Some written works feature a consistent PointOfView: namely, through the eyes of TheProtagonist. Other works throw in [[{{Deuteragonist}} additional points of view]] and [[SwitchingPOV pass the POV around]] to present each of their respective views on the transpiring events. Sometimes, however, a single main character (usually the one with the most ambiguous/mysterious motivation) is conspicuously ''denied'' POV and their impact upon the plot is only ever seen through the eyes of other main characters. This character is the Non-POV Protagonist of the book.

The main purpose of the trope is to create dramatic tension. When a story is told from the perspective of a character, readers become very familiar with him or her, and can make some predictions as to their feelings and reactions. When a story does not give the perspective of a character, readers are left peering in, wondering just what is going through that person's head. That can be quite a tense experience if said character is TheChosenOne, the BigBad, or even just a SupportingLeader who will nonetheless be making decisions that the narrator characters have to live with.

Due to the nature of the medium, this is primarily a {{literary trope|s}}, though media closely related to literature may also use it.

Related tropes (that often accompany this) include SupportingProtagonist, a POV-character who plays a supporting role in the narrative, and FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator, a narrator character who isn't a protagonist. In those terms, this trope is a major character who doesn't get a P.O.V.

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!!Examples:

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[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/TheDangersInMyHeart'' is told mainly from the perspective of the male lead Kyōtarō Ichikawa, the ''only'' character whose thoughts are presented to the audience through text boxes. The life of his LoveInterest Anna Yamada on the other hand is explored through his eyes. The most explicit peek we get into Yamada's head is the occasional ImagineSpot, along with the dialogue of other characters (including Ichikawa himself) coinciding with her facial expressions to convey what's on her mind. Otherwise, her reactions and thoughts are a strong case of ShowDontTell.
* ''Manga/MedakaBox'': Bar perhaps one instance in an arc [[spoiler: where her mind was reverted to her original cynical self]], the reader almost never sees things through Medaka's eyes. Instead, we usually see things through SupportingProtagonist Zenkichi. This seems to emphasize Medaka's sheer inhuman nature beyond many normal and extraordinary humans despite being TheHero of the series.
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[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/TheMountainAndTheWolf'': The story is told entirely from the POV of Westeros characters, never from the Wolf, who serves as the VillainProtagonist. Eventually we get the POV of his henchman Akkarulf ([[spoiler:formerly known as Theon Greyjoy]]) when the Chaos forces are away from Westeros, but the Wolf's mind remains a mystery to him as well.
* ''Fanfic/WhatAStrangeLittleColt'' never takes Gabriel’s PointOfView, despite his prominent role.
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[[folder:Literature]]
* Addie Bunsen, the mother, in ''Literature/AsILayDying'' narrates only one chapter while the rest are narrated by her family or other folks.
%%%* Miranda Sharifi in ''Beggars and Choosers'', second book of the ''Literature/BeggarsInSpain'' trilogy.
* The character Kitai in ''Literature/CodexAlera'' is arguably one of the most important characters in the series (let's count the number of times she saves Tavi's life...) and faces many important and interesting decisions throughout the series. However, the reader always sees her actions through Tavi's and once, Isana's eyes. Bernard is like this as well.
* Devin, the title character of ''Literature/DevinAndTheTeacher'', has his story narrated by an [[NoNameGiven acquaintance]].
* Carrot Ironfoundersson from Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' books. He's an important character, yet we never see what he thinks. Other main characters' POV are frequently presented. There's a theory that this might be due to the fact that he's not exactly as innocent and simple-minded as he appears to be, and Pratchett doesn't want to show it. Carrot does get occasional POV sequences; the first little bit of ''Literature/GuardsGuards'' and the odd page or two in other books are through his eyes. [[EnsembleDarkhorse Vimes is just a much more interesting character.]]
