Antagonist
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| + | An '''antagonist''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]] ἀνταγωνιστής - ''antagonistēs'' | ||
| + | , "opponent, competitor, enemy, rival") is a character, group of characters, or [[institution]], that represents the opposition against which the [[protagonist]] must contend. In other words, 'A person, or a group of people who oppose the main character, or the main characters.' In the classic style of stories wherein the action consists of a [[hero]] fighting a [[villain]]/[[enemy]], the two can be regarded as protagonist and antagonist, respectively. | ||
| - | An '''antagonist''' is a character or group of characters, or, sometimes an [[institution]] of a happening who represents the opposition against which the [[protagonist]](s) must contend. In the classic style of story wherein the action consists of a hero fighting a [[villain]], the two can be regarded as protagonist and antagonist, respectively. | + | The antagonist may also represent a major threat or obstacle to the main character by their very existence, without necessarily deliberately targeting him or her. |
| - | Contrary to what people commonly believe, the antagonist is NOT always the villain, but simply those who oppose the main character. | + | Examples in both film and theatre include [[Sauron]], the main antagonist in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', who constantly battles the series' protagonists, and [[Tybalt]], an antagonist in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'', who slays [[Mercutio]] and whose later death results in the exiling of the play's protagonist, [[Romeo]]. However, despite the antagonist often being classified the "bad guy", the antagonist can be a good person (one notable example being [[Macduff (Macbeth)|Macduff]] from [[Macbeth]]) |
| - | [[Writer]]s have also created more complex situations. In some instances, the story is told from the villain's [[point of view]], and any hero trying to stop said villain can be regarded as an antagonist. Such antagonists are usually [[police officer]]s or other law enforcement officials. In the film [[K-19: The Widowmaker]], an American film about a [[Soviet]] [[Cold War]] [[submarine]] crew, the crew, enemies of the [[United States]], are depicted as protagonists, creating something of a paradox -as very often the American film industry tends to depict the forces of the United States as the people that fight for "good" and "justice", in opposition to them being the antagonists. | + | ==See also== |
| + | * [[Archenemy]] | ||
| + | * [[Villain]] | ||
| - | More often, stories simply do not have characters that are readily identifiable as most [[hero]]ic or villainous. Instead, the antagonist becomes that character, group, or metaphysical force which provides the chief obstruction to the protagonist(s) of the story. Note that the antagonist is not necessarily human; often, the forces of nature or psychological elements provide this element of opposition. For example, [[Final Destination]] features a metaphysical, though possibly sentient, [[personification of death]] which tries to kill people in gruesome "accidents" as part of some large plan. | + | {{GFDL}} |
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| - | Also, in [[Heavy Weapon]] there is a nation called Antagonistan, with others being Frigistan (a pun on Frigied) and Dictovia (A pun on dictator), as part of the game's fictional [[Soviet Union]] (called [[Red Star]] ingame.){{GFDL}} | + | |
Revision as of 17:31, 28 November 2012
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An antagonist (from Greek ἀνταγωνιστής - antagonistēs , "opponent, competitor, enemy, rival") is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend. In other words, 'A person, or a group of people who oppose the main character, or the main characters.' In the classic style of stories wherein the action consists of a hero fighting a villain/enemy, the two can be regarded as protagonist and antagonist, respectively.
The antagonist may also represent a major threat or obstacle to the main character by their very existence, without necessarily deliberately targeting him or her.
Examples in both film and theatre include Sauron, the main antagonist in The Lord of the Rings, who constantly battles the series' protagonists, and Tybalt, an antagonist in Romeo and Juliet, who slays Mercutio and whose later death results in the exiling of the play's protagonist, Romeo. However, despite the antagonist often being classified the "bad guy", the antagonist can be a good person (one notable example being Macduff from Macbeth)
See also
