Antagonist Literary Definition
How many syllables does “antagonist” have?
There are 4 syllables in the word An-tag-on-ist.
Definition Of The Word
The antagonist (noun) character definition is the person going against the protagonist, the individual that is trying to stop the hero from accomplishing the goal. In short, the villain. This individual is shown at the beginning of the story as one of the greatest obstacles to be overcome, and shows up at the end to create tension within the reader’s mind on whether the main character will overcome the antagonist to reach their goal. A reader can understand this from the antagonist root word is ant- which means “intent behind an action”, -agon which means “struggle, fight”, and the suffix -ist which means “person.”
Antagonist In A Sentence
- The antagonists found themselves in front of the hero.
- As he circled the bend, the antagonist peeked around the corner before walking onto the trail.
- The antagonists banded together to fight hunger during the worst years of the town.
Deeper Into The Conflict Of The Word
Within the literature, an antagonist is often a figure or string of characters who resist the narrative’s lead character, called a protagonist (Schwenk et al., 267). The term originated from the Greek antagonists, which means “adversary or competitor.” An adversary can also be a power or organization or a government the heroine must deal with.
Authors in movies, dramas, or works of literature have such a longstanding experience of exploiting the friction produced by the central figure and antagonist striving against each other, pursuing opposing objectives to propel a tale ahead, extending and refining the definitions and qualities of both kinds of characters. Authors use the protagonists to propel the tale ahead—the protagonist’s aims match the overarching narrative objectives, the overall storyline goes along depending on the protagonist’s actions, and the viewer follows the protagonist’s plotline all across the stories (Schwenk et al., 273).
antagonist characteristics (chart)
antagonist personality (chart)
Authors use the antagonist-versus-protagonist connection to generate tension. After the “nice guy” which is the leading role battles to overcome the “tough guy” antagonist, the narrative often culminates with either the villain’s victory or the heroine’s terrible demise (Schwenk et al., 276). Antagonists frequently function as counterpoint figures to the heroine by representing the characteristics and ideals that drive the tension.
Nevertheless, because that strategy might be highly predictable, writers often develop other adversaries to generate various forms of tension. An antagonist is sometimes referred to as a villain (the bad person) with whom a Hero (the good guy) battles to distract themselves or someone else (Tong, Ke Hui, & Scott, 345). In rare circumstances, the hero may have an opponent inside him who produces an inside struggle or a moral dilemma underneath their thoughts.
The antagonist is not necessarily a person. A villain is usually an “evil” figure; however, not all antagonists are wicked or even real villains. Whereas the words “villain” and “antagonist” are occasionally used indiscriminately, that’s not always the case. The actual adversary is the fundamental point of controversy throughout all tales (Tong, Ke Hui, & Scott, 363).
Antagonists May Be Of Four Types
- The classic antagonist is a villain—a “bad man” in the tale who frequently works evilly to ruin a noble leading figure. Although evil protagonists exist, villains are opponents because they’re not the critical character of the story but rather the primary culprit of the struggle for the principal actors (Tong, Ke Hui, & Scott, 374).
- The second may be a source of contention. An opponent does not have to become an “evil character.” Sometimes they’re only an individual whose ambitions clash with the protagonists.
- The third may possess inmate energies The primary enemy does not always have to be a human—it may occasionally be a force, such as nature.
- The fourth is the central figure. The primary source of conflict in a stories might come from inside the protagonist—their flaws or anxieties prevent them from achieving their objective (Tong, Ke Hui, & Scott, 375).
Quick Note: Why An Antagonist Is Important?
A journey without a bad guy leads the overall plot to have no tension throughout as if blocking the reader from filling the shoes of the main character. The reader would be turning the page to no opposition to have noted some sort of fear in back of their head. Never feeling the danger of anticipation for drama or a life threatening battle.
For writers to bring a fantastic view of an antagonist, they can apply two strategies. First is Giving them something nice. Once the opponents are evil, the tale may lose the viewer’s attention and become too unlikeable. Even when the opponent is a villain, the author may make the fight more fascinating by providing a variety of attributes (Tong, Ke Hui, & Scott, 383). The second strategy is counterbalancing their strength. If the enemy is outclassed just at the conclusion, viewers may feel unimpressed and believe that the struggle’s risks were never significant enough to be genuinely compelling (Tong, Ke Hui, & Scott, 345). On either side, if the opponent is all-powerful, spectators who want the protagonists to have a battling opportunity may be disappointed.
Example Of Antagonist In Literature
The True Antagonist Of Harry Potter?
Lord Voldemort is the primary opponent of the Harry Potter series, serving as the main opposition throughout the majority of the story. Seemingly an unstoppable force, Voldemort is a powerful wizard who has kill many innocent people in his quest for power. While he originally appeared to be nothing more than a shadowy figure, it soon became clear that Voldemort was a powerful and dangerous foe. Over the course of the series, he killed many major characters, including Harry’s parents and Sirius Black. He also caused great suffering to many others, including Ron Weasley’s family and Harry himself. In the end, however, Lord Voldemort was defeated by Harry Potter, signifying that good always triumphs over evil.
Who Is The Antagonist In Hunger Games?
