A character is always essential in a story. It is the element that helps the readers go through the tale from beginning to end, guiding them to get the gist and ponder on the central message. In most stories, there are a set of characters showcasing different traits and pursuing different objectives. The antagonist is one of the most popular next to the main character. By definition, an antagonist is a character that goes against and hinders the protagonist in solving the problem and achieving his goal. Thus, another term used to describe it is the villain.
There are a couple of popular antagonists in literature, and most of them belong to stories of different genres. Some great examples of these villains are Randall Flag on Stephen King’s The Stand, Sauron on Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Manuel Noriega on Shemella’s The Dictator’s Revenge book, and Agatha Trunchbull on Dahl’s Matilda.
If you want to know more about what an antagonist is, specifically its traits, then listed below is the information that you might want to know.
Goal-driven
Like normal characters, villains are also driven by a goal. This objective is expected to be something that will definitely bring complexities to the side of the main character. What is remarkable in this type of character is its detailed, evil, in most cases, plan to achieve a specific goal. Because of that, she becomes more determined to take action. For books that are character-driven, this trait can be introduced by an individual who’s attempting to prevent the main character from inflicting hurt to himself or who’s pushing the protagonist to do so. Moreover, antagonists that are aiming for something will always try to avoid a particular event or object that can put their plans at risk.
Highly motivated
Being highly motivated is almost identical to being goal-driven; however, the former shows more action than the latter. This is when the antagonist acts out the plan. The strong and logical motivations will push the villain to seek grander heights, resulting in the rise of intense human emotions. Furthermore, the more reasonable the motivation, the more interesting the antagonist becomes — which is more beneficial for the entire storyline. For example, a villain is trapped in a cell after being captured. Thus, he plots for a jailbreak, and he is highly committed to the execution along with the right timing.
Acting on personal desires
If you try to think about it, all characters have their own purposes and goals. But, there is nothing more determined than the antagonist. You can observe that the villain will stop at nothing to satisfy his personal desire, such as to get revenge. Another defining thing about this characteristic is that it motivates the character to hinder the protagonist and succeed in any way he can. For the antagonist, failing weighs heavier than victory. It means that when a villain fails, it creates a more profound impact on them. He faces the consequences if the plan fails, and these punishments can be extreme.
Extremely manipulative
There are various negative traits that are possessed by antagonists, but the most common is their manipulative behavior. Showing passive-aggressive actions, imposing threats, displaying dishonesty, keeping information, gaslighting others, and causing verbal abuse are among the signs that a character is a manipulator. Why do villains manipulate others? The answer lies in between being in control of the situation and achieves goals. In most stories, antagonists are willing to adapt to control and deceive others for the sake of success. Many authors also suppress this kind of characteristic by creating a thin layer of positive behaviors, so other characters can fall into the villains’ traps, resulting in heightened tension and conflict.
Keeps a secret
Secrets always increase the pressure of a story. It is also the element that makes the readers more engaged in the book and eager to turn the last page. Basically, antagonists are secretive given that they have plans that they are determined to accomplish. In every step they take, they are careful, so they could fulfill themselves and enjoy the satisfaction from their achievements. But like in every story, there will always be that moment when secrets are revealed, and conflicts are solved.
Alex Writes 