Victors are also provided a special privilege – they are exempt from taking part in the Hunger Games ever again. This rule, however, was modified for the Third Quarter Quell, which drew tributes from the existing pool of victors. Thus, the 75th Hunger Games featured well-known victors from various districts, besides Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.
What is a Victor?
The Hunger Games – a battle royale to the death – can only have one winner (except for the 74th Hunger Games which resulted in 2 winners). Anyone who wins the Games is referred to as a victor for the rest of their lives.
In return for their victory, winners of the Games are provided with a lifetime of wealth by the Capitol. In addition, they are allowed to live in the most affluent part of the district, the Victors’ Village. They are provided with a large house, equipped with necessities and luxuries, which they can share with their families. The residents of the district to which the victor belongs are also provided with a year’s supply of grain and oil. This effectively increases the emotional investment of the people in the districts in the Hunger Games.
Victors are exempt from taking part in the Hunger Games ever again (even if they are eligible to do so). This rule, however, was changed for the third Quarter Quell which reaped the tributes for The 75th Hunger Games from the existing pool of victors in each district. Despite their exemption, victors are involved in the Hunger Games for the rest of their lives as mentors for the new tributes. This allows the Capitol to squash the ray of hope that victors present for the rest of the district, and allows the victors to be kept under strict surveillance to prevent them from inciting a rebellion.
Since victors receive a considerable income from the Capitol every year, they are no longer required to work. Instead, they are expected to nurture a talent. For instance, Peeta refined his talent for painting after the Games, while Katniss took up the talent of fashion designing (although most of her work was designed by her stylist, Cinna).
Most victors turn to drugs or alcohol to numb the pain and the trauma they faced in the Hunger Games. Examples include Haymitch Abernathy, who was chronically drunk for most of his life, and the tributes from District 6 who were addicted to morphling. Victors who were good-looking and desirable to the citizens of the Capitol were prostituted by President Snow. A popular example of one such victor is Finnick Odair.
Occasionally, victors were required to take on special personalities and put on misleading acts to keep up appearances. Katniss and Peeta, for instance, were required to pretend to be madly in love to prevent a rebellion.
After the 74th Hunger Games, the Capitol began a Victor’s Purge, starting with the third Quarter Quell, which would effectively eliminate 23 of the 59 living tributes.
The Victory Tour
6 months after the Hunger Games has been concluded, a Victory Tour is held. First implemented after the 11th Hunger Games, the Victory Tour consists of the victor touring around the districts to give a speech and attend a dinner in each of them. The tour begins in the highest numbered district and ends with the victor’s own district, where the Capitol throws a magnificent feast for all of the residents.
Famous Victors of the Hunger Games
There have been 75 victors in total in the Hunger Games universe. The first 73 Hunger Games produced one victor each, while the 74th produced two. The 75th Hunger Games was left without a victor when Katniss blew up the arena and sparked off the Second Rebellion. The most famous victors of the Hunger Games include:
Lucy Gray Baird
The female tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird was the victor in the 10th Hunger Games. She won by concealing herself for most of the games before poisoning the remainder of the tributes with rat poison.
Mags Flanagan
The female tribute from District 4 and the winner of the 11th Hunger Games, Mags Flannagan had excellent survival skills. She was capable of creating fish hooks out of anything and making watertight baskets. She also possessed superior knowledge of nuts.
Beetee Latier
The male tribute from District 3, Beetee Latier is one of the few victors who won through pure intellect. Using electric traps, Beetee managed to electrocute 6 tributes at once, most of whom were careers.
Wiress
Wiress, the female tribute from District 3 and participant in the Third Quarter Quell possibly used electricity to emerge as a victor in her Games.
Haymitch Abernathy
The male tribute from District 12 and Katniss and Peeta’s mentor in the 74th and 75th Hunger Games, Haymitch won the second Quarter Quell. Although he was skilled with a knife, he managed to win by using the force field around the arena to kill one of his last opponents with their own ax.
Finnick Odair
The handsome tribute from District 4, Finnick Odair won the 65th Hunger Games with the help of sponsors. He received a trident from them which quickly became his signature weapon of choice. Using nets to catch tributes he killed them off with the trident to emerge victoriously.
Annie Cresta
Annie Cresta from District 4 was the victor of the 70th Hunger Games. She was a career tribute with excellent swimming skills. These skills proved to be her savior during a massive flood in the arena. Unfortunately, Annie was driven mad by her experience and never regained her sanity.
Johanna Mason
Johanna Mason, the female tribute from District 7 was the winner of the 71st Hunger Games and a fellow tribute of Katniss in the third Quarter Quell. She became a victor by pretending to be very weak, which allowed her fellow tributes to underestimate her. When only a handful of tributes remained standing, she turned into a savage killer.
Katniss Everdeen
The protagonist of the Hunger Games novels, Katniss Everdeen of District 12 was the victor in the 74th Hunger Games. She is known for her extraordinary archery skills which helped her survive. She won the games by threatening to commit suicide, a tactic that forced the Gamemakers to allow herself and Peeta to win.
Peeta Mellark
Peeta Mellark was the male tribute from District 12 in the 74th Hunger Games. He possessed superior strength and camouflage skills. He joined up with the career tributes and ultimately won by threatening suicide and forcing the Gamemakers to let himself and Katniss remain alive, and thereby emerge as victors together.
Other known tributes include Woof, Seeder, Porter Millicent Tripp, Augustus Braun, Lyme, Blight, The Morphlings from District 6, Cecelia, Enobaria, Gloss, Cashmere, Chaff, and Brutus.
FAQs
How did each victor win the Hunger Games?
Different victors used different strategies to win the Hunger Games. While some used brute force or skill, others used their intelligence and cunning to win.
Who was the victor of the first Hunger Games?
The victor of the first Hunger Games was Fir Amanda Yule, an 18-year-old tribute from District 7.
How does Katniss feel about becoming a victor?
The 74th Hunger Games took a massive toll on Katniss. She did not savor the thought of mentoring new tributes, most of whom were likely to be killed in a barbaric manner in the arena, while she was suffering from the trauma that the previous Hunger Games wrought on her.
What do the victors win in The Hunger Games?
Victors receive an income from the Capitol for the rest of their life and are provided special statuses in their districts. They are also given the privilege of living in the wealthiest part of the district, the Victors’ Village.
Where is Victors’ Village in The Hunger Games?
The Victors’ Village is the wealthiest part of the district. It is an area that is reserved particularly for the victors of the Hunger Games. Large affluent houses are built in this area to accommodate the victors and their families.