History Main / NonPOVProtagonist

* The developers of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' wanted to do a story about a character with a troubled past who had to grow up and accept his responsibility as the heir of the Septim line and save Tamriel from Mehrunes Dagon. However this sort of linear storytelling didn't fit in with the play style of ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series. So they made the hero of the story an NPC, and you're [[HypercompetentSidekick the person who runs errands for him]]. [[WideOpenSandbox When you aren't too busy doing other things.]]

* ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'': While the author almost zealously ensures that most named characters are given a point of view section regularly - not a mean feat, considering that there are usually hundreds of characters that qualify - Tavore Paran is a notable exception. Throughout the series we are given only a single paragraph from her point of view, and a vague one at that. This is deliberate; she is one of the series' greatest mysteries.

* ''Literature/TheGreatGatsby'' is a famous example, with all the action narrated by Jay Gatsby's neighbor and confidant, Nick Carraway, rather than the title character himself.

* The Protagonists in WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse are Steven, Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl, however the show is exclusivley told from Steven's Perspective meaning we never get to see the Crystal Gems on thier own without Steven around. If that does happen it's usually a story told to Steven by another character.

Some written works feature a consistent PointOfView: namely, through the eyes of TheProtagonist. Other works throw in [[{{Deuteragonist}} additional protagonists]] and [[SwitchingPOV pass the POV around]] to present each of their respective views on the transpiring events. Sometimes, however, a single main character (usually the one with the most ambiguous/mysterious motivation) is conspicuously ''denied'' POV and their impact upon the plot is only ever seen through the eyes of co-protagonists. This character is the NonPOVProtagonist of the book.

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', Robb is the only Stark child besides 4-year-old Rickon to never have his own narrative, despite having major events in ''A Clash of Kings'' and ''A Storm of Swords'' revolve around him. Most of the chapters involving Robb are told from the P.O.V. of his mother.

* The Sister of ''MySistersKeeper'' is, until the very last chapter, the only main character that doesn't narrate a chapter. The book only has a few characters, and asides from Kate, the only characters who don't get to narrate are the Judge, a bartender named Seven, and a dog.
** A similar thing happens in ''Literature/HandleWithCare'', when, until the last chapter, everyone but Willow (the main reason for the plot) narrates.

* We never get Literature/SherlockHolmes's point-of-view in all but two of his mysteries, only [[TheWatson Watson's]]. Consensus is that it's for the best -- apparently Holmes was a crap writer.

* Carrot Ironfoundersson from Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' books. He's an important character, yet we never see what he thinks. Other main characters' POV are frequently presented. There's a theory that this might be due to the fact that he's not exactly as innocent and simple - minded as he appears to be, and Pratchett doesn't want to show it.
** Carrot gets occasional POV sequences - the first little bit of ''Discworld/GuardsGuards'' and the odd page or two in other books are through his eyes. [[EnsembleDarkhorse Vimes is just a much more interesting character.]]
* Admiral Thrawn from the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse''. He's an AntiVillain antagonist, to be precise, but we have narration from the POV of Imperial characters - except him. Never from his point.

* Many important characters in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' are narrated by hobbits. (Not that the hobbits are unimportant, but since a SupportingLeader is often a NonPOVProtagonist and Aragorn son of Arathorn is ''the'' [[TropeNamer original Supporting Leader]], it bears mentioning.)

* Thanks to some LeaningOnTheFourthWall in the ''BatenKaitos'' series, the ''player him/herself'' is the point of view character, being cast as the "Guardian Spirit" of Kalas ([=EWatLO=]) and Sagi (Orgins). While the two are the main characters of their game, they are not the POV characters, a distinction that has some very interesting effects in ''Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean'' as [[spoiler: it allows Kalas to be TheMole and betray the party, you included]].

* ''NogizakaHarukaNoHimitsu'' is, as those who read Japanese must have figured out from reading the title, about the secret of a character named Nogizaka Haruka. However, the story isn't told from her P.O.V., but the one of OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Ayase Yuuto and is about how his life changed after learning the secret.

* ''MalazanBookOfTheFallen'': While the author almost zealously ensures that most named characters are given a point of view section regularly - not a mean feat, considering that there are usually hundreds of characters that qualify - Tavore Paran is a notable exception. Throughout the series we are given only a single paragraph from her point of view, and a vague one at that. This is deliberate; she is one of the series' greatest mysteries.

