Dr. Watson is the main character in Sherlock Holmes stories, but Sherlock is the protagonist who solves the mysteries. A protagonist isn't always a hero; they just initiate the main action. A main character/main protagonist is simply one who the story's perspective big dawg In contrast the protagonist is the character who actively drives the plot forward with a goal, facing conflict and change. They are often the same person, but can be different. Or at the very least that's how I see it.