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Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jung introduced the concept of archetypes as models of people, behaviours or personalities. He suggested archetypes were inborn tendencies that play a role in influencing human behaviour.
The archetypes represent universal patterns that cross eras, borders and cultures, but are expressed in different ways across various stories, art, myths, dreams and religions.
Below are succinct summaries of Jungian personality types to inspire and inform character development - including both positive and negative traits for more interesting, realistic characters.
Scroll down to see a summary of the information in a colourful infographic.
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The sage
The sage is a wise old figure who often acts as a mentor or healer. They impart wisdom to others and help the hero achieve their goals and grow in knowledge.
They are often very powerful and formidable, but being a sage is dangerous: this type of character is often killed off at some point in the story, leaving the hero to stumble along only partly trained and still seeking wisdom.
Examples of this character are Dumbledore from Harry Potter, Obi-wan Kenobi from Star Wars and Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.
The innocent
The innocent, also called the child, is naive, sensitive, and sees the world through a positive lens. They are bright-eyed and filled with wonder, and bring joy to others wherever they go.
Unfortunately, they can be too trusting and naive at times, and this may result in them learning some harsh lessons from reality. However, they usually come away wiser, but not jaded.
Examples of this character include Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and Pippin from The Lord of the Rings.
The explorer
The explorer is an adventurous character who is always looking to discover new horizons. They are curious and seek answers to all their questions. They continuously travel the land or the sea, or delve into research, trying to discover new things and gain knowledge.
The downside is that this character can be unreliable as a friend and get too caught up in their need for exploring. Their life can become lonely and aimless as a result.
Examples include Indiana Jones and Odysseus.
The ruler
The ruler is a person in high authority, such as a king or president. They possess power and responsibility over people. This character is usually strong-willed and charismatic, and may fear losing power.
Sometimes, they are the antagonist and consumed with seeking more power.
Examples of this archetype include Macbeth, the White Witch in Narnia, and Claudius from Hamlet.
The creator
The creator is an exceptionally talented character with a particular set of creative skills. They may be an artist, a cook, a musician, or an architect.
For this character, nothing is more important than creating something, and their single-minded focus on their creative interests may lead them to sacrifice their own relationships and well-being.
Examples of this character include Remy from Ratatouille and Jo from Little Women.
The caregiver
The caregiver constantly sacrifices and cares for others while expecting little in return. While many of their traits are attributed to mothers, this character does not necessarily have to be female.
Many parental figures take on the role of caregiver, as does the protagonist’s best friend and confidant in many stories.
Examples include Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings and the nurse in Romeo and Juliet.
The magician
The magician may be a literal magician, such as Prospero from The Tempest, or they may be someone with highly refined skills to the point of being superhuman, such as Sherlock Holmes.
This character may use their powers to help solve difficult problems encountered in the story.
Unfortunately, their interference can sometimes lead to unintended consequences (think Uncle Andrew in The Magician’s Nephew, who indirectly enabled a witch to enter London). This character can be prone to pride and corruption.
The hero
The hero is a dashing character who is strong-willed, courageous, and willing to sacrifice for others. They are usually virtuous, with an unwavering moral compass, and possess incredible physical and mental strength. However, they can suffer from flaws such as hubris and overconfidence, and may seek out confrontations to prove themselves.
This archetype fears being seen as weak or cowardly. Often, they will face a crisis that challenges their confidence and abilities. They must rise out of this dilemma to save the day.
Examples include Aragon from The Lord of the Rings, Reepicheep from the Narnia series, and Luke Skywalker.
The rebel
The rebel, as the name suggests, rebels against society and its rules. They may be a