Rules of the Game

An antagonist is a character who actively opposes the protagonist, creating conflict within a story. Antagonists can be hostile in their opposition and intentional in their obstruction, or they can be subtle in their confrontation with other characters. They are the protagonist’s greatest adversary and can take on the form of another character, an idea, or even a town or a business. The challenges they create propel central characters into some action or internal shift.

If Waverly is this story’s protagonist, then her greatest adversary is certainly her mother. After Waverly wins her first chess trophy, her mother antagonizes her by telling her to “win more, lose less” (Paragraph 44). When Waverly protests that losing pieces is sometimes a smart tactic in chess, her mother pushes back: “Better to lose less, see if you really need” (Paragraph 46). From hovering over her while she practices her chess moves to parading her down the busy streets for neighbors to see, Waverly’s mother consistently coaxes and annoys her so that she (literally) cannot sit still. Her mother’s influence constantly moves Waverly forward.