Should I be writing a thesis that is due in one week from today? Yes.

Should I also be studying for an exam the week after? Yes.

Should I be starting a huge report I have due the week after that week? Yes.

Am I instead going to write a chapter where I talk about the antagonists that we have all seen at some point in our reading careers?

Yes.

Before I launch into this, please note! These are just the common archetypes and tropes that I'm sure so many of us will recognise from a vast range of literature. If one of your antagonists are like this, don't stress! There's nothing wrong with that. I'm just going to be having some fun and discuss the that I've stumbled across while reviewing/reading.

I will be, at some point, writing a chapter about how to write a good antagonist! That is not this chapter, though. The only helpful thing about this chapter is this fun fact:

Sea lions are more closely related to grizzly bears than actual lions.

Thank you.

Now, the types of antagonists! Feel free to include examples if you can think of any. Also, if there are some that I've missed, let me know!

Okay, was it me, or was there a fever dream of a literary era where... everyone was obsessed with YA dystopian novels? Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner, and a ton more that didn't quite get as popular because they didn't include love triangles... Wow.

Anyways! The Authority Figure. We're talking the President Snows. The Big Brothers. The Kim Jong-- wait, sorry, gotta keep it fictional.

These guys are the dictators. The ones who run things. But the thing that makes them so antagonistic is their restrain on the protagonist. Chances are, the protagonist is forced to do things they don't want to do. Chances are, they aren't free. And that's when we hope the protagonist overtakes them!

I'm a new girl in a school in a Wattpad book. I walk into school. The hot guy has a crush on me. Because, and I'm flicking my hair as I type this, despite my baggy clothes, he's drawn to me. The popular girl who likes him is very aware of this. So she locks me in the janitor's closet. She shoves my head in toilet. It's very tragic.

And you know what? As much as 'the bully' is common in any high school book, I don't mind it. In fact, I welcome it.

Because, let's face it, bullying is very real. It's very sad that it's real -- but that's just the nature of the world, and books are here to reflect the nature of our world. Including the icky bits, like bullying. So giving readers hope of a better day, and showing people the effects of bullying in novels, or even just showing young teenagers out there that it happens and they're not alone... well, in my opinion, it's important.

However! Bullies are people, too! I know this, because the person who bullied me in grade eight for my skin colour is now a good friend of mine. While bullying is never excusable, it is important to make sure that, when you write bullies, they are still complex characters. Their sole purpose in life isn't just "give the protagonist hell". They have more to them that have shaped them into the bully.

No, not the hair of every teenage Wattpad protagonist in the morning on the first day of school. Honestly, I've never actually woken up with crazy hair. I know a lot of people do and... seriously y'all. What do you do in your sleep?

This is a creature of some sort. In Sharknado, it's the sharks, who are being tornadoes. In Godzilla, it is the zilla of the gods. It's the villains in the movie, A Silent Place.

These are basically creatures, whether animals or made-up creatures, that threaten the existence of the protagonist. Usually, they're murderous. So... like... run?

Please. If you are the Clyde to my Bonnie, raise your hand. I'm so lonely. I want to start the thug life.

Seriously, though! These are the ones who are... literally criminals. They have been arrested, or they know what they are doing will get them arrested. They are the thieves, the people who keep randomly abusing that kid in Home Alone only to get their asses whooped, they are the ones trying to steal Pikachu from Ash.

They want money. They want power. They want Pikachu.

They're the honest ones, who don't hide under big mafia suits or get away with it because the government loves rich people. Nope! These guys are the ones who literally have their oversized masks, their gloves, and their criminal records.

BOY. [OR GIRL. OR NEITHER.]

YOU'RE AN ALIEN.

YOUR TOUCH IS SO FOREIGN.

YOU'RE SUPERNATURAL.

EXTRATERRESTIAL [AND EVIL].

Edit: Literally 20 minutes after I wrote this section, Spotify randomly played this song in my 'today's suggestion' playlist despite the fact that I do not have a single Katy Perry song on any of my playlists. I am genuinely terrified.

This is me.

If I was a villain.

And if I was a kickass seductress.

And if I was in a James Bond movie.

And if I had the guts to actually hurt someone.

And if my parents didn't give me a curfew.

But, yes, this is me.

Just kidding!

This is such a classic type that I didn't even have to think of a name for this case file -- it already existed. This is the seductress that you see, who uses her charm and sexiness to get men in their arms. Then, they manipulate them, use them, hurt them, steal from them, and all that jazz.

It's pretty simple: they're beautiful, they're badass, they're usually dressed in black, and they are straight up terrifying.

