When she was a young girl, Mags emerged as the victor of the 11th Hunger Games. During the Reaping of the Third Quarter Quell, she volunteers for Annie Cresta, as she probably wishes to give the young woman a second chance at life. Thus, Mags takes part in the 75th Hunger Games with her district partner, Finnick Odair.
Mags Flanagan Character Profile
- Name: Mags Flanagan
- Age: 80 (Catching Fire)
- Gender: Female
- Place of origin: District 4
- Physical appearance: Old and grey-haired
- Skills: Survival skills
- Strengths: Creating fishhooks, weaving leak-proof baskets
- Weaknesses: Not skilled in any particular weapon, unable to communicate verbally due to a stroke
- Loyalties: Rebel
Personality
Mags was brave and selfless, as was seen when she takes the place of Annie Cresta in the 75th Hunger Games. Katniss notes, “It was obvious she didn’t volunteer because she thought she could win, she did it to save Annie Cresta.”
Haymitch mentions Mags to be a wonderful lady. She is kind and compassionate, as well as highly practical. She uses her survival skills to become a victor in the 11th Hunger Games. Mags is also willing to sacrifice her life in the Games if it means giving the youngsters a second shot at life. Thus, she willingly enters the poisonous fog so as not to slow down Katniss, Finnick, and Peeta.
Biography
Victor of the 11th Hunger Games
Mags was reaped for the 11th Hunger Games at the age of 16. This was the first Hunger Games to implement the various policies introduced by Coriolanus Snow when he worked as an apprentice Gamemaker. Thus, as the victor of the 11th Hunger Games, Mags was most likely the first victor to go on a Victor’s Tour and to move into the Victors’ Village.
It is not known how Mags won the 11th Hunger Games. However, it is probable that her superior survival skills (weaving leak-proof baskets, creating fish hooks, etc.) helped her achieve this feat.
After the 11th Hunger Games
As a Victor of the 11th Hunger Games, Mags was required to act as a mentor to future tributes from District 4. Three male tributes became victors under her tutelage. It is also speculated that Mags was instrumental in implementing a training program for aspiring tributes from District 4.
In the 65th Hunger Games, Mags mentored the youngest ever tribute to win the Games – Finnick Odair, who won the Games at the age of 14. Mags and Finnick most likely further a friendship during this time, which translated into a strong alliance during the Third Quarter Quell.
Mags also mentored Annie Cresta in the 70th Hunger Games, who emerged as the victor as well.
Mags is seen with a wedding ring on her left hand. As such, one can assume that she is married. Her spouse is unknown. We also do not have any information on whether or not she has children.
Mags in the Third Quarter Quell
When Annie Cresta is reaped for the 3rd Quarter Quell, Mags volunteers to take Annie Cresta’s place. During the training sessions, Katniss notices how Mags can produce fish hooks out of almost anything. Noticing this, Katniss (who already has formed a good impression of Mags after she volunteered for Annie), wishes to become her ally.
In the arena, Mags becomes part of the alliance with Katniss, Finnick, and Peeta. As she is unable to walk very fast, Finnick ends up carrying her for most of the way. At the end of the day, when the canon announces the death of the tributes, Mags is deeply saddened to have lost many of her friends.
Mags’ Death
On the second day of the Quarter Quell, Mags, and her allies encounter a highly poisonous fog. With Peeta’s leg also injured (from hitting the force field the previous day), the gang found it extremely difficult to escape the acid fog. While Finnick carried Peeta, Katniss carried Mags in an attempt to escape the poison. However, Katniss makes contact with the fog and she slows down. This is when Mags decides to take matters into her own hands. She kisses Finnick and runs into the fog, sacrificing herself in order to increase the chances of her allies surviving the Games. Finnick grieves her death for several hours into the night. Much later, Katniss realizes that Mags was a part of the rebel network and therefore gave up her life to keep Katniss alive for the rebellion.
FAQs
Why can’t Mags talk in The Hunger Games?
Mags from The Hunger Games is unable to talk, probably due to a stroke, as Katniss briefly mentions, or probably due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) triggered by her participation in the Hunger Games. As such, she can only produce garbled speech and communicates mainly through hand gestures.
Is Finnick in love with Mags?
No, Finnick (the youngest victor ever) is not in love with Mags. However, he does seem to possess a deep sense of compassion for the old lady. This is most probably because Mags volunteers for Annie Cresta (Finnick’s lover and partner) at the reaping of the Third Quarter Quell, thereby saving her life.
Who won the 11th Hunger Games?
Mags Flanagan, the District 4 female, won the 11th Hunger Games. She later participated in the 75th Games as well, where she was the oldest tribute at 80 years old.
What purpose did Mags serve in Catching Fire?
Mags in the Catching Fire novel helps Katniss trust Finnick as an ally. After witnessing the caring and devoted manner in which Finnick treated the old woman, Katniss is forced to believe in Finnick. Mags also serves to show the brutality of the Capitol, who were willing to put a nearly senile 80-year-old woman through the Hunger Games for the second time in her life.
What are the secrets that Finnick knows?
Finnick reveals several of President Snow’s secrets in a propo that was shot during the Second Rebellion. He reveals how desirable victors are sold for their bodies in the Capitol and how President Snow reached the top of the government by poisoning anyone standing in his way.
How did Mags win the Hunger Games?
Living in District 4, Mags had picked up excellent survival skills, including forming fish hooks and foraging for nuts and berries. She was also able to weave baskets that could float on water without letting the water leak through. Thus, her superior survival skills are the most likely reason she was able to survive the 11th Hunger Games.