Two-Faced: Celebrities in The Hunger Games & Their Personas-- Katniss and Finnick
Katniss Everdeen becomes a celebrity over the course of the first movie and book. She becomes a hunter forced to perform for the exploitative and rich Capital citizens. After her first stint in The Hunger Games and being thrust into the limelight, Katniss had to adopt a persona that would make her more appealing to an audience. She had to become someone other than herself, become The Girl on Fire. Just like Finnick.
Finnick Odair first appears to Katniss and to all of Panem as a stuck-up womanizer but that is how he is made to be in front of the cameras. Even at 14 he was known for his beauty, and President Snow exploited that and 'sold' him to others around The Capital. Finnick has several personas such as the persona in front of the camera and Capital citizens and his persona he must adopt during prostituting assignments. He had to become someone else for Snow and The Capital's benefit and for his loved one to survive. In reality he is kind and loyal to his friends and family.
Katniss Everdeen has always hated The Capital and the sick tradition of The Hunger Games and as soon as she volunteered for her sister she became a symbol. Katniss has several personas like Finnick, her persona as the Mockingjay eventually and her persona as a lovable tribute then lovesick victor. Katniss is someone who wants to protect those who can not protect themselves. She is selfless for volunteering but her biggest hope is for those she loves to be safe and happy. She did not mean to become a symbol for the Rebellion, the Mockingjay, she just wanted to save Peeta and herself from dying, but her act of double s*icide was seen as rebel behaviour. The end of the first book has Katniss wanting to appease The Capital by selling her (fake) relationship with Peeta Mellark. Katniss' celebrity persona is a lovesick teenager heading towards marriage with the only one thing on her mind--love, not rebellion. At first, because it is only when she witnesses how horrible The Capital treats the districts does she find that she must adopt her Mockingjay persona despite the risks to her and her family.
Both Finnick and Katniss have their every interaction nitpicked and there are under an almost constant surveillance. Finnick true personality is only merged with his celebrity persona once the Rebellion has kicked off. Panem eventually gets to hear his speech in Mockingjay of him describing how Snow prostituted him and how he would be killed if he did not do this. Katniss' true personality is only shown in Mockingjay at the very end, when she is not under threat of anybody. Despite winning their Hunger Games, Finnick' and Katniss' personas are owned and manipulated by The Capital--even Katniss' Mockingjay's one to a degree.








