Character Series: The Deuteragonist

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The Sidekick: One Type of Deuteragonist.

The What?

Over the past two posts, we examined characters in a story and two of three main types commonly found: the Protagonist and the Antagonist. The Protagonist is the primary or most important character in a story, the driver of the plot, and most often, the main character. We define the Antagonist as the character actively opposed to the Protagonist’s attainment of their goal: the adversary. In this week’s post, we will look at the third character type in fiction, which is known as the deuteragonist (pronounced: doo-tr-a-guh-nust).

The Deuteragonist is the second most important and present character in a story next to the Protagonist. Also known as the “secondary main character,” they can be a friend, ally, love interest, or even a foe for the Protagonist. All that’s important is that they are second in importance and presence to the Protagonist. The word deuteragonist comes from the Greek deuteragoises, which means “second actor.”

Purposes of the Deuteragonist in Fiction

There are several purposes for including a deuteragonist in a story. The Deuteragonist can be crucial in developing any piece of fiction’s character arc and plot.

1.        The journey of the Deuteragonist’s character and plot arc “should influence the main character’s journey and play a significant role in the finale.” (Studiobinder.com)

2.        The Deuteragonist serves as a foil character to the Protagonist. (Masterclass.com) They should share some similar qualities to the Protagonist while embodying very different ones to highlight their traits and those of the Protagonist.

3.        The Deuteragonist acts as a “window character,” providing “insight into the motivations, morals, and past of the protagonist.” (Thinkwritten.com)

4.        The Deuteragonist acts as a bridge between the reader and the Protagonist, helping them to understand the Protagonist’s motives, thoughts, inner feelings, and other information that might not otherwise be communicated.

5.        The Deuteragonist may act as a protector of the Protagonist from the him/her/itself. In this capacity, they may be a mentor or a conscience for the Protagonist.

6.        Unlike other characters or even the Protagonist, the Deuteragonist must be beyond reproach and trustworthy (except for an unreliable narrator). The reader must be able to trust the Deuteragonist's perspective.

The Three Types of Deuteragonist

In fiction, there are generally three different types of Deuteragonist. We will look at examples of each kind.

1.        The Sidekick: This type is usually the best friend or assistant of the Protagonist. In this role, they offer insight, comic relief, or act as a gentle antagonist or combatant. They are an additional voice of reason for the Protagonist. Examples: Sam (Deuteragonist) to Frodo (Protagonist) in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien; Robin to Batman in DC Comics universe; Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes in stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Han Solo to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars by George Lucas.

2.        The Love Interest: This type of Deuteragonist is usually found in the Love/Romance genre and other genres that include a romance subplot. The Deuteragonist and Protagonist can be star-crossed lovers, enemies to lovers, or a combination of both. The love interest helps the Protagonist achieve their ultimate goal. It’s important that the love interest complements the Protagonist and doesn’t overshadow them. Examples: Jack (Love interest) to Rose (Protagonist) in James Cameron’s Titanic; Mia (Love Interest) to Sebastian (Protagonist) in La La Land; Elizabeth Swann (Love Interest) to Wil (Protagonist) in Pirates of the Caribbean.

3.        The Antagonist: A character in a story may play a dual role as antagonist and Deuteragonist. In many works of fiction, the Villain gets nearly equal page or screen time with the Hero. Fleshing out an antagonist enough by giving them near-equal attention to the Protagonist makes them even more compelling and exciting. Examples of great antagonist Deuteragonists: Hannibal Lecter (antagonist and Deuteragonist) to Clarice Starling (Protagonist) in The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris; Darth Vader (Villain and Deuteragonist) to Luke Skywalker (Protagonist) in Star Wars; Harvey Dent/Two-Face (antagonist/villain and Deuteragonist) to Bruce Wayne/Batman (Protagonist) in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.

Other Examples of Deuteragonists

The following are further examples of famous Deuteragonists in stories, film, and video games:

1.        Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series of books by J.K. Rowling

2.        Dr. James Wilson in House M.D.

3.        Princess Zelda in The Legend of Zelda

4.        Lady Macbeth in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

5.        Doc Brown in Back to the Future

6.        Agent Dana Scully in The X-Files

7.        M in Skyfall (James Bond)

8.        Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

9.        Ellie in The Last of Us

10.  Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Note: Some stories do not have a Deuteragonist. One example is the TV series Firefly, where the Protagonist is Mal Reynolds, but there is no clear secondary character. Instead, you have eight other characters of relatively equal importance. This is known as an ensemble cast of characters.

Tips for Writing Deuteragonists

1.        The Deuteragonist’s activities should complement the Protagonist’s character arc and actions in the plot. In a story with a Hero protagonist, the Deuteragonist complements the Hero’s Journey plot arc.

2.        The Deuteragonist needs to bring something valuable to the final conflict at the story's climax.

3.        The Deuteragonist must complement but not overshadow the Protagonist in the story. The Protagonist must remain the most important character. If the Deuteragonist outshines the Protagonist or gets more page/screen time, then the writer should rethink who the true Protagonist of their story should be.

Conclusion

All fiction contains characters of three main types: Protagonists, Antagonists, and Deuteragonists. The lines are sometimes blurred, and characters can take on multiple types or roles. Antagonists and Deuteragonists have an essential influence on the plot and character arc of the Protagonist. Understanding the role of the Deuteragonist helps a writer develop richer, deeper Protagonists and Antagonists, which is essential in creating a bestselling page-turner.

Sources:

1.        “What is a Deuteragonist?” By Bill Guterl. https://thinkwritten.com/what-is-a-deuteragonist/#google_vignette. September 1, 2021.

2.        “What is a Deuteragonist: Definition and Examples for Writers.” By Mike Bedard. https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-deuteragonist-definition/ November 14. 2021.

3.        “What is a Deuteragonist in Literature? 7 Examples of Deuteragonists.” https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-deuteragonist-in-literature. September 3, 2021.

4.        “Deuteragonist.” https://www.literaryterms.net/deuteragonist/

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Pauline J. Grabia

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