View source for Gale Hawthorne

{{Character
|name={{PAGENAME}}
|image=
<gallery>GaleD13Portrait.jpg|Film
THG IE Gale cropped.png|Illustrated Edition
</gallery>
|age=*18 <small>(''The Hunger Games'')</small>
*18-19 <small>(''Catching Fire'')</small>
*19-20 <small>(''Mockingjay'')</small>
|occupation=*Hunter <small>(formerly)</small>
*[[Coal miner]] <small>(formerly)</small>
*Soldier <small>(formerly)</small>
*Government official
|home=*[[District 12]] <small>(formerly)</small>
*[[District 13]] <small>(briefly)</small>
*[[District 2]]
|relatives= *[[Mr. Hawthorne]] <small>(father)</small>
*[[Hazelle Hawthorne]] <small>(mother)</small>
*[[Rory Hawthorne]] <small>(younger brother)</small>
*[[Vick Hawthorne]] <small>(younger brother)</small>
*[[Posy Hawthorne]] <small>(younger sister)</small>
|height=Over 6 feet<ref name="THG 8">{{THG|8}}</ref>
|eyes=*Grey <small>(books)</small><ref name="THG 1">{{THG|1}}</ref>
*Light blue <small>(films)</small>
|hair=*Black <small>(books)</small><ref name="THG 1" />
*Brown <small>(films)</small>
|gender=Male
|weapon=*[[Weapons#Snare|Snares]]
*Bombs
*[[Bow and arrow]]
*Gun
*Crossbow
|fate=Alive
|bookappears=*''[[The Hunger Games]]''
*''[[Catching Fire]]''
*''[[Mockingjay]]''
|movieappears=*{{THG|F}}
*{{CF|F}}
*''[[The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1|Mockingjay - Part 1]]''
*''[[The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2|Mockingjay - Part 2]]''
|portrayer=*[[Liam Hemsworth]] <small>(films)</small>
*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9643007/ Tristan Waterson] <small>([[The Hunger Games On Stage|stage]])</small>
}}
{{Quote|You haven't hurt people, Katniss. You've given them an opportunity. They just have to be brave enough to take it.|Gale Hawthorne to [[Katniss Everdeen]]|Catching Fire}}
'''Gale Hawthorne''' was [[Katniss Everdeen]]'s best friend and hunting partner, and one of the main characters of the [[The Hunger Games trilogy|trilogy]]. He is fiercely devoted to his family, to Katniss, and to the rebel cause. He is in love with Katniss and is forced to watch as she [[volunteer]]s for the [[74th Hunger Games]] in the place of her [[Primrose Everdeen|sister]] and fakes a romance with [[Peeta Mellark]] in order to stay alive. After the Games, he becomes a threat to [[the Capitol]] through his semi-romantic relationship with Katniss, and he is used to gain leverage over her. He escapes the [[bombing of District 12]] and leads the survivors to the [[lake]], where they are then rescued by [[District 13]]. In 13, he becomes a soldier for the [[rebellion]] and fights at Katniss's side for the remainder of the war.

==Biography==
===Early life===
{{Quote|We could do it, you know. Leave the district. Run off. Live in the woods. You and I, we could make it.|Gale, to [[Katniss Everdeen|Katniss]]|The Hunger Games}}
Gale is the oldest child of the Hawthorne family with three younger siblings; [[Rory Hawthorne|Rory]], [[Vick Hawthorne|Vick]], and the only girl, [[Posy Hawthorne|Posy]], who was born shortly after their [[Mr. Hawthorne|father]] died in a mining accident.<ref name="CF 1">{{CF|1}}</ref> After his father's death, Gale struggled to provide for his family with help from his mother, [[Hazelle Hawthorne|Hazelle]]. To help feed his family, he hunted illegally in the forest adjacent to District 12, and he applied for [[tessera]]e many times.<ref name="THG 1" />

At 14 years old, he met Katniss, who was twelve years old and had lost her father in the same mine explosion. They crossed each other's paths while hunting in the [[woods]] outside of District 12. Despite their initial misgivings about one another, the two slowly warmed up and become close friends. They also attended the same [[school]].<ref name="THG 8" />

