* The Market: The story's setting is a market where goods are sold and bartered. This market itself acts as a driving force, pushing people towards competition and desperation. The market's influence creates a sense of urgency and scarcity, leading characters to make difficult choices.
* The Unnamed Man: This character, who acts as a merchant and facilitator of the "bargain," embodies the manipulative and exploitative nature of the market. He capitalizes on people's vulnerabilities and desires, offering tempting but ultimately harmful deals.
* The Characters' Own Desires: The characters in the story are driven by their own desires and motivations, which often clash with each other. This internal conflict, stemming from greed, desperation, and the pursuit of survival, ultimately fuels the story's tension.
Therefore, the antagonist in "Bargain" is not a single person but a complex interplay of forces, including the market's influence, the manipulator, and the characters' own internal struggles.