Protagonist and Antagonist

1. Protagonist and Antagonist

2. Protagonist • Main character in a novel, story, movie tv show • Has clearly defined wish or goal. • Often the “good guy” in a struggle. The reader often roots for this person to be achieve their goals and come out victorious. • Struggles against opposing forces to achieve his/her goals.

3. Complex Protagonist • Protagonists can be flawed. • Well written protagonists are the most rounded, fully developed characters in a story. • Protagonists should be interesting and have diverse motivations.

4. Hero Vs. Anti-Hero • With the conversation of flawed protagonist comes the hero vs. anti-hero idea. • The protagonist doesn’t have to be a hero, nor does it have to be an anti-hero • But often the protagonist falls into one of these categories • The anti-hero has become greatly popular and is a more complex character.

5. Hero • The good guy of a story who starts good and stays good and saves the day. Often predictable with clear cut motivations. • Idealist • High moral code • Decisive • Leader • Successful • Has initiative • Courageous • Likeable • Has principles.

6. Anti- Hero • Complex character driven by a variety of motivations. • Starts bad and unlikeable but somehow becomes sympathetic in the end. • Pragmatic • Gray moral code • Indecisive • Unsuccessful • Inconsiderate • Indifferent • Unlikeable • Greedy • Rebellious • Nonconformist • insubordinate

7. Tragic Hero • Starts noble or heroic • Have a flaw that becomes their own downfall • Gain a self awareness through own actions • They die in the end.

8. Antagonist • Is the opponent of the protagonist • Tries (either intentionally or not) to stop the protagonist from reaching their goal. • Can be a person, a force of nature, or some aspect of the protagonist themselves

9. Protagonist and Antagonist interchangeable? • When the anti-hero comes in often times the debate of who is the antagonist and who is the protagonist is not as clear • Depending on a person’s view point the protagonist and antagonist can change when the characters are complex enough and the goals, conflict and obstacles are well written. • If the reader is not presented with an alternative to the antagonist then they become the anti-hero/protagonist.