mr.murdstone is the main antagonist

Edward Murdstone, often referred to as Mr. Murdstone, is a tall, intimidating man with a dark handsomeness. He clearly plays the antagonist during David's life as a child. He attempts to control and ruin David's happy relationship with his mother. Murdstone specializes in humiliating David until David feels alone in the world. He literally isolates David in a room where Davis is essentially tortured with a whip; then he sends David to the notorious brutal School Salem house. Murdstone is clearly one nasty antagonist!