12 Character Archetypes Every Actor Should Know

Augmented Actor

9 Jul 202019:41

Summary

TLDRThis video introduces 12 major character archetypes found in literature, film, and theater, exploring what drives them. Archetypes such as the Sage, Innocent, Explorer, Ruler, Caregiver, Creator, Magician, Hero, Rebel, Joker, Orphan, and Lover are explained in detail, outlining their core desires, fears, strengths, and weaknesses. The video offers examples of how these archetypes manifest in different characters, helping viewers understand their traits and motivations. It encourages viewers to reflect on which archetype resonates most with them.

Takeaways

💡 Archetypes are broad categories that most characters in plays, movies, and literature fit into, helping to define their roles and motivations.
🧙‍♂️ The Sage is a wise mentor, often old and knowledgeable, who helps the protagonist discover truths about themselves or the world, but can be overly perfectionistic and indecisive.
👶 The Innocent is a hopeful, trusting character who desires happiness and fears being abandoned. They often lack strength and are easily exploited.
🌍 The Explorer is an adventurous individualist who seeks freedom and new experiences, often restless and driven by a desire to avoid conformity and emptiness.
👑 The Ruler values power and control, striving to maintain order and authority. They can be benevolent leaders or strict tyrants, but fear chaos and being overthrown.
❤️ The Caregiver is nurturing, selfless, and protective, often putting others' needs before their own. However, they can be exploited or become martyrs.
🎨 The Creator is imaginative, seeking to leave a legacy through their work. They fear mediocrity and can be perfectionists, often prioritizing their creations over relationships.
🧙‍♀️ The Magician can be good or manipulative, striving to make dreams come true and exert their will on the world. They fear negative consequences from their actions.
🦸‍♂️ The Hero is courageous and determined, often fighting for honor and justice. Their biggest fear is weakness, and they can be overly arrogant or battle-hungry.
⚔️ The Rebel resists authority and seeks to challenge the status quo, but they can be reckless, self-destructive, and struggle with finding direction.

Q & A

What is an archetype and how many major archetypes are there?
-An archetype is a broad category that encompasses a certain type of character. Most characters in plays, movies, and literature fit into one or more of these twelve archetypes.
What is the role of a Sage in a story?
-A Sage is a wise, usually old mentor that helps the protagonist discover something about themselves, train in a skill, or learn something new about the world. They are knowledgeable, intelligent, and analytical.
What are the fears of the Innocent character archetype?
-Innocents fear being left out, abandoned, or being unhappy. They also fear getting punished or doing someone wrong.
What motivates the Explorer archetype and what do they fear?
-Explorers are motivated by the desire for freedom and seeking new experiences. They fear being trapped and hate conformity.
How do the Rulers in stories typically behave and what do they fear?
-Rulers seek power and control over others, striving for excellence or becoming tyrants. They fear chaos, not getting their way, and being overthrown.
What is the primary goal of the Caregiver archetype?
-The Caregiver's primary goal is to help and protect others. They are nurturing, caring, compassionate, and generous.
What are the characteristics of the Creator archetype?
-Creators are often artists or artisans who seek to create something that will endure. They are imaginative, self-sufficient, and want to leave a legacy.
What does the Magician archetype represent and what are their fears?
-The Magician represents visionary characters who can make dreams come true. They fear negative consequences from their magic and making things worse.
What is the Hero archetype's motto and what motivates them?
-The Hero's motto is 'Where there's a will, there's a way.' They are motivated by the desire to prove their worth through courageous acts and to improve the world.
How do Rebels differ from other archetypes and what do they fear?
-Rebels live by their own moral code, breaking rules that don't work for them. They fear being powerless or ineffectual.
What is the Joker archetype's approach to life and what do they fear?
-The Joker archetype enjoys life and seeks to lighten the load of the world with humor. They fear being bored or appearing boring.
What challenges do Orphans face in their journey and what do they fear?
-Orphans, often parentless or self-reliant, face the challenge of discovering how they fit in. They fear abandonment and being ostracized.
What is the primary desire of the Lover archetype and what are their weaknesses?
-Lovers desire intimacy and to be with the object of their affection. Their weaknesses include a desire to please others at their own expense and turning love into an obsession.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Introduction to Archetypes in Storytelling

