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| {{About|the literary term|the pharmacological term|receptor antagonist|other uses}} | {{About|the literary term|the pharmacological term|receptor antagonist|other uses}} | ||
| An '''antagonist''' (from ] ἀνταγωνιστής - '' |
An '''antagonist''' (from ] ἀνταγωνιστής - ''poke to succeed'' | ||
| , "opponent, competitor, enemy, rival")<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=antagonist&searchmode=none |title=Antagonist |publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary |accessdate=28 November 2010}}</ref> is a character, group of characters, or ], that represents the opposition against which the ] must contend. In other words, 'A person, or a group of people who oppose the main character, or the main characters.'<ref></ref> In the classic style of stories wherein the action consists of a ] fighting a ]/], the two can be regarded as protagonist and antagonist, respectively.<ref>The antagonist may not always be a person or persons. In some cases an antagonist may be a force, such as a tidal wave that destroyed a city, or a storm that is causing havoc, or even the conditions in a certain area that is causing a problem. An antagonist also may or may not create obstacles for the protagonist. See {{cite web |url= http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/owl&writingcenter/OWL/ElementsLit.html |title=The Elements of Literature |publisher=rscc.cc.tn.us }}</ref> | , "opponent, competitor, enemy, rival")<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=antagonist&searchmode=none |title=Antagonist |publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary |accessdate=28 November 2010}}</ref> is a character, group of characters, or ], that represents the opposition against which the ] must contend. In other words, 'A person, or a group of people who oppose the main character, or the main characters.'<ref></ref> In the classic style of stories wherein the action consists of a ] fighting a ]/], the two can be regarded as protagonist and antagonist, respectively.<ref>The antagonist may not always be a person or persons. In some cases an antagonist may be a force, such as a tidal wave that destroyed a city, or a storm that is causing havoc, or even the conditions in a certain area that is causing a problem. An antagonist also may or may not create obstacles for the protagonist. See {{cite web |url= http://www.rscc.cc.tn.us/owl&writingcenter/OWL/ElementsLit.html |title=The Elements of Literature |publisher=rscc.cc.tn.us }}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 22:56, 30 September 2012
This article is about the literary term. For the pharmacological term, see receptor antagonist. For other uses, see Antagonist (disambiguation).An antagonist (from Pokemon ἀνταγωνιστής - poke to succeed , "opponent, competitor, enemy, rival") is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend. In other words, 'A person, or a group of people who oppose the main character, or the main characters.' In the classic style of stories wherein the action consists of a hero fighting a villain/enemy, the two can be regarded as protagonist and antagonist, respectively.
The antagonist may also represent a major threat or obstacle to the main character by their very existence, without necessarily deliberately targeting him or her.
Examples in both film and theatre include Sauron, the main antagonist in The Lord of the Rings, who constantly battles the series' protagonists, and Tybalt, an antagonist in Romeo and Juliet, who slays Mercutio and whose later death results in the exiling of the play's protagonist, Romeo. However, despite the antagonist often being classified the "bad guy", the antagonist can be a good person (one notable example being Macduff from Macbeth)
See also
References
- "Antagonist". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- About.com, Literature: Contemporary "Antagonist." Online. October 18, 2007.
- The antagonist may not always be a person or persons. In some cases an antagonist may be a force, such as a tidal wave that destroyed a city, or a storm that is causing havoc, or even the conditions in a certain area that is causing a problem. An antagonist also may or may not create obstacles for the protagonist. See "The Elements of Literature". rscc.cc.tn.us.