Archetypes

Vogler
Archetype

Stories are filled with recurring characters which are constant throughout a variety of cultures. Psychologist Carl G. Jung suggested that with character patterns so similar, perhaps we generate these archetypes through a collective unconsciousness. Joseph Campbell explains that it is our biological construct which creates archetypes. Archetypes are not the character themselves but the function they play. One character may exhibit multiple archetypes allowing the story to advance. The most popular archetypes are the Hero, Mentor, Threshold Guardian, Herald, Shapeshifter, Shadow, Ally, and Trickster. Each archetype presents qualities and opportunities which are available to the hero. By enhancing these standard archetypes, storytellers are able to create characters for specific stories.

Whether we have these character types initially hardwired into us or we create these figures from a collective unconsciousness in our psyche, it is incredible that in billions of stories eight basic forms are present. Archetypes can explain the role of characters that are seen throughout stories of different cultures. Although our way of life differs greatly from others, we experience the same form of a character. The details given to a character are specific to the story, but the functions are universal. Characters are able to display more than one archetype in a single story, just as people are able to change and represent two functions or qualities at once. As the hero interacts with these archetypes, their qualities can be inherited to aid in the journey.

We see these archetypes every day in movies, television shows, and books. In O’Conner’s A Good Man is Hard to Find, notice how the grandmother is the Trickster, instead of the typical Wise Woman, who cons the children into wanting to adventure. The father’s archetype is that of the level headed person, as he tries to keep the family journey on track. Misfit, the rebel, represents the Villain but also the Southern gentleman. In this story we can understand how one character can display multiple archetypes. Also we see how characters represent qualities which are imperative to the hero’s journey.

Do you believe we fabricate archetypes based off a collective unconsciousness as Jung claims or biologically as explained by Campbell?

Characters present qualities which the Hero may obtain to complete their journey. In O’ Conner’s A Good Man is Hard to Find, what traits could the Hero have acquired and how would the outcome have changed?

Think of a story you know. Does each character represent a quality or archetype?