This paragraph introduces the concept of character archetypes, explaining that many characters in stories fit into one or more of twelve major categories, such as caregiver, hero, sage, or orphan. The discussion begins with the archetype of the Sage, who is a wise mentor figure that aids the protagonist by sharing knowledge and guiding their self-discovery. Sages are analytical, truth-seeking, and reflective, yet they can struggle with perfectionism and getting lost in details.

05:01

👑 The Ruler and the Caregiver Archetypes

This section explores the Ruler and Caregiver archetypes. Rulers seek power and control, either benevolently or tyrannically. They fear chaos and losing authority, often struggling with delegation and paranoia. Caregivers, on the other hand, are nurturing and selfless, always looking to help others. Their fears include selfishness and ingratitude, and they risk becoming martyrs or being exploited. Both archetypes manifest in a variety of roles, from kings and leaders to parents and healers.

10:02

🔮 The Creator and Magician Archetypes

The paragraph details the Creator and Magician archetypes. Creators are driven by a desire to leave a lasting legacy, often artists or innovators who value imagination and transformation. Their fear is mediocrity, and they can become perfectionists. Magicians, meanwhile, possess visionary qualities, seeking to impose their will on the world through wisdom, magic, or strategy. They fear unintended consequences and can be manipulative or destructive if their power is unchecked.

15:04

🦸‍♂️ The Hero, Rebel, and Joker Archetypes

Here, the Hero, Rebel, and Joker archetypes are discussed. Heroes are brave and determined to overcome challenges, often fighting for honor. Their biggest fear is weakness. Rebels break the rules and resist authority, driven by a desire to change the status quo, but they may struggle with powerlessness or self-destruction. Jokers are playful and fun-loving, seeking to lighten the mood. While they bring joy, they can also be unreliable or frivolous, sometimes masking deeper issues with humor.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Archetype

An archetype is a universal symbol or character type that appears consistently across various cultures and narratives. In the video, archetypes are used to categorize different character types found in literature, plays, and movies. The script discusses 12 major archetypes, each with distinct traits and roles, providing viewers with a framework to understand and analyze character motivations and behaviors.

💡Sage

The Sage archetype represents a wise, often older character who serves as a mentor or guide. In the script, the Sage is characterized by their pursuit of knowledge and truth, and their role in helping protagonists learn and grow. The Sage's motto 'the truth will set you free' exemplifies their commitment to enlightenment and understanding.

💡Innocent

The Innocent archetype embodies characters who are pure, trusting, and optimistic. They believe in the goodness of people and the world. The script describes Innocents as loyal, honest, and truthful, with a desire for a utopian existence. Their fear of being punished or doing wrong highlights their moral compass and aversion to conflict.

💡Explorer

The Explorer archetype is characterized by a desire for adventure and freedom. They seek to discover new experiences and define themselves through exploration. The script mentions 'don't fence me in' as their motto, indicating a resistance to boundaries and a yearning for autonomy. The Explorer's fear of being trapped underscores their need for constant novelty and self-discovery.

💡Ruler

The Ruler archetype encompasses characters who seek power and control, often aiming to impose order and stability. The script describes Rulers as either benevolent leaders or tyrannical figures, with a common goal of maintaining authority. Their fear of chaos and being overthrown reflects their need for dominance and the potential for paranoia.

💡Caregiver

The Caregiver archetype represents nurturing and protective characters who prioritize the well-being of others. As described in the script, Caregivers are selfless, compassionate, and willing to make sacrifices for those they care about. Their fear of selfishness and ingratitude contrasts with their natural inclination towards generosity and support.

