Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

General Tilney, John Thorpe, Isabella Thorpe

Our protagonist Catherine is beset by multiple antagonists who are often working in concert. The Thorpe siblings tag-team their efforts at manipulation and frequently go out of their way to isolate Catherine from the Tilneys. Though Catherine doesn't recognize them as such, the Thorpe's are generally directly responsible for Catherine's mishaps and awkward incidents in Bath. And if opposing the protagonist doesn't make you an antagonist, then we don't know what does. The book's other antagonist is General Tilney, who of course listens to rumors started by fellow antagonist John Thorpe. Though General Tilney seems nice at first, he actually proves more dangerous to Catherine than the Thorpes. The Thorpes certainly place our protagonist in awkward situations, but General Tilney actually throws Catherine out of his house and treats her with outrageous rudeness.