Erving Goffman proposed a character theory that analyzes characters based on their roles in media. According to his theory, there are four main character types: the protagonist, who is the leading or major character; the deuteragonist, who is the second most important character; the bit player, who is a minor character with unknown background; and the fool, who uses humor to convey messages. These character types are exemplified in the 2006 film She's the Man, where Viola Hastings is the protagonist whose story the film revolves around, Duke Orsino is the deuteragonist whose relationship with Viola is central, James Kirk plays a minor bit player role as Viola's brother Sebastian, and Vi

1. Erving Goffman

2. Erving Goffman’s Character Theory
A character theory is basically analyzing a character upon its
role within context of media, such as print or electronic media
texts or productions such as films and plays. is useful for
analysing and understanding media in which people take on the
role of an actor or social actor. Character theories are often
based on stereotypes, and the different characteristics that
make them up can either be used for positive or negatives
purposes. In terms of Goffman’s theory, he suggested that
there are four main types of broad characters in a media text
or production.

3. The Protagonist
The Leader
• What is a protagonist?
It is the leading character or one of the
major characters in a play, film, novel,
etc. In context to the movie She's The
Man (2006), the main character is Viola
Hastings (Amanda Bynes) ,who is a girl, a
high school soccer player who learns that
the girls' team at her school, Cornwall, is
being cut. After her request to join the
boys' team is refused, she finds a way to
play for Cornwall's rival Illyria. She checks
in the private school, but here's the
catch, she checks in as her twin brother,
then is all down hill from there. It is
obvious that she is the main character as
the film revolves around her.

4. The Deuteragonist
The Secondary Character
• What is a deuteragonist?
It is the second most important character, after the
protagonist. The deuteragonist may switch from
being with or against the protagonist depending
on the deuteragonist's own conflict/plot.
In context to She's The Man (2006) the
deuteragonist or the second most important
character is Duke Orsino (Channing Tatum).
At Illyria Violas roommate is Duke Orsino a hot
striker on the soccer team. Duke met Viola
through the "Sebastian disguise” and through out
the movie the story revolves around the
complicated love of Viola and Duke.

5. The Bit Player
• What is the bit player?
According to Goffman’s theory the bit player is a minor
character whose specific background the audience is
not aware of. An example of this can be taken from
She's The Man (2006). The character that plays “the
bit player” or a minor role is Sebastian Hastings
(James Kirk). Although his name has been mentioned
through out the movie, as Viola’s disguise, he himself
is not much present on the screen.

6. The Fool
• Who is The Fool?
According to Goffman The Fool is a character that uses
humor to convey messages. In She's the Man (2006)
Viola Hastings (Amanda Bynes) plays the role of the
fool. She is a tomboy who is spunky, witty and
funny. She loves to play soccer. She is self-reliant.
The thought of becoming a debutante and wearing
pink and frills makes her gag. Viola loves to eat.
Viola has little manners and is very ungraceful. She
really believes in girl-power and hates sexist people
who think girls can't beat boys and so is challenging
the role of a “girl” or a stereotypical girl. In the
movie she uses comical dialogues, and her being is
the disguise of a boy also adds comedy into the
movie.