Peeta Mellark
Peeta Mellark is the male tribute from District 12, in both the 74th and 75th Hunger Games. He is a baker's son. He's quite charismatic, which helps him in preparation for games. He states in an interview after the Reaping that he has been in love with Katniss since the first day he saw her. His relationship with Katniss grows throughout the novels.
During The Hunger Games, Peeta is certain that Katniss will win because of her experience in hunting. Peeta defends Katniss, and even declares his love for her on public television. Though Peeta is sincere, Katniss does not truly return Peeta's affections; she initially believes he is simply trying to curry favor with the public and with the sponsors, and she still has very strong feelings for Gale. At the end of the Games, they are the last two tributes remaining. The revision to the rules, which allowed two tributes to become victors if they originated from the same district, was revoked in an attempt for a more dramatic, and therefore audience-pleasing, ending. But rather than fight to the death, Peeta and Katniss attempt suicide with nightlock, forcing the Gamemakers to declare both of them victors. After the Games, it was revealed that Peeta had contracted blood poisoning from a wound he sustained in the Arena. Though Katniss had saved him in the Arena, he still underwent surgery following the Games. The damage resulted in the loss of his left leg, forcing Peeta to use a prosthetic leg. Peeta is nicknamed "Lover Boy" by the Careers because of his deep love for Katniss.
Catching Fire opens with Peeta being "icy" and "unreachable", believing that the affection Katniss showed during the previous year's Games were a ploy. When President Snow announces the Third Quarter Quell, Peeta makes a deal with Haymitch to keep Katniss alive and safe - he volunteered himself, in Haymitch's place, in order to protect Katniss. It is his intention to save Katniss's life by sacrificing himself. He lies to the Capitol in an effort to try to save Katniss from returning to the Games by saying that they are married and that she is pregnant. During the Third Quarter Quell, Peeta and Katniss are part of the group that destroys the Arena. While rebels from District 13 rescue Katniss, Peeta is captured by Capitol forces. Katniss finds herself willing to kill him to save him from the tortures he endures.
In Mockingjay, he is tortured physically and mentally in an attempt to reveal information regarding Katniss and her whereabouts. Although he and others are eventually rescued, the Capitol had tampered with his memories by using tracker jacker venom - a process called "hijacking" - which leaves him frightened and unstable. Believing that Katniss is a muttation, and remembering only a twisted version of their experiences in the Games, Peeta attempts to kill Katniss, but fails. With help from District 13 doctors, Prim, and other friends, he slowly begins to regain parts of his real memories, although the process is overwhelming and tedious for him. President Coin sends him on the final mission into the Capitol with the squad of soldiers that includes Katniss, Gale, and Finnick, where he struggles with his memories and mental trauma. It is believed President Coin's intention was for Peeta to become insane and kill Katniss, making her into a martyr. However, Peeta manages to prevent this from happening, even insisting that he be handcuffed constantly in case he loses control and hurts someone. Realizing the danger in which he puts the group and the difficulty he causes them, he asks to be killed when it seems that he will lose control and try to kill Katniss. Katniss fiercely refuses and kisses him, which seems to make him stable. Peeta later votes not to have another Hunger Games (featuring children of the Capitol as tributes) to avenge the children that participated in previous years. When the war ends, Peeta survives and eventually returns to District 12 with Katniss. Later he and Katniss marry, and have two children - a girl, and later a boy - who are able to live in a world without the Hunger Games.
Peeta is 16 years old in The Hunger Games and 17 years old in Catching Fire and Mockingjay. He has strong artistic ability and reveals that his favorite color is orange.
He is played by actor Josh Hutcherson in the 2012 movie.
