6 Broad Character types to include in your fiction draft

It’s no secret that a captivating assortment of character types is at the heart of any story ever written or told. Simply scanning through your favorite stories—whether film, novel, or mythical—can reveal a plethora of compelling characters. 

In this article, you will learn about the six broad character types employed in fiction by writers throughout the past and today, as well as examples from notable works. 

Following these broad character types doesn’t prevent you from experimenting, nor does it render your work cliché, but having a broad awareness of character types is a useful resource when writing your first draft of fiction.

Let’s get started, shall we?

1. Protagonist 

We all have an intuitive sense of who the hero is in a story. This character is the center of attention, and the plot revolves around them. No other character in the novel has our sympathies as much as this one. 

The story is usually told from the POV of the main character. However, the story may be told by someone close to the protagonist, like Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes stories or Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman) in the film, The Shawshank Redemption.

Multiple protagonists may appear from time to time. For instance, Romeo and Juliet, Bad Boys, and Rush Hour, there is not one protagonist but two.

Caution is advised, especially if this is your writing project. It’s difficult to create multiple characters for whom your audience cares equally.

Protagonist examples: Luke Skywalker (Star Wars), Woody (Toy Story), Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings).

2. Antagonist

This one is quite simple. The antagonist is the character who opposes your protagonist in a story. Throughout the story, the antagonist will generate conflict or mayhem for the protagonist. The antagonist and protagonist often clash, which drives the story.

A typical rule of thumb is that the antagonist must be significantly more powerful than the protagonist. The hero must overcome formidable odds. 

Antagonist examples: Darth Vader (Star Wars), Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter), Agent Smith (The Matrix).

3. Foil 

Now comes a tricky one. A foil character must be the polar opposite of your protagonist. While they frequently have a rivalry, the foil is not the primary antagonist. A foil character must have opposing personality traits. If the main character is a cynic, the foil would be an idealist. Introverted; extroverted. Lovable; nasty. 

The foil character exists to emphasize our protagonist’s characteristics via contrast, giving us a better picture of who they truly are. For example, without Draco Malfoy to contrast Harry, readers may not have recognized Harry’s courageous and caring personality. The conflict between these two characters can also be a microcosm or metaphor for the conflict in the story as a whole.

Examples of protagonists and their foils: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter), Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock (Star Trek).

4. Deuteragonist

A deuteragonist is a character who serves as the protagonist’s deputy. Even though they aren’t the main character, they are a close second. The storyline does not focus on them, but they are essential to the main character’s journey throughout the novel.

They’re frequently seen with the protagonist, offering guidance, planning against their foes, and generally providing a hand.

You might call them a sidekick, but this term suggests that they aren’t as important as the main character, which isn’t the case. It would be impossible for the protagonist to continue his or her journey without a deuteragonist. 

Deuteragonist examples: Ron and Hermione (Harry Potter), Samwise Gamgee (The Lord of the Rings), Dr. Watson (Sherlock Holmes), Han Solo (Star Wars).

5. Love Interest

The love interest is the object of the protagonist’s desire. Romance of some kind appears in nearly every story. Depending on the genre, it might be the main plot, a subplot, or a short mention.

Whatever the situation may be, a love interest can allow a valuable character arc in any narrative. If presented well, the love interest always reveals the protagonist’s strengths and vulnerabilities. It may either be a force for good or a hindrance in the way of the protagonist’s main objective.

Similar to your main protagonist, an overly flawless love interest would come off as phony to your audience. There should be some flaws in a decent love affair to keep the reader engaged.

Also, stay away from writing your love interest as a gimmick or distraction. The love interest should speak to the protagonist’s character arc and challenge him or her to evolve in terms of the protagonist’s inner journey.

Love interest examples: Daisy Buchanan (The Great Gatsby), Ginny Weasley (Harry Potter), Rachel Dawes (The Dark Knight).

6. Tertiary Characters

Tertiary implies third in rank. However, it does not imply that they follow after the protagonist and deuteragonist. They are minor characters that have a few interactions with the protagonist, but they don’t do much for the story as a whole. 

A few tertiaries are nevertheless required in a story since they are always present in regular life. A security guard at work, a barista you see once a day, your boss, or a random person sitting next to you in class or on the bus. As a result, without a few tertiaries, even the most realistic fictional plot would be incomplete.

Tertiary examples: Padma and Parvati Patil in Harry Potter, Nazi commanders and inmates in Schindler’s List, Nebuchadnezzar crew members in The Matrix.

Now It’s Up To You

We’ve discussed six broad character types, but the only limit to how they can be developed is your imagination.

Have fun experimenting and discovering what makes your protagonist unique. Get creative with their individual attributes and flaws and make their conflict with the antagonist something your readers have never seen before.

Find original ways for them to contrast with the foil and the deuteragonist, relate to the love interest, and interact with the tertiary characters.These character types aren’t guidelines but a spark to ignite your creativity. So get writing!

Nicholas Rubright is a communications specialist at writer.com. In his free time, Nicholas enjoys playing guitar, writing music, and building cool things on the internet.

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