Peeta Mellark might not be the protagonist of The Hunger Games, but he is the main love interest and a favorite with many fans. In many ways, Peeta doesn’t fit the typical mold of a male romantic lead in a young adult novel, especially in comparison to Katniss’ other potential love interest, Gale Hawthorne. However, many fans love Peeta precisely because he has characteristics that go against the grain.

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Peeta has many great qualities and strengths, and he provides a lot of abalone to Katniss as they have different areas where they shine. But he certainly isn't perfect, and has just as many negative traits as he does positive.

Worst: Peeta Could Be Naive

Katniss lies with Peeta in cave in Hunger Games

For the characters who live in District 12, life is very difficult and usually frightening. They don’t have much freedom or many resources, and their lives are watched and controlled by the Capitol. So, in many ways, Peeta isn’t naive compared to real-life teenagers, but when examined against more shrewd or practical-minded characters like Katniss and Gale, he can come off as much more idealistic.

Peeta often is more hopeful, which can be good but can also be negative. While being able to wish for the best and see a brighter future can be an asset in a harsh world like Panem, it also means Peeta didn't always see the reality of what was in front of him. He wasn't as willing to get his hands dirty as Katniss, even if the situation called for it.

Best: Peeta's Physical Strength

Peeta Mellark In The Hunger Games

While physicality isn't a commentary on someone's personality, it’s a very useful and important skill to have when you’re a tribute in the Hunger Games. As a tribute, having some sort of physical skill or ability is essential to staying alive, and Peeta’s strength that he cultivated, and also comes by naturally, helps him stay alive and protect other people, too. It's shown early on in the series that Peeta has the ability to lift heavy bags of flour, and he hones this strength when he trains as a tribute.

Just like with Katniss, Peeta having a physical skill becomes an advantage. While he might not be proficient with a weapon like Katniss, he could defend himself from weaker tributes who had no real physical prowess at all. It's also this strength that made the Careers see Peeta as someone they wanted to work with.

Worst: Peeta Could Be Too Sensitive

Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games looks at Katniss.

There are many ways for a character to be emotional, and Peeta is someone who could be level-headed when necessary. Being reactive may have been one of Katinss' worst traits, but Peeta's emotions weren’t outbursts; his had more to do with his softness and being invested in his relationships.

As with many of his traits, this sensitivity could be both good and bad depending on the situation, but it was a dangerous trait to have in the Games. His ability to have empathy for others and be loving made fans adore him as a character, but this made it all the worse when he was tortured and manipulated by the Capitol.

Best: Peeta Was Selfless

Peeta Mellark in army gear in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.

Peeta was always willing to sacrifice himself to save others, especially Katniss. He was a loyal and brave person, and while he might have been a bit more understated in his heroic moments, he was never shied from putting himself in harm’s way.

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He especially did whatever he could to keep Katniss alive, and this was because he loved her. While Katniss was often suspicious of his motivations, Peeta’s heart seemed always to be in the right place. He did genuinely care about her, but it wasn't just her either. He also cared deeply about people like Rue and Prim, and generally anyone who was impacted by the Capitol.

Worst: Peeta Could Be Too Idealistic

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark in Catching Fire on the train.

One of the main reasons why Katniss and Peeta work well as a couple is that they provide balance to one another. While Katniss could be more practical and even pessimistic, Peeta provided hope and more positivity. However, the circumstances that they were in weren’t great, and being more realistic about the odds is also a good thing.

While Peeta did have this more idealistic streak where he could envision a much better world, he did adapt to some extent. He was able to see that he would have to fight others in the Games, but he never really completely saw how dire things really were.

Best: Peeta Was Trustworthy

Caesar asking Peeta about Katniss onstage in Catching Fire

While Peeta might have been more introverted and blended more in the background next to Katniss’s more passionate personality, he was also very likable. Many people naturally liked him and felt they could align with him, and Peeta was able to use his natural kindness and charisma to make it through the Games, such as with the Careers and later in the Quarter Quell.

He was easy to trust, and he usually followed through on his promises. While it might not seem useful to be trustworthy in the Hunger Games, it is a soft skill that can be used to work with others. Peeta knew this about himself, and so did Haymitch. They used this to their advantage to keep Peeta safe.

Worst: Peeta Was Too Worried About Romance

Peeta and Katniss stand next to one another in Catching Fire.

While Katniss often faked her romance with Peeta to try and ensure their survival, she was much less invested in this element of their relationship. While she did care a lot about Peeta and wanted him to live, she was more focused on everything else going on around them than on falling in love for real.

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Peeta, on the other hand, really fell in love with Katniss hard, and he had always had a crush on her. But while this is a romantic notion, it might not have been the most practical thing going into the Games. It would have been better to keep his mind sharp instead of focusing on his romantic feelings.

Best: Peeta's Creativity And Artistic Skills

Peeta laying on a rock in the Arena in The Hunger Games series.

One of the greatest things about Peeta as a character is that he doesn’t fit into a lot of stereotypes. While he is a very strong man who might seem like a traditional masculine lead, he also was very creative and artistic. His experience with decorating cakes along with his natural creativity were endearing traits, and they were also hidden skills he could use in the Arena. He was so good at this ability he could even disguise himself against the rocks to hide from the Careers.

Peeta's more creative side fits in well with his overall role in the story as being more soft-hearted and hopeful. He lived in a world that could easily have worn him down to become hardened and hateful. However, he always had an artistic, gentle side that never completely went away.

Worst: Peeta Didn't Always Understand What Needed To Be Done

Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games looks into the distance.

While fans are sometimes critical of Katniss because she can come off as a bit cold and calculating, there was a reason why she viewed the world as she did. She was aware of the danger she and others were in, and she mostly just wanted to keep her loved ones safe. She was able to make the difficult decisions, such as killing Coin, while Peeta would sometimes hold back.

He might have been willing to put himself at risk to save Katniss, but he didn't always see the bigger picture. While it could be argued that he saw Katniss' role in the rebellion as more important than his own, a lot of his actions seemed more motivated by his love of her than anything else.

Best: Peeta's Compassion For Others

Peeta Mellark staring at the ground in The Hunger Games Mockingjay

Of all the good traits that Peeta has, his best overall was his compassion. He truly did care about other people, and he wanted to help. His kindness was on full display in how he treated Katniss but also in the way he honored Rue during the show of skills before the Quarter Quell.

While Katniss might get to have some of the biggest heroic moments in the series, Peeta was just as committed to helping others; he just did it in a more quiet way.

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