Line #44 Main/ProtagonistTropes


1	TheProtagonist is an {{Omnipresent Trope\|s}} that is present in almost every story, and therefore has spawned lots of {{Sub Trope}}s.
2
3	The "protagonist" is the central character of a story, the one whose viewpoint is used to tell the story. In most stories, there is only one of these, with similar characters called "{{Deuteragonist}}", "Tritagonist" or just "ensemble cast". There is no morality inherent to any of these terms.
4
5	Sometimes, for these tropes, due to the Omnipresence of one of the {{SubTrope}}s, HeroProtagonist, "Hero" is often conflated with "Protagonist", when the two terms actually refer to different concepts. Specifically, "protagonist" refers to the role a character plays in the narrative, whereas a "hero" is a ''character archetype'' that can show up in any role in the narrative. See TheHero for more on that. That said, even on this site, the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably in trope names.
6
7	See AntagonistTropes for tropes about its opposite number.
8	----
9	!!Tropes:
10	[[index]]
11	[floatboxright:
12	'''Main topics:'''
13	* '''TheProtagonist'''
14	* {{Deuteragonist}}
15
16	'''Also see:'''
17	* HeroTropes
18	* NormalPeople
19	]
20	* AHeroIsBorn: The story begins with the protagonist as a newborn.
21	* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: When the protagonist character suddenly switches. Usually in VideoGames, but sometimes not.
22	* AdaptationalProtagonist: A minor or major character becomes TheProtagonist in an adaptation or ContinuityReboot.
23	* AgainstTheGrain: The protagonist doesn't want to fulfil their expected role.
24	* BirthdayBeginning: When the story starts on the protagonist's birthday.
25	* ContrastingSequelMainCharacter: In the sequel, the protagonist has a personality that contrasts with the protagonist of the original.
26	* DecoyProtagonist: Someone who appears to be the protagonist, but isn't actually.
27	* FeaturelessProtagonist
28	* ExperiencedProtagonist
29	* GameplayProtagonistStoryProtagonist: There are two protagonists for a video game's gameplay and for its story.
30	* HelplessObserverProtagonist
31	* HeroesGoneFishing: The protagonist takes a break from his or her mission to enjoy some fun and relaxation.
32	* HeroicMime: A protagonist who can't speak, or is never heard speaking.
33	* HeroProtagonist: TheProtagonist and TheHero happen to be the same character. This is very often the case, which is why the two terms are often treated as the same thing.
34	* InsecureProtagonistArrogantAntagonist: An insecure protagonist, contrasted with a more confident antagonist.
35	* LeadYouCanRelateTo
36	* LoserProtagonist
37	* MainCharacterFinalBoss: The protagonist ends up playing the role of the final boss at the end of the story.
38	* MultipleProtagonists
39	* NewLifeInAnotherWorldBonus
40	* NonActionProtagonist: A protagonist who shows no combat ability, but overcomes obstacles through non-action means.
41	* NonPOVProtagonist: All the main characters have chapters narrated from their point of view... except this one.
42	* PinballProtagonist: A protagonist who bounces from situation to situation without making a significant impact on their own.
43	* PlayerAndProtagonistIntegration: A sliding scale of such.
44	* PlayerCharacter
45	* PrincessProtagonist
46	* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: An action or decision is considered morally justified simply because the protagonist made it.
47	* ProtagonistJourneyToVillain
48	* ProtagonistPowerUpPrivileges: The lead gets their standard power up before everyone does, or gets a unique better power up that no one else does.
49	* AProtagonistShallLeadThem: A protagonist who leads people.
50	* ProtagonistTitle: Protagonist being mentioned in the title. An {{Omnipresent Trope\|s}} of its own. Unlike most other tropes here, it's not a {{Characters}} Trope.
51	* ProtagonistWithoutAPast
52	* RidiculouslyAverageGuy: The lead is the most normal guy possible.
53	* RogueProtagonist: An old protagonist becomes the new antagonist in the sequel.
54	* RotatingProtagonist: Multiple people rotate between being the protagonist.
55	* RulerProtagonist: The lead character is also the ruler.
56	* SecondYearProtagonist: In a high school setting, the protagonist is in their second year of schooling.
57	* SupportingProtagonist: A protagonist who isn't TheHero or most important character.
58	* SwitchingPOV: The point-of-view switches between multiple different perspectives.
59	* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: The main character is a jerk, but who cares? Hilariously bad things happen to him.
60	* UniqueProtagonistAsset: Something special that makes the protagonist, ''the'' protagonist.
61	* VanillaProtagonist: The protagonist/central character is deliberately bland to better contrast with the colorful supporting cast. It is similar to a StraightMan.
62	* VillainProtagonist: The protagonist is someone who would normally be an antagonist in another story.
63	* WhiteMaleLead: In Western media, more often than not the protagonist is a white guy.
64	[[/index]]

Context Main / ProtagonistTropes