Academy · Character
Main character vs protagonist
Whats the difference between the main character and the protagonist?
Beginner
They're usually the same person but not always. The protagonist is the one whose actions drive the plot forward; the main character is the one the story is most about. In most books these line up. In some, they don't: a Watson narrator (main character / observer) following a Holmes-type figure (protagonist / driver) is one famous shape. The viewpoint character is a third role: whose head we're inside. In simple stories one person does all three.
What to try
- Tag your protagonist in the Story Index
Related questions
- How do I pick a viewpoint character?
- Can I have multiple protagonists?