The foundation of every great story lies in the characters. What makes a story interesting, pulling readers to continue flipping the pages, is how compelling these characters are; hence, the need to make them riveting and realistic. The first step to achieving this is defining the role of a character. To accomplish that, you need to understand the seven character roles that exist in fiction. With popular examples, this is the classification of characters based on the roles they play:

1. Protagonist

The story revolves around the protagonist — hero or anti-hero. In a first-person POV, they are often the narrators, though not always, and most times, the story is told through their point of view. All other characters are relevant in connection with the protagonist, and there is no story without them. As a writer, you should craft them first; give them a logical backstory and a character arc as the story progresses. Let readers care about them from the beginning, so introduce them early enough. Examples of protagonists are Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings, and Wilbur in Charlotte's Web.

2. Antagonist

This character stands in the protagonist's way; they aim to make sure the protagonist fails. The antagonist can be a villain or an anti-villain, and they usually play a crucial role in the story. But they don't need to make many appearances to make their presence felt. Sometimes they remain anonymous until the climax of the story, and knowing what their next move will be can create enough tension for a good story. However, some stories can do without them because their focus is on the internal conflict of the protagonist, as it is in The Catcher in A Rye and Bell Jars. Famous examples of antagonists include Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter, President Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games, and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

3. Confidante

This character is usually the protagonist's parents, best friend, mentor, or love interest. The protagonist turns to them for help and often finds them reliable. Their role can be crucial in some stories, and sometimes they are often ignored or nonexistent in other stories. Examples include Hermione and Dumbledore in Harry Potter, Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, and Cinna in The Hunger Games.

4. Love Interest

Shining best in romance, this character is the protagonist's dream significant other. Sometimes, the protagonist denies his feelings for them at first but soon can't help but fall in love. A good love interest is a fascinating, round character and romantic tension between them and the protagonist is the focus or a crucial aspect of the story. Famous examples include Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind, Peeta in The Hunger Games, and Daisy in The Great Gatsby.

5. Deuteragonist

This role and that of confidante and love interest can be intertwined. Deuteragonists, sometimes referred to as sidekicks, are friends and partners of the protagonist; they lend a hand in the protagonist's mission, and these friendships can be a crucial highlight of a story. But a deuteragonist doesn't have to be the protagonist's friend; they can be arch-enemies who now have a common enemy. Popular examples include Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dr. John Watson from Sherlock Holmes, and Jim in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

6. Foil

This character is the precise opposite of the protagonist, and their characterization highlights the quality of the protagonist. If the protagonist is brave and honest, the foil is timid and dishonest; if the protagonist is quiet and introverted, the foil is noisy and brash. The foil is different from the antagonist in that they don't stand against the protagonist. Sometimes they might be friends, love interests, and confidantes of the protagonist. Famous examples are Draco Malfoy to Harry Potter in the Harry Potter series, Effie Trinket to Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, and George to Lennie in Mice and Men.

7. Tertiary Characters

These characters are the extras in a story, and sometimes are hardly noticeable. They might be present in just one or two scenes, and their role in the story isn't too significant. However, their presence is often necessary as they make up the story's universe, which usually can't exist without them. Examples include Fabrizio in The Godfather, Padma and Parvati Patil in the Harry Potter series, and Madame Stahl in Anna Karenina.