Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

Babo

Babo is the main antagonist, though for most of the novella you don't know that. He's the secret super-villain who plots to destroy the antagonist with his secret super-brain, that "hive of subtlety" (3.433) which almost brings ruin upon the good guys.

Unless, of course, you think slavery is wrong and fighting against it is the right thing to do. In that case, Babo is actually the tragic protagonist, who almost, but not quite, manages to win freedom for his people against overwhelming odds.