While hunting, he and Katniss once saw a rogue boy and [[Lavinia|girl]] running from a Capitol [[hovercraft]] in the woods, and failed to help them as the boy was killed and the girl kidnapped.<ref name="THG 6">{{THG|6}}</ref> On Prim's birthday, Gale and Katniss shot a deer together in the woods and sold its meat for enough money to buy a nanny [[Lady|goat]] for Prim. Gale carried the goat to Katniss' house because he was so excited to see Prim's reaction.<ref name="THG 20">{{THG|20}}</ref>

===74th Hunger Games===
[[File:Gale_at_the_reaping.jpg|thumb|Gale at the reaping.]]

In the woods, Gale shows Katniss a loaf of bread that he got by trading a squirrel with [[Mr. Mellark|Peeta's father]]. The two of them talk about the Hunger Games and the [[reaping]] while they eat. Gale later tells Katniss that they can run away and avoid the reaping, but they both agree that they can't leave their families alone. Gale has been single-handedly supporting his mother and three younger siblings ever since his father was killed; with him gone, they would starve. Katniss explains that Gale has always been angry with the Capitol and the state of the Seam, and that he often lets out his anger on her in the privacy of the woods. Gale also mentions that he might like to have kids one day, if not for the fact that they would likely lead very difficult lives in the Seam.<ref name="THG 1" />

[[File:Hgt35 7.jpg|thumb|left|Gale gives Katniss advice before he is taken away.]]

At the reaping, Gale gives Katniss a ghost of a smile, since the odds aren't exactly in his favor: He had 42 slips in the [[reaping balls|reaping ball]].<ref name="THG 1" /> When Katniss volunteers to take Prim's place in the Hunger Games, he holds a screaming Prim back from Katniss as she makes her way to the platform. In the [[Justice Building]], Gale enters the room and tells Katniss that she is stronger than the Capitol and can win the Games. Gale also advises her to make a bow if there is not one in the [[Cornucopia]]. He also promises to protect and provide for her family in her absence. As [[Peacekeepers]] drag him out the room, Gale shouts, "''Katniss, remember''." Katniss never finds out what he wanted her to remember.<ref name="THG 3">{{THG|3}}</ref>

[[File:gale woods.jpg|thumb|right|Gale sits in the forest instead of watching the beginning of the Games.]]

With Katniss gone, Gale takes over all of the duties that she normally fulfills to support her family. He hunts for the majority of Prim and her [[Mrs. Everdeen|mother]]'s meals and gathers the supplies for her mother's apothecary. Although he asks for nothing in return, Prim and her mother repay him with what little milk and medicine they can spare.<ref name="THG 3" /> Gale watches the Games on television, both at home and in school, as is required, and suffers greatly to see her in danger. He later mentions watching a lot of the Games with Prim and Katniss' mother, mostly likely to lend moral support.<ref name="CF 7">{{CF|7}}</ref> 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. Later it is made clear that Gale found it very painful to watch Katniss play out her romance with Peeta, although he guessed that it was at least partially a sham on Katniss' part.

[[File:Gale_watching.jpg|thumb|left|140px|Gale is hurt when he sees Katniss kiss Peeta.]]
Once Katniss became one of the final eight tributes alive, the Capitol sent camera crews to District 12 to interview her family and friends. When asked about her friends, everyone directed the camera crews to Gale. However, the Capitol people thought that Gale was "too handsome and too male" to be Katniss' best friend without jeopardizing Katniss' on-screen romance with Peeta. Therefore, Gale was presented in the interviews as Katniss' cousin.<ref name="CF 1">{{CF|1}}</ref>

Gale, as well as his mother and siblings, greets Katniss at the [[train station]] when she comes home from the Hunger Games.<ref name="CF 1" />

===Working in the coal mines===
By the beginning of ''Catching Fire'', Gale has turned 19, graduated school, and begun working in the coal mines. The work is exhausting and dangerous, and especially disheartening for Gale, whose father was killed in the mines and who is “only really alive in the woods.” He works twelve hours a day, and has only Sundays off. He spends all of his Sundays hunting in the woods with Katniss. The two remain best friends, but their relationship has been complicated by Katniss' on-screen romance with Peeta Mellark.<ref name="CF 1" />

