An archetype is a prototype or model from which something is
based. The character archetypes listed here derive from Joseph Campbell's
The Hero with a Thousand Faces and are deeply rooted in the myths and
legends of many cultures. A significant character's role can often be associated
with one of these archetypes, because storytelling is as old as these myths and
legends and is how they were handed down to us. Archetypes connect your story to
the rich heritage of all storytelling.
Hero
The essence of
the hero is not bravery or nobility, but self-sacrifice. The mythic hero is one
who will endure separation and hardship for the sake of his clan. The hero must
pay a price to obtain his goal.
The hero's journey during a
story is a path from the ego, the self, to a new identity which has grown to
include the experiences of the story. This path often consists of a separation
from family or group to a new, unfamiliar and challenging world (even if it's
his own back yard), and finally a return to the ordinary, but now expanded,
world.
The hero must learn in order to grow. Often the heart
of a story is not the obstacles he faces, but the new wisdom he acquires, from a
mentor, a lover, or even from the villain.
Other characters
besides the protagonist can have heroic qualities. This can be especially true
of the antagonist.
Heroes can be willing and adventurous, or
reluctant. They may be group and family oriented, or loners. They may
change and grow themselves, or act as catalysts for others to grow and act
heroic. The hero can be an innocent, a wanderer, a martyr, a warrior, a vengeful
destroyer, a ruler, or a fool. But the essence of the hero is the sacrifice he
makes to achieve his goal.
Mentor
The mentor is a
character who aids or trains the hero. The essence of the mentor is the wise old
man or woman. The mentor represents the wiser and more godlike qualities within
us.
The mentor's role may be to teach the hero. These
characters are often found in the roles of drill instructor, squad leader or
sergeant, the older officer policeman, the aged warrior training the squire, a
trail boss, parent or grandparent, etc. An effective teacher may be an otherwise
inept or foolish character who possesses just the skill or wisdom the hero needs
for his challenge.
The other major role of the mentor is to
equip the hero by giving him a gift or gifts which are important in his quest.
These gifts may be weapons, medicine or food, magic, or some important clue or
piece of information. Frequently, the mentor requires the hero to have passed
some sort of test before receiving the gift. The gift may be a seemingly
insignificant object, the importance of which doesn't emerge until
later.
The mentor may occasionally be the hero's conscience,
returning him to the right path after he strays or strengthening him when he
weakens. The hero doesn't always appreciate this assistance, of
course.
Threshold
Guardian
The threshold guardian is the first
obstacle to the hero in his journey. The threshold is the gateway to the new
world the hero must enter to change and grow.
The threshold
guardian is usually not the story's antagonist. Only after this initial test has
been surpassed will the hero face the true contest and the arch-villain.
Frequently the threshold guardian is a henchman or employee of the
antagonist.
But the threshold guardian can also be an
otherwise neutral character, or even a potential ally such as the police
lieutenant who warns the hero private detective off the case, or the Cowardly
Lion who first frightens and then joins Dorothy on her journey to
Oz.
The role of the threshold guardian is to test the hero's
mettle and worthiness to begin the story's journey, and to show that the journey
will not be easy. The hero will encounter the guardian early in the story,
usually right after he starts his quest.
Herald
The role of the
herald is to announce the challenge which begins the hero on his story journey.
The herald is the person or piece of information which upsets the sleepy
equilibrium in which the hero has lived and starts the
adventure.
The herald need not be a person. It can be an
event or force: the start of a war, a drought or famine, or even an ad in a
newspaper.
Shapeshifter
The
shapeshifter changes role or personality, often in significant ways, and is hard
to understand. That very changeability is the essence of this archetype. The
shapeshifter's alliances and loyalty are uncertain, and the
sincerity of his
claims is often questionable. This keeps the hero off guard.
The shapeshifter is often a person of the opposite sex, often the hero's
romantic interest. In other stories the shapeshifter may be a friend or ally of
the same sex, often a buddy figure, or in fantasies, a magical figure such as a
shaman or wizard.
The shapeshifter is sometimes a catalyst
whose changing nature forces changes in the hero, but the normal role is to
bring suspense into a story by forcing the reader, along with the hero, to
question beliefs and assumptions.
As with the other
archetypes, any character, including the protagonist and antagonist, can take on
attributes of the shapeshifter at different times in the story. The hero often
assumes the role of shapeshifter to get past an obstacle. Mentors often appear
as shapeshifters.
Shadow
The Shadow
archetype is a negative figure, representing things we don't like and would like
to eliminate.
The shadow often takes the form of the
antagonist in a story. But not all antagonists are villains; sometimes the
antagonist is a good guy whose goals disagree with the protagonist's. If the
antagonist is a villain, though, he's a shadow.
The shadow
is the worthy opponent with whom the hero must struggle. In a conflict between
hero and villain, the fight is to the end; one or the other must be destroyed or
rendered impotent.
While the shadow is a negative
force in the story, it's important to remember that no man is a villain in his
own eyes. In fact, the shadow frequently sees himself as a hero, and the story's
hero as his villain.
Trickster
The
Trickster is a clown, a mischief maker. He provides the comedy relief that a
story often needs to offset heavy dramatic tension. The trickster keeps things
in proportion.
The trickster can be an ally or companion of
the hero, or may work for the villain. In some instances the trickster may even
be the hero or villain. In any role, the trickster usually represents the force
of cunning, and is pitted against opponents who are stronger or more
powerful.
[StoryBuilder has a placeholder for a character's
archetype on the Role tab of the Character form. Christopher Vogler's The
Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Storytellers and Screenwriters is a
good application to Campbell's theories of mythic structure to
storytelling.]