# Main Character who is very obviously not protagonist **URL:** \ **Category:** Analysis and Review\ **Created:** [March 24, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/main-character-who-is-very-obviously-not-protagonist/937 "2017-03-24T23:20:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mlucas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mlucas/32/275_2.png) [@mlucas](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/mlucas)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 11:20pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/main-character-who-is-very-obviously-not-protagonist/937/1 "2017-03-24T23:20:35Z")
Similar to this thread: [http://discuss.dramatica.com/t/influence-character-who-is-also-protagonist/](http://discuss.dramatica.com/t/influence-character-who-is-also-protagonist/) I’m wondering if there are some good examples of Main Characters who not only aren’t the Protagonist, but where it’s SUPER OBVIOUS that they are not the protagonist. I think such stories would be useful for explaining the difference between MC and Protagonist to people not versed in Dramatica. - It sounds like _To Kill a Mockingbird_ may be a great example, but I’ve never read it. - _Princess Bride_ is a decent example. The only problem is some people might argue that Westley is the main character…! - _The Matrix_ is actually a pretty good example for the first half. After that, Neo starts believing in himself and in their ability to affect the Matrix (Trinity: “No one’s ever done anything like this before.” Neo: “That’s why it’s going to work.”) and becomes more protagonist-y. One thing to remember though, is that the Main Character will always be important in some way to the Overall Story – at the very least, their Unique Ability is an overlap between the MC and OS throughlines, and is related to the Goal. So people might always be able to find a scene or two they can use to argue the MC = protagonist. ---
**Author:** ![JBarker](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/jbarker/32/10_2.png) [@JBarker](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/JBarker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/main-character-who-is-very-obviously-not-protagonist/937/2 "2017-03-25T01:53:01Z")
_To Kill a Mockingbird_ is a great example. Also, _The Shawshank Redemption_, _Big_, _Sicario_, and to a lesser extent (meaning perhaps not SUPER OBVIOUS), _Michael Clayton_. I’ve written a few stories where the MC is not the protagonist and while I enjoy the process, the challenge of getting readers from professional services who haven’t been otherwise brainwashed can be a frustrating endeavor. The last script I sent out I had two readers say there was “a perspective problem.” Rather than arguing, I decided not to use them again though I don’t mind taking shots at articles from time to time like I did for _[Sicario](https://thebarkbitesback.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/going-deep-inside-the-underbelly-of-sicario/)_ where Cinema Blend faulted the movie for a perspective problem in their review - sometimes you’ve just got to call them out and hope they’ll eventually see the light. ---
**Author:** ![mlucas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mlucas/32/275_2.png) [@mlucas](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/mlucas)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/main-character-who-is-very-obviously-not-protagonist/937/3 "2017-03-25T13:30:39Z")
Thanks JBarker! Ooh, _Sicario_ – great example (and I’ve read your article before, fantastic work). Man I wish I hadn’t watched that film on the plane; the ending got ruined by interruptions. I’ll have to watch it again, along with _Shawhank_. ---
**Author:** ![Prish](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/prish/32/33_2.png) [@Prish](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/Prish)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/main-character-who-is-very-obviously-not-protagonist/937/4 "2017-03-25T20:18:44Z")
The Sherlock Holmes stories ---
**Author:** ![mlucas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mlucas/32/275_2.png) [@mlucas](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/mlucas)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 12:44am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/main-character-who-is-very-obviously-not-protagonist/937/5 "2017-03-26T00:44:29Z")
Thanks Prish, great suggestion. I’m thinking _The Caine Mutiny_ also applies – I don’t recall the MC ensign guy pursuing very much in the overall story about the crazy captain and the mutiny, anyway. He was just a follower. ---
**Author:** ![geoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@geoff](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/geoff)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/main-character-who-is-very-obviously-not-protagonist/937/6 "2017-04-29T21:16:15Z")
I posted something on this just now. I think Richard Gere’s character (impact character) in “Pretty Woman” might actually be the antagonist. Dwayne Johnson’s character (also an IC) in “Central Intelligence” seems clearly the protagonist. ---
**Author:** ![MWollaeger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex010/user_avatar/discuss.dramatica.com/mwollaeger/32/82_2.png) [@MWollaeger](https://discuss.dramatica.com/u/MWollaeger)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://discuss.dramatica.com/t/main-character-who-is-very-obviously-not-protagonist/937/7 "2017-05-03T00:32:35Z")
Hey – I recommend reading _To Kill a Mockingbird_. _Amerian Gods_ (Neil Gaiman) also has a very clear Non-Protagonist MC. He is also supper passive, so he violates another tenet that many people espouse: the Protagonist/MC must be proactive! (They don’t see a difference between the two.) I’m curious how they are going to deal with this in the upcoming TV adaptation. I talked to one of the writers a long time ago, and he admitted it was an issue. _The Terminator_ I think is pretty clear, as well.