deuteragonist
Story's secondary hero
A deuteragonist is the second most important character in a narrative, after the protagonist.
The term comes from Greek drama, where the deuteragonist was literally the second actor.
In modern usage, this is often the protagonist's closest ally, rival, or love interest—the character whose arc most significantly shapes or reflects the main story: Watson is the deuteragonist to Holmes's protagonist.
Common English surname
- Sancho PanzaSquire to a knight-errant
- RobinBird-derived given name
- HoratioClassical male name
- HermioneWoman's name from antiquity
Mercutio · Ron Weasley · Dr. Watson · Friday · Tonto · Ed McMahon · Chewbacca · Spock
Subordinate adventure partner
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
- allySupportive partner
- partnerOne who shares activity
- foilDefeat a plan
helper · second-in-command · lieutenant · accomplice · supporter · counterpart · complement · contrast
New and unusual
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
- comedyWork meant to amuse
- epicImpressively grand in scope
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
screenplay · trilogy · saga · serial · melodrama · myth · fable · satire
Third lead in drama
- foilDefeat a plan
- arcCurved line segment
- conflictOpposition between parties
- subplotSubordinate narrative strand
backstory · motivation · development · climax · resolution · characterization · dynamic · journey
Watson
Common English surname
- Sancho PanzaSquire to a knight-errant
- RobinBird-derived given name
- HoratioClassical male name
Mercutio · Ron Weasley · Hermione · Dr. Watson · Friday · Tonto · Ed McMahon · Chewbacca · Spock · companion
sidekick
Subordinate adventure partner
foil · helper · second-in-command · lieutenant · accomplice · supporter · counterpart · complement · contrast · mirror
novel
New and unusual
drama · screenplay · trilogy · saga · serial · melodrama · myth · fable · satire · hero
tritagonist
Third lead in drama
subplot · backstory · motivation · development · climax · resolution · characterization · dynamic · journey · growth
- character typeshero, villain, heroes, protagonists, antihero
- Sidekickssidekick, Dr. Watson, Watson, right-hand man, number two
- Greek TheaterGreek tragedy, tragedy, Greek drama, comedy, Sophocles
- character ensemblehero, villain, sidekick, love interest, mentor
- Greek dramacomedy, tragedy, Greek chorus, Greek theater, Greek theatre
- Greek performersactor, tragedian, comedian, chorus member, chorus leader
deuteragonistprotagonist
Story's central figure
main character · hero · lead · central character · star