[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]In mainstream America, there tends to be the same type of protagonist. The character is almost always a white teen that has faced some sort of tragedy and handles it with as much moral integrity as possible. I am sick of this same character being the only protagonist we ever read about. We should have a variety of not only ethnically diverse characters, but also characters with personalities different from the cookie-cutter mold that protagonists are seemingly made from.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]A female character not always dependant on the male

This is a major issue in mainstream novels such as “The Fault In Our Stars” and “Divergent”. Both of the main female protagonists have little to no self worth until the male protagonist shows interest in them. Depending on someone else for acceptance is a terrible thing to teach a young, impressionable audience. While it is okay to have characters who depend on each other, there also needs to be equal representation of independant characters.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]A character with cultural heritage

Culture and ethnicity play a large part in someones identity. By identifying a character’s ethnicity you are reaching an entire group of people who will cherish this connection. When making all characters white, the writers exclude many ethnicities that need to be represented.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]A character that doesn’t constantly sacrifice themselves

Every protagonist seems to want to play the martyr. This is one of the most aggravating things for the reader because those types of characters sacrifice themselves over and over again. I want some characters that love themselves above others. This heroic characteristic is just a bland, typical thing to add to a character.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]A character who is a villain and a protagonist

Not every protagonist should have an always moral compass. A character that will do bad things in order to achieve their goals would be refreshing to read about. Realistically, everyone is a little bit selfish and every once in a while they may do bad things. By limiting these characteristics to only antagonists in books,  the author sets an unrealistic expectation for readers to aspire to.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Authors should begin to think outside of the box when it comes to writing their protagonist. Readers want to be able to identify with and root for the main character of a novel. This is sometimes hard to do when every protagonist has the same qualities. Hopefully, the characters I listed will begin to appear in popular novels and change the protagonist stereotype.

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