After Katniss volunteers as the first from district 12 to ever volunteer everyone is shocked, but this is what makes Katniss a hero. With the government the way it is and the way it has forced society to be Katniss must become a hero to stop it, and fight in the games and provide for her family. In an article written by Charles De Lint he says "Katniss. is everything we want our hero's to be. Capable, generous, and able to make hard decisions." (De Lint 1). Katniss has been changed by the dictatorship of Panem. She has become a hero, a provider, and has changed for what some would say the better, but if it had not been for this over powerful cruel government she never would have had to change at all. In addition to Katniss, Haymitch Abernathy is a great example of what the government can do to a person. Haymitch was in the games many years before Katniss, and he was the only person from district 12 to ever when the games. Once a contestant wins the games he or she is rewarded with a mansion in their own district, and basically all the money that they will ever need. Haymitch was so traumatized by the games, and what happened that over the years since his victory he tried to drink the pain and images away. Haymitch always reeks of alcohol and always has a in close proximity one of the first descriptions of Haymitch in the book is this. "His breath reeks of liquor and it's been a long time since he's bathed." (Collins 24). Haymitch has been affected in a horrible way by what this government is doing to its people, and he is not the only one. Rue has also been greatly affected by what Panem has become. She is just an 12 year old girl but was drawn to enter the games, and compete to the death against the other tributes. Rue as a child had to see death in the games, but made a friend in Katniss in the arena. Rue and Katniss were working together to try and win the games, but when Katniss left to carry out part of their plan rue was killed "Rue has rolled to her side, her body curved in and around the spear.