Confidant

Confidant
Not to be confused with confident.
For the 2000 folk song, see Confidant (song).

The confidant (pronounced /ˈkɒnfɪdænt/ or /ˌkɒnfɪˈdɑːnt/; feminine: confidante, same pronunciation) is a character in a story that the lead character (protagonist) confides in and trusts. Typically, these consist of the best friend, relative, doctor or boss.

Contents

Role

The confidant provides the writer of the story with a plausible device for communicating to the audience the mind and intention of their principal character (protagonist). The protagonist may reveal their secrets, personal problems and character flaws to the audience through their conversations and interactions with the confidant character, often entrusting them with important information about themselves (as well as information critical to the plot) that they would not entrust to other characters. The type of character used as a confidant is most commonly the protagonist's closest friend, but may also be a family member such as a spouse, sibling or parental figure, co-worker, trainer or a health professional such as their psychiatrist.

Confidants may not only be used for conveying information about the plot to the audience, but may also be used to share information about the protagonist (such as their feelings about certain subjects or personal fears). In this way, the audience can get to know the protagonist and their goals, as well as their personality and role in the story. Therefore, the confidant is likely to be the only character in the story to know the protagonist's secrets or hidden agendas (and even if they are not the only ones to know, they would at least be the very first ones to know other than the protagonist themselves).

Examples of Confidant Characters

Plays and Literature

Films

TV Shows

Anime

Games


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  • Confidant — Con fi*dant ; 277), n. masc., Confidante Con fi*dante (?; 277), n. fem.[F. confident, confidente, formerly also spelt confidant, confidante. See {Confide}, and cf. {Confident}.] One to whom secrets, especially those relating to affairs of love,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • confidant — index confederate, consociate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • confidant — 1610s, confident, (male) person trusted with private affairs, from Fr. confident (16c.), from It. confidente a trusty friend, lit. confident, trusty, from L. confidentem (nom. confidens), prp. of confidere to trust, confide (see CONFIDENCE (Cf.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • confidant — intimate, *friend, acquaintance Analogous words: comrade, crony, companion (see ASSOCIATE n) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • confidant — confidant, confidante stressed on the first syllable or (in the case of confidante) on the first or last syllable, mean ‘a close friend in whom one confides’, and refer respectively to a male or female and a female. They are alterations of an… …   Modern English usage

  • confidant — [n] close friend acquaintance, adherent, adviser, alter ego, bosom buddy, companion, crony, familiar, intimate, mate, pal; concept 423 Ant. enemy, foe …   New thesaurus

  • confidant — ► NOUN (fem. confidante pronunc. same) ▪ a person in whom one confides …   English terms dictionary

  • confidant — [kän′fə dant΄, kän′fədänt΄; kän΄fə dant′, kän΄fədänt′] n. [Fr confident (fem. confidente) < L confidens, prp. of confidere,CONFIDE] a close, trusted friend, to whom one confides intimate matters or secrets …   English World dictionary

  • confidant — [[t]kɒ̱nfɪdænt, dæ̱nt[/t]] confidants N COUNT: usu with poss Someone s confidant is a man who they are able to discuss their private problems with. ...a close confidant of the president …   English dictionary

  • confidant — UK [ˈkɒnfɪdænt] / US [ˈkɑnfɪˌdænt] / US [ˈkɑnfɪˌdɑnt] noun [countable] Word forms confidant : singular confidant plural confidants someone who you trust and can discuss your secrets and private feelings with …   English dictionary

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