The Hunger Games
Chapter 20
by Collins, SuzanneIn Chapter 20, Katniss struggles to care for Peeta, who is severely injured and feverish. After hours of persuasion, she manages to get him to drink broth, but his condition worsens overnight. Katniss stays vigilant, torn between keeping him warm and cooling his fever, ultimately opting for a damp bandage as a compromise. She reflects on the risks of teaming up with Peeta, acknowledging her increased vulnerability but trusting her instinct to protect him. By morning, his fever breaks slightly, offering a glimmer of hope, though his overall condition remains precarious.
Katniss prepares a simple meal of mashed berries and water for Peeta, who expresses concern for her safety despite his own dire state. Their conversation reveals the remaining tributes: Cato, Clove, Thresh, and Foxface. Peeta’s gratitude for Katniss’s care is evident, and their interactions blend genuine affection with the performative romance demanded by the Games. Katniss, exhausted from keeping watch, reluctantly agrees to sleep while Peeta takes over, though his tender gesture of stroking her hair feels unexpectedly authentic, providing her momentary comfort.
Upon waking, Katniss realizes she has slept too long and scolds Peeta for not waking her. His lighthearted teasing masks his worsening condition, as his fever returns and his leg shows signs of severe blood poisoning. Katniss hides her alarm, assuring him they’ll outlast the others and seek Capitol treatment, though both sense the grim reality. She insists on making soup to bolster his strength, but Peeta warns against lighting a fire, fearing it will attract enemies. Katniss improvises by using sun-heated rocks to cook, demonstrating her resourcefulness.
As Katniss prepares the soup, she notes the Gamemakers’ manipulation of the arena’s extreme temperatures. Her focus shifts between caring for Peeta and the looming threat of the remaining tributes. Though hunting would be ideal, she refuses to leave Peeta unprotected, prioritizing his survival over her own needs. The chapter underscores Katniss’s resilience and the deepening bond between her and Peeta, even as the odds of their survival grow increasingly slim.
FAQs
1. How does Katniss demonstrate her growing care for Peeta in this chapter, despite her initial reluctance to form alliances?
Answer:
Katniss shows increasing concern for Peeta through her persistent nursing efforts—spending hours coaxing him to drink broth, monitoring his fever through the night, and preparing special meals like berry mush and soup. She compromises her own safety by staying grounded to guard him, even acknowledging this makes her more vulnerable. The chapter highlights subtle emotional shifts, like when she finds comfort in Peeta stroking her hair (described as more natural than their staged romantic gestures). Her internal monologue reveals conflicted feelings, as she questions her instinct to help him yet commits fully to his care, even when discovering his worsening blood poisoning.2. Analyze the significance of the fever and blood poisoning in advancing both the plot and character dynamics.
Answer:
Peeta’s deteriorating health creates urgent stakes, forcing Katniss to confront her resource limitations and dependence on sponsors. The blood poisoning revelation (marked by red streaks on his leg) escalates tension by introducing a time-sensitive threat that basic survival skills can’t solve. This medical crisis deepens their interdependence: Katniss must trust Peeta to keep watch while she sleeps, and Peeta prioritizes her rest over his own needs. The illness also exposes their contrasting coping styles—Katniss focuses on practical solutions (sun-heated soup, constant vigilance), while Peeta uses humor and quiet acceptance, downplaying his condition to ease her worry.3. How does the chapter illustrate the psychological toll of the Games through Katniss’s actions and observations?
Answer:
Katniss’s exhaustion and hypervigilance reflect cumulative trauma. Her automatic search for a tree to sleep in reveals ingrained survival habits, while her compromised rest (half-sitting, weapon in hand) shows persistent anxiety. The Games’ artificial brutality is noted through environmental manipulation (“the Gamemakers are progressively ratcheting up the temperature”). Her defensive reaction upon oversleeping underscores trust issues, yet Peeta’s gentle teasing momentarily lightens the tension. The juxtaposition of tender moments (hair-stroking) with clinical wound care highlights how intimacy and violence coexist in the arena, warring with her instinctual self-reliance.4. Evaluate Katniss’s problem-solving approach when faced with two conflicting needs: maintaining stealth versus treating Peeta’s infection.
Answer:
Katniss demonstrates adaptive ingenuity by using sunlight and heated rocks to cook soup without fire, balancing nourishment needs with safety. Her triage decisions reveal prioritization—immediately addressing dehydration with enforced water intake before tackling the infection. She leverages environmental observations (hot stones by the stream) creatively. However, her inability to cure blood poisoning forces reliance on sponsors, exposing the Games’ economic cruelty. While she downplays the severity to Peeta, her internal panic (“My heart drops into my stomach”) shows awareness that her skills have limits, marking a turning point where survival may depend on external intervention.5. Contrast Peeta and Katniss’s perspectives on their alliance through their dialogue and behaviors in this chapter.
Answer:
Peeta openly embraces their partnership, expressing worry when Katniss is absent and framing her presence as an “enormous improvement” over solitude. His romantic gestures (kissing her hand) blend strategy with genuine affection, whereas Katniss remains more transactional, focusing on medical care. Their exchange about sleep—Peeta’s insistence on keeping watch versus Katniss’s defensive reaction—reveals his willingness to protect her despite his injury, while she struggles to relinquish control. Peeta’s quiet acceptance of his probable death (“mostly for my benefit”) contrasts with Katniss’s refusal to acknowledge it, highlighting how their dynamic oscillates between authenticity and performance.
Quotes
1. “I’m just going to have to trust that whatever instinct sent me to find him was a good one.”
This quote captures Katniss’s internal conflict about her decision to ally with Peeta, showing her reluctant acceptance of vulnerability in exchange for companionship and survival. It represents a key moment of emotional vulnerability in the chapter.
2. “Unlike the staged kisses and caresses so far, this gesture seems natural and comforting.”
This moment highlights the authenticity developing between Katniss and Peeta, contrasting their performative romance for the cameras with genuine care. It’s a turning point in their relationship dynamic.
3. “I know what blood poisoning is, Katniss. Even if my mother isn’t a healer.”
Peeta’s sharp retort reveals both his medical knowledge and lingering resentment about class differences, showing tension beneath their alliance. This exchange demonstrates the characters’ complex backgrounds influencing their interactions.
4. “They’ll cure it back at the Capitol when we win.”
Katniss’s desperate optimism about Peeta’s worsening condition reveals both her determination and the harsh reality of their situation. This quote encapsulates the central survival dilemma of the chapter.
5. “I’m the first to admit I’m not much of a cook. But since soup mainly involves tossing everything in a pot and waiting, it’s one of my better dishes.”
This humorous aside provides character insight into Katniss’s practical nature and domestic limitations, offering brief levity amid the tense survival narrative.