Okay, these are either:

- Really stupid henchmen/henchwomen/henchpeople who follow orders like a little lamb for the big boss, but usually cannot create their own thought. Like. They are dumb as rocks. I could be like, "Did you know that your boss killed your mum?" and he'd be like, "lol what is a mum?"

- Really smart and clever and terrifying. The big boss is usually too busy to do things themselves, so they employ this terrifying henchperson to do the dirty, bloody work for them.

And there's no in between.

This is where whichever robot played me E.T on Spotify just now goes.

These ones are the ones you will see in some novels and movies. But, more often, you'll see them when you ask parents why they won't sign their kids up for Robotics classes:

"I think technology has gone too far. What happens if the robots start taking over?"

Basically, robots taking over. Technology taking over. Eradicating humanity. Machine Apocalypse.

To be honest, maybe they'd do a better job at maintaining the environment than us. So, like, go off. (Get it? That's a pun? Because you can switch a computer off? No? Okay? I'll um... change the topic!)

So, you know how I mentioned robots? Well, this is the opposite. Here, we're talking about Mother Nature.

For example, there were lots of bad guys on the Titanic. But they didn't sink the ship. That was an iceberg. That iceberg man... it's a more complex character than anything I could come up with.

Sometimes, it's a fire. A drought. A hurricane.

All of these are still antagonists of some sort!

I say 'The Joker' because there is literally no other way to frame it. 'The Disturbed' could cover it, too. But I would be super uncomfortable seeing someone write 'The Mental Case' or something along those lines. Please, authors, don't write that. Please.

Basically, this person has been through a... time. This time has left them quite disturbed, with a plethora of psychological problems. But, because healthcare is expensive and psychology is still incredibly underrepresented in healthcare funds, they decided that it was a bit more convenient to become an antagonist.

For example, we have The Joker. We also have a lot of horror movie antagonists sliding in here. Usually, when their backstory is explained, we feel a bit of sympathy towards them -- because, let's face it, they've been through the worst of humanity. And that's reflected in them.

I think this is a dangerous territory to write in.

On one hand, it can be done brilliantly. It can be done to show the importance of society and humanity on an individual, and what the worst of the world can do to someone. It reminds us of how we need to treat one another.

On the other hand, if not handled with sensitivity and care, it can almost mock mental illness, generalise it, or present it in a very stigmatised and non-factual light.

So! My advice! If you are doing this! Please! Do! Research!

Similar to Authority Figure, but this is very specifically in fantasy novels and Disney Princess movies. Like... they're usually so bad. Because they're doing "what is right for the kingdom", they're extremely prejudiced and snobby, or... because we writers just tend to hate rich people. Not sure!

But, surely, you've most definitely read or watched something with an evil king or queen. If you haven't... it's probably because you're locked up in a tower by one.

Are you sometimes reading a book, just chilling out, and literally Satan appears? Like... I'm not talking about someone being evil. I'm talking about... literally... Satan. Right there. Acting smug or evil or... however the author decides Satan acts.

Because, I have. It doesn't get any less weird over time.

OKAY. I HAD TO INCLUDE THIS ONE.

Usually, this is the mean boss. Or the mafia. But like... he has a moustache. And he twirls it.

I still can't get over how often I see this.

I can't.

FINE. A PROPER CASE FILE M: THE MAFIA

There. Happy?

We all have experienced this.

We're reading a novel. The protagonist seems to be on the brink of winning. Things are looking up.

But you're worried. The protagonist is about to get what they need/succeed, but there are 100 pages left? What could that--

OH NO! THE CHARACTER I REALLY LIKED JUST BETRAYED THE PROTAGONIST.

SOMEONE SOUND THE ALARM. RING THE BELLS. CALL THE POLICE.

The first time you experience this, it's amazing. In fact, every time you experience this, depending on how shocked you are, it's amazing. It's like your whole world is flipped over. You're genuinely shaken up. You did not see that coming.

And, if foreshadowed well, it can also feel so damned satisfying, too.

I won't get into this one too much. But sometimes, the villain is us. We are our own antagonists. Similarly, there's something about the protagonist that is stopping them from achieving their own goals. I read an amazing story where the protagonist didn't know if the things they were accusing others of were true, because their own memory was so unreliable. So both themselves and myself, as a reader, had no idea if we could trust them.

This is also where our unreliable narrators come in! I've read a few stories like this, where we think the protagonist is good until... they turn out to be the evil ones.

Additionally, this can be stretched out to be Sometimes, the real villain is society and it's impact on the protagonist. Sometimes, the protagonist is even part of this toxic cycle that is stopping themselves from flourishing.

Yes. I'm giving them their own category. I love pirates.

