Final answer:
Supporting characters in a story play secondary roles, assisting the protagonist or antagonist, and can also act as foils to main characters. They are essential for developing the story and adding depth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The supporting character in a story is a person, animal, or inanimate object that plays a secondary role, typically assisting or interacting with the main characters such as the protagonist or antagonist. Supporting characters can help drive the narrative forward, provide vital information to the audience, or act as a foil to highlight certain traits of the main characters. It's important to note that they can be complex and contribute significantly to the story's dynamics, despite not being the focus of the primary conflict.
The antagonist, on the other hand, is the character, force, or concept that opposes the protagonist and creates the main conflict of the story. Protagonists and antagonists are central to the narrative, but supporting characters bring depth to the story by illustrating different sides of the main conflict or by emphasizing the qualities of the main characters through their interactions. They are essential in making the story relatable and engaging for readers