What is the function of the antagonist in a story?

Answer 1

The bad person, if the protagonist is a good person. The antagonist is the one who is opposed to the protagonist. The protagonist is not necessarily a good person, but is always the main person in the story. Consider for example Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog.

Answer 2

The person or force that opposes and frustrates the protagonist's efforts at achieving the story goal (that is, the character's mission/quest).
The Antagonist is the main force that is against the Protagonist (main character) The Antagonist is often a person but can be things like an animal or even a force like bad weather

Answer 3

An antagonist is there to cause conflict, friction between the key characters. A good antagonist is a character in the story that the reader begins to dislike or even hate. Without an antagonist the story may as well be written as a he did this and I did this kind of story.

Answer 4

To prevent the protagonist from meeting his or her goal

Answer 5

The antagonist is the competitor of the protagonist

Answer 6

the antagonist of a story is basically the bad guy, or whoever/whatever the main character (the protagonist) is against.

Answer 7

the antagonist is the person who is getting in the way of the protagonists(main character) dreams, kind of like a villain

Answer 8

The antagonist opposes the protagonist. In plain English, the antagonist is whatever gets in the way of the main character reaching their goals. (APEX: Represents a culture's fears)

Answer 9

Harry and Voldemort are the main antagonists and protagonists although there are many others.

Answer 10

To create conflict by opposing the protagonist