[[File:Galebeingstruck.png|thumb|240px|Gale being struck by Thread.]]
Katniss, confused about whether or not she actually loves Peeta, and feeling like she somehow betrayed Gale during the Games, has fallen out with Peeta and now devotes her time to Gale and his family. She hunts in the woods every day and gives all the produce to the Hawthornes. She offered to give the Hawthornes a share of her winnings so that Gale doesn't have to work in the mines, but Gale refuses to allow this. He is even uncomfortable with Katniss hunting for his family, although his mother Hazelle does not object.<ref name="CF 1" />

Gale and Katniss did not see each alone until a few weeks after the end of the Hunger Games, at their meeting place in the woods. They shared an emotional reunion. At the end of a day of hunting, Gale spontaneously kissed Katniss and told her that he “had to do that, at least once.” Unfortunately, the kiss was somehow seen or filmed, and [[President]] [[Coriolanus Snow|Snow]] eventually found out about it. The kiss only added to his suspicion that Katniss does not really love Peeta. Snow threatens to kill Gale and his family if she doesn't convince Panem that she is truly in love with Peeta.<ref name="CF 2">{{CF|2}}</ref>

In an attempt to placate Snow, Peeta proposes to Katniss on the [[Victory Tour]]. Gale, clearly hurt and betrayed by this, refuses to come to the Harvest Festival dinner at the [[Mayor Undersee|mayor]]'s house. Later, Katniss takes him to her father’s lake for the first time, and finally explains her actions in full. She admits that her engagement to Peeta is fake, and that Snow was unconvinced by their romance and is probably going to kill all of Katniss' friends and family. She asks Gale and his family to escape into the woods with her. He agrees happily, and confesses that he loves her. He is disappointed by her reply that she cannot love anyone romantically at such a perilous time. He is further angered when he finds out that Katniss plans to bring Peeta along into the woods. Finally, when Katniss lets slip that uprisings have begun in [[District 8]], Gale refuses to run with her, telling her that it is their duty to fight for a free Panem.<ref name="CF 7" />

===Attacked by Peacekeepers===
After his spat with Katniss at the lake, Gale goes to the Head Peacekeeper's house to sell a wild turkey from the woods to Cray. Upon on arriving, however, he finds that Cray has been replaced by a new Head: the bloodthirsty, Capitol-loving Romulus Thread. Gale is arrested for poaching, forced to plead guilty, and whipped at least forty times. Upon arriving at the whipping post, Katniss throws herself in front the whip and takes a lash across her face before she, [[Haymitch Abernathy|Haymitch]], and Peeta convince Thread to stop the punishment.<ref name="CF 8">{{CF|8}}</ref>

[[File:CFgale.jpeg|thumb|left|200px|Gale being restrained by Peacekeepers.]]

Gale is rushed to Katniss' mother and Prim, who set about treating him with their limited supplies. Katniss is very distressed throughout the whole process, and goes berserk when her mother refuses to give Gale more painkillers. Luckily, [[Madge Undersee|Madge]] brings Gale [[Morphling (drug)|morphling]], an expensive painkiller from the Capitol, before the pain gets too bad. Katniss spends the night at Gale’s side, holding his hand and stroking his face, and even kissing him. Katniss realizes that running away or trying to placate the Capitol are cowardly and wrong, and vows to “stay…with Gale and cause all kinds of trouble” with him. She finally understands his lifelong need to rebel against the Capitol.<ref name="CF 8" />

===Third Quarter Quell===
[[File:Gale-Portrait-Catching-Fire-Capitol-Couture.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Gale's Capitol Portrait.]]

