Who is the protagonist?

[TheNewLibrarian]

I know that Light is the main character, but he shows signs of being a villain... And L was against him, but he clearly wanted to save the world which means he's a good guy, right?
So who is the protagonist? Light, or L/Near/Mello?  

[Akiko-infinity]

I think that was part of the point. The battle between good and evil with obvious sides is the stuff of fairy tales. Both Light and L were morally flawed characters. It's like instead of being black and white, they were both shades of gray. In the end, I think Light was the bad guy, willing to sacrifice anyone who got in his way. But this doesn't mean that L is necessarily the man on the white horse, either. The fact that the fans can debate over which was the bad guy shows that neither one was free from blame, nor were they all bad.

If you go by the rule that the good guys always win, L and his successors were the protagonists. But that rule is also up for debate in the moral argument of the story. I don't think this question has a definitive answer.  

[TheNewLibrarian]

Akiko-infinity

I think that was part of the point. The battle between good and evil with obvious sides is the stuff of fairy tales. Both Light and L were morally flawed characters. It's like instead of being black and white, they were both shades of gray. In the end, I think Light was the bad guy, willing to sacrifice anyone who got in his way. But this doesn't mean that L is necessarily the man on the white horse, either. The fact that the fans can debate over which was the bad guy shows that neither one was free from blame, nor were they all bad.

If you go by the rule that the good guys always win, L and his successors were the protagonists. But that rule is also up for debate in the moral argument of the story. I don't think this question has a definitive answer.

Light started the series with good intentions, but toward the end, he just got selfish stare
I was glad that L's successors won, but there is an alternate ending.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue8fM2FBL_A  

[Sonrais Ishime]

In my opinion L was the protagonist because without your help or Mello or Near could have solved the case  

[Saiisawsome]

If you ask me, even though Light was a total baka in books 1-12, he did show some sides of being good. L on the other hand also was totally on the good side, because he wanted Light dead, for murder. If I was Light, I wouldn't have killed off so many criminals. thats what caused Light's death when Light was only 23. lol  

[Nights of Music]

I believe this has no real answer, for it all depends on whom you ask and what point of view you look at it as.  

[kitten of dreams13]

I first started out thinking Light was doing a good thing, but once his intentions went bad and just started killing cops. I went to L as the protagonist.  

[DomaDoma]

Light is pretty clearly the protagonist of Death Note. Just as Macbeth is pretty clearly the protagonist of Macbeth. Protagonists don't have to be the good guy.  

[FoxMarcello]

DomaDoma

Light is pretty clearly the protagonist of Death Note. Just as Macbeth is pretty clearly the protagonist of Macbeth. Protagonists don't have to be the good guy.

that is a good point!  

[FoxMarcello]

I'm on team L because Light wasted his time and effort killing criminals who were already incarcerated. Though I don't think he REALLY cracked until the death of Lind L. Taylor. Sure he was also a criminal, but Light didn't know that! Also, who is Light to judge who "regretted their crimes" or what circumstances were "justified"? Did he just assume nobody lies to the media? or that no criminal is secretly seeking mental help?

Besides, who can hate someone who eats sugar and looks like a panda???
 

[ButterflyStorm]

A protagonist is defined as the main character, regardless of whether they are heroic or not heroic. Since Death Note centres around Light, he is the protagonist. L, rather than being an antagonist, I would describe as being the deuteroganist.  

[TheNewLibrarian]

Nights of Death

I believe this has no real answer, for it all depends on whom you ask and what point of view you look at it as.

You are quite wise 3nodding  

[Nights of Music]

Clover_IceQueen

Nights of Death

I believe this has no real answer, for it all depends on whom you ask and what point of view you look at it as.

You are quite wise 3nodding

Ha ha, I do have my moments >w<  

[Akarui kishi Zane]

FoxMarcello

DomaDoma

Light is pretty clearly the protagonist of Death Note. Just as Macbeth is pretty clearly the protagonist of Macbeth. Protagonists don't have to be the good guy.

that is a good point!

I agree that is a great point!  

[ii Matts Shinigami]

I ask my teacher kinda the same thing.
(Lol, I'm bring my Death Note craziness to school..)

If you understood what 'protagonist' was, the answer would be simple.
Protagonist means, the main character.
So Light was the protagonist.

But since L/Mello/Near/Matt were helping the world, doesn't necessarily mean they're the protagonist.

It's just that the anime was in a "villain's" point of view.