Entertainment
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – The Untold Story of Lucy Gray Baird
A Look Behind the Curtain
A prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes us back in time to explore the early years of the corrupted leader, President Snow. Set 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games, we see a teenage Coriolenus Snow trying to graduate from school and restore honor to his family name.
Lucy Gray Baird – The Game Changer
But it's Lucy Gray Baird, a different female tribute from District 12, who will change Snow's trajectory and turn him to the dark side. While Lucy Gray seems to only be a part of Snow's life, her own story deserves to be told and recognized as an icon in District 12. But why does no one remember her 64 years later? Brace yourselves for major plot spoilers for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Unveiling the Forgotten Victor
In The Hunger Games, we learn about the victors and their significance in history. However, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes reveals that Lucy Gray Baird is actually District 12's first Victor, winning the 10th Hunger Games. Yet, no one seems to remember her.
Erased from Memory
In the film adaptation, it's not explained why Lucy Gray is forgotten, but in the original novel, it is revealed that all evidence of the 10th Hunger Games was erased by Snow's mentor, Dr. Gaul. She wanted people to forget about the Games as it made the Capital appear weak. Therefore, no one remembers who won the 10th annual Hunger Games, except those who were alive when it happened.
The Forgotten Games
While a child of Reaping age during that time would be in their late 70s/early 80s by the time Katniss enters the Arena, it's unlikely that they're still alive. Additionally, the first televised Hunger Games was not mandatory viewing, and many citizens of the Districts were too poor to own TVs. So even those who could remember the Games most likely didn't watch it and eventually forgot about Lucy Gray.
The Legacy Lives On
Although Lucy Gray was forgotten, her legacy didn't completely die with her. Towards the end of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, we discover that she wrote the haunting song, "The Hanging Tree," after witnessing a brutal hanging. This song becomes a rebellion anthem when Katniss sings it in Mockingjay, unknowingly reopening a wound in Snow's heart.
Written by Bethany, a freelance writer for We Got This Covered, this article dives into the untold story of Lucy Gray Baird and her impact on The Hunger Games universe. From forgotten Victor to rebel anthem writer, Lucy Gray's influence is felt throughout the series.
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