Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

Frank Shabata

It's hard not to see Frank as the antagonist of O Pioneers! C'mon, he's a pretty nasty guy, and a murderer to boot. However, while Frank might not exactly have a heart of gold, we do find ourselves sympathizing with Frank once he's in prison. We start to get a picture of Frank as an immigrant who lost his way in a foreign country, and whose life has been ruined by a single moment of confusion, rage and fear. 

Lou and Oscar Bergson

Let's get one thing straight: you do not want these guys for brothers. Though the two do have distinct personalities, the novel portrays them as partners in antagonizing Alexandra. Lou and Oscar resent her success and don't respect her rights as a landowner, strictly on the grounds that she's a woman. And when they can't convince her not to marry Carl, they take matters into their own hands and drive him off.