💡Creator

The Creator archetype is associated with characters who are driven to produce something of lasting value, often through artistic or innovative means. The script highlights their pursuit of realizing visions and leaving a legacy. Creators are depicted as imaginative and self-sufficient, with a fear of mediocrity and a drive to transform and innovate.

💡Magician

The Magician archetype embodies characters with extraordinary abilities or knowledge that allow them to bring about change or transformation. In the script, Magicians are described as visionaries who can make dreams come true, using magic, strategy, or deep understanding. Their fear of negative consequences from their actions reflects the potential for their powers to be misused or misunderstood.

💡Hero

The Hero archetype is central to many narratives, representing characters who are brave, honorable, and determined. The script describes Heroes as never giving up and always striving to prove their worth through courageous acts. Their motto 'where there's a will, there's a way' encapsulates their resilience and determination. Heroes fear showing weakness or vulnerability, which can lead to overconfidence or conflict-creation.

💡Rebel

The Rebel archetype is characterized by a resistance to authority and a desire for change. The script describes Rebels as questioning the status quo and seeking to overturn what isn't working. Their motto 'freedom or death' reflects a commitment to personal freedom and a willingness to challenge the powers that be. Rebels fear powerlessness and ineffectuality, which can lead to self-destructive or criminal behavior.

💡Joker

The Joker archetype represents characters who use humor, wit, or playfulness to navigate life. The script describes Jokers as fun-loving and silly, often serving as confidants or advisers through their humor. Their motto 'life is too short' emphasizes a desire to enjoy life and lighten the mood. Jokers fear boredom and being perceived as dull, which can lead to frivolous or irresponsible behavior.

💡Orphan

The Orphan archetype is associated with characters who feel disconnected or isolated, often seeking a sense of belonging. The script describes Orphans as having a strong urge to connect with others and fit in. Their journey involves discovering their place in the world and overcoming feelings of abandonment or ostracism. Orphans fear standing out or not being included, which can lead to a loss of identity or superficial relationships.

💡Lover

The Lover archetype represents characters who seek deep emotional connections and intimacy. The script describes Lovers as passionate and devoted, with a desire to be with the object of their affection. Their motto 'I only have eyes for you' illustrates their focus on love and beauty. Lovers fear being alone or unloved, which can lead to obsession or self-harm in pursuit of the object of their love.

Highlights

An archetype is a broad category that encompasses a certain type of character.

Sage archetype represents a wise, usually old mentor.

Sage seeks out knowledge and information.

Sage's weaknesses include perfectionism and getting lost in details.

Innocent archetype is characterized by loyalty, honesty, and truthfulness.

Innocent desires a utopian paradise or a happy ever after ending.

Innocent's weaknesses are naivety and being easily taken advantage of.

Explorer archetype seeks adventure and new horizons.

Explorer fears being trapped and hates conformity.

Ruler archetype is concerned with power and control.

Ruler can be a benevolent leader or a tyrant.

Ruler's weaknesses include authoritarianism and paranoia.

Caregiver archetype aims to help and protect others.

Caregiver's weakness is being easily exploited and turning into a martyr.

Creator archetype is often an artist or artisan who seeks to leave a legacy.

Creator's weaknesses include perfectionism and prioritizing work over relationships.

Magician archetype is visionary and can make dreams come true.

Magician's fear is negative consequences resulting from their actions.

Hero archetype is honorable, brave, and tenacious.

Hero's weakness includes arrogance and underestimating enemies.

Rebel archetype lives by their own moral code and resists authority.

Rebel's weakness is self-destruction and lack of direction.

Joker archetype is full of joy, fun, and silliness.

Joker's weakness includes frivolous behavior and irresponsibility.

Orphan archetype seeks to connect with others and find their place.

Orphan's weakness is losing their own identity to blend in.

Lover archetype desires to be a partner and is devoted to their loved one.

Lover's weakness is turning love into an addiction or obsession.