Protagonist
Sic —As one who has been a constant reader of the Spectator for some sixty years might I suggest to HE., who writes the notes headed At Westminster, that his use of the word " protagonist " is not strictly correct. He says: " It is an ironic twist that has made Mr. Strauss, as Minister of Supply, one of the chief protagonists on the Government side in the rearmament controversy." Now the Oxford dictionary defines the word " protagonist" as follows: "From the Greek Protos, first ; agonistes, combatant, actor. A leading personage in a drama ; the principal character in the plot of a story ; a leading personage in any contest ; a champion in any cause." From the above definitions I would suggest that there could be only one protagonist. It might •be argued with regard to the last definition, taking the word " champion" in its widest sense, that there might be more than one 'champion; -but in its original sense a champion means " the winner of a contest."—YOurs, &c., 25 O'Connell Street, Sydney, N.S.W. ' N. W. ICArkt:
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