In drama, the antagonist is_____________

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the definition of an antagonist in drama.

Step 2: Explain the concept Every story or play has a central character, called the protagonist (the lead or main character). The antagonist is the character, force, or group that stands against the protagonist and creates the central conflict. The word comes from the Greek antagonistes, meaning "opponent" or "rival" (anti = against; agon = struggle).

Important points:

• The antagonist is not always "evil." They may simply have goals that clash with the hero's.
• The antagonist is not always a villain in the traditional sense. Sometimes it is a force like society, fate, or the protagonist's own inner conflict.
• Examples: Claudius opposes Hamlet in Hamlet. Iago opposes Othello in Othello.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. The director of the drama: Wrong. The director guides the production and has nothing to do with the plot's characters.
• B. The evil witch: Wrong. This is just one possible type of villain. It is too specific and not a definition.
• C. The character opposing the lead character: Correct. This matches the definition exactly.
• D. The "harsh guy": Wrong. Being harsh does not make someone an antagonist, and the phrase is vague and not a literary term.

Step 4: Answer The antagonist is the character opposing the lead character, which is option C.

Exam tip: Remember the prefix anti- means "against," so the antigonist is the one against the hero. The protagonist is the one "for" or leading the story. Link the two pairs and you will not mix them up in JAMB Literature questions.