Alright everyone…let’s talk about one of THE HUNGER GAMES most infamous characters: Effie Trinket. To say that we hate her might be harsh, and toward the end of the THE HUNGER GAMES she even sort of redeems herself. But that doesn’t make me love her. Not totally. So who is she? Personally, she’s the character I love to hate.
Here’s why.
Effie Trinket, early on, is despicable, what with her pink wig and her far too cheery voice. She announces the tributes like she’s announcing the gold medalist at the Olympics. Except for one thing --- she’s sending children to the slaughter. We see a character who has bought into the hype of the Hunger Games. One who is party to the ruse and happy to play a role in the spectacle.
At the time, I wondered, “How could anyone be so frikkin’ chipper up there at that podium?” It was heinous. I’ll admit it: I despised her. I thought that she must have been utterly warped by the Capitol’s pro-Games propaganda. Everything from the crazy hair to the blinding smile made her happiness completely absurd. It was so incongruous! But that’s what made it entertaining, in a wholly sick way. Which is the first reason why I loved to hate her.
But then something happened. By the end of the book, I realized this: Effie Trinket is a poodle.
The Capitol was her leash and her owner. And here’s what I think: maybe Effie was comfortable wearing a leash. If you’re wearing a leash, it means you’ve got an owner, and if you’re good enough, your owner might even upgrade your water bowl to one with rhinestones. The fact that she had a funny haircut? Well, that’s how she learned to make it in Panem. Give the Capitol what they want. And they wanted the Hunger Games, everything from the reaping to the final kill, to be a spectacle.
Is she just a puppet or is she more? Once she grew attached to Peeta and Katniss, I actually started to root for her. Effie wanted them --- or at least one of them --- to survive. I thought, “Hey, she’s got some good in her yet!”
Which is another reason why I love to hate her. Because it’s complicated. We want her to redeem herself, but is such a thing even possible? Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
No spoilers here, but I’m certainly looking forward to seeing how Elizabeth Banks is going to portray this seemingly happy, confused, pitiable, absurd, but totally entertaining character.
