This lesson is adapted from the book 45 Master Characters: Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt.
So, what exactly are archetypes? Archetypes, according to Victoria Lynn Schmidt, are "the blueprints for building well-defined characters, be they heroes, villains, or supporting characters." They force you to look deeper at your characters, and decide how they respond to conflict within the story. Archetypes can also help to avoid multiple characters just like the author.
Archetypes, however, are not stereotypes. A stereotype is typically something you want to avoid in your story. They are "oversimplified generalizations about people stemming from one person's prejudice." Archetypes are not one person's view of people, but the entire human race's view of people. There is no assumption or judgement, just how the group is seen and experienced.
In order to pick a master archetype for your character, there are a few questions that can help: What does your character care about? What does she fear? What motivates her? How do other characters view her? Keep these questions in mind while deciding which archetype best fits your character.
The following archetypes are very basic, and based off of the original Greek gods and goddesses, with two Egyptian ones thrown in. We'll start with ladies first.
Aphrodite: The Seductive Muse
"The seductive muse is a strong woman who knows what she wants. She has a lust for life, forever satisfying all her senses. The gods bestowed on her gifts of creativity, beauty, love, and abundance, which make her driven to creative projects that show the world who she is. She's a great inventor and visionary who often sees the simplest solution to life's problems. She's the child who tells the trucker to let the air out of his tires when he can't figure out how to get his tall truck through the highway tunnel." -Schmidt
What does she care about?
-Men and relationships
-Relationships with other women
-Being center of attention
-Self expression
What does she fear?
-Rejection
-Aging
-Not being the center of attention
-Being hated for being the center of attention
What motivates her?
-Self-actualization
-Love, connection, creativity
How do other characters see her?
-Some are jealous of the attention she receives
-Unique and trendy, with a "star quality"
Examples from pop culture:
-Rizzo in Grease
-Cleopatra
-Marilyn Monroe
-Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Artemis: The Amazon
"The Amazon is a feminist. She cares more about the female cause than she cares for her own safety. She wouldn't hesitate to come to the aid of another woman or child no matter what the risk is to herself. Her friendships with women are the most important relationships she has, but they are few and far between due to her attitudes. Her masculine side is just as strong as her feminine side, which sometimes leaves her confused about where she fits in with others. She doesn't keep up with fashion trends and she doesn't value the 'stay at home' or 'corporate career' woman, which most women are these days.
She is a wild woman who spends as much time in nature as possible. She's never happy living in the city for long and may become frustrated with her life until she discovers her true passion for the outdoors. The solitude of walking in the crisp night air brings her back into balance, and she is never afraid of being out alone at night." -Schmidt
What does she care about?
-The feminine, nature, and the earth
-Women and children
-Competitive sports
What does she fear?
-Losing her freedom and independence
-Losing in general
-Being vulnerable
-Other women and children dying when she could have helped them
-Being alienated
What motivates her?
-Survival
-Getting behind a cause
-Saving a life
How do other characters see her?
-She doesn't think too much about her clothes
-Athletic
-Sometimes cold and totally absorbed in her tasks
Examples from pop culture:
-Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic
-Wonder Woman
-Joan of Arc
-Jo March in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
-Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
-Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Athena: The Father's Daughter
"The Father's Daughter doesn't care much for fighting the good fight for women's causes like the Amazon does. She may argue against the female cause, siding with men to prove she's on their side thereby gaining their admiration. She feels she is the exceptional woman-- 'Other women can't do this,' she thinks, 'but I can because I'm the exception.'
...She is smart and a very strategic thinker, never allowing her emotions to sway her into making the wrong decision. She hates the wild untamed wilderness, preferring a fast-paced city life. She likes things she can control but also loves the challenge of learning new things, especially those related to the mind and the business world. ...She is very inquisitive and resourceful in a crisis but doesn't trust others to get things done for her and often takes on everything herself." -Schmidt
What does she care about?
-Aligning herself with powerful men and supporting patriarchy
-Being accepted
-Winning or seeing her team win
-Broadening her mind
What does she fear?
-Female friendship
-Losing the war
What motivates her?
-The need to know, understand, and belong
-Challenges
-Being self-sufficient and independent
-Competition
How do others see her?
-Neat and professional
-Unemotional
-Uptight
Examples from pop culture:
-Kate in The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
-Lady Macbeth in Macbeth by William Shakespeare
-Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
Demeter: The Nurturer
"Demeter is the nurturing mother, but it isn't necessary for this archetype to have children to be a nurturer. A sense of duty to help others is what's essential. ...With her child gone, a part of her is missing. She is youthful when she lives through the life of her child.
