The relationship Katniss develops with Rue, a tribute from District 11 who reminds her of Prim, defines much of her experience in “The Hunger Games.” The pair become allies in the Games after Rue helps Katniss recover from a tracker jacker attack, and Katniss takes Rue under her wing, feeding and protecting her. They work together until Marvel, a District 1 tribute, spears Rue. In response, Katniss murders him, and she holds Rue as she dies, singing to her.
Katniss also defies the Capitol by giving Rue a funeral sendoff. Her actions are antithetical to the Hunger Games, which force children — and the districts — to see each other as enemies. Katniss refuses to give the Capitol the narrative they want, caring for Rue even in death.
Similarly, Haymitch tries to protect two younger children in the arena: Lou Lou, a girl from District 11 who replaced Louella as a body double after her death, and Ampert, Beetee’s son and a tribute from District 3. He cares for both of them when they find him during the Games. However, he is ultimately unable to save them.
When the Capitol forces Lou Lou to die slowly from a poisonous flower, Haymitch ends her suffering. He also tries to run away with her body so the Gamemakers cannot take it, openly defying the Capitol until they force him to abandon her by attacking him with mutant butterflies.
Later, the Gamemakers get revenge on Beetee by having mutant squirrels eat Ampert alive. Haymitch again tries to rebuke the Capitol in his honor, using an ax to try to tear up the arena in response to Ampert’s death.
Haymitch and Katniss both see it as their duty to aid those more helpless than them in the arena, and they are both willing to rebel against the Capitol in their honor.