* Masterfully played in ''HeavyRain'': you can overhear the thoughts of every character but one of them ''never'' shows their true feelings even when thinking. So, in effect, you get a protagonist whose POV you ''think'' you know but you really don't until the end.

* Princess Ashe is the real hero of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', but the game's story is told through the eyes of Vaan, a street rat who stole the right MacGuffin.

The main purpose of the trope is to create dramatic tension. When a the story is told from the perspective of a character, readers become very familiar with him or her, and can make some predictions as to their feelings and reactions. When a the story does not give the perspective of a character, readers are left peering in, wondering just what is going through that person's head. That can be quite a tense experience if said character is TheChosenOne, the BigBad, or even just a SupportingLeader who will nonetheless be making decisions that the narrator characters have to live with.

* Rachel from ''TowerOfGod'': large impact, [[HeroOfAnotherStory "Heroine" Of Another Story]] that constantly intertwines with the one we follow... gets her word in edgeways once. Maybe twice.

** A similar thing happens in ''HandleWithCare'', when, until the last chapter, everyone but Willow (the main reason for the plot) narrates.

* We never get Literature/SherlockHolmes's point-of-view in all but two of his mysteries, only [[TheWatson Watson's]].

* Admiral Thrawn from StarWarsExpandedUniverse. He's an AntiVillain antagonist, to be precise, but we have narration from the POV of Imperial characters - except him. Never from his point.

* Many important characters in ''TheLordOfTheRings'' are narrated by hobbits. (Not that the hobbits are unimportant, but since a SupportingLeader is often a NonPOVProtagonist and Aragorn son of Arathorn is ''the'' [[TropeNamer original Supporting Leader]], it bears mentioning.)

* Due to the fact that she's dead, the mother in ''Literature/AsILayDying'' never narrates a chapter. Again, given the fact that she's dead, this isn't unusual until you consider the title.

* ''MedakaBox'': Bar perhaps one instance in an arc [[spoiler: where her mind was reverted to her original cynical self]], the reader almost never sees things through Medaka's eyes. Instead, we usually see things through SupportingProtagonist Zenkichi. This seems to emphasize Medaka's sheer inhuman nature beyond many normal and extraordinary humans despite being TheHero of the series.

* {{Higurashi}} has a unique way of letting you see through the character's eyes. You get to see it through the new kid's eyes, the twin sister's, the crazy girl's, etc. But you never get to see Sonozaki Mion's point of view. Or Satoshi's. Or Hanyuu's.

* Similarly, ErastFandorin has only been the POV character in five out of thirteen books about him.

* This is frequently done with the Doctor in the ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'' novels, with the POV character being, of course, the companion. For the ''Literature/DoctorWhoNewAdventures'', there was an official rule that you don't show what the Doctor is thinking, and the novel ''Conundrum'' [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this, as what starts out as Omniscient Third Person Narration is [[NarratorAllAlong actually]] the Master of the Land of Fiction, and the fact his omniscience stops at the Doctor's mind (and only the Doctor's) frustrates him.

* In ASongOfIceAndFire, Robb is the only Stark child besides 4-year-old Rickon to never have his own narrative, despite having major events in ''A Clash of Kings'' and ''A Storm of Swords'' revolve around him. Most of the chapters involving Robb are told from the P.O.V. of his mother.

* Roque Alva is arguably the central character of the ''ReflectionsOfEterna'' cycle, yet there has never been a single chapter describing what exactly is going on in his CrazyAwesome head. Likewise, Valentine Pridd has never held the POV so far--probably because he knows too much about the MythArc (e.g. one short sequence from Mellit's POV shows that he is no stranger to magic, despite his young age).

* Happens in ''{{Stargirl}}'' by Jerry Spinelli. Leo talks about his ManicPixieDreamGirl friend Stargirl, but she never narrates. Sort of inverted in the sequel, ''Love, Stargirl'', where Stargirl narrates and discusses her relationship with Leo but he never narrates.

* The developers of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' wanted to do a story about a character with a troubled past who had to grow up and accept his responsibility as the heir of the Septim line and save Tamriel from Mehrunes Dagon. However this sort of linear storytelling didn't fit in with the play style of the ElderScrolls series. So they made the hero of the story an NPC, and you're the guy who runs errands for him. [[WideOpenSandbox When you aren't too busy doing other things.]]