Write Great Characters With These 12 Jungian Archetypes

What makes stories like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord Of The Rings, and The Wizard of Oz resonate with audiences around the world? One word: Archetypes. The characters in these stories fall into personality types that all of us can relate to intuitively.

Archetypes are characters who display aspects that people all around the world spontaneously understand. Why? They tap into the collective unconscious, which is a concept put forth by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. Jung observed that “mankind has common instincts of imagination and of action.” (This quote is from his Commentary on the Secret of the Golden Flower). Jung believed that these ideas are collectively inherited in the unconscious of all humans and therefore, these archetypes are easily grasped by all of us.

When we encounter these archetypes in stories, the characters make sense to us and their stories resonate deeply in our hearts.

As a writer of fiction, the more closely the characters you create resemble Jung’s archetypes, the more clearly they ring true in the minds of your readers. So if you want to write great characters, study the following archetypes, which reflect Carl Jung’s 12 main archetypes. I’ve listed them alphabetically.

The Caregiver

Every community has protective nurturers and gentle benefactors. The Caregiver archetype helps others by devoting him or herself to caring for others. Caregivers are respected and trusted. They often stay near of home and represent security and continuity.

The Creator

The Creator (also called the Artist or Inventor) is characterized by self-expression. Creators are often non-conformists because they’re not motivated by fitting in but by interpreting the thoughts, feelings, objects and technologies of a society in new ways. Often the creations are works that others can perceive through their senses: music, visual arts, theater, or poetry. Sometimes the creations are technological innovations. They use their imaginations to create something that had not existed before and therefore are often agents of change. Doc Brown, the scientist who invents a time machine out of a DeLorian car in Back To The Future is a Creator archetype.

The Everyperson

This archetype embodies the good old boy, the girl next door, or the average Joe. The Everyperson is down to earth and connects with others through his or her humility. Many main characters are Everyman archetypes because this person is someone that we can all relate to. Bilbo Baggins is an Everyperson. Sometimes, the Everyperon is a sidekick, such as Ron Weasley from Harry Potter.

The Explorer

Explorers learn what’s valuable or achieve growth through discovery. These archetypes can themselves unearth new concepts or objects, or they can challenge others to encounter new things or perform actions that have never been done before. From these pioneering, individuals and even societies can learn about themselves. Odysseus is the classic explorer archetype.

The Hero

The Hero is a character that proves him or herself through amazing physical acts. Though heroes are strong, their strength is controlled and they use it to benefit others. Main characters are often Hero archetypes. Because this is such a common archetype, there are a range of sub-categories. Harry Potter, for example, falls under the “reluctant hero.”

The Innocent

Forrest Gump is one noteworthy Innocent, a character of purity who is unruffled by society’s influences. The Innocent also sometimes called the Child. This archetype is optimistic and can remain happy even in difficult circumstances. How? The Innocent puts his or her faith in an ideal. Another Innocent is Will Ferrell’s character in the movie Elf.

The Jester

The Jester offers an element of humor. The Jester lightens up tense situations and is often represented by small animals in Disney movies (think the snowman Olaf in Frozen). Jesters have a subtly powerful role: they often have access to Leaders and speak the truth when no one else dares to do so.

The Magician

The Magician is an agent of change. This person creates transformation, often by overcomes the impossible using methods that are not accessible to the average Joe. The Magician doesn’t have to be literally magic. His or her main qualities are imagination and cleverness — and a belief that nothing is impossible.

The Maverick

The Maverick is also often called a rebel, outlaw, or rogue. Mavericks distance themselves from the establishment through defiance, disobedience, and nonconformity — and in so doing, achieve freedom, either for themselves or for a community in peril. Mavericks enjoy being a bad, either slightly or completely. Sometimes they even enjoy instilling fear in others. Hans Solo and Jack Sparrow are likeable Mavericks. Western movies and murder mysteries are full of dangerous Mavericks.

The Ruler

This archetype is also called the Leader or the King. This character represents establishment — such as a boss or school principal. Often he or she is the one who has personally set the rules. This character is powerful and could be benevolent or evil. Dumbledore is a benevolent Ruler. Darth Vader is an evil Ruler.

The Sage

This personification of wisdom offers intellectual solutions to problems, while staying outside of the fray. These characters offer expert advice, which has often been gained over time, and therefore many Sage characters are elderly. Yoda is the archetypical Sage.

The Sensualist

This character is all about physical enjoyment. Jessica Rabbit from Who Stole Roger Rabbit comes to mind. The Sensualist is also called the Lover. This archetype might be someone who gains pleasure through his or her senses — or someone who causes other characters to discover their own sensual capabilities. Because the sensualist’s dreamlike quality is easy for other characters to fall for, the Sensualist is often an agent of change or inspiration for the main protagonist.

We All Relate To Archetypes

It’s important to note that most believable characters have a blend of several archetypes in their personalities. A bad guy who is pure Maverick is very thin — but a bad guy who’s a Maverick with a heavy dose of Sage or even Caregiver is a much more intriguing, and perhaps even despicable character. So use these archetypes as a guide and be careful not to put your characters in inflexible categories.