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Q&A Averting Protagonist-Centred Morality

Protagonist-Centred Morality is when a fictional work is eager to point out when an antagonist does something immoral or distasteful but fails to acknowledge when a protagonist does the same or som...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by System‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T09:54:47Z (about 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/39269
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T09:54:47Z (about 5 years ago)
[Protagonist-Centred Morality](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ProtagonistCenteredMorality) is when a fictional work is eager to point out when an antagonist does something immoral or distasteful but fails to acknowledge when a protagonist does the same or something worse. This trope also comes into effect when the narrative encourages the audience to root for the protagonist despite the immoral and unethical actions of said protagonist.

In my trilogy, I have multiple characters [continuously criticise](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WhatTheHellHero) the [protagonist](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SociopathicHero)'s less-than-heroic actions, with the deuteragonist [serving as his conscience](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheConscience) and lambasting his selfish decisions. In the end, when the deuteragonist scathingly berates the protagonist for being such a horrible human being, he considers the negative ramifications of his actions and becomes a better person. It's also revealed that his selfish behaviour stems from a troubled adolescence and being the pawn of a [scheming otherworldly monstrosity](https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/38369/how-to-write-an-eldritch-abomination), who goads the protagonist into gratifying his selfish desires and clinging to his nihilistic worldview while posing as the personification of his negative emotions.

Is all this enough to avoid the trap of making my protagonist seem like a saint relative to the antagonists, given that the antagonists are all irredeemably evil? If not, what else do I need?

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2018-10-08T11:43:26Z (about 6 years ago)
Original score: 1