Antagonistul

Antagonistul is a term used in Romanian-language criticism to designate the antagonist in a narrative. The definite form antagonistul corresponds to the English “the antagonist” and is used when referring to a specific opposing force within a work. The concept is central to narrative theory and helps distinguish the character or force that opposes the protagonist's aims.

The antagonist can take many forms: a single character, a group, or an abstract force such as fate, tradition, or an oppressive system. The antagonistic presence may act externally, through direct confrontation, or internally, as a personal flaw or conflicting motives within the protagonist.

Crucially, antagonistul is not identical with villainy. While villains are defined by moral badness or malicious intent, the antagonist is defined by opposition to the protagonist's goals. A character may be morally complex, or even admirable, and still function as the antagonist depending on the narrative perspective.

In most works, the antagonist's actions create obstacles that drive the plot and foster the protagonist's development. The resolution involves overcoming, reforming, or transcending the antagonistic force, which may reflect broader thematic concerns about power, justice, or human limits.

In literary criticism and film analysis, the figure of the antagonist is examined to understand how opposition shapes conflict, motive, and theme within a narrative, including cultural and historical contexts in Romanian literature.