deuteragonist

theater

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Last updated

June 25, 2026

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The term "deuteragonist" originates from ancient Greek drama and refers to the second most important actor in a play. This role was introduced by Aeschylus, allowing for the first dialogues between two characters, with the protagonist being the first actor. A deuteragonist can also function as a foil to another character, meaning they serve to highlight the qualities of another character through contrast. In modern usage, the term is less common, but the concept of a secondary, yet significant, character remains relevant in storytelling.12

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Aeschylus
Dramatic and literary achievements
…adding a second actor (the deuteragonist, or second actor) with whom the first could converse, Aeschylus vastly increased the drama’s possibilities for dialogue and dramatic tension and allowed more variety and freedom in plot construction. Although the dominance of the chorus in early tragedy is ultimately only hypothesis, it is…
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…adding a second actor (the deuteragonist, or second actor) with whom the first could converse, Aeschylus vastly increased the drama’s possibilities for dialogue and dramatic tension and allowed more variety and freedom in plot construction. Although the dominance of the chorus in early tragedy is ultimately only hypothesis, it is…
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protagonist
…in a second actor, or deuteragonist, and presented the first dialogue between two characters. Aeschylus’ younger rival, Sophocles, then added a third actor, the tritagonist, and was able to write more complex, more natural dialogue. That there were only three actors did not limit the number of characters to three…
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…in a second actor, or deuteragonist, and presented the first dialogue between two characters. Aeschylus’ younger rival, Sophocles, then added a third actor, the tritagonist, and was able to write more complex, more natural dialogue. That there were only three actors did not limit the number of characters to three…
Read More