President Coriolanus Snow is the main foe of the Hunger Games series. He is the ruthless leader of the Capitol, and he will stop at nothing to keep his citizens in line. He is manipulative and cruel, and he takes joy in making others suffer. In the first book, he forces Katniss Everdeen to compete in the Hunger Games, knowing that she will likely die. In the second book, he relies on fear and intimidation to keep the people of Panem under his thumb. And in the third book, he launches a full-scale war against the rebel forces. President Snow is a complex and dangerous character, but he is also tragically flawed. He is a victim of his own hunger for power, and his actions ultimately lead
The Bad Guy In The Crucible?
Abigail Williams is the young niece of Reverend Parris, and the central figure in the Salem Witch Trials. When the screenplay begins, she is caught dancing naked in the woods with several other girls, including her cousin Betty Parris. This sets off a chain of events that leads to accusations of witchcraft, mass hysteria, and ultimately, tragic deaths. Abigail is an opportunistic and manipulative individual who is able to exploit the fears of those around her. She quickly becomes the ringleader of the group of girls who accuse others of witchcraft, and her false testimony leads to the death of innocent people. While Abigail may initially seem like a victim herself, it quickly becomes clear that she is a dangerous antagonist whose actions have far-reaching consequences.
Who Is The Antagonist In Kill A Mockingbird?
In the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the antagonist is Bob Ewell. Ewell is a white man who belongs to the poorest family in Maycomb, Alabama. He is an alcoholic and a wife-beater who doesn’t work and lives off of public assistance. He is also racist, and he hates Atticus Finch, the novel’s hero, because Atticus is a successful lawyer who defends a black man accused of a crime Ewell committed. Throughout the novel, Ewell threatens and harasses Atticus and his family, and he eventually tries to kill them. However, he is killed instead by one of Atticus’ children, who shoots him in self-defense. As a result, Bob Ewell
Who Is The Opposer In Lord Of The Flies?
In the fictional drama Lord of the Flies, Jack Merridew is the antagonist. He is the leader of the choirboys who become stranded on an uninhabited island. From the beginning, Jack is determined to maintain power and control over the other boys. He is aggressive and ruthless, and he quickly becomes obsessed with hunting pigs. As the novel progresses, Jack increasingly loses touch with reality. He becomes a savages, painted with warpaint and wielding a sharpened stick as a weapon. He leads the boys in a hunt for Ralph, the novel’s protagonist, and he ultimately is a main contributor in Ralph’s death. In many ways, Jack represents the dark side of human nature, making him a formidable and dangerous antagonist.
True Antagonist In The Great Gatsby?
In the novel The Great Gatsby, the main hurdle is Tom Buchanan. He is a wealthy man who is married to Daisy Buchanan, with whom Jay Gatsby is in love. Throughout the course of the novel, Tom is constantly trying to keep Daisy and Gatsby apart. He becomes angered and jealous when he suspects that Daisy and Gatsby are having an affair. This leads to him confronting Gatsby, which ultimately leads to Gatsby’s death. While Tom may not be the most likable character in the book, it is clear that he monumentally plays an important role in the story.
The Main Bad Guy In Lion King?
In the film The Lion King, the antagonist is Scar. He is the brother of Mufasa, and he is jealous of Mufasa’s position as king. Scar is also responsible for the death of Mufasa, which leads to Simba being exiled from the Pride Lands. Throughout the film, Scar manipulates and deceives others in order to achieve his goals. He is a master of manipulation, and he is able to convince others to do his bidding. In the end, Scar is defeated by Simba, and he is exiled from the Pride Lands. While he may be gone, his impact on the film is significant, and he remains one of the most unforgettable characters in The Lion King.
Who Is The Antagonist In Macbeth?
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the titular role is not the only tragic figure. His wife, Lady Macbeth, is equally as tragic, albeit in a different way. While Macbeth’s tragedy stems from his ambition and hubris, Lady Macbeth’s tragedy stems from her complicity in her husband’s crimes. She is the one who encourages him to kill Duncan, and she is consumed by guilt afterwards. This guilt eventually leads to her downfall and ruin. Her husband, meanwhile, is killed by Macduff, a nobleman who serves as the play’s protagonist. While Macbeth is undoubtedly the antagonist of the play, it could be argued that Lady Macbeth is the more tragic figure.
Who Is The Antagonist In Death Of A Salesman?
Willy Loman is the salesman at the center of Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman.” Willy is a man in his 60s who is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer successful. Willy has built his entire identity around his ability to sell, and now that he is no longer able to do so, he feels lost and confused. Willy’s decline leads him to experience a series of hallucinations in which he relives past triumphs and failures. Ultimately, Willy’s mental state deteriorates to the point where he takes his own life. While “Death of a Salesman” is not an explicitly happy play, it does offer a powerful portrait of a man who is struggling to find
Final Talking Points For Antagonist
Finally, the antagonist is a noun that is meant to distinguish a specific person inside of literature. They are the main individuals that create the central conflict inside the plot and create an opposing force to the progress of the key players. Above, we discussed example that are famous in pop culture as well as classical literature. I hope the article helped give a better understanding of this vocabulary word to become a better writer!