* This is frequently done with the Doctor in the ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'' novels, with the POV character being, of course, the companion. For the ''Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures'', there was an official rule that you don't show what the Doctor is thinking (well, hardly ever), and the novel ''Conundrum'' [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this, as what starts out as Omniscient Third Person Narration is [[NarratorAllAlong actually]] the Master of the Land of Fiction, and the fact his omniscience stops at the Doctor's mind (and only the Doctor's) frustrates him.
* Dr. Abraham Van Helsing is the BigGood who leads the manhunt for the title villain of ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'', but we never get to see his POV, except for brief glimpses of it from the narrators' accounts and his sparse letters.
* Similarly, Literature/ErastFandorin has only been the POV character in five out of thirteen books about him.
* In the ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'' novels, a SwitchingPOV is used and the audience sees from the perspective of multiple characters...except for [[TheProtagonist Marcus Fenix]], the central and main playable character in the video games. This likely serves to highlight his nature as TheStoic and the way in which he constantly suppresses his feelings and emotions from others, even the audience.
* A similar thing happens in ''Literature/HandleWithCare'', when, until the last chapter, everyone but Willow (the main reason for the plot) narrates.
* ''Literature/HarukaNogizakasSecret'' is about the secret of a character named Haruka Nogizaka. However, the story isn't told from her P.O.V., but the one of OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Ayase Yuuto and is about how his life changed after learning the secret.
* In the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' books, Heralds always have a [[BondCreatures Companion]] with them, sharing their adventures and giving occasional commentary. Over the run of the series, Companions have been shown interacting with non-Herald characters and displaying more personality than just a 'voice' in their Herald's head, but even then no book has ''ever'' been written from the perspective of a Companion.
* In the ''Literature/HorusHeresy'' books, almost every major player in the conflict is given at least some perspective in one novel or another to allow the reader to understand what makes them tick. The one ironclad exception is the Emperor of Mankind, who even in his own dedicated novel (''The Master of Mankind'') is still only ever viewed through the eyes of other characters, leaving the reasoning behind his actions fully up to interpretation by both them and the reader.
* Many important characters in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' are narrated by hobbits. (Not that the hobbits are unimportant, but since a SupportingLeader is often a Non-POV Protagonist and Aragorn son of Arathorn is ''the'' [[TropeNamer original Supporting Leader]], it bears mentioning.)
* ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'': While the author almost zealously ensures that most named characters are given a point of view section regularly -- not a mean feat, considering that there are usually hundreds of characters that qualify -- Adjunct Tavore Paran is a notable exception. Throughout the series we are given only a single paragraph from her point of view, and a vague one at that. This is deliberate; she is one of the series' greatest mysteries.
* The Sister of ''Literature/MySistersKeeper'' is, until the very last chapter, the only main character that doesn't narrate a chapter. The book only has a few characters, and asides from Kate, the only characters who don't get to narrate are the Judge, a bartender named Seven, and a dog.
* ''Literature/ThePoisonwoodBible'' alternates POV between all the members of the Price family ''except'' the patriarch, Nathan. Given that Nathan's impenetrability and single-mindedness are the catalyst for most of the book's drama and conflict, it makes sense that the reader is alienated from him just like everyone else.
* Roque Alva is arguably the central character of the ''Literature/ReflectionsOfEterna'' cycle, yet there has never been a single chapter describing what exactly is going on in his head. Likewise, Valentine Pridd has never held the POV so far -- probably because he knows too much about the MythArc (e.g. one short sequence from Mellit's POV shows that he is no stranger to magic, despite his young age).
* In the first book of ''Literature/TheShatteredKingdoms'', the [[IHaveManyNames Mongrel/Meiran/Lahlil]] is probably the most important character (and is central to the trilogy), but there's almost nothing from her point of view, and we instead see her mainly through the eyes of other characters. This helps preserve the uncertainty as to what she actually wants (and before it's revealed, what her origins are). In the second book, though, we start to get substantial sections from her point of view.
