Protagonist
Literary term · say it proh-TAG-uh-nist
A protagonist is the central character whose goals, choices, and struggles shape a story’s main action. The protagonist need not be good or admirable, and may not be the person telling the story.
Ways a protagonist can appear
A protagonist who grows
Some protagonists change as their experiences challenge their beliefs or habits. Their growing understanding helps shape the story.
In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet reads Darcy’s letter and begins to question her judgments of both Darcy and Wickham.
In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A protagonist who does wrong
A protagonist can act cruelly or selfishly. Being central to the story does not make a character a good person.
In Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan to take the throne, setting off further violence and his own downfall.
In Macbeth by William Shakespeare
A protagonist who tells the story
A protagonist may also be the narrator, telling readers about events in which they take part. The two roles overlap, but they are not the same.
In Jane Eyre, Jane recounts leaving Thornfield after discovering that Rochester is already married, despite her love for him.
In Jane Eyre: An Autobiography by Charlotte Brontë
How to spot a protagonist
- Look for the character at the centre of the main conflict.
- Track whose goals and choices move the story forward.
- Notice whose fate matters most to the ending.
What is the difference between a protagonist and a hero?
A protagonist is the central character, while a hero is usually admired for courage or good deeds. The same character can be both, but a protagonist can also be selfish, cruel, or deeply mistaken.
What is the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist?
The protagonist is the central character, while an antagonist opposes that character’s goals. Their conflict often drives the plot. An antagonist need not be evil, and opposition can also come from society, nature, or the protagonist’s own competing desires.
Related terms
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