Gale spends the next few days at Katniss' house, receiving free care and treatment from her mother and Prim. Eventually he goes home and begins working in the mines, but ever since his whipping there has been a crackdown in District 12. The Capitol’s laws are enforced brutally, food is scarce and expensive, and the mines are paying less than ever. Furthermore, the merchant families have stopped bringing Hazelle laundry because of the Hawthorne family's association with Katniss. Rory takes out tesserae, which upsets Gale greatly.<ref name="CF 9">{{CF|9}}</ref> He is devastated by the news that Katniss will be a tribute in the [[Quarter Quell]], and tells her that they should have run away when they had the chance. He helps Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch in their training efforts by teaching them all about snares and trapping.<ref name="CF 13">{{CF|13}}</ref>

Gale watches the Quarter Quell from afar. When the [[victor]]s are broken out the arena, the Capitol bombs District 12. Gale manages to rescue about 900 people and lead them into the woods. With only two bows and a fishing net, he manages to feed them all for three days before they are rescued by District 13.<ref name="MJ 1">{{MJ|1}}</ref> Gale is at Katniss' bedside when regains consciousness from her concussion, and tells her that District 12 is gone.<ref name="CF 27">{{CF|27}}</ref>

===District 13 Rebellion===
{{Dialogue|Katniss Everdeen|That doesn't seem very fair to the deer.|Gale Hawthorne|Wouldn't be using it on deer, would I?|Katniss and Gale after being given military-grade bows|Mockingjay}}
[[File:The-Hunger-Games-Mockingjay-Part-1-Gale.jpg|thumb|218x218px|Gale in the ruins of District 12]]
Gale lives in District 13 and is issued a [[communicuff]], having gained respect after saving the District 12 citizens.<ref name="MJ 2">{{MJ|2}}</ref> When Katniss visits the remains of District 12, Gale goes along in order to protect her. On their way back to District 13, Gale comforts Katniss and reassures her everything will work out.<ref name="MJ 2" />

When Peeta is interviewed with [[Caesar Flickerman]], Gale tries to go to Katniss and help her when she leaves the room, but [[Boggs]] attempts to stop him. Gale and Katniss talk about the situation and she tells him that she'll be the [[Mockingjay (bird)|Mockingjay]], the symbol of the rebellion.<ref name="MJ 2">{{MJ|2}}</ref> She and Gale go hunting like they used to and the two of them enjoy their time together until he asks her why she cares for her [[prep team]] so much. Katniss tells him that they helped her a lot in the Hunger Games. Gale becomes mad about this and leaves.<ref name="MJ 4">{{MJ|4}}</ref> He and Katniss go to the weapons room where Beetee has been inventing weapons for the rebels. There, Gale is allowed to pick out a weapon and chooses a large military bow and arrow.<ref name="MJ 5">{{MJ|5}}</ref>

[[File:Galemj1.jpg|thumb|213x213px|Gale in ''Mockingjay'']]

Gale goes along with Katniss and the others to shoot propos for the rebellion. Gale and the group arrive in District 8 to film their propaganda at a hospital. While there, the Capitol attacks the hospital and Gale, along with Katniss and the others, battle the enemy.<ref name="MJ 7">{{MJ|7}}</ref> After the battle they meet at the command room in District 13 and discuss the propaganda. They decide to allow Katniss to go back in to [[combat]] and shoot more propos when she is ready.<ref name="MJ 8">{{MJ|8}}</ref>

Later, Katniss is enraged when she sees a propo of an ill Peeta and Gale fails to mention it, wanting to protect her.Gale and Katniss go to District 12 to shoot another propo. At Gale's house, [[Cressida]] tells him to retell the night of the bombing and reenact it. Back in the [[Victors' Village]], Katniss kisses Gale after seeing him in pain.<ref name="MJ 9">{{MJ|9}}</ref>

====Rescue of Peeta Mellark and aftermath====
After another interview with Peeta, the entire district retreats to safe bunkers during the bombing. Gale goes back to Katniss's compartment for her belongings and finds Prim and [[Buttercup]]. They arrive at the bunker just before the doors close.<ref name="MJ 10">{{MJ|10}}</ref> After Katniss and [[Finnick Odair|Finnick]] break down during a propaganda shoot due to the impact of Peeta and [[Annie Cresta|Annie]]'s torture, Gale is the first to volunteer for an extremely dangerous mission to rescue Peeta, [[Johanna Mason|Johanna]], [[Enobaria]], and Annie from the Capitol. Gale safely makes it back to District 13 and receives medical attention for a shoulder wound.<ref name="MJ 12">{{MJ|12}}</ref> Despite being confined to bed, he slips into Katniss's room at night. After being released, Gale spends time with Beetee, designing weapons to use against the Capitol, but Katniss becomes uncomfortable with the brutality involved in some of Gale's weapons.<ref name="MJ 13">{{MJ|13}}</ref>