* We only get Literature/SherlockHolmes's point-of-view in two of his mysteries, with [[TheWatson Watson's]] shown in the rest. Consensus is that this is for the best; apparently Holmes was a crap writer.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
** Robb is the only Stark child besides 4-year-old Rickon to never have his own narrative, despite having major events in ''A Clash of Kings'' and ''A Storm of Swords'' revolve around him. Most of the chapters involving Robb are told from the P.O.V. of his mother.
** Interestingly, no character in any real, permanent position of power or understanding is ever given a POV chapter, which are handed out easily from AFFC. Thus the reader can never get into their head and quickly and easily understand the whole situation, which would reveal plot elements early. The two exceptions are the two archetypical fantasy heroes, Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow, who grow into their power.
** Played straight in books 2 and 3 but subverted in book 5 with Melisandre (who only had one chapter as POV). Her lack of narration in 2 and 3 contributes to the overall mysteriousness of the character.
** Aegon VI Targaryen, AKA Young Griff, is a character with massive plot significance, but his story is narrated from the P.O.V.s of Tyrion, Jon Connington and later Arianne Martell.
* Caddy from ''Literature/TheSoundAndTheFury'' is the only one of the Compson children without her own chapter.
* Happens in ''Literature/{{Stargirl}}'' by Jerry Spinelli. Leo talks about his ManicPixieDreamGirl friend Stargirl, but she never narrates. Sort of inverted in the sequel, ''Love, Stargirl'', where Stargirl narrates and discusses her relationship with Leo but he never narrates.
* ''Literature/TheSecretHistory'': The novel's narrator is the Richard, the latecomer and SixthRanger of the classics clique, but really he's just the eyewitness to the unfolding tragedy; the real protagonist is [[TragicHero Henry]].
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
** Grand Admiral Thrawn in Creator/TimothyZahn's stories, including ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'', the ''Literature/HandOfThrawn'' duology, ''Literature/OutboundFlight'' and the post-Legends ''Literature/{{Thrawn}}'' novels. He's an AntiVillain antagonist, to be precise (except in the post-Legends novels), but we have narration from the POV of various characters — except him. Never from his point.
** Ben Kenobi is the central character of ''Literature/StarWarsKenobi'', and though the conflicts of the book are not his, his arrival and actions catalyze them, bringing long-running tensions to the surface. However, except for his [[CaptainsLog meditations to Qui-Gon]], the novel never shows his point of view, instead showing his actions through the eyes of others (typically Annileen, Orrin, and A'Yark), preserving his character role as the mysterious [[TheDrifter Drifter]]. While ''Star Wars'' fans know that when mysterious things happen around him,[[note]]such as when he and the Calwells spot Owen and Beru Lars in Mos Eisley, but their speeder suddenly flies away on its own before they can say hello[[/note]] he is using the Force to protect his secret, a neophyte reading the book (and skipping the meditations) would be just as confused as the other characters.
* Andrew Jackson is treated like this in ''Literature/TrailOfGlory''. It might be argued that he is the most important character in the story, but we always see him from the outside.
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[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* While Will is CharacterNarrator and viewpoint character of ''Series/TheInbetweeners'', it's his friend Simon whose romantic endeavors tend to take precedence when it comes to the plot. Simon also fulfills the "[[TheEveryman relatable everyman protagonist]]" niche often associated with coming of age teen comedies much better than the stuck-up and studious Will does. Notably, the final episode of the series focuses primarily on Simon and the possibility of him moving away and leaving his friends.
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[[folder:Video Games]]
* Thanks to some LeaningOnTheFourthWall in the ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos'' series, the ''player him/herself'' is the point of view character, being cast as the "Guardian Spirit" of Kalas ([=EWatLO=]) and Sagi (Origins). While the two are the main characters of their game, they are not the POV characters, a distinction that has some very interesting effects in ''Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean'' as [[spoiler: it allows Kalas to be TheMole and betray the party, you included]].
* Masterfully played in ''VideoGame/HeavyRain'': you can overhear the thoughts of every character but one of them ''never'' shows their true feelings even when thinking. So, in effect, you get a protagonist whose POV you ''think'' you know but you really don't until the end.
