Protagonist

Introduction

The term protagonist is fundamental in literature, defining the main character around whom the story revolves. Originating from the Greek word protagonistes meaning “player of the first part, chief actor,” the protagonist is not just the central character but is often the hero or the focal point of the narrative. This character is crucial as they drive the plot forward, face conflicts, and undergo significant development throughout the story.

Protagonists can vary widely in their nature and roles depending on the genre and the author’s intent. They can be heroic, flawed, tragic, or even antiheroes. The complexity and depth of a protagonist’s character can significantly affect the audience’s connection to the story, making this literary device essential for engaging and effective storytelling.

Pronunciation:
Pro-ta-go-nist

When do writers use the Protagonist literary device?

Writers deploy the protagonist literary device primarily to give the audience a central figure to follow and invest in throughout the narrative. This central character acts as the audience’s window into the story’s world, providing a perspective through which the plot’s events are interpreted and emotional connections are forged. Writers use protagonists to:

1. Drive the Plot: The protagonist’s decisions, actions, and growth are often what push the story forward.
2. Engage the Reader: By developing a relatable, intriguing, or morally complex protagonist, writers keep the audience invested in the storyline.
3. Introduce Conflict: Protagonists frequently face challenges and adversaries, creating tension and drama essential for compelling narratives.
4. Express Themes: Through the journey of the protagonist, writers explore various themes such as love, justice, personal growth, and resilience.

This device is pivotal in crafting narratives that resonate with audiences, providing emotional depth and facilitating a deeper understanding of the human experience.

How should I use the Protagonist literary device?

Using the protagonist literary device effectively involves more than just placing a character at the center of your story. Here are some key rules and considerations for crafting a memorable protagonist:

1. Create a Clear Motivation: Your protagonist should have clear goals and motivations driving their actions throughout the story. This helps in building a narrative arc that feels cohesive and compelling.
2. Develop a Dynamic Character: Allow your protagonist to evolve in response to the story’s events. A dynamic character who learns and grows is more engaging than one who remains static.
3. Establish Flaws and Strengths: A well-rounded protagonist has both strengths that help them succeed and flaws that create challenges. This balance adds depth and realism.
4. Ensure Relatability: While your protagonist doesn’t have to be universally likable, they should possess qualities that resonate with or intrigue your audience. This connection is crucial for empathy and engagement.
5. Utilize Supporting Characters: Supporting characters should serve to highlight and contrast the protagonist’s qualities, aiding in their development and showcasing different facets of their personality.

By adhering to these guidelines, you can use the protagonist literary device to craft a story that is emotionally rich and thoroughly captivating.

Types of Protagonist

Protagonists can be classified into several types, each with unique traits and roles within their narratives. Understanding these types helps in crafting diverse and engaging stories:

1. Heroic Protagonist: This is the classic hero; virtuous, brave, and often tasked with a noble mission. They typically overcome great odds to achieve their goals.
2. Antihero: In contrast to the heroic protagonist, the antihero often lacks conventional heroic qualities such as morality, courage, or good intentions. They are complex, flawed, and sometimes morally ambiguous.
3. Tragic Protagonist: Central to tragedies, this type of protagonist is typically doomed from the start. They possess a fatal flaw that leads to their downfall, often evoking pity and fear in the audience.
4. Everyman: This protagonist represents the ordinary person, with no outstanding skills or heroic qualities. Their commonality makes their experiences relatable to the average reader.
5. Unreliable Protagonist: Often found in psychological thrillers and mysteries, these characters provide biased, misleading, or false narratives, which complicates the plot and engages the reader’s detective instincts.

Each type offers unique storytelling possibilities and challenges, allowing writers to explore different aspects of human experience and moral questions.

Protagonist in Literature

Literature is replete with memorable protagonists who have left indelible marks on readers’ minds. Here are some famous examples:

1. Elizabeth Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen – A witty and intelligent young woman navigating the pitfalls of love, society, and family in 19th century England.
2. Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger – A teenage boy wandering through New York City, struggling with his mental health and the phoniness of the adult world.
3. Harry Potter in the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling – A young wizard growing up and battling the dark wizard Lord Voldemort.
4. Jane Eyre in “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë – An orphan girl who, despite a troubled childhood, grows up to find love and respect on her own terms.
5. Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee – A lawyer in the racially charged American South who stands firm in his morals to defend a black man unjustly accused of rape.

These characters are not only central to their stories but also convey deeper themes and messages through their journeys and personal growth.

Protagonist in Children’s Books

Children’s books often feature protagonists who are either children themselves or creatures with child-like qualities. These characters typically embark on adventures or solve problems, learning important life lessons along the way. Famous examples include:

1. Peter Pan in “Peter Pan” by J.M. Barrie – The boy who wouldn’t grow up, leading adventures in the magical world of Neverland.
2. Matilda Wormwood in “Matilda” by Roald Dahl – A young girl with extraordinary intelligence and telekinetic powers, overcoming her cruel family and oppressive school environment.
3. Winnie-the-Pooh in “Winnie-the-Pooh” by A.A. Milne – A friendly and thoughtful bear whose adventures with his friends teach values of friendship, simplicity, and creativity.
4. Max in “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak – A young boy who sails to an island inhabited by wild creatures that he befriends and leads.
5. Anne Shirley in “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery – An imaginative and talkative girl who finds her place in the world after being adopted by elderly siblings.

