Want to write better characters?
Note from Nick: This is a guest post from Jessica Mills. If you want to write better characters in your fiction, read on!
Classic character archetypes are found in both the oldest stories known to man and modern fiction today, in cultures throughout the world, and are the key to character-building. They are not restricted purely to written fictional prose, either: they can be found in plays, television, film and even non-fiction. If you want to write better characters, pay attention to this post.
Some people confuse archetypes with stock characters, but they are quite different. A stock character is defined by his or her personality, behaviour and even appearance. One of the most common stock characters is the town drunk, for example, who will behave loutishly, sing and shout and have a scruffy and dirty appearance.
Archetypes, on the other hand, are defined by their role or purpose within the story, although they can quite often take on stereotypical characteristics with regards to appearance, age or gender. Write better characters and engage your readers by looking at five of the most common classic character archetypes and their roles within well-known stories.
The mentor
One of the most recognizable classic character archetypes of all is the mentor, who may be of either gender but is very often ageing. They certainly tend to be older than the protagonist as their role is to provide guidance to him or her, helping to resolve the conflict at the centre of the story.
The word ‘mentor’ originates from Homer’s Odyssey, as Mentor was the name of the character who guided Telemachus on the search for his father. Popular examples in modern life are Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars series, or Professor Dumbledore from Harry Potter.
The Threshold Guardian
The role of the threshold guardian is to test the protagonist and ultimately prepare them for the journey ahead. They can function as on obstacle, or perhaps present the protagonist with a moral dilemma to overcome. The threshold guardian will present the protagonist with a test or a series of tests of some sort, the overcoming of which makes the protagonist a better and stronger person.
Examples include Goliath in the Bible, as he mocks the people of Israel and their God. When no man in the army will face him and it falls to David, a young boy with no military training, a hero is born.
The Shadow
The shadow is the hero’s opposite and can be an antagonist or villain, or even a part of the protagonist himself. The shadow can even be a representation of what the protagonist will become should he or she fail (such as Gollum to Frodo in The Lord of the Rings).
Iago is the eponymous Othello’s shadow in the famous Shakespeare play, and Mr Hyde is the shadow to Dr Jekyll. In The Lion King, Scar can be considered as Simba’s Shadow, as he has a similar headstrong and cocky attitude to life, without any sense of morality.
The Shapeshifter
Shapeshifters can sometimes physically change their shape (vampires and werewolves have often been in such role) or they may just be a person whose role is always changing. They could be both the Mentor and the Shadow, such as Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars, or may change their goals, appearance or just change sides.
The Shapeshifter isn’t necessarily evil; a shapeshifter can begin as a villain but change sides and ultimately become a friend or helper to the protagonist. Examples of a positive change are Margaret in The Proposal and Professor Snape in Harry Potter.
The Trickster
The trickster tricks the other characters in the story (and sometimes the reader) to get their own way or simply for their own enjoyment. The trickster can often provide comic relief in a darker story, although there is a dark side to the trickster. Tinkerbell, for example, provides comic relief but is still cruel, attempting to get Wendy killed.
Hermes in Greek Mythology is something of a trickster, while in modern television, The Trickster in Supernatural is a well-known example of a trickster providing comic relief in abundance while still having an extremely dark and dangerous side.
Write Better Characters By Studying Great Characters
The role played by a classic character archetype is more important than their personal characteristics. They exist to change the course of protagonists or change the protagonists themselves, and they are essential to the story as, without them, the protagonist would have no story. In addition, classic character archetypes are one of the primary ways to write better characters.
When reading a book or watching a film, it is worth always considering these archetypes and trying to identify them, in order to gain a better understanding of their role in the story. Think back through stories you’ve read before and movies you’ve seen and try to list several examples for each classic character archetype. Use these ideas to write better characters, and follow these archetypes.
A greater understanding of these character archetypes will enhance your ability to use them effectively and write more believable characters. If there are any missing from a story, you may wish to consider whether bringing one in could strengthen in. This doesn’t necessarily mean bringing in a new character, but could be as simple as slightly developing or altering the role of one you already have.
What do you think? What tips and tricks do you have that help you write better characters?
Jessica Millis, aspiring writer and editor at EssayMama blog. Her dream is to finish and publish her first dystopia novel.
