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Comic Heroes

Antagonists

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Conflict Resolution

 

Who are the antagonists to the comic heroes?

The Count: The tailor, who is Chaplin's boss, and the higher class people who attend the party are the antagonists.

Photo Courtesy of www.alfredsplace.com/count.jpg

Easy Street: The bully, although he is also low class, is more of a power figure than Chaplin.

The Immigrant: The waiter, being employed, has more power in society than Chaplin. The gambler on the ship has thought through ways of earning a living and since he has a plan he has more of an advantage in society.

Photo Courtesy of www.es.unizh.ch/ahjucker/Chaplin1.jpg

Birds: In the beginning society was the main antagonist but as Makemedo gains control over the birds, he becomes the antagonist.

Photo Courtesy of www.temple.edu/classics/birds2.gif

Clouds: Pheidippides defies his father's wishes for him to persue an education with Socrates. When Strepsiades himself goes to learn under Socrates, Socrates become the antagonist, challenging the farmer's beliefs. However, the true antagonist proves to be Strepsiades’ own desire to get out of debt.

Photo of Socrates Courtesy of 67.18.47.148/.../Ancient_technology/engmenu.jpg

Goin’ to Town: Society is the antagonist. Borden is looked down upon my many because of her forwardness and unorthodox business techniques.

Photo Courtesy of www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews21/a%20mae%2...

It Happened One Night: Ellie Andrews and Peter Warne are constantly playing off of one another, getting in each other’s way, and bringing out the best and worst in each other.

Photo Courtesy of www.firstdanceimpressions.com/images/Claudett...

Dyskolos: Knemon; the perpetually grumpy old man won’t give his daughter away until he finds a man “of his own kidney”.

Photo Courtesy of veneziainscena.provincia.venezia.it/dyskolos_...

Samia: As the anger in the work shifts back and forth, so does the antagonist; when Demas believes that Moschion has impregnated his wife, he is furious; when Nikeratos is convinced as well, he rages at the comic hero.

Iran Man: Dorkalot is the antagonist to Bowman, brokering a deal with the young man to win his love and bringing out Bowman’s best scheming qualities.

Towelheads: Igor and Boris play off of each other and are each other's main antagonist. The Wolf, the pimp of the play, is also an antagonist.

A Night at the Opera: Driftwood’s boss, Herbert Gottlieb, and Rodolfo Lassparri, the opera singer vying for Rosa’s affections, act as the antagonists to the comic trio of the Marx Brothers.

Photo Courtesy of www.doctormacro.com/.../Marx%20Brothers.htm

CONCLUSION

There are many types of antagonists in the examined works. Antagonism can be based on power, wealth, social status and personality differences.

 

 
For questions or comments, please contact John Gruber-Miller