What Is an Archetype?

Here is a simple truth, which is extremely complicated for many of us to understand. What we are witnessing in our social arena is the playing out of common human “archetypes” upon the screen of our society’s mind, and upon our own individual psyches.

The ruler, the creator, the trickster or jester, the sage/mentor, the innocent, the caregiver, the explorer, the magician/shapeshifter, the outlaw/shadow, the betrayer, the hero/savior, and the herald/dark prophet, amongst others, are identifiable traits or aspects of each human being who lives today.

Understanding how we are internally influenced by these collective archetypes allows for us to reduce, and potentially eliminate, their hypnotic influence upon our own internal worlds, and brings a higher measure of wisdom to us as we engage with the external universe. As within, so without, is the Truth here. Bringing healing to our internal universe First, will bring a higher degree of effective action in the external universe, since we will be resisting the real darkness, and not also the resistance within ourselves, which is self- defeating behavior. When we first bring healing to our “internal political environment”, we become much more effective dealing with the EVIL in our external political environment, since we are no longer fighting ourselves. And, with enough “warriors of the spirit” on the front lines against this most dangerous administration in the history of our country, we will persevere.

The real work must continue, even after we identify the archetypes within us, especially those whose shadow side still negatively influence us.

Here are the 12 common character archetypes, as well as examples of archetype in famous works of literature and film.

1. The Lover

The romantic lead who’s guided by the heart.

• Strengths: humanism, passion, conviction
• Weaknesses: naivete, irrationality
• Lover Archetype Examples: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Noah Calhoun (The Notebook), Scarlett O’Hara (Gone With the Wind), Belle (Beauty and the Beast)

2. The Hero

The protagonist who rises to meet a challenge and saves the day.

• Strengths: courage, perseverance, honor
• Weaknesses: overconfidence, hubris
• Hero Archetype examples:  Luke Skywalker (Star Wars series),

3. The Magician

A powerful figure who has harnessed the ways of the universe to achieve key goals.

• Strengths: omniscience, omnipotence, discipline
• Weaknesses: corruptibility, arrogance
• Magician Archetype Examples: Prospero (The Tempest), Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings), Morpheus (The Matrix), Darth Vader (Star Wars)

4. The Outlaw

The rebel who won’t abide by society’s demands.

• Strengths: independent thinking, virtue, owes no favors
• Weaknesses: self-involved, potentially criminal
• Outlaw Archetype Examples: Han Solo (Star Wars), Dean  Batman (The Dark Knight)

5. The Explorer

A character naturally driven to push the boundaries of the status quo and explore the unknown.

• Strengths: curious, driven, motivated by self-improvement
• Weaknesses: restless, unreliable, never satisfied
• Explorer Archetype Examples: Odysseus (The Odyssey)

6. The Sage

A wise figure with knowledge for those who inquire. The mother figure or mentor is often based on this archetype.

• Strengths: wisdom, experience, insight
• Weaknesses: cautious, hesitant to actually join the action
• Famous sages: Athena (The Odyssey), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars), The Oracle (The Matrix)

7. The Innocent

A morally pure character, often a child, whose only intentions are good.

• Strengths: morality, kindness, sincerity
• Weaknesses: vulnerable, naive, rarely skilled
• Innocent Archetype Examples: Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol), Lennie Small (Of Mice and Men)

8. The Creator

A motivated visionary who creates art or structures during the narrative.

• Strengths: creativity, willpower, conviction
• Weaknesses: self-involvement, single-mindedness, lack of practical skills
• Creator Archetype Examples: Zeus (The Iliad), Dr. Emmett Brown (Back to the Future), Dr. Moreau (The Island of Dr. Moreau), Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein)

9. The Ruler

A character with legal or emotional power over others.

• Strengths: omnipotence, status, resources
• Weaknesses: aloofness, disliked by others, out of touch
• Ruler Archetype Examples: Creon (Oedipus Rex), King Lear (King Lear), Aunt Sally (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), Tony Soprano (The Sopranos)

10. The Caregiver

A character who continually supports others and makes sacrifices on their behalf.

• Strengths: honorable, selfless, loyal
• Weaknesses: lacking personal ambition or leadership
• Caregiver Archetype Examples: Samwell Tarly (The Game of Thrones series), Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)

11. The Everyman

A relatable character who feels recognizable from daily life.

• Strengths: grounded, salt-of-the-earth, relatable
• Weaknesses: lacking special powers, often unprepared for what’s to come
• Everyman Archetype Examples: Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit), Leopold Bloom (Ulysses)

12. The Jester

A funny character or trickster who provides comic relief, but may also speak important truths.

• Strengths: funny, disarming, insightful
• Weaknesses: can be obnoxious and superficial
• Jester Archetype Examples: Sir John Falstaff (Henry V), King Lear’s Fool (King Lear), Frank and Estelle Costanza (Seinfeld), R2D2 and C-3PO (Star Wars)

13.  THE Angel/Christ/Krishna

Strengths. Inspirational, transformational, guiding lights

Weaknesses. Intellectually irrelevant, invisible to most

These archetypes, each with highly identifiable traits, populate our conscious minds, and our unconsciousness, and inspire our perceptions,  books, poetry, films, and theatrical productions.