Gale and Beetee go to [[District 2]] to assist the group that's already there. Gale and Katniss' relationship grows deeper as the two spend the night comforting each other. Gale and the others go to "[[The Nut]]", where they try to think of a plan to attack in and thus take control of District 2. Gale conceives a plan that involves blowing up the inside of the Nut, which upsets Katniss because it would kill innocent people.<ref name="MJ 14">{{MJ|14}}</ref> After some arguments with Katniss, they decide to bomb the Nut but leave the train station open so the people inside the Nut can escape.<ref name="MJ 15">{{MJ|15}}</ref>

Gale visits Katniss in the hospital when she awakens and the two argue about what has happened. Gale informs her of District 2 siding with the rebels.<ref name="MJ 16">{{MJ|16}}</ref> Later, Gale and Katniss meet with Johanna, Delly, Finnick, and Annie at lunch. When Peeta arrives, accompanied by guards, Gale tells him he has changed and Johanna agrees with him. Gale takes Katniss aside and tells her Peeta isn't seeing her for who she truly is.<ref name="MJ 17">{{MJ|17}}</ref>

====Battle of the Capitol====
[[File:Mockingjay-gale-poster.jpg|thumb|left|160px]]
[[File:GaleMockingJay2.jpg|thumb|right|In ''Mockingjay - Part 2'']]
{{Dialogue|Peeta Mellark|I wonder how she'll make up her mind.|Gale Hawthorne|Oh, that I do know. Katniss will pick whoever she thinks she can't survive without.|Peeta and Gale discussing Katniss|Mockingjay}}
Gale is part of the camera-ready sharpshooter unit nicknamed the "[[Squad 451|Star Squad]]" that includes Katniss, Finnick, and later Peeta.<ref name="MJ 18">{{MJ|18}}</ref> Gale offers to kill him and tells Katniss that he will follow her if she attempts to leave the group. However, he helps Peeta understand what happened in District 12.<ref name="MJ 19">{{MJ|19}}</ref> When Boggs's legs are blown off, Gale helps clear a path and, after Katniss outlines her mission to assassinate [[President]] [[Coriolanus Snow|Snow]], urges the group to move on. They witness a broadcast that shows footage of the squad members' supposed deaths.<ref name="MJ 20">{{MJ|20}}</ref>

Gale tries to calm Peeta down and promises that he will kill him if it came down to it.<ref name="MJ 21">{{MJ|21}}</ref> The squad travels underground in the tunnels and later are attacked by lizard mutts that hiss Katniss' name. Gale and the squad are able to make it out of the tunnel but lose Finnick, [[Jackson]], and a few others to the mutts.<ref name="MJ 22">{{MJ|22}}</ref> Gale himself receives a neck wound that Katniss stitches up once they arrive at [[Tigris]]'s shop. In the night, he and Peeta discuss their relationship with Katniss.<ref name="MJ 23">{{MJ|23}}</ref>

When the squad splits up, Gale gives Peeta his [[nightlock]] pill and follows Katniss. The two of them attempt to disguise themselves among the refugees. They obtain guns from dead [[Peacekeepers]] and head to President Snow's mansion. After almost dying from a trap activated by a [[pod]], Gale is taken away by Peacekeepers. As he is being taken away, he mouths at Katniss "shoot me." She finds herself unable to do it,<ref name="MJ 24">{{MJ|24}}</ref> just as he is unable to kill her after the assassination of [[President]] [[Alma Coin|Coin]].<ref name="MJ 27">{{MJ|27}}</ref>

