Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

We're Not Sure about This, Either

Since it's hard to pin down the play's protagonist, it's even harder to name an antagonist, the character in opposition to the protagonist. If we want to get creative, we might say that it's ambition or pride itself, since these traits are what cause the characters to go after one another and act all crazy. It's also what makes them want to get revenge on each other, and the desire for revenge makes these characters act erratic, foolish and fickle.

Clifford, for example, kills Rutland because York killed his dad; York's sons go after Clifford and Margaret because they butchered their dad; Warwick changes sides and fights against Edward because he married Lady Bona; and Richard promises revenge… but doesn't get around to taking it until the next play.

It's as if Shakespeare purposely leaves it ambiguous so that we have to figure out who the antagonist is for ourselves. So many of the characters are in opposition that it could be any of them. Is the antagonist York or Edward, because they're the ones openly challenging Henry? Is it Margaret, who destroys everything and everyone in the way of her ambitions? Is it Richard, whose scheming promises to destroy pretty much everyone? Is it all of them, in different ways?

Chew on that one, Shmoopsters.