After reading Runaway by Meg Cabot and many other books, I have noticed that there are often strong antagonists who go out of their way to get what they want and take down the protagonist. I have asked myself why is the antagonist so cruel and hateful. What could they possibly have faced earlier in their lives to make them do what they do? And why do books need antagonists?
Throughout the Airhead series, there have been two very strong antagonists: Robert and Brandon Stark. Robert Stark tried to have Nikki Howard killed. Brandon Stark kidnapped her and forced her to lie to and lose her boyfriend. Robert and Brandon Stark are power hungry men who just want money and attention. They’re never satisfied with what they have and always want more. Isn’t being the 4th richest man enough or having the press think you’re dating a supermodel sufficient?
I have come up with some theories on why Robert and Brandon Stark, and antagonists in general do what they do. Maybe something dramatic has happened to them earlier in their lives where they have felt “small” and they think the only way to forget about it is to make themselves “big.” Maybe they just don’t feel good about themselves and in order to feel better they have to put others down. For example, maybe Robert Stark wanted something when he was younger and couldn’t get it because he didn’t have the money. So he decided he wanted to start a huge corporation and become one of the richest men in the world. For Brandon Stark, his mother is never mentioned in the book. Maybe she abandoned him and he feels unwanted.
Although I have despised these characters and sometimes just want to yell “Why do you have to be so mean?!!!” They add lots of tension and drama to the plot. Without antagonists the protagonist would have nothing in their way, no task to overcome, no journey to go on and no lesson to be learned. Books would be short, boring and have no point.
So the next time you’re reading a book and the antagonist is really annoying you,
just think about why they do the things they do to better understand them. Remember there would be no plot without them. I think you’ll be as surprised as I was to realize that there is a good argument for why books need antagonists.
This is an impressive response. I like your introductory paragraph which makes the reader think about the purpose of antagonists, and maybe about antagonists in their own books and why they do what they do. You have strong textual evidence to support your ideas, and then you try to answer your own question. Readers get to consider your perspective, and then read their own books and decide theirs. Great job!
ReplyDeletetjis is a great blod post i love your intro very good and you have a lot of text eveidense to show and back up your point great i love it
ReplyDeleteI loved how you tried to think of ways why the antagonists in the book were the way they were and were so mean to people. I never thought about why people did things that were mean, I just wanted to scream at them about being the way they were. I liked how you went in their shoes and thought of why they were so mean. I also liked how you said what roles antagonists play in the book, like how without them, the protagonists wouldn't have to face obstacles or anything. Really good, keep it up!! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! This is great post! I loved how you inferenced on why you think Brandon and Robert were like that. I also liked how you gave the cause of what made your inferences like how you said that Brandon's mother was never mentioned in the book so you think his mother abandoned him. Amazing post! :)
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