Etymology
The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, rival," which is derived from ''anti-'' ("against") and ''agonizesthai'' ("to contend for a prize").Types
Heroes and villains
The antagonist is commonly positioned against the protagonist and their world order. While narratives often portray the protagonist as aOther characters
Characters may be antagonists without being evil – they may simply be injudicious and unlikeable for the audience. In some stories, such as '' The Catcher in the Rye'', almost every character other than the protagonist may be an antagonist. Another example of this occurring is through Javert in Victor Hugo's '' Les Misérables'', in which Javert displays no malicious intent, but instead represents the rigid and inflexible application of the law, even when it leads to moral and ethical dilemmas.Aspects of the protagonist
An aspect or trait of the protagonist may be considered an antagonist, such as morality or indecisiveness.Non-personal
An antagonist is not always a person or people. In some cases, an antagonist may be a force, such as a tidal wave that destroys a city; a storm that causes havoc; or even a certain area's conditions that are the root cause of a problem. An antagonist may or may not create obstacles for the protagonist. Societal norms or other rules may also be antagonists.Usage
An antagonist is used as a plot device, to set up conflicts, obstacles, or challenges for the protagonist. Though not every story requires an antagonist, it often is used in plays to increase the level of drama. In tragedies, antagonists are often the cause of the protagonist's main problem, or lead a group of characters against the protagonist; in comedies, they are usually responsible for involving the protagonist in comedic situations.Antagonist-design techniques
Author John Truby argues that a true opponent not only wants to prevent the hero from achieving his desire but is competing with the hero for the same goal. According to John Truby, "It is only by competing for the same goal that the hero and the opponent are forced to come into direct conflict and to do so again and again throughout the story."See also
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External links
* {{Fiction writing