Afterwards, Katniss' sister is killed in a method akin to one he devised.<ref name="MJ 24">{{MJ|24}}</ref> Gale visits her before Snow's death and gives her a sheath with one arrow to shoot at Snow. Katniss asks if it was his bomb that killed Prim. Gale isn't sure and tells her to shoot straight at Snow before he leaves. While Katniss can never be sure that it was Gale's trap that did it, she realizes she will never be able to look at him, much less love him, the same way again, and lets him walk away without a word.<ref name="MJ 26">{{MJ|26}}</ref>

===Moving to District 2===
Gale later moves to District 2, where he secures a "fancy job" working for Panem's new government and is occasionally seen on television. Katniss finds herself relieved by this instead of feeling any longing or anger, as she herself believes that Gale will forget her and will soon be "kissing another pair of lips."<ref name="MJ 27">{{MJ|27}}</ref>

While his exact job in District 2 is not mentioned in the book, in the film, he was mentioned to have been promoted to a military captain.

==Relationships==
===Katniss Everdeen===
{{Quote|I love you."<br/>"I know.|Gale and Katniss, respectively.|Catching Fire}}[[File:Katniss-Gale-UHQ.jpg|thumb|182x182px|Katniss and Gale hunting in the woods.]]
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 nervous whisper, making him believe that she said "Catnip" at first, then a wild lynx chased them through the woods; Gale had called her Catnip ever since.

Their relationship grew from two slightly wary partners-in-crime to 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 told her that he loves her, 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.

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 and opinions from Katniss in ''Mockingjay''. Even though these lies by omission are due to concern for her mental well-being, Katniss feels betrayed. Gale himself continues to suffer from Katniss' relationship with Peeta on-camera and apparent ambiguity off-camera, where she tends to string along the both of them. Regardless, Katniss continues to be very possessive over Gale's loyalties and requires his support in order to fulfill her role in the war.

In ''Mockingjay'', Katniss and Gale's relationship continues to become more romantic but also more complex. The relative simplicity of hunting to stave off starvation is replaced with something not so straight forward: war. Even as they work together to overthrow the Capitol a chasm seems to grow between them 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. However, 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 conviction in the necessity of sacrifice pitted against Katniss' moral incoherence that truly severs any relationship they had or could ever have. Primrose, Katniss' sister, is killed by a firebomb that may have been designed by Gale. Even though the order to use the bombs was given by [[Alma Coin|President Coin]], Katniss cannot bring herself to forgive Gale for his creation and his role in Prim's death, and effectively shuts him out of her life.

Katniss returns to District 12, whereas Gale lives in District 2, working 'a fancy job,' according to Katniss. Katniss concludes that she needs Peeta, not Gale, to survive, because in the end, she and Gale are simply too alike. They are both full of fire, motivated largely by anger and vengefulness, and Katniss cannot maintain a sense of peace and self-worth as long as she is too exposed to that truth.

===Peeta Mellark===
{{Quote|It'd be better if he were easier to hate.|Gale, on Peeta|Catching Fire}}Gale is neither truly friends nor enemies with Peeta Mellark though he has felt jealous of Peeta due to the show that Peeta and Katniss put on for the cameras.

In ''Catching Fire'', Peeta knew Katniss had feelings for him and fully accepted that he would allow Katniss to be with Gale if it meant her happiness. When Gale was being whipped, Peeta tried to help him and protect Katniss. Later, when Gale helped Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch train in preparation for the Quell, he confessed to Katniss that Peeta was not easy to hate.

In the arena Peeta gave Katniss a locket with a picture of Gale actually smiling; Peeta wanted her to be with him so she could be happy.

In ''Mockingjay'', Gale volunteered first to be on the squad to break into the Capitol and retrieve Peeta from prison. It is unknown whether he did this for Katniss or because of genuine concern for Peeta, though it is most likely both.

After Peeta's rescued and Katniss goes to District 2 because she can no longer be around the hijacked Peeta, Gale tells her that he's watched Peeta through the glass. He tells her that he knows that if Peeta never recovered, Katniss would always feel wrong being with Gale because of her feelings for Peeta.

