agónistes

Agonistes is a term derived from the ancient Greek word agōn, which signifies a contest, struggle, or dispute. In its literary and philosophical applications, "agonistes" refers to a character or entity that is deeply involved in such a struggle. This concept is most famously associated with John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost, where Satan is described as "The great Seraphic Flame / That Higher than his equals had so long / Stood foremost and in every act / A Gnomon to the rest, and now the most / Agonistes." Here, "agonistes" emphasizes Satan's defiant and ongoing resistance against God's authority, portraying him as a figure locked in a perpetual, albeit losing, struggle.

Beyond Milton, the term can be used more broadly to denote any character who embodies the spirit of struggle or is central to a dramatic conflict. This might include figures in Greek tragedy, where the agōn was a formal debate or a crucial scene of conflict, or modern characters facing significant internal or external battles. The term highlights the active and often intense nature of the character's involvement in adversity, suggesting not merely suffering but a determined, if perhaps ultimately unsuccessful, engagement with their challenges. It speaks to a character defined by their conflict, their very essence tied to the struggle they face.