Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English

Who is the protagonist and antagonist in literature?

The protagonist is the central character in a story who typically evokes the audience’s empathy and support. They are usually the one who drives the plot forward and are involved in the majority of choices or conflicts that arise in the narrative. As the story progresses, the protagonist may undergo significant changes and development, often facing obstacles and challenges that require them to overcome their flaws and grow as a character. The protagonist’s journey is often the main focus of the story, and their experiences and interactions with other characters shape the overall narrative.

When it comes to storytelling, the protagonist is often the character that we root for, but what about the antagonist? The antagonist is the character or force that opposes the protagonist, but it is also much more than that. Antagonists can be complex and multi-dimensional, adding depth to the story and creating conflict for the protagonist to overcome.

Antagonists can be individuals, groups, organizations, or even abstract concepts. They are often driven by their own motives and desires, which may be in direct opposition to those of the protagonist. However, not all antagonists are purely evil. Some have their own justifications for their actions, creating a moral gray area that adds complexity to the story.

Antagonists serve an important role in storytelling, creating conflict that drives the plot forward and adding depth and complexity to the characters and themes. They are not just one-dimensional villains, but rather complex characters with their own motivations and desires.

Viola as the protagonist

The protagonist of the play is Viola, who finds herself in a vulnerable position after being shipwrecked in a strange land where she does not know anyone. Her first priority is to learn the customs and power dynamics of Ilyria without revealing her true identity. This desire drives the plot forward, leading her to assume a disguise as Cesario.

Viola’s disguise as Cesario also brings out a new desire in her – to fall in love with Orsino, the Duke of Ilyria. She realizes that she wants to be his wife. However, this desire creates a conflict with her initial goal, as she cannot reveal her true identity to Orsino without risking everything she has worked for. Moreover, by maintaining her disguise, she is forced to hide her feelings and cannot express her emotions freely.

Viola’s predicament also causes her unintentionally to push Orsino further away from her. Her good looks and charming personality as Cesario make Olivia, a countess in Ilyria, fall in love with her. However, Viola cannot reveal that she is a woman, which leads to a secondary conflict. She repeatedly tells Olivia that she has no intentions of becoming her mistress, but this only causes more confusion and frustration.

Viola’s conflict is eventually resolved through the intervention of fortune and luck, rather than through her own actions. Sebastian, Viola’s twin brother who was thought to be dead, arrives in Ilyria and takes Cesario’s place in Olivia’s heart. Olivia and Sebastian get married, and with the support of her brother, Viola can safely reveal her own identity. Once Viola reveals that she is really a woman, Orsino reciprocates her affection, proclaiming that she shall be his wife.

At the end of the play, Viola gets everything she wants, and the seemingly disastrous events that occurred earlier in the play have actually been propelling her toward a happy fate. Her story is one of love, deception, and the power of fate.

Olivia as the antagonist

In Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night,” Olivia, despite not being a malicious character, plays the role of an antagonist as she obstructs Viola’s desires and acts as a hindrance to her romantic pursuits. Viola loves Orsino but he loves Olivia, thereby creating a conventional romantic rivalry between them. Viola’s disguise makes it difficult for her to pursue a relationship with Orsino, and the fact that he is passionate about Olivia makes the situation even more painful for her. She has to listen to him express his love for Olivia and must even go on to woo Olivia on his behalf.

Olivia adds to this rivalry by falling in love with Viola herself, making it impossible for Viola to be with Orsino. Viola now has to fend off Olivia’s affection while still being considerate of her feelings. Interestingly, the relationship between Olivia and Viola is not a typical female rivalry as Viola likes Olivia and does not want to make her unhappy. Both characters are experiencing unrequited love, and they are parallel characters in this regard.

Although Olivia is not intentionally trying to sabotage Viola’s desires, her persistence in pursuing Viola despite being told that her feelings are not reciprocal increases the conflict. Olivia’s refusal to listen to Viola or take no for an answer adds to the tension. Olivia was initially frustrated by Orsino’s insistence on wooing her even after she had rejected him, but she ends up behaving the same way with Viola.

Olivia’s behavior remains consistent throughout the play, including when she rushes into a marriage with Sebastian after mistaking him for Cesario, Viola’s guise. Once she sees that Sebastian reciprocates her feelings, she wants to secure a commitment as soon as possible. Despite her actions as an antagonist, Olivia is not malicious, and her behavior does not cause any actual harm. In the end, Viola achieves her desire to be with Orsino, while Olivia finds her own happy match with Sebastian.

When Olivia tells Viola, “A sister! You are she” (5.1.), it signifies the resolution of the antagonistic relationship between the two women. They recognize that they have both been pursuing the same things all along, and their relationship shifts from being hostile to peaceful.