Antagonist Definition: a character who stands in opposition to advancing the primary goals of the plot of a story
An antagonist stands in the way of the protagonist’s goals in a story, but they are not always evil or out to destroy the protagonist; sometimes, they simply get in the way. They share a lot of the same traits of protagonists, including bravery, intelligence, driven by a goal, and fierce loyalty. They also usually have some sort of flaw, much like the protagonist, that makes them more accessible and realistic to the reader. There can also be multiple antagonists in a work who each stand in the protagonist’s way at some point in time. For example, the antagonist in the beginning of A Thousand Splendid Suns is Rasheed; however, that quickly turns into a struggle between Mariam and Laila, which then evolves into a friendship where they are pitted against both Rasheed and the Taliban regime.
Sometimes the antagonist in a work of literature isn’t a person or creature; instead, it can be a force of nature, or a societal norm that the protagonist must struggle against. For example, in Tuesdays with Morrie the antagonist is Morrie’s ALS, an illness that is quickly stealing time from Morrie, making it ever more crucial to reveal his important lessons to Mitch Albom before he dies. The key purpose of an antagonist or antagonistic force is to create conflict for the protagonist. Without conflict, the protagonist cannot grow, change, or reach new understandings of themselves or their world.
An antagonist is a character or force in literature that opposes the main character, known as the protagonist, and creates conflict in the story.
While a villain is always evil, an antagonist simply works against the protagonist and may not be a bad person. Sometimes, the antagonist has good intentions or is just an obstacle.
Yes, an antagonist can be a force such as nature, society, or an internal struggle within the main character, not just another person.
The antagonist creates challenges and conflict that help develop the plot and the protagonist’s character, making stories more engaging and meaningful.
Examples of antagonists include Voldemort in Harry Potter, Darth Vader in Star Wars, and the storm in The Perfect Storm.