Later in ''Mockingjay'', while they hide in a safe house, Katniss wakes to a hushed conversation between Gale and Peeta about her. While Peeta tells Gale that Katniss loves Gale, Gale disagrees and implies that the way that Katniss kissed Peeta during the Quell told Gale that she loved Peeta, instead. When Gale wishes that he had volunteered in place of Peeta when his name was reaped, Peeta reminds him that he couldn't, that Katniss needed him to take care of her family. When Peeta wonders how Katniss would choose between them, Gale tells him that Katniss would choose the person she could not survive without. Katniss is offended and annoyed by this comment and suppresses her feelings for both of them in response, but she later realized Gale was partially right. After Prim's death, Gale leaves voluntarily because neither of them can avoid the matter of Prim's death having been caused by Gale's invention, with Katniss letting him go without a word. Katniss subsequently grows back together with Peeta, whom she finds she loves again now that he is recovered from his hijacking.

===Primrose Everdeen===
[[File:Prim_and_Gale.png|thumb|Gale and Prim.]]
Gale and Prim seemed to have a good relationship, through Gale's best friend and Prim's sister, Katniss. Gale carried Prim away from the reaping after Katniss volunteered, and was shown to be comforting Mrs. Everdeen and Prim. Also, he promised Katniss that he would feed her family when she was in the arena, and he showed remorse at her death in ''Mockingjay''. Of course, there is much debate over whether he made the bomb that killed her.

===Beetee Latier===
Beetee and Gale spent a lot of time working on weapons in District 13. It is assumed they got along well as they shared similar sanguine views on fighting and the war. It is strongly believed, though not confirmed, that they helped design the bomb that President Coin used to kill the Capitol children and Primrose Everdeen, who stood outside President Snow's house as a human shield.

==Work==
In ''The Hunger Games'', Gale was not yet working in the coal mines, and was mainly supporting his family through [[tessera]]e and the money and meat he made from poaching illegally in the woods that surrounding District 12. 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, because he is no longer eligible for the Hunger Games, 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, [[Romulus Thread|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, which brought Gale back to consciousness. Katniss then decides that Gale is the one she will love. 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 Coriolanus Snow|President Snow]]. Gale eventually moves to District 2, where he currently lives and continues working for the military.

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|There's no point in trying to dictate what Gale thinks. Which, if I'm honest, is one reason I trust him.|Katniss|Mockingjay}}[[File:Gale & Katniss on hill.png|thumb|left|300px|Gale and Katniss in the woods surrounding District 12.]]
Gale enjoys a good laugh when he is with his best friend, Katniss. He can be easy to anger, and often it is Katniss who keeps it under control. He became angry when [[Madge Undersee]] said she wanted to look her best if she gets reaped. He became angry because she is more wealthy than most people in District 12 and doesn't have to face what he and everyone else must.

Gale hated the Capitol more than most people, even in the worst districts. During his time in District 12, he frequently complained about the unjust political situation in Panem and the tyranny of the Capitol, in contrast to Katniss, who was taught by her mother to hold her tongue. Throughout the books, Gale mentions several times that he feels that a rebellion would be better than just doing what the Capitol wanted. 

Unlike Katniss, Gale believed in the idea of victory at any cost. He clashed with her over the way the rebellion should be fought. Where she wanted to save as many lives as possible at the risk of defeat, he wanted them to sacrifice a few lives so that they can insure victory. Katniss tries to think in short-term, while Gale thinks in long-term, about how best to preserve life in Panem. This ruthlessness, combined with his hatred for the Capitol causes him to become a leading figure in the rebellion and to come up with new combat tactics while in District 13. Unfortunately, it is also this personality that eventually costs him his relationship with Katniss.

Gale often thinks in black and white terms, meaning something is either wrong or right and rarely does he see a grey area. He is angered that Katniss worries for her prep team when they are held captive as they are from the Capitol, and so are the 'enemy' even though they are relatively innocent.

Gale also had a very idealistic personality. When he believed in something that was being challenged he wouldn't hesitate to fight for it. It is later said by Katniss that Gale's fire, his passion, and personality, was very similar to her own; however, hers was always more controlled. He often accompanied Katniss when she did appearances as the Mockingjay, fighting when they came under attack. He also is the first to volunteer for the mission to save Peeta, though whether this is for Katniss or himself is not known.

