SIDEKICK

Persona (Characteristics)

- Faithful right hand of the Protagonist (or Villain-- see Dark Side)
- Vulnerably, intimately connected with the Protagonist -- they have a deep bond
- Set as counterpoint/ contrast to the Protagonist in personality, physical type, temperament
- Has skills and abilities that the Protagonist doesn't have, and uses them to accomplish a leg of the journey the Protagonist couldn't have overcome on his own (psychological and/or physical journey)
- Often more emotionally open/ mature than the Protagonist
- May act as the Protagonist's moral compass, or as The Brains behind the operation 
- Completely devoted to the Protagonist and her goals -- acts as her cheerleader and protector 
- Willing to sacrifice himself for the Protagonist's sake
- Might be straight-up hilarious and the most likable character
- May also be non-human ​

Examples

Harry Potter: Ron Weasley
Film/ TV: Donkey in Shrek; R2D2 in Star Wars; Dr. Watson in Sherlock; Sam in The Lord of the Rings trilogy; Anne Perkins in Parks & Recreation; Iago in Aladdin (shadow); Lefou in Beauty and the Beast (shadow)
​Shakespeare: Dromio of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors; Nerissa in The Merchant of Venice; Celia in As You Like It

Shadow (Dark Side)

- May be bumbling, inept, even ridiculous in his attempts to help out
- Devotion to the Protagonist could be borderline obsessive and lead to an unhealthy relationship
​- May be willing to harm others and compromise his own morals for the sake of the Protagonist
- Allows himself to be patronized, disrespected and kicked around by the Protagonist 
​- Sacrifices his own sense of self and his own life goals, which could lead to bitterness and regret
- Perhaps incapable of surviving and thriving on his own -- needs someone else 
- Always second wheel, perhaps never able to be the main character in his own life 
- Only out for the shared glory brought by the Protagonist... or becomes disdainful that he never gets any of the glory
- Henchman to the Villain instead: aiding and abetting considerable villainy
​- Gravitates towards power of the Villain for shared glory, even at the expense of his morality/ soul

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