But I feel like I should add that faeries, werewolves, vampires, witches, gods, ghosts -- all those funky stuff are types of villains that I'm sure we have all seen. Twilight fans. Percy Jackson fans. Harry Potter fans. Lord of the Rings. Mortal Instruments. Throne of Glass. Rise up. It's been done everywhere.

I've seen lots of stories make remarks on religion. And, sometimes, they like to get a preacher. Dump a bucket of literal crack on their beliefs. And then release them into the wild.

Genuinely, terrifying. That's all I have to say. I've read stories about twelve year old boys running from hysterical preachers who are trying to use them as a blood sacrifice. I had to sing in a church the day after I stayed up to read that. I nearly called to say no.

Regardless of religion, there will always be beautiful people and questionable people! That's all there is to say!

Okay, we love these! They are antagonists, trying to defeat the protagonist in something, but they also provide a challenge for the main character. Sometimes, the rival can be a friend or even a love interest. But, while they are the rival, they are still an antagonist.

Gary Oak to Ash Ketchup.

Draco Malfoy to Harry Potter.

Tom to Jerry.

Edward to Jacob.

The people who are on Team Edward to the people who are on Team Jacob.

Sasuke to Naruto.

The list goes on forever!

The mad scientist. Creating some sort of very dangerous thing.

Their license honestly needs to be suspended.

But, if we did that, then what fun would we have?

Not only have these guys made some sort of Frankenstein or COVID-19 virus or whatever the hell they've made to traumatise the human race because it was interesting for them, but they're insanely passionate about it. They are addicted. They won't put it away. They don't want to destroy it.

That's what makes them dangerous!

Yes, a villain based on geometry. They shoot squares and algebraic models at you.

For real, though. This is...

The other person... who is in love with the love interest.

In other words, the third side to the love triangle!

I don't think I need to say much more about this one. We all know they lose the battle anyways.

We're talking about the law enforcements. The police officers.

But, here's the thing, they're not usually the bad guy. Not really. They're just trying to follow the law. Listen to orders. Get money. Not get fired. Relatable.

The issue here is that... the protagonist is the bad guy. The protagonist, who we are rooting for, is an assassin. A thief. A killer.

So, despite morality and all those irrelevant things about ethics, we actually want the 'bad guys' to win. Which puts the 'good guys', including the police, on our 'bad side'.

There's always that random villain. Or henchperson. Who just randomly loves snakes or spiders or all things venom. And it's what they're famous for. I randomly appreciate them.

These are the evil step-sisters. The evil step-parents.

Or, not even step-parents. Sometimes, we have mothers and fathers in literature who are also evil. In fact, there's a lot of these, I find, because a lot of authors on Wattpad have daddy issues.

Kidding!

But, seriously, we've all seen at least one of these at some point. If you haven't, you clearly haven't seen a Disney movie. Triton, stopping Ariel from getting her dreams. Cinderella and her cruel step-sisters and step-mother.

Sometimes, they do have bad intentions and want the protagonist to fail. Other times, like the case of Triton and Ariel, they're not necessarily evil -- they just think that they are protecting their child by being overly controlling. They think they are doing the right thing, not realising how much grief it is causing their child.

I feel extremely proud of this one. The boyfriend, but like... the , because I wanted it to start with x--

Anyways. I'm easily excited.

This is the wicked ex-boyfriend who is either a villain by:

- somehow still controlling the protagonist

- being toxic, abusive to the point where it is still affecting the protagonist

- just being an asshole

We've seen it before! And we want them to begone!

Dude. These ones are used so often in horror stories, it's terrifying.

Little kids. But like... evil little kids. Dollhouse kids. Kids that really enjoy blood in their milk and cookies.

You're fooled into thinking they are sweet. You are fooled by their charming eyes. And then, they turn out to be ruthless and scary. That cute scarf they're wearing? Nuh uh. That's an intestine.

If not a little kid themselves, it's a puppet of a little kid.

Either way, kids are scary. I strongly believe authors who include this trope are just trying to make sure we don't overpopulate the world.

To be 'zonked' is to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Similarly, for some protagonists -- especially for adult novels -- the main antagonist is drugs/alcohol. It's about an addiction the protagonist is experiencing that they must overcome, because it's gone too far. It's about self-development, and making themselves become the person they want to be.

And I think that covers most of them! Of course, there are a ton more. After all, there are literally billions of novels and billions of antagonists within them. So, even 26 is simply not enough to cover it.

Which ones are you thinking of that I may have missed? Let me know! I'd love to hear them. And do you have a favourite?

Of course, as always, if you want me to talk about something, let me know!

Happy October!