Character Roles
Protagonist
Proteus and Valentine's Friendship
If we think of the play as a "celebration" of male friendship, then we can also think of Proteus and Valentine's bromance as the play's major "protagonist." The relationship is put to the test by Proteus's disloyal behavior and the guys' romantic relationships with women. In the end, male friendship wins out when Valentine forgives Proteus for trying to steal his girl.
Antagonist
Proteus
When Proteus falls in love with Silvia, he decides that he's got to have her, even though his best friend is in love with her. His willingness to lie to his best bud and his relentless pursuit of Silvia (including his attempt to rape her) are major threats to the friendship.
Antagonist
Romance
If we think of male friendship as the play's "protagonist," then it sort of follows that romance acts as an antagonist to that relationship. Proteus's love for Julia causes Proteus and Valentine to be separated (Proteus stays behind in Verona instead of travelling with his pal). Proteus and Valentine also fall for the same girl, Silvia, who comes between them. Is it fair to blame Silvia for Valentine and Proteus's problems? Absolutely not, but the play suggests that romantic relationships with women have the potential to breakup male friendships.
Protagonist
Romance
What? You don't like what we've argued so far? Fine. How about this – what if we argue that romance, not male friendship, is the play's "protagonist"? If we think of it this way, then it is male-female love that must overcome all obstacles. Why else, one could argue, would the play end in the promise of a double wedding?
Antagonist
Proteus
OK, if romance is the protagonist you're rooting for, then you're probably thinking Proteus is a major "antagonist," right? He's the one, after all, who chases after Silvia when she's dating his best friend and tries to rape her. This could definitely work because he's one of the major obstacles in the way of Valentine and Silvia's hook-up.
Antagonist
The Duke of Milan
The Duke of Milan is another "antagonist" to romance, don't you think? He is the guy who banishes Valentine from Milan and prevents him from physically being with Silvia, no?
Guide/Mentor
Lucetta (to Julia)
Lucetta is Julia's levelheaded servant. She dishes out solid advice and helps Julia cross-dress so she can track down her boyfriend in Milan. Hmm. Sounds like a "mentor" to us, even if she does have to put up with Julia's occasional tantrums.
Foil
Lance to Proteus
When Lance tells us about all the beatings he's taken for his dog Crab's bad behavior (stealing pudding, killing geese, "a pissing" under the Duke's table, etc.), it becomes pretty clear that he's more devoted to his dog than Proteus is loyal to Julia and Valentine (4.4.1). Read more about this by going to our "Characters" section.