* Princess Ashe is, ultimately, the central hero/protagonist of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', but the game's story is told through the eyes of Vaan, a street rat who stole the right MacGuffin. Vaan plays a large role in the early plot, but quickly steps out of focus.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'': Delita, despite being the {{deuteragonist}} and having plenty of screen time, is largely left a mystery as most of his scenes are seemingly seen from the perspective of other people present, most prominently the Princess Ovelia. There are a handful of exceptions, and he does have a few scenes which focus on his personal affairs, but even then very little is revealed about his true self.
* For ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', the writers/developers originally wanted to have the story focus on a character with a DarkAndTroubledPast who had to grow up and accept his responsibility as [[HiddenBackupPrince the heir of the Septim line]] in order to save Tamriel from [[DestroyerDeity Mehrunes Dagon]]. This being ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series, with it's propensity for {{Featureless Protagonist}}s in a WideOpenSandbox world, this sort of linear storytelling simply didn't fit. Instead, they transferred this role onto the NPC Martin Septim, who from a wider perspective, is really TheHero and TheChosenOne of the main storyline. The PlayerCharacter, meanwhile, serves as Martin's HypercompetentSidekick and [[TheLancer Lancer]], doing much of the heavy lifting in the plot so that Martin can save the world. (Most [[SidequestSidestory Guild and Faction questlines]] as well as both major expansions, ''Knights of the Nine'' and ''The Shivering Isles'', make the PC the undisputed hero of their storylines instead.)
* As one its ''many'' subversions of video game conventions, ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'' places players in the shoes of Solid Snake for the prologue tanker chapter only. The main story follows new character Raiden, and its through his eyes that we see the events of Big Shell and Arsenal Gear. But when you examine the story and its movers and shakers it becomes clear that Raiden was being manipulated by everyone... including Snake, who used him to gain access to Arsenal Gear. Raiden may be the player character, but it's the Solid Snake Show (with special guest star Otacon) throughout ''Sons of Liberty''.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', the central character is the Sun goddess Amaterasu in the form of a white wolf. You seldom get even a glimpse of her true thoughts even though you play as her the entire game; the main story is told by her [[FirstPersonPeripheralNarrator Celestial Envoy, Issun]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Photopia}}'': While the perspective jumps around constantly and [[AnachronicOrder anachronically]], the true protagonist is [[spoiler:Alley. Almost all the mundane story segments are from the perspective of her family/friends and center on their interactions with her, and even the bizarre ScienceFantasy astronaut story is revealed to be a bedtime story Alley tells to a young girl she is babysitting. Yet Alley is never the "you" in any of the controllable sections.]]
* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'': Reimu Hakurei, main character of the series, has plenty of dialogue but conspicuously has never been a narrator. This is deliberate, and the actual viewpoint characters tend to describe her in very different ways depending on the context they usually meet her in. It's been noted that Reimu is [[MrViceGuy lazy but dutiful]], and [[MoodSwinger displays her emotions strongly]] yet seems [[TrueNeutral incapable of lasting love or hate]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' has a unique way of letting you see through the character's eyes. You get to see it through the new kid's eyes, the twin sister's, the crazy girl's, etc. But you never get to see Sonozaki Mion's point of view. Or Satoshi's. Or Hanyuu's.
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[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Rachel from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'': large impact, [[HeroOfAnotherStory "Heroine" of Another Story]] that constantly intertwines with the one we follow... gets her word in edgeways once. Maybe twice.
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[[folder:Western Animation]]
* The main characters of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' are Steven, Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl. However, the show is exclusively told from Steven's perspective, meaning we never get to see the Crystal Gems on their own without Steven around, except as stories told to Steven by another character.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E18TrilogyOfError Trilogy of Error]]" features three segments showing the events of the day from Homer's, Lisa's, and Bart's perspectives, in that order. The main character of the episode, however is Marge, who kicks off the plot by cutting Homer's thumb off, does much of the driving, and in the end saves the day.
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