The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

by

Suzanne Collins

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes makes teaching easy.

Mayfair Lipp Character Analysis

Mayfair Lipp is Mayor Lipp’s daughter. She’s generally disliked in District 12, as her father allows her to run wild. After she began seeing Billy Taupe romantically while Billy Taupe was still seeing Lucy Gray, she somehow made it so her father would pull Lucy Gray’s name in the reaping, turning Mayfair into an antagonist. While Coriolanus is stationed in District 12 as a Peacekeeper, he shoots Mayfair one night; she overheard Coriolanus, Sejanus, and several rebels talking about escaping with weapons. Her murder haunts Coriolanus, but only because he believes he’s going to be executed as punishment. This doesn’t happen, as Coriolanus finds and destroys the gun he used to shoot her.
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Mayfair Lipp Character Timeline in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The timeline below shows where the character Mayfair Lipp appears in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
Government and Power Theme Icon
Mayor Lipp races for the girl, who’s his daughter, Mayfair. As he reaches Mayfair, a green snake flies out of her dress. Lucy Gray, meanwhile,... (full context)
Chapter 23
Human Nature Theme Icon
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...The Covey bow and Coriolanus moves toward Lucy Gray—but then, a drunk young man and Mayfair, the mayor’s daughter, push through the crowd. This must be the lover from Lucy Gray’s... (full context)
Chapter 24
Government and Power Theme Icon
Human Nature Theme Icon
Lucy Gray never appears out front, though Peacekeepers march Mayfair Lipp out of the Hob. Sejanus, Coriolanus, and four others are tasked with walking her... (full context)
Government and Power Theme Icon
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...with Billy Taupe. He figures, though, that Lucy Gray was referring to his relationship with Mayfair in the song she sang in the interview—and that’s why the Covey wants nothing to... (full context)
Chapter 25
Propaganda, Spectacle, and Morality Theme Icon
Government and Power Theme Icon
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...implies that Lucy Gray is telling the Covey lies about how and why he’s with Mayfair to make herself look better. Coriolanus steps up and tells Billy Taupe to leave, and... (full context)
Chapter 27
Government and Power Theme Icon
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...him and explains that somehow, her name was called in the reaping after she and Mayfair found out that Billy Taupe was trying to see them both. However, Lucy Gray suggests... (full context)
Chapter 28
Propaganda, Spectacle, and Morality Theme Icon
Government and Power Theme Icon
Human Nature Theme Icon
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...dating Barb Azure and finally, Spruce drops his gun. Coriolanus studies the weapons when, suddenly, Mayfair Lipp reveals herself. She’s been hiding in the corner. Billy Taupe tells her to go... (full context)
Human Nature Theme Icon
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...second time—and unlike when he killed Bobbin, this wasn’t self-defense. It kind of was; if Mayfair had told anyone what she saw, Coriolanus and everyone he loves would die. He’d shoot... (full context)
Government and Power Theme Icon
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...were brought to the base clinic last night and says that the Peacekeepers are certain Mayfair and “the musician” were killed by someone local, given the murder weapons. This makes Coriolanus... (full context)
Chapter 29
Human Nature Theme Icon
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...role in Sejanus’s death and suggests that Spruce outed Sejanus. She thanks him for killing Mayfair—but then says that Mayor Lipp won’t leave her alone, as he’s sure Lucy Gray killed... (full context)
Chapter 30
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...dig up some katniss. Once she’s gone, Coriolanus cradles the gun he used to kill Mayfair. If he can destroy it, he can go back to his life—but Lucy Gray is... (full context)
Government and Power Theme Icon
Human Nature Theme Icon
Trust and Loyalty Theme Icon
...has to talk to her. She could still ruin his life, as she knows about Mayfair. At the very least, she’ll ruin his reputation if it gets out he cheated in... (full context)