These protagonists are crafted to resonate with young readers, providing them with courage, hope, and a sense of wonder.

Protagonist in Poetry

In poetry, the protagonist might not always be as clearly defined as in novels or plays, but poets often center their pieces around a pivotal character. Some famous examples are:

1. The Speaker in “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe – A man mourning his lost love, Lenore, tormented by a talking raven.
2. The Wanderer in “The Wanderer” by J.R.R. Tolkien – A lone traveler reflecting on nature, solitude, and personal thoughts.
3. Dante the Pilgrim in “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri – A fictionalized version of Dante himself, who travels through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.
4. The Highwayman in “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes – A romantic and tragic figure who is in love with Bess, the landlord’s daughter.
5. Prufrock in “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot – A middle-aged man pondering his life’s decisions, filled with regret and existential angst.

These protagonists provide a personal and emotional lens through which the poem’s themes are explored, making the verses resonate with the reader on a deeper level.

Protagonist in Songs

Songs often narrate stories through their lyrics, focusing on protagonists who bring these tales to life. Here are 10 famous examples:

1. “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers – The protagonist is an old, wise gambler sharing life advice.
2. “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby is the lonely protagonist whose life and death are depicted as isolated and tragic.
3. “Jolene” by Dolly Parton – Jolene, a beautiful woman, is the protagonist who the singer pleads with not to take her man.
4. “Stan” by Eminem – Stan, the obsessive fan of Eminem, is the protagonist whose descent into madness is vividly chronicled.
5. “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson – Billie Jean, the protagonist as claimed by a fan, whose son is allegedly Jackson’s child.
6. “Jack & Diane” by John Mellencamp – Two American kids growing up in the heartland, serving as dual protagonists in a tale of coming of age.
7. “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam – Jeremy, the troubled young protagonist, whose struggles end tragically.
8. “Lola” by The Kinks – Lola, the enigmatic protagonist who captivates the singer in this complex narrative about identity and confusion.
9. “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman – The protagonist in this song dreams of a better life away from her troubled home, illustrating themes of hope and escape.
10. “Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry – Billie Joe McAllister, the protagonist whose mysterious life and death become the subject of local gossip.

Protagonist in Movies

Movies are driven by protagonists whose journeys form the crux of the narrative. Here are some famous examples:

1. Ellen Ripley in Alien series – A strong and resourceful survivor fighting against alien creatures.
2. Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump – A man with a low IQ recounts the early years of his life when he finds himself in the middle of key historical events.
3. Luke Skywalker in Star Wars – A young farm boy who becomes a key figure in the fight against the oppressive Empire.
4. Michael Corleone in The Godfather – A reluctant family outsider who becomes a ruthless mafia boss.
5. Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption – An innocent man’s resilience and eventual escape from a corrupt prison.
6. Simba in The Lion King – A lion cub’s journey to reclaim his throne.
7. Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs – A young FBI cadet who must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to catch another serial murderer.
8. Tony Stark (Iron Man) in Iron Man – A billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who builds a powered exoskeleton and becomes a technologically advanced superhero.
9. Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz – A young girl’s adventures in Oz after being swept away by a tornado.
10. Neo in The Matrix – A computer hacker who learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers.

Famous Movie Line Highlighting Protagonist

One of the most iconic lines that highlight a protagonist’s role and persona is from The Matrix, spoken by Neo:

“I know kung fu.”

YouTube Link Demonstrating Protagonist

Watch Neo’s “I Know Kung Fu” scene from The Matrix.

Protagonist in Advertising

In advertising, protagonists are often used to create relatable stories that engage consumers emotionally, inspiring them to believe in a product or brand. Some famous examples:

1. The Man Your Man Could Smell Like – Old Spice’s advertising campaign featured a suave and charismatic protagonist who humorously compares the average viewer’s man to himself.
2. The Most Interesting Man in the World – Dos Equis beer advertisements feature a sophisticated and adventurous protagonist whose life experiences are both aspirational and humorous.
3. Flo from Progressive – As the protagonist in Progressive Insurance’s campaign, Flo embodies a helpful, quirky insurance agent who simplifies insurance.
4. The Marlboro Man – A rugged cowboy protagonist used to sell Marlboro cigarettes, symbolizing freedom and masculinity.
5. Ronald McDonald – The clown protagonist for McDonald’s, aimed at children to create a friendly and fun association with the restaurant.

Protagonist Related Literary Devices

There are several literary devices related to the protagonist, which help in deepening the narrative and enhancing the storytelling:

1. Characterization: The technique used by writers to develop characters and make them more compelling and believable.
2. Conflict: Often arises from the protagonist’s desires clashing with external forces or internal beliefs, driving the narrative forward.
3. Catharsis: The emotional release experienced by the audience following the protagonist’s climax or turning point.
4. Foil: A character who contrasts with the protagonist, highlighting particular traits of the main character; for example, the foil might be a sidekick or an antagonist.
5. Character Arc: The transformation or inner journey of the protagonist over the course of the st