Every character in a story has a role to play. There are many different types of characters, who may or may not make an appearance, but two that always do are the protagonist and the antagonist. The conflict between these two drives the conflict in the story.
What Is a Protagonist?
A protagonist is a major character in a novel. They are the ones driving the plot through their goals and actions. It’s a common misconception that protagonists are always good; this is usually the case but not always. In ancient Greek, the word ‘protagonist’ actually refers to the person playing the first part. The name has nothing to do with the character’s moral compass.
Most of the time, readers will experience the story through the protagonists’ point of view, meaning they are the ones telling the story. Sometimes, you may have multiple protagonists, so you’ll need to switch between their viewpoints. Third person multiple is usually the best for this, but first person can also work.
People often use the terms ‘protagonist’ and ‘main character’ interchangeably, but there is a slight difference. The protagonist is who the story is about, but the main character is the one telling the story. In most cases, this is one and the same. However, in some first person novels, the protagonist is not the one narrating the story; it’s another character who is close to the protagonist. For example, The Great Gatsby is about Jay Gatsby (the protagonist), but it’s narrated by Nick Carraway (the main character). Similarly, Sherlock Holmes is about the detective Sherlock Holmes (the protagonist), but it’s narrated by Dr Watson (the main character). So, it’s best to think of the protagonist as the person driving the story and the main character as the person telling the story.
What Is an Antagonist?
The antagonist, put simply, is a character (or thing) that opposes the protagonist. They often have goals that come into conflict with the protagonists’. Often, they actively work to thwart the protagonists’ efforts; other times, their existence is enough to get in the way.
In traditional narratives, antagonists are evil; they’re the stereotypical villain. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Modern antagonists are typically more morally grey. They may not be a bad person; they’re just getting in the way of the protagonists’ goals. The term ‘antagonist’ actually just means ‘anti actor’.
There are many different types of antagonists and villains. They can be one person, a group of people, an inanimate object or an animal. The antagonist can even be the protagonist themselves.
Conclusion
Protagonists and antagonists are essential actors in a novel. Protagonists are who the story is about, and they drive the action. Conversely, antagonists stand in the way of the protagonist getting what they want. In traditional narratives, the protagonist is the good guy, and the antagonist the bad guy. But, in more modern narratives, the line between good and evil is more blurred. Sometimes, the protagonist and antagonist are the same character because some people are their own worst enemy. Ultimately, your story needs a protagonist and an antagonist, and you can use their conflict to drive your narrative.
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