The reason for the scene where Maysilee and Maritte kill the Gamemakers besides setting up Maysilee’s death is that it clarifies the position of District 4.
There has been a lot of debate in the fandom concerning the degree to which District 4 is a Career district, right? Well, what this book is suggesting is that yes, District 4 is a Career district. But the people at the other extreme end of the argument who were insisting that there were absolutely no differences between Four and the other two Career districts were also wrong. District 4 is a Career district. But while Districts 1 and 2 are Career districts that are also largely loyal to the Capitol, this isn’t the case for District 4.
Maritte is willing to team up with One and Two to hunt down the other tributes. She’s literally chasing down Haymitch and Maysilee in the earlier part of this scene. But when the group encounters some Gamemakers inside the arena then things change very quickly. And Maritte doesn’t even need any convincing. In a snap, in an instant, she puts her trident through a Gamemaker. Because Maritte knows who the real enemy is.
The contrast with Silka, who is from District 1, is striking. Silka isn’t even portrayed as a monster and is given a bit more depth than a lot of the Careers in the series. But Silka’s response to Maritte killing a Gamemaker is a stunned: “What’d you do? Did you kill Gamemakers? They’ll never let us win now!” Silka is focused on winning. Silka is as traumatized by the Games as anyone (she cries under the tree), but she cannot conceive of rebellion. Before she fights Haymitch at the very end of the Games she says: “I will be the one to honor the Capitol.” I think these are her last words. I don’t think that you have to believe that Silka even likes the Capitol deep in her heart, but for whatever reason she isn’t willing to defy them.
There are actually several references scattered throughout the series to Districts 1 and 2 being close to the Capitol while District 4 is more rebellious. But this scene with Maritte killing the Gamemaker puts it in really sharp relief. Maysilee scolds Haymitch for not being quicker to attack the Gamemakers because Haymitch and not District 4 is meant to be her ally. She scolds him because his inaction allows District 4 to very briefly ally with District 12. Meaning that for about thirty seconds, District 12 and District 4 were in alliance in the Second Quarter Quell. Just as they will be in alliance in the Third Quarter Quell. In alliance against the Gamemakers. In alliance against the Hunger Games. In alliance against the Capitol.
District 4 is the Career district that is also a rebel district.
