for determining who goes on to volunteer during the reaping. It is likely that each of the three Career districts have differing means of determining their most promising Career tributes to represent them, built up over years of Hunger Games. It is mentioned that reapings can go on for hours in the Career districts, implying situations with multiple volunteers.
Role in the Games[]
Prior to the start of each Hunger Games, Careers generally form an alliance among themselves, colloquially known as the "Career pack", during the first day of training. This alliance trains together exclusively, during which the Careers gage each other and their competitions' skills as well as formalizing their strategy for the Games. Typically, the Career alliance will consist of six members, two from each of the Career districts. However, hailing from the Career districts does not guarantee entry into the alliance. During the 74th Hunger Games, the male tribute from District 4 did not appear to be a part of the alliance and died during the opening bloodbath. It is likely he was excluded for not being of typical Career stock and it is probable similar situations have occurred in previous iterations of the Games. In a similar vein, tributes from non-Career districts who show remarkable physical prowess or skills may be extended an invitation into the alliance, as occurred with Peeta for his physical strength and Thresh for both his superior size and physical strength.
Once the Games are underway, the Career alliance's common opening strategy was to secure weapons and supplies from the Cornucopia and take out as many other tributes as possible, including their most dangerous opponents. This gave the Careers an enormous edge during the opening bloodbath, as their large alliance and the protection it offers, combined with their in-place strategy, meant Careers emerged from the single most dangerous moment of the Games largely unscathed. As such, it was fairly common for the Careers to be both principally responsible for the initial deaths of a typical Hunger Games and in control of the Cornucopia and its cacophony of weapons and supplies.
With bountiful supplies, Careers typically claimed their preferred weapon and began a systematic hunt for the remaining tributes. Their dominance in the Games is implied to be a perennial occurrence and a persistent threat that non-Career tributes must contend with along with the inherent dangers both the arena and Gamemakers employ. Nevertheless, the Career alliance is not insurmountable to other tributes who show equal or greater cunning and skill as demonstrated by Katniss and other non-Career victors in their Games, and the Careers are subjected to the same stressors the arena offers. The overall stability of the Career alliance is largely dependent on both its individual members and the alliance's success in handling threats from other tributes and the arena itself. Once most of the other tributes were out of the way, the surviving members of the alliance will turn on one another to determine the victor of the Games.
Post-Games[]
In the Career districts, victors are regarded as heroes and amass great fame after winning the Games, even in the Capitol. Examples include Enobaria of District 2, well remembered for ripping out one of her opponents throats with her teeth in the 62nd Games, Finnick Odair of District 4 for being the youngest victor ever at 14 for the 65th Games, and Augustus Braun of District 1, hailed as Panem's Favorite Son and the 'Cavalier Career' following his victory in the 67th Games.
Despite hailing from the ostensibly loyal districts of 1, 2, and 4, Career victors were not immune to the demands all victors faced following their Games, and were expected to fulfill their obligations in the years that followed, including mentoring and taking on a hobby. It is likely many Career victors went on to serve as staff and/or instructors in the training institutions of the their district, training the next generation of Careers for future Hunger Games.
Career victors likely suffered from the same psychological trauma virtually all other victors faced after the Games, potentially compounded from their training as Careers. They could have adopted various vices to cope such as drug abuse and alcoholism. In addition, particularly attractive victors such as Finnick (and possibly Cashmere) were likely to be victims of sex trafficking by President Snow.[2]
Known Careers[]
- District 1 female (50th HG): Runner up of the 50th Hunger Games. Killed by her own axe when Haymitch ducked and the axe rebounded off the force field and buried itself in her head.
- Brutus: Male victor from District 2 for an unknown Hunger Games and the male volunteer tribute for the 75th Hunger Games. Killed by Peeta after Brutus killed Chaff. His weapon specialization was a spear.
- Lyme: Female victor from District 2 for an unknown Hunger Games. Alive and a commander for the District 2 rebels during the Battle of District 2. Presumed deceased at the end of the Second Rebellion.
- Enobaria: Female victor from District 2 for the 62nd Hunger Games and the female volunteer tribute for the 75th Hunger Games. She was captured by the Capitol after the 75th Hunger Games and still alive after the Second Rebellion. Her weapon specialization was a sword, but she also used throwing knives. Famed for having her teeth filed into fangs.
- Gloss: Male victor from District 1 for the 63rd Hunger Games and the male volunteer tribute for the 75th Hunger Games. He was killed by Katniss shooting an arrow to his temple (chest in the movie) after he slit Wiress' throat in the 75th Hunger Games. His weapon specialization was throwing knives.
- Cashmere: Female victor from District 1 for the 64th Hunger Games and the female volunteer tribute for the 75th Hunger Games. Killed by Johanna Mason, who threw an axe into her chest. Her weapon specialization was throwing daggers.
- Finnick Odair: Male victor from District 4 for the 65th Hunger Games and the male tribute for the 75th Hunger Games. Youngest victor in Hunger Games history at aged 14. Friend of Katniss and Peeta who was killed by lizard mutts in the Battle of the Capitol in Mockingjay.
- Augustus Braun: Male victor from District 1 for the 67th Hunger Games. He died due to natural causes, during the Victors' Purge, or during the Second Rebellion.
- Annie Cresta: Female victor from District 4 for the 70th Hunger Games and the initial female tribute for the 75th Hunger Games. She was captured and tortured by the Capitol during the Second Rebellion to hurt Finnick. Alive at the end of the rebellion.
- Marvel: Male volunteer tribute from District 1 for the 74th Hunger Games. He was killed by Katniss with an arrow after he threw a spear into Rue's stomach, who died several minutes later. His weapon specialization was a throwing spear (javelin).
- Glimmer: Female volunteer tribute from District 1 for the 74th Hunger Games. She was killed by tracker jackers whose nest was dropped by Katniss in the 74th Hunger Games. Her weapon specialization was a bow, but was noted to have poor aim.
- Cato: Male volunteer tribute from District 2 and leader of the 74th Hunger Games' Career pack. He was killed by Katniss using her final arrow out of pity. His weapon specialization was a sword.
- Clove: Female volunteer tribute from District 2 for the 74th Hunger Games. She was killed by Thresh with a rock slammed into her skull at the Feast. (In the film, he bashed her head against the Cornucopia twice.) Her weapon specialization was throwing knives.
- District 4 female (74th HG): Killed by tracker jackers, whose nest was dropped by Katniss in the 74th Hunger Games. In the film, she wasn't a part of the Careers and was killed by Cato in the bloodbath.
Trivia[]
- In The Hunger Games film, District 4 was not a Career district, so Careers were only known to come from District 1 and 2.
- While no official numbers are given for the total number of victors from Districts 1, 2, and 4, it is statistically likely that together they had the highest share of victors of the twelve districts for the Hunger Games.
- The term "Pack" was first used by Lucretius Flickerman during the 10th Hunger Games to describe Coral's large alliance, where she successfully recruited Mizzen, Treech, and Tanner—the strongest tributes, who all had some experience with weapons or killing prior to the Games—to hunt down the other tributes with her during the start of the Games.
- Coral and Mizzen could also be seen as something as an early iteration of a Career Tribute and the two may have even served as the inspirations for their district to begin producing Career Tributes. As their performance in 10th Hunger Games clearly showcased how their prior training with tridents and other fishing tools allowed them to quickly use them as weapon and greatly increased their chances of surviving and winning.
- Coral’s large alliance might have also inspired the Careers usual strategy of gathering the strongest/well trained tributes to work together in a large group to hunt weaker tributes before turning on each other.
References[]
- ↑ The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Epilogue
- ↑ Mockingjay, Chapter 12