==Skills==
{{Quote|I watch his hands, his beautiful, capable fingers. Scarred, but strong and deft. Hands that have the power to mine coal but the precision to set a delicate snare. Hands I trust.|Katniss, on Gale|Catching Fire}}
Gale is an expert at snares and strategy. He has known about snares since the first time he went into the woods. He has been able to catch many animals in his snares, which has been helpful for him and his family. Gale taught Katniss about basic snares, which came in handy during the Hunger Games.<ref name="THG 8" /> Later, he is able to transfer his skill in snares into a skill in designing military weapons and tactics.

Gale is also able to use a [[bow and arrow]], though he is not as accurate or fast as Katniss. He is able to shoot from a certain distance and it takes him a little longer to shoot, but he is proficient enough to hunt and defend himself.

During the rebellion, Gale uses a lethal bow from District 13, loaded with a variety of gadgets and equipped with three different types of arrows: razor sharp, incendiary, and explosive.<ref name="MJ 5" />

==Family==
Gale single-handedly supports his three younger siblings, Rory, Vick, and Posy, and his mother, Hazelle. His father died in the same mine accident as [[Mr. Everdeen|Katniss' father]] did.<ref name="THG 8" /> Gale originally supported his family by illegally hunting and applying for extra tesserae (a small supply of grain and oil).<ref name="THG 1" /> When he becomes too old for the Games, he works in the same mines as his father used to, twelve hours a day, with only Sundays off.<ref name="CF 1" />

Even though Katniss wants to help him, he refuses every coin she offers. He does allow Katniss to bring in game from hunts that he can no longer join, but expresses antagonism towards this arrangement as well.<ref name="CF 1" /> 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 eight hundred other District 12 citizens when the Capitol bombs their home.<ref name="MJ 1" />

==Physical description==
{{Quote|It's your own fault for being so camera-ready.|Katniss to Gale|Mockingjay}}[[File:Gh.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Gale Hawthorne.]]
Like most people from the Seam, Gale has black hair, olive skin, and grey eyes.<ref name="THG 1" /> He was over six feet tall by the age of 14.<ref name="THG 8" /> Due to their common heritage in the Seam, he and Katniss appear so alike that people believe them to be cousins.<ref name="CF 1" />His eyebrows are heavy and dark, and he has stubble on his chin. His lips are soft and full but slightly chapped.<ref name="CF 8" />

Muscular and good-looking, girls whisper about him—Katniss herself says that Gale would have no trouble finding a wife.<ref name="THG 1" /> Johanna calls him "gorgeous"<ref name="MJ 16" /> and Fulvia says that Gale is one of very few people with "camera-ready" faces.<ref name="MJ 6">{{MJ|6}}</ref> His hands are scarred, but are strong and precise. In the winter, Gale smells of leather, apples, and smoke.<ref name="CF 7" /> He is often seen carrying a militarized bow throughout ''Mockingjay''.

In the films, Gale has fair skin, brown hair, and green eyes. However, his tall stature is retained,

==Etymology==
[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gale#Etymology_2 Gale] is a word for a powerful wind, befitting his intense, stormy demeanor. His surname comes from hawthorn bushes or trees, but could also be a reference to author {{W|Nathaniel Hawthorne}}, whose writings often suggested that guilt, sin, and evil are innate to humanity.

==Trivia==
*In the film adaptation of ''Mockingjay: Part 2'', the way in which Katniss parts with Gale is much more final in comparison to the novel. In the novel Katniss quietly thinks on Gale's actions and ponders about whether or not it was Gale's actions that brought harm to Prim. Though part of her wants to deny it, she feels she will be unable to ever disassociate that from Gale, and thus lets him go without a word. Katniss wonders in her head if she and Gale might have always grown apart anyways, even without the Capitol and the Games, though still feels pain at his departure. In the film, Katniss speaks with much more finality, driving Gale to tears as he apologizes to her, before telling him goodbye forever.
*Gale's bombing method is likely inspired by a real-world bombing tactic known as a {{w|double tap strike}}.

==Gallery==
*[[Gallery:Gale Hawthorne|Gale Hawthorne Gallery]]

==References==
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[[Category:Males]]
[[Category:People from District 12]]
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