Shinji as a protagonist

I can't decide whether Shinji is the most indecisive and uninformed protagonist in science fiction due to his own fallibility and weaknesses (especially mentally) or if he's a tragic hero who is the victim of every other character's refusal to communicate with him or care about him at all.

Is Asuka right in constantly calling Shinji a baby (he does frequently retreat into a fetal position) or should he actually be commended for not, after all this time, going absolutely insane and either purposefully killing everyone or simply offing himself?

It's aggravating to see a protagonist struggle to SPEAK but when he finally does people ignore him, refuse to answer questions or straight up attack him, which only perpetuates his pitiful condition.