CRAFT: Archetypes

Character Archetypes

Because I am in the midst of plotting a new story, I am also in the midst of developing the story’s characters. So bear with me for a while as I angst over getting that part right. Here are my thoughts, musings, research, and rantings to that end.

First off, whether and how much characterization matters continues to be a hotly debated issue. Some characters, such as James Bond, stay static, never changing. Others, such as Neo from the Matrix change significantly. Some bestselling authors have no idea what color eyes or hair the lead protagonist has. Others know every detail conceivable.

But first, before we step into the debate on how much you should know and how much the reader needs to know, lets start with the idea of Character Archetypes.

This is relatively new to me. Oh, not “new-new”, I did take a bunch of lit classes in school and university. But new insofar as this: Until my last completed manuscript, I’d never tried it to use it as a writing tool.

Why did I give it a shot? Well, I’d been one of those folks doing the twenty-page grid/questionaire on each character before starting, and that sapped up so much of my time. And then I went to a workshop by Bob Mayer, who said something to the effect of: Why waste your time reinventing the wheel when you can use the tools and research that experts have already provided us?

This seemed logical to me — plus, being a “rebels against authority” type myself, I figured I could always tweak the types into however I wanted my characters to be. Does this mean there’s something wrong with lengthy character dossiers or just plain winging it? No. I’m a big fan of “try everything and keep doing whatever you like best.”

Now, some people hate the idea of character archetypes and liken them to formulaic stereotypes. Others think its the greatest thing since gravity and have different theories on how many archetypes exist and what those archetypes are.

Personally, I find them a good starting off point. I now try to use them as a base and build my character up from there. I don’t feel my characters need to be a carbon copy of anyone else’s description, but I do agree that a character’s actions and thoughts must be consistent with his or her personality.

I’m not going to preach on these topics (today) because so many people before me have done such a wonderful job. What I will do is give a brief overview and links to resources for the three main archetype paradigms I use when brainstorming my characters.

1: 16 Myers-Briggs Personality Types

These are based on four criteria:
Extraversion vs Introversion
Sensing vs iNtuition
Thinking vs Feeling
Judging vs Perceiving

Here’s the breakdown:

ISTJ (11.6% of the U.S. Population):
Introverted – Sensing – Thinking – Judging
EX: Joe Friday, Eeyore, George Washington, Cliff (Cheers)

ISTP (5.4% of the U.S. Population):
Introverted – Sensing – Thinking – Perceiving
EX: Tom Cruise, James Dean, Keith Richards, Burt Reynolds

ESTP (4.3% of the U.S. Population):
Extroverted – Sensing – Thinking – Perceiving
EX: Heathcliffe, Ernest Hemingway, Lucille Ball, Madonna

ESTJ (8.7% of the U.S. Population):
Extroverted – Sensing – Thinking – Judging
EX: Lucy (Peanuts), George W. Bush, Sam Walton, Bette Davis

ISFJ (13.8% of the U.S. Population):
Introverted – Sensing – Feeling – Judging
EX: Robert E. Lee, Dr. Watson, Jerry Seinfeld, Johnny Carson

ISFP (8.8% of the U.S. Population):
Introverted – Sensing – Feeling – Perceiving
EX: Auguste Rodin, Marie Antoinette, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson

ESFP (8.9% of the U.S. Population):
Extroverted – Sensing – Feeling – Perceiving
EX: Bob Hope, Goldie Hawn, Mary Lou Retton, Tim “The Toolman” Taylor

ESFJ (12.3% of the U.S. Population):
Extroverted – Sensing – Feeling – Perceiving
EX: Monica (Friends), Leonard McCoy, Donald Duck, Terry Bradshaw

INFJ (1.5% of the U.S. Population):
Introverted – iNtuition – Feeling – Judging
EX: Chaucer, Mother Teresa, Piers Anthony, Nicole Kidman

INFP (4.4% of the U.S. Population):
Introverted – iNtuition – Feeling – Perceiving
EX: Anne of Green Gables, E.T., Helen Keller, Tom Brokaw

ENFP (8.1% of the U.S. Population):
Extroverted – iNtuition – Feeling – Perceiving
EX: Ariel, Balkie, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Steve Irkle

ENFJ (2.4% of the U.S. Population):
Extroverted – iNtuition – Feeling – Judging
EX: Abraham Lincoln, Johnny Depp, Kirstie Alley, Peyton Manning

INTJ (2.1% of the U.S. Population):
Introverted – iNtuition – Thinking – Judging
EX: Hannibal Lector, Professor Moriarty, Gandalf the Grey, Katie Couric

INTP (3.3% of the U.S. Population):
Introverted – iNtuition – Thinking – Perceiving
EX: Sir Isaac Newton, Socrates, Bob Newhart, Rick Moranis

ENTP (3.2% of the U.S. Population):
Extroverted – iNtuition – Thinking – Perceiving
EX: Alexander the Great, Sir Walter Raleigh, Mercutio (Shakespeare)

ENTJ (1.8% of the U.S. Population):
Extroverted – iNtuition – Thinking – Judging
EX: Steve Jobs, Margaret Thatcher, Whoopie Goldberg, Al Gore

Links of Interest: 1 2 3

2: Heroes, Heroines and Villains

Tami Cowden, Caro LaFever, and Sue Viders have both a book and a website explaining their archetypes, split up by Hero, Heroine, and Villain. There are 16 main types here, each with the potention to go Bad. These are:

Hero: the Chief, the Bad Boy, the Best Friend, the Charmer, the Lost Soul, the Professor, the Swashbuckler, the Warrior

Heroine: the Boss, the Seductress, the Spunky Kid, the Free Spirit, the Waif, the Librarian, the Crusader, the Nurturer

Villain (male): the Tyrant, the Bastard, the Devil, the Traitor, the Coutcast, the Evil Genius, the Sadist, the Terrorist

Villain (female): the Bitch, the Black Widow, the Backstabber, the Lunatic, the Parasite, the Schemer, the Fanatic, the Matriarch

3: Master Characters

I am in the middle of 45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, and so far I’m loving it. As the title implies, she has determined 45 types, again, each with the potential to go Bad.

Main Female Types: Aphrodite, Seductive Muse, Femme Fatale, Artemis, Amazon, Gorgon, Athena, Father’s Daughter, Backstabber, Demeter, Nurturer, Overcontrolling Mother, Hera, Matriarch, Scorned Woman, Hestia, Mystic, Betrayer, Isis, Female Messiah, Destroyer, Persephone, Maiden, Troubled Teen

Main Male Types: Apollo, Businessman, Traitor, Ares, Protector, Gladiator, Hades, Recluse, Warlock, Hermes, Fool, Derelict, Dionysus, Woman’s Man, seucer, Osiris, Male Messiah, Punisher, Poseidon, Artist, Abuser, Zeus, King, Dictator

Secondary Character Types: Magi, Mentor, Best Friend, Lover, Joker, Jester, Nemesis, Investigator, Pessimist, Psychic, Shadow, Lost Soul, Double

Enough about that…

What do you think? I’d love to know whether you’re For, Against, or On The Fence about each of the following, and why:

1) Starting the story without knowing the characters
2) Developing extensive character information sheets before writing the first word
3) Basing characters on preconceived archetypes or personality types