What is a protagonist?

One of films best known protagonists, Luke Skywalker

The protagonist of a story is the character on a journey. You'd be surprised how often talented wordsmiths forget to include a true protagonist. The plot, what happens in the story, is just a series of events without a protagonist. These events tie together around the protagonist to create a central conflict, the point of the journey, to reach the conclusion.

Most often the protagonist is carrying out the actions and controlling these events, but sometimes the events are controlling them and the story becomes less about the events and more about the change in the protagonist.

No story can be told without a protagonist. Furthermore, no story can be complete without a change of state within the protagonist.

Here are a few examples using a protagonist named Eleanor.

Coming-of-age – Eleanor, young and naïve, experience a series of events that challenge her core attitudes and values. Sometimes these events reshape her core values. Other times her core values may be the resolve she needs to reshape the events. Regardless, Eleanor emerges with new wisdom. The plot conclusion could be a paradigm shift, or a strengthening of her values.

Tragedy – Eleanor is forced to participate in a series of events at great personal risk. She may be driven by fear or chasing something of priceless value. Ultimately she overcomes fear, tests her resolve, or discovers a powerful truth. In the process, making the ultimate sacrifice.

Victory – Eleanor has a clear goal, but achieving it means overcoming obstacles. Sometimes these obstacles are happenstance, while other times the obstacles are a direct result of the antagonist. Elinor achieves her goals in spite of the obstacles, which makes victory even sweeter.

The key is that Eleanor must move from one point to another. She shifts from naïveté to wisdom. She succumbs to a worthy defeat. She relishes a sweet victory. The protagonist isn't the storyteller as much as she is the journeyman, and no story is complete without this change in state along the journey.

Comments

The Worst Part of Being Disabled

The central character of my novel is a wheelchair user. I know that's no big surprise. It's important to me, however, that I'm able to relate the experience of severe disability to a universal audience. I want to make sure the character expresses his worldview in a powerful way. For example, you can close your eyes, but that doesn't help you truly understand blindness. Every so often I hear about some sociology professor who gives everyone a disability for a day. People come up to me and tell me how they learned to understand my limitations and frustrations because they borrowed a wheelchair and went to the mall. If they want to understand my frustrations, they should borrow a wheelchair and go to a job interview. Whether you have been disabled your entire life, or spent your life in perfect physical condition, I want to get your perceptions on true disability. What do you feel is the worst part about being disabled? Please be very specific. You can choose any disabil

Go! »

Personal Space: an invisible disability

The worst part about being disabled for me may surprise you. In a previous post I invited you to share your thoughts about disability. (See: The Worst Part of Being Disabled ) I face numerous frustrating challenges on a daily basis. I'm constantly dependent on others. I need help bathing and dressing. I can't drive, cook, hold a book or feed myself. I rely on family, employees, technology and the goodwill of others. Some days it's frustrating, but I've learned through experience how to manage all this help. Other frustrations are attitudinal barriers. Today I live very comfortably and have a high family income. I'm an entrepreneur, but not because of my unquenchable desire to build businesses, but because very few companies would be willing to give me a job. I made the decision more than 15 years ago that I could build a business easier than I could find a job, so that's what I did. My single biggest frustration however isn't getting the help I need or ov

Go! »

Endangered Gorilla Killed after Child Falls into Habitat

One of this week’s trending topics on Facebook and twitter was a tragic story. A small boy fell into the gorilla habitat at the Cincinnati Zoo. Minutes later the western lowlands gorilla, a critically endangered species , was shot and killed by zoo personnel. A tragic story has been made even more tragic through misinformation and misguided opinion on social media. Here are six ways that Facebook and twitter users made the situation worse. It’s the mother’s fault! I’m a father of 14-year-old twins, a boy and a girl. I don’t know a single father or mother that has never in their lives lost sight of their three-year-old. I compare it to a trip to Walmart. You’ll see a toddler screaming and a mother completely exasperated, and usually another child being completely ignored. Those of you without children stand in judgment. I know I did. “If that were my child I would…” I’ll let you complete the sentence in condescending judgment. Parents, however, understand. We’v

Go! »

SunFyre...words from a seated position

Search This Blog