Secondary vs. Deuteragonist — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 23, 2024
Secondary characters support the main plot, often with less development; deuteragonists, however, are crucial secondary characters with significant influence and depth in the narrative.
Difference Between Secondary and Deuteragonist
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Secondary characters add depth and complexity to the story by supporting the main characters and plot, whereas deuteragonists specifically serve as the second most important character, directly impacting the protagonist's journey.
While secondary characters can vary in importance and development, ranging from minor to more pivotal roles, a deuteragonist always holds a consistent, critical position in the narrative structure.
Secondary characters often facilitate the development of the plot or the main characters without their own story arcs being thoroughly explored, on the other hand, deuteragonists typically have well-defined personal growth and a significant backstory.
In literature and film, secondary characters may appear in various forms and numbers, providing support or obstacles, whereas the deuteragonist is typically a singular character who often is a friend, family member, or rival to the protagonist.
Secondary characters might not always be remembered by the audience, but a deuteragonist's actions and decisions are crucial to the narrative’s outcome, making them more memorable and impactful.
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Comparison Chart
Role in narrative
Support main plot and characters
Second most important character
Impact on story
Variable, generally lesser
High, often pivotal to the plot
Development
Less detailed
Well-developed with personal arcs
Relationship to protagonist
Generally less personal
Often close, directly affecting protagonist
Audience recall
May not be memorable
Typically memorable and significant
Compare with Definitions
Secondary
A character serving to support or highlight the main characters in a story.
In Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom starts as a secondary character who supports the main storyline.
Deuteragonist
Usually undergoes significant personal growth that is critical to the storyline.
Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, whose development is key to the story’s progression.
Secondary
Often used to introduce subplots or to provide comic relief.
The Weasley twins in Harry Potter frequently lighten a serious situation.
Deuteragonist
The second most important character, after the protagonist, often with a linked destiny.
Hermione Granger in Harry Potter plays a deuteragonist with her own complex character arc.
Secondary
Characters that enrich the story world without central narrative importance.
The myriad of peculiar distant relatives in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Deuteragonist
Often a close ally or antagonist of the protagonist, directly influencing their journey.
Iago in Othello is a deuteragonist whose actions drive the plot.
Secondary
Characters introduced to provide background or context to the primary plot.
The townspeople in many novels are secondary characters adding realism.
Deuteragonist
Their actions and decisions are designed to have a lasting impact on the narrative.
Katara in Avatar: The Last Airbender, who influences many major events.
Secondary
Belonging to a lower class or rank
Deuteragonist
A character who frequently faces conflicts that are pivotal to their development and the main story.
Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes series, who is instrumental in solving mysteries.
Secondary
Second or lower in rank or importance; not primary
Concerns that are secondary.
Deuteragonist
In literature, the deuteragonist or secondary main character (from Ancient Greek: δευτεραγωνιστής, deuteragōnistḗs, second actor) is the second most important character, after the protagonist and before the tritagonist. The deuteragonist often acts as a constant companion to the protagonist or someone who continues actively aiding a protagonist.
Secondary
Following what is first in time or sequence
Secondary fermentation.
Deuteragonist
The character second in importance to the protagonist in classical Greek drama. See Usage Note at protagonist.
Secondary
Of or relating to secondary schools.
Deuteragonist
(narratology) A secondary character; specifically, the second most important character (after the protagonist).
Secondary
Derived from what is primary or original
Literary criticism viewed as secondary to literature itself.
Deuteragonist
An actor playing a role (potentially all roles) requiring a second actor to be present on the stage, opposite the protagonist.
Secondary
Not immediate or direct
A secondary source of information.
Secondary
Of, relating to, or being the shorter flight feathers projecting along the inner edge of a bird's wing.
Secondary
(Electricity) Having an induced current that is generated by an inductively coupled primary. Used of a circuit or coil.
Secondary
Relating to, or having a carbon atom that is attached to two other carbon atoms in a molecule.
Secondary
Relating to the replacement of two of several atoms or groups in a compound, such as an amine in which two valences of the functional group are taken by carbon atoms.
Secondary
(Geology) Produced from another mineral by decay or alteration.
Secondary
Of or relating to a secondary color or colors.
Secondary
Being a degree of health care intermediate between primary care and tertiary care, as that typically offered at a community hospital.
Secondary
(Botany) Of, relating to, or derived from a lateral meristem, especially a cambium.
Secondary
One that acts in an auxiliary, subordinate, or inferior capacity.
Secondary
One of the shorter flight feathers projecting along the inner edge of a bird's wing.
Secondary
(Electricity) A coil or circuit having an induced current.
Secondary
(Astronomy) A celestial body that orbits another; a satellite.
Secondary
The dimmer star of a binary star.
Secondary
A secondary color.
Secondary
(Football) The defensive backfield.
Secondary
Next in order to the first or primary; of second place in origin, rank, etc.
Secondary
Originating from a deputy or delegated person or body
The work of secondary hands
Secondary
(organic chemistry) Derived from a parent compound by replacement of two atoms of hydrogen by organic radicals
Secondary
(geology) Produced by alteration or deposition subsequent to the formation of the original rock mass.
Secondary
(geology) Developed by pressure or other causes.
Secondary cleavage
Secondary
(anatomy) Pertaining to the second joint of the wing of a bird.
Secondary
(medicine) Dependent or consequent upon another disease, or occurring in the second stage of a disease.
Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever.
The secondary symptoms of syphilis
Secondary
Of less than primary importance.
A secondary issue
Secondary
(education) Related to secondary education, i.e. schooling between the ages of (approximately) 11 and 18.
Secondary
(manufacturing) Relating to the manufacture of goods from raw materials.
Secondary
(of a color) Formed by mixing primary colors.
Yellow is a secondary light color, though a primary CMYK color.
Secondary
Representing a reversion to an ancestral state.
Secondary
(ornithology) Any flight feather attached to the ulna (forearm) of a bird.
Secondary
(aviation) A radar return generated by the response of an aircraft's transponder to an interrogation signal broadcast by a radar installation, containing additional encoded identification and situational data not available from a simple primary return.
Secondary
(military) The second stage of a multistage thermonuclear weapon, which generates a fusion explosion when imploded as an indirect result of the fission explosion of the primary, and which, in a few extremely large weapons, itself implodes a fusion tertiary.
Secondary
(finance) An act of issuing more stock by an already publicly traded corporation.
Secondary
The defensive backs.
Secondary
(electronics) An inductive coil or loop that is magnetically powered by a primary in a transformer or similar.
Secondary
One who occupies a subordinate or auxiliary place; a delegate deputy.
The secondary, or undersheriff, of the city of London
Secondary
(astronomy) A secondary circle.
Secondary
(astronomy) A satellite.
Secondary
(education) A secondary school.
There are four secondaries in this district, each with several thousand pupils.
Secondary
Anything secondary or of lesser importance.
Secondary
Succeeding next in order to the first; of second place, origin, rank, etc.; not primary; subordinate; not of the first order or rate.
Wheresoever there is moral right on the one hand, no secondary right can discharge it.
Two are the radical differences; the secondary differences are as four.
Secondary
Acting by deputation or delegated authority; as, the work of secondary hands.
Secondary
Possessing some quality, or having been subject to some operation (as substitution), in the second degree; as, a secondary salt, a secondary amine, etc. Cf. primary.
Secondary
Subsequent in origin; - said of minerals produced by alteration or deposition subsequent to the formation of the original rock mass; also of characters of minerals (as secondary cleavage, etc.) developed by pressure or other causes.
Secondary
Pertaining to the second joint of the wing of a bird.
Secondary
Dependent or consequent upon another disease; as, Bright's disease is often secondary to scarlet fever.
Secondary
One who occupies a subordinate, inferior, or auxiliary place; a delegate or deputy; one who is second or next to the chief officer; as, the secondary, or undersheriff of the city of London.
Old Escalus . . . is thy secondary.
Secondary
A secondary circle.
Secondary
A secondary quill.
Secondary
The defensive football players who line up behind the linemen
Secondary
Coil such that current is induced in it by passing a current through the primary coil
Secondary
Of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate;
The stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher
A secondary source
A secondary issue
Secondary streams
Secondary
Inferior in rank or status;
The junior faculty
A lowly corporal
Petty officialdom
A subordinate functionary
Secondary
Depending on or incidental to what is original or primary;
A secondary infection
Secondary
Not of major importance;
Played a secondary role in world events
Common Curiosities
What role do secondary characters play in subplots?
Secondary characters are often central to subplots, providing additional layers and complexities to the main story.
Can there be multiple deuteragonists in a story?
Yes, some stories feature multiple deuteragonists, especially in ensemble casts where several characters have significant narrative importance.
What genres most commonly feature deuteragonists?
Deuteragonists are prevalent in genres like drama, adventure, and fantasy, where complex character relationships drive the plot.
How do secondary characters contribute to the theme of a story?
They embody or challenge the central themes, offering different perspectives and enriching the narrative’s thematic depth.
How do secondary characters impact the protagonist?
Secondary characters can influence the protagonist by challenging them, aiding in their development, or providing critical information.
Is a deuteragonist always a good character?
No, a deuteragonist can be antagonistic or morally complex, significantly influencing the story’s direction and the protagonist's development.
How do writers develop secondary characters differently from deuteragonists?
Writers typically give deuteragonists more detailed backstories and character development compared to secondary characters, who may serve more functional roles.
How does a deuteragonist's relationship with the protagonist evolve in a story?
This relationship can evolve significantly, often reflecting the overarching themes and emotional journeys within the narrative.
Can a deuteragonist’s role be fulfilled by a non-human character?
Yes, animals, AI, or supernatural beings can serve as deuteragonists, especially in genres like science fiction or fantasy.
Are secondary characters necessary in every story?
While not essential, they typically appear in most narratives to create a believable world and support the primary plotlines.
What are common pitfalls in writing deuteragonists?
Common issues include underdeveloping the deuteragonist or making them too similar to the protagonist, which can dilute their impact.
How do authors use secondary characters to foreshadow events?
Authors may use secondary characters to introduce hints or clues about future events in the storyline, enriching the narrative tension.
What is the impact of a well-written deuteragonist on the audience?
A well-crafted deuteragonist can deeply resonate with the audience, providing emotional depth and making the story more memorable and impactful.
What happens if a deuteragonist overshadows the protagonist?
This can shift the narrative focus, sometimes leading to a change in who is perceived as the protagonist due to audience interest and character dynamics.
How can secondary characters be used effectively in comedy?
In comedic settings, secondary characters often play exaggerated or humorous roles that contrast with or complicate the protagonist’s situation.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
