Antagonist Vs. Villain: They Aren’t The Same!
An antagonist and a villain: a distinction without a difference? Think again. While the terms “antagonist” and “villain” are often used interchangeably, they describe slightly different story roles. When you get clear on what makes these parts different, you gain a powerful tool for designing your narratives with the level of complexity you desire.
What is an Antagonist?
Webster’s Dictionary defines an antagonist as “a person who opposes another person.” And that’s it! That’s everything you need to know.
Whatever goal the protagonist has, the antagonist stands in true conflict with that goal. The antagonist isn’t inherently “evil” or morally reprehensible. They’re simply the protagonist of their own story, and because of this, they have their own goals. In the (arguably) most interesting narratives, neither the protagonist nor antagonist can achieve their goals simultaneously. Someone must lose or give up.
What is a Villain?
Just like “hero” is an archetype, so is a villain. Villains are inherently performing dastardly deeds that create conflict for the hero. If the hero’s trying to save the day, the villain is making sure that fails. And if the villain is causing problems, the hero’s working overtime to clean up the mess.
These archetypes are based on the protagonist/antagonist roles, so there’s clear overlap. But it’s worth remembering that, in the simplest terms, villains are actively trying to ruin someone’s day.
Now, how do you benefit from knowing this difference?
By realizing that not every story needs a villain!
If you’ll forgive the gaming example, consider your rival in Pokémon games. In Pokémon, you and your rival cannot both be the best Pokémon trainer there ever was--a true conflict. Yet your rival isn’t inherently a terrible person just because they want to be better than you. They’re your antagonist, but not your villain. And following the story of a person and their rival, always head-to-head, is naturally compelling because the audience knows that, in this situation, there can only be one winner. This version of the story isn’t lacking tension or excitement simply because it lacks a villain.
But what if we wanted a villain? Well, in the Pokémon example, that’s Team Rocket. They want to steal powerful or rare Pokémon, then sell them off for profit. Eventually, they’ll take over the world using these creatures. They’re Bad Guys™. Following this story is also engaging because the audience remains constantly uncertain. How far will the villains go to achieve their goals? Will the heroes be able to save the world this time around? We’ll have to keep following the story to find out.
So while you’re plotting or revising your own work, consider whether you need an antagonist--someone simply at odds with your main character--or a villain--an actual scoundrel and problem for your hero. Perhaps your story is best served by both. And who knows? They could even be the same person. Keep your mind open to all the possibilities!
