AP Lit Term: The Antagonist

• a person or force opposing the protagonist in a drama or narrative.

Contrary to popular belief, the protagonist is not the most important character in a story. No, it's the antagonist- the villain! It's not about Nathan Drake, Cole MacGrath, or Bruce Wayne. It's about Eddy Raja, Kessler, and the Joker! Without great villains like The Riddler or the Red Hood, we wouldn't have great heroes like Batman and Nightwing! Let's not forget the rare female antagonist; women like Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Cruella DeVille, etc. They're what fuel the stories. They give the heroes a reason for being! The antagonist is very versatile. Depending what the conflict of the piece may be, the antagonist doesn't even have to be human. Anyone ever see the movies Armageddon, Dante's Peak, Twister, or heck, Godzilla? The antagonists in those movies were a meteor, a volcano, a tornado, and a dinosaur-ish monster. The antagonist is a misunderstood creature, and is under-appreciated. If anything, they're good for a laugh. They're so entertaining to watch because everyone knows that their efforts are futile. The villain can never win.

• A slideshow depicting some memorable antagonists. 

• Some of my favorite, villainous moments.