Supporting character
Supporting characters aid protagonists and advance the plot.
A supporting character, also referred to as a secondary or side character, occupies a crucial position in a narrative by being more than a minor figure or a brief cameo, yet not the central focus of the primary storyline. Their importance lies in their relationship to the plot and the protagonist, and they are distinguished from minor characters by possessing a complex backstory, personal desires, and emotions. While these attributes are typically developed in connection to the main character rather than entirely independently, well-crafted supporting characters add significant layers and dimension to both the story and the protagonist. Their backstories can serve to advance the plot or further develop the main character.
Supporting characters can be broadly categorized into three types: supporters, antagonists, and informants. Supporters include caregivers, love interests, comic relief, and close friends. They are generally important to the protagonist, often becoming targets or victims of the antagonist, and they help characterize the protagonist through dialogue and their relationship, offering aid, companionship, and physical or emotional help. Antagonists oppose the protagonist and act as the story’s conflict, challenging the main character and aiding in teaching them a lesson. Informants, such as mentors, guides, or messengers, assist the protagonist on a journey of personal growth or information, providing wisdom and direction, often at a crossroads in the journey. In television, supporting characters may appear in more than half of a season’s episodes, and in ongoing media like comic books or TV series, they can sometimes become main characters in a spin-off if they gain sufficient audience approval.
- definition
- Character in a narrative not the focus of the primary storyline
- distinction
- Has complex backstory, desires, and emotions
- common types
- Love interest, antagonist, best friend, mentor, sidekick, comic relief, caregiver
- broad categories
- Supporters, antagonists, informants
- examples
- Watson (Sherlock Holmes), Donkey (Shrek), Ron Weasley (Harry Potter)
Lore & Background
Supporting characters, also known as secondary or side characters, are narrative figures who are not the primary focus of the main storyline but hold significant importance to the plot or protagonist. They appear or are mentioned frequently enough to be distinguished from minor characters or cameo appearances. Unlike minor characters, supporting characters possess their own complex backstories, desires, and emotions, though these are typically developed in relation to the main character rather than independently. These backstories can deepen the plot or further develop the protagonist. Common types of supporting characters include love interests, antagonists, best friends, mentors, sidekicks, comic relief, and caregivers. Each type advances the plot or brings about conflict. Supporting characters broadly fit into three categories: supporters, antagonists, and informants. Supporters, such as caregivers, love interests, comedic relief, and close friends, are often important to the protagonist and may become targets or victims of the antagonist. They characterize the protagonist through dialogue and relationship, offering aid, companionship, and physical or emotional help. Antagonists oppose the protagonist, creating conflict and teaching lessons. Informants, including mentors, guides, or messengers, provide wisdom and direction, often at a crossroads in the protagonist’s journey. In television, supporting characters may appear in more than half of a season’s episodes and can become main characters in spin-offs if they gain sufficient audience approval.
Reader's Guide
Antagonists are the opposite of the protagonists and act as the conflict of the story. They challenge the protagonist and aid in teaching them a lesson, as seen with the Joker in the Batman series. Informants help the protagonist on a journey of personal growth or information; they can be mentors, guides, or messengers, providing wisdom and direction at a crossroads in the journey, such as Yoda in the Star Wars franchise. In television, supporting characters may appear in more than half of episodes per season, and in ongoing material like comic books and television series, they may become main characters in a spin-off if they gain sufficient audience approval.
Did You Know?
- Supporting characters differ from minor characters because they have a complex backstory, desires, and emotions.
- Common types of supporting characters include love interest, antagonist, best friend, mentor, sidekick, comic relief, and caregiver.
- Supporting characters fit into three broad categories: supporters, antagonists, and informants.
- In television, supporting characters may appear in more than half of episodes per season.
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