Example:
Character: Lord Voldemort (from the Harry Potter series)
Antagonist Explanation:
* Opposes the protagonist: Voldemort is the main antagonist of the Harry Potter series. He directly opposes Harry Potter, the protagonist, in his quest to conquer the wizarding world.
* Drives the conflict: Voldemort's desire for power and his evil acts fuel the central conflict of the series. Harry's battles against Voldemort are the driving force of the story.
* Motivated by a goal: Voldemort's goal is to achieve immortality and create a world where only wizards of pure blood are allowed to exist. This ambition is the root of his antagonistic actions.
* Not necessarily evil: While Lord Voldemort is considered the "bad guy," he's a complex character with a backstory that provides context for his motivations. He's not simply a cartoon villain but a more nuanced antagonist.
Other Antagonist Examples:
* The Wicked Witch of the West (from The Wizard of Oz)
* Darth Vader (from Star Wars)
* The Joker (from Batman)
* Macbeth (from Shakespeare's play, Macbeth)
Remember:
* An antagonist doesn't always have to be a person. It can be a force of nature, a societal issue, or even a character's inner demons.
* Antagonists can be complex and even sympathetic, even while they present challenges to the protagonist.