Tritagonist
Encyclopedia
In literature
, the tritagonist is the third most important character of a narrative, after the protagonist
and deuteragonist
. In Ancient Greek drama, the tritagonist was the third member of the acting troupe.
As a character, a tritagonist may act as the instigator or cause of the sufferings of the protagonist. Despite being the least sympathetic character of the drama, he occasions the situations by which pity and sympathy for the protagonist are excited.
The part of the tritagonist emerged from earlier forms of two-actor drama. Where two actors only allowed for a principal character and his adversary, moving the part of adversary to a third actor (the tritagonist) allowed for the second actor (the deuteragonist
) to play roles as a confidant or aide to the principal character, and thereby elicit greater character depth from the principal character by having the protagonist explain their feelings and motivations to an on-stage listener. As Ancient Greek theatre recitations were partly melodic, the role of the tritagonist would typically go to performer with a voice in the bass
range (as compared to the protagonist as tenor and the deuteragonist as baritone). Cicero, in his Divinatio in Caecilium, reported that the tritagonist (being a role of lesser importance than the protagonist) would often have to subdue his voice if he was naturally stronger than the protagonist.
Notable Ancient Greek actors who worked in this role include the orator Aeschines
, who was held by Demosthenes
to have been untalented as a tritagonist, and Myniscus, who was tritagonist under the playwright Aeschylus
.
In some forms of Greek theatre, it was traditional for the tritagonist to enter the stage from the left.
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, the tritagonist is the third most important character of a narrative, after the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
and deuteragonist
Deuteragonist
In literature, the deuteragonist is the second most important character, after the protagonist and before the tritagonist. The deuteragonist may switch from being with or against the protagonist depending on the deuteragonist's own conflict/plot.-History:Greek drama began with simply one actor,...
. In Ancient Greek drama, the tritagonist was the third member of the acting troupe.
As a character, a tritagonist may act as the instigator or cause of the sufferings of the protagonist. Despite being the least sympathetic character of the drama, he occasions the situations by which pity and sympathy for the protagonist are excited.
The part of the tritagonist emerged from earlier forms of two-actor drama. Where two actors only allowed for a principal character and his adversary, moving the part of adversary to a third actor (the tritagonist) allowed for the second actor (the deuteragonist
Deuteragonist
In literature, the deuteragonist is the second most important character, after the protagonist and before the tritagonist. The deuteragonist may switch from being with or against the protagonist depending on the deuteragonist's own conflict/plot.-History:Greek drama began with simply one actor,...
) to play roles as a confidant or aide to the principal character, and thereby elicit greater character depth from the principal character by having the protagonist explain their feelings and motivations to an on-stage listener. As Ancient Greek theatre recitations were partly melodic, the role of the tritagonist would typically go to performer with a voice in the bass
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
range (as compared to the protagonist as tenor and the deuteragonist as baritone). Cicero, in his Divinatio in Caecilium, reported that the tritagonist (being a role of lesser importance than the protagonist) would often have to subdue his voice if he was naturally stronger than the protagonist.
Notable Ancient Greek actors who worked in this role include the orator Aeschines
Aeschines
Aeschines was a Greek statesman and one of the ten Attic orators.-Life:Although it is known he was born in Athens, the records regarding his parentage and early life are conflicting; but it seems probable that his parents, though poor, were respectable. Aeschines' father was Atrometus, an...
, who was held by Demosthenes
Demosthenes
Demosthenes was a prominent Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by...
to have been untalented as a tritagonist, and Myniscus, who was tritagonist under the playwright Aeschylus
Aeschylus
Aeschylus was the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being Sophocles and Euripides, and is often described as the father of tragedy. His name derives from the Greek word aiskhos , meaning "shame"...
.
In some forms of Greek theatre, it was traditional for the tritagonist to enter the stage from the left.