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"She looks young to be a commander. Early thirties. But there is an authoritative tone to her voice that makes you feel that her appointment wasn't arbitrary."
Katniss Everdeen about Commander Paylor[src]

Commander Paylor was a rebel leader in District 8 during the Second Rebellion.[1] Following the success of the rebellion, she was elected as the new president of Panem.[2]

Biography[]

Commander-paylor-district-8

Paylor in District 8.

Katniss Everdeen first meets Paylor when she goes to District 8's hospital in order to film a propo for the Airtime Assault on the Capitol. Paylor takes Katniss along with Gale Hawthorne, Boggs, and the TV crew into the hospital. Paylor watches Katniss closely, to see what she is made of and if they have been right to count on her.[1]

After Katniss leaves the hospital, Capitol hovercrafts fly in and begin to bomb the hospital. In an effort to fight against the bombers, Katniss and Gale climb to the roof of a warehouse that has machine gun nests. This is where they run into Commander Paylor again. Together, they all work to destroy the other waves of hovercrafts that fly overhead.[1]

Commander Paylor later returns in the story when Katniss is living in the president's mansion. Katniss follows the strong scent of President Snow's roses until she finds a room that is being guarded by two soldiers. At first, they do not permit her entrance to the room because they are following Alma Coin's orders. However, when Paylor appears, she instructs the soldiers to let Katniss go in and they obey her authority. Katniss enters to find President Snow, awaiting his execution, and the two of them have a brief conversation. Snow informs Katniss that he was not responsible the City Circle bombing, which killed many Capitol children and medics, including Primrose Everdeen; rather, President Coin was behind it.[3] When Katniss emerges, Paylor asks her, "Did you find what you were looking for?", and Katniss holds up a rose, which Paylor takes as an affirmative response.[4]

After Katniss assassinates President Coin, an emergency election was thrown together and Paylor was voted in as president. Under her rule, the Hunger Games were abolished, the arenas were destroyed, and memorials were built. It can be assumed that Paylor successfully set up the republic that Plutarch Heavensbee announced that they would form after the Capitol's defeat. She also pardoned Katniss for the assassination of Coin and declared her mentally unstable and let her return to District 12. Plutarch became her Secretary of Communications.[2]

Film adaptation[]

Paylor's role is expanded upon in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2. She is seen in District 2 alongside Commander Lyme and the other rebels. Interacting with President Coin via a live feed, the three discuss ways in which the rebels can capture the Capitol's arsenal of weaponry held inside the large mountain nicknamed "the Nut". Given the suffering that the people of District 8 have already been through, Paylor refuses to commit her troops to an assault just to acquire weapons, as Coin suggests. Paylor and Lyme eventually persuade Coin to agree to Gale Hawthorne's plan: disabling the Nut by bombing avalanche paths, burying many of the people and assets inside. One exit was left open to give the Capitol loyalists a chance to surrender.[5]

Paylor gives a speech in front of a digital screen with information about pods.

Paylor gives a speech in front of a digital screen with information about pods.

After the success of this mission, Paylor is later seen giving a rousing speech to rebel forces assembled on the outskirts of the Capitol. She explains how they will capture President Snow and take control of the city.[5]

Physical description[]

Paylor is in her early thirties, and she was mentioned to look too young for her occupation. She has dark brown eyes.[1]

Personality[]

Although a strong and respectable leader, Commander Paylor was one of the very few rebels who wasn't overly concerned with vengeance. Though holding President Snow and the Capitol in contempt for their crimes against the districts, Paylor urged the rebels not to attack Capitol citizens and to only focus on capturing Snow.[5]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mockingjay, Chapter 8
  2. 2.0 2.1 Mockingjay, Chapter 27
  3. Mockingjay, Chapter 25
  4. Mockingjay, Chapter 26
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
The Hunger Games trilogy
Novels The Hunger GamesCatching FireMockingjay
Main Characters Katniss EverdeenPeeta MellarkGale HawthorneHaymitch AbernathyEffie Trinket
Supporting Characters Primrose EverdeenPresident SnowCinnaMrs. EverdeenMr. EverdeenPresident CoinClaudius TemplesmithCaesar FlickermanMadge UnderseePaylorPlutarch HeavensbeeSeneca Crane
Tributes MarvelGlimmerCatoCloveFoxfaceThreshRueMaysilee DonnerTitus
Past Victors Augustus BraunAnnie CrestaBeetee LatierBlightBrutusCashmereCeceliaChaffEnobariaFinnick OdairGlossJohanna MasonLymeMags FlanaganMorphlingsPorter Millicent TrippSeederWiressWoof
Groups RebellionGamemakersPrep teamTributesVictors
Locations PanemThe CapitolDistrict 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8District 9District 10District 11District 12District 13
Behind the Scenes Suzanne CollinsGary RossFrancis Lawrence
Films The Hunger Games (film)Catching Fire (film)Mockingjay - Part 1Mockingjay - Part 2
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