- "We always wait to trade with him when his witch of a wife isn't around because he's so much nicer."
- —Katniss Everdeen about Mr and Mrs Mellark[src]
Mrs. Mellark was a baker who lived in District 12. She was the mother of three sons, including tribute and victor Peeta Mellark. She did not play a major role in The Hunger Games and appeared very rarely in any of the books. Mrs. Mellark was never given a name; she was only referred to as Peeta's mother or Mrs. Mellark throughout the series. One of the most memorable details about her was that she ran the family bakery with her husband Mr. Mellark and had an unkind spirit.
Biography[]
Mrs. Mellark had three sons: The elder sons are unnamed, and Peeta Mellark is the youngest. She and her family owned the bakery in the merchant section of District 12, and they all worked there. Her appearance was never described; however, she is assumed to have blonde hair and blue eyes as it was a common trait in the merchant area of District 12. She was known as a "witch" throughout the district.
When Katniss Everdeen was eleven years old and starving, she passed by the bakery and searched its trash cans, hoping to find food. Mrs. Mellark spotted at her and yelled insults, telling her to move on. However, after Mrs. Mellark reentered the bakery, Katniss witnessed her scolding and beating Peeta after he burnt two loaves of bread and telling him to feed them to the pigs just before disappearing to help a customer.
She was not supportive of Peeta when his name was drawn to compete in the 74th Hunger Games. When she met with him to say goodbye before he boarded the train to The Capitol, she attempted to cheer him up by saying that District 12 might finally have a winner, but was referring to Katniss, the other tribute, rather than her own son.
Death[]
Along with Mr. Mellark and their two oldest sons, Mrs. Mellark was killed in the bombing of District 12.
Personality and traits[]
Mrs. Mellark had quite a temper and often turned to beating her children when they had done something that had made her angry in their younger years. For example, when Peeta was young and burnt some of the bread she was baking, she hit him, saying that no decent person would buy burnt bread. If she had known that he had given it to Katniss, a girl from the Seam, it would have ensured a terrible beating.
She was proven to be cold and not very kind. She had very little faith in Peeta's ability to win the Games; later into the book when Peeta was talking to Katniss, he told her that his mother said, "Maybe District 12 will have a victor this year. She's a fighter, that one", insinuating that she didn't think Peeta would come home, but that Katniss had a better shot.
Family[]
Mrs. Mellark was married to Mr. Mellark, who was a baker. They had three sons, the first and second of which are unnamed and the third of which is one of the main characters: Peeta, who went on to compete in the Hunger Games. Her husband mentioned to five-year-old Peeta that he wanted to marry Katniss' mother, but she was in love with someone else, Mr. Everdeen.
Mr. Mellark was said to have a habit of buying Katniss' squirrels, but usually when his wife was not with him. He was much kinder without the influence of his wife.