...Her identity is wrapped up in her children or those she cares for. They give her life purpose and meaning. She can nurture many people through her work in a charitable organization, help animals at a shelter, care for her own family, help a stranger on the street, be there for a close friend or lover, care for her students, or help the masses with a creative project like a self-help book." -Schmidt
What does she care about?
-The welfare of her children
-Providing for the entire group
-Charities
What does she fear?
-Losing the person in her care
-Not being there to save her child
-Her child or patient leaving
-Self-analysis
What motivates her?
-Love and belonging
-Motherhood and nurturing
How do other characters see her?
-Dependent, needy, and passive aggressive
-Overwhelming herself with too many tasks
Examples in pop culture:
-Florence Nightingale
-Mother Teresa
-Belle in Beauty and the Beast
-Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins
-Meg March in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Hera: The Matriarch
"The Matriarch is the woman in charge. She sees to the needs of her family and demands respect in return. She needs her family just as much as she would have them believe they need her. She has no identity outside of her role as wife and mother, but unlike the Nurturer she is extremely strong, resourceful, and tough skinned. She doesn't take it well if her husband is unfaithful, and she will not just sit by and ignore the wrongs done to her." -Schmidt
What does she care about?
-Becoming a wife
-Keeping her extended family together
-Making plans and hosting get-togethers
What does she fear?
-Never getting married and having children
-Growing old and being alone
-Losing control of her children
What motivates her?
-Love, belonging, respect
How do other characters see her?
-Always stands tall and strong
-Inapproachable
-Strong
Hestia: The Mystic
"Hestia is the woman of peace and mysticism. She loves to be alone with her thoughts and finds bliss in solitude. Her calm nature and quiet disposition leave her a mystery to all who meet her. How does she live without any stress?
She graces a home and performs everyday tasks with ease and pleasure. She finds honor in baking the bread families will eat. No amount of feminist discourse could ever make her feel inferior to other women who have high-powered careers. ...She'd choose the spiritual life of a nun before choosing marriage or external earthly desires." -Schmidt
What does she care about?
-Simplicity
-Taking her time
-Nature
What does she fear?
-Not having a place to call her own
-Depending on others
-Losing her home
-Losing privacy and solitude
-Being in a large group of people or being in the spotlight
What motivates her?
-Balance
-Reward of being left alone
-Plight of others
How do others see her?
-Quiet, calm, unhurried, multitasker
-Patient
Examples in pop culture:
-Beth March in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Isis: The Female Messiah
"The Messiah is the archetype of androgyny. Both the male and female version of this archetype are identical except for the fact that the male preaches and shows the way to love and enlightenment while the female is the way to love and enlightenment.
...The Female Messiah archetype can also contain any of the other archetypes, which will help her to achieve her goals in this lifetime. For example, Joan of Arc was a savior of her people who embodied the Artemis/Amazon archetype in battle.
...The Female Messiah has the ability to see the whole picture when it comes to any problem. She never jumps to conclusions or gets involved in the gossip or drama of everyday life. She's a detached observer who sees all sides and understands all views." -Schmidt
What does she care about?
-The plight of women and elevating the female status
-Herself as well as others
-Others
-Healing the soul above healing the body
What does she fear?
-People will be led astray by those on the wrong path
-Being persecuted
-Running out of time
What motives her?
-Being connected to something greater than herself
-Facing her fears
-Sense of purpose
How do others see her?
-Either good or bad
-Many are jealous of her
Examples in pop culture:
-Joan of Arc
-Wonder Woman
-Lady of the Lake in Arthurian Legend
-Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Persephone: The Maiden
"The Maiden lives a charmed playful life unconcerned with annoying daily errands and problems. 'It's no big deal' is her mantra. She's not stressed out because she never worries about things. She takes risks because she feels invulnerable and pushes others to follow her on her exploits. ...Her self-confidence rubs off on others.
...The Maiden doesn't realize the danger that lurks in the world. Trauma can be a rite of passage for her, opening her eyes to reality. There are occasions where she may suppress a traumatic experience as if it never happened, but she then becomes a ticking time bomb as similar situations in her life force the memory to the surface." -Schmidt
What does she care about?
-Her relationship with her mother
-Being dependent on others
-Meeting new people and having fun
What does she fear?
-Having to make decisions for herself
-Others passing her by and growing up without her
-Being trapped, physically or metaphorically
-Being attacked
What motivates her?
-Safety and security
-Freedom to be herself
-Being different, special, talked about
How do other characters see her?
-Young, inexperienced, aloof
-Innocent and girlish
Examples in pop culture:
-Antigone
-Guinevere in Arthurian Legend
-Little Red Riding Hood
-Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty
-Alice in Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
-Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
-Juliet in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
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