Character Series: The Antagonist

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The Classic Villain is one type of Antagonist in a story.

Equal Time for The Rival

The first character type we discussed in this series on the literary element of character was the Protagonist, who we usually identified as the story's main character. This character type is essential because to have a story, we must have someone or something with a goal that does something to drive the plot. Equally important to the story as the Protagonist is the subject of this week’s post: the Antagonist. Without an Antagonist or Antagonistic Force causing opposition to or conflict for the Protagonist’s efforts to reach their goal, there is no plot. No plot, no story.

What is an Antagonist?

An Antagonist, in terms of literature or storytelling, is a character who is active in opposition to the Protagonist’s attainment of their goal. In other words, the Antagonist is the Protagonist’s adversary. In most stories, the Antagonist is the “bad guy/gal” or “villain.” This is because their goal is always to impede to stop the Protagonist (the “good guy/gal”) from reaching their goal. However, it’s important to note that there is a difference between an antagonist and a villain. A villain is an antagonist, but there are other types of antagonists in fiction. Therefore, all villains are antagonists, but not all antagonists are villains.

The plot of the story is propelled forward by the conflict or opposition that the Antagonist creates for the Protagonist. The greater the conflict the Antagonist poses, the more interesting the plot. It is essential for anyone writing a story to fully develop a robust and believable antagonist for the best story possible.

Types of Antagonists

Like any character in a story, the Antagonist can be a person, animal, object, or force. They can be natural or unnatural (supernatural). They do not have to be a thing so much as a force or movement. For example, in some stories, Nature can be a fierce and worthy adversary for the Protagonist.

The following information on the four main types of antagonists in fiction comes from Kristen Kieffer of Well-Storied.com.

Type 1: The Classic Villain—The classic villain is a nefarious character who exemplifies the Good vs. Evil theme of many stories. Villains are morally corrupt and irredeemable. Unlike the antihero (who is a type of protagonist), they can’t be saved from their ways. The villain often appears to be omnipotent and a genius with seemingly endless resources at their disposal and lacking in the capacity for genuine empathy and compassion, making them psychopathic.  

Examples of classic villains include Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling, The White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, and Sauron from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Type 2: The Everyday Antagonist—Because the Antagonist creates conflict for the Protagonist, they are seen as the “bad guy/gal.” However, the Antagonist does not necessarily have to be evil to oppose the Protagonist's goals and create conflict for them. The “Everyday Antagonist” is a character with flaws who acts as an obstacle in the Protagonist’s journey without having to be a malevolent force. They are usually redeemable, capable of empathy, and possess hopes, dreams, fears, and hurts like anyone else. They typically appear in character-driven stories like romances and contemporary dramas and might have the same goal as the Protagonist and may feed the Protagonist’s Lie.

Examples of the Everyday Antagonist include Allie’s mother in The Notebook, Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling, and the Lannisters in A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin.

Type 3: The Corrupt Organization—As mentioned, the Protagonist can face a specific antagonist or an antagonistic force. This force may be a highly immoral entity in the form of a cult, a gang, a militant group, a corporation, or a government. Their intentions are selfish and evil and operate similarly to the classic villain. The leader of the corrupt organization may be a classic villain type. Often, this antagonist is found in speculative fiction like science fiction and fantasy.

Examples of the Corrupt Organization type include The Capitol in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Republic of Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Type 4: The Internal Antagonist—In some stories, particularly those that are character-driven, the primary antagonist isn’t an external character but rather an internal obstacle in the Protagonist that hinders their reaching their goal. Usually, these obstacles include flaws, doubts, fears, or false beliefs. The Internal Antagonist is often found in romance and contemporary dramas.

Examples include Elizabeth’s prejudice in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Othello’s jealousy in Othello by William Shakespeare.

Other Forms: Nature, Technology, the Supernatural, or a Physical Condition.

Tips for Writing a Good Antagonist

When creating and writing an antagonist in a story, the following tips can be helpful to remember:

1.        The Antagonist must be equal to or greater in power than the story's Protagonist. If not, there is not enough challenge for the Protagonist to create conflict and grab the reader’s interest.

2.        The Antagonist must actively oppose your Protagonist. Every wimpy, inactive antagonist will create enough conflict and tension to make things interesting.

3.        The antagonist should have the same desire or goal as the protagonist, but only with a unique twist specific to them.

4.        Take as much time and attention to developing the Antagonist’s character and background as you do for the Protagonist.

5.        You could make your antagonist a mirror image or shadow version of your protagonist.

6. As you develop the plot, Imagine your story from the Antagonist’s perspective.

7.        Try writing an antagonist hiding in plain sight from the story's start.

8.        If having difficulty creating a realistic antagonist, base their character on a real-life person or organization.

9.        Consider having The Antagonist have a change of heart or switch sides at the end of the story. However, be careful not to stray from your character’s base traits; otherwise, this may feel contrived.

10. Remember that the Antagonist truly believes they are the story's hero.

Take as much time and care in writing the antagonist of your story because they are just as crucial to the advancement of the plot as the Protagonist. A strong protagonist needs to have an equally strong and well-developed adversary. The next blog post in this series will explore what a Deuteragonist is and why they are important characters in any good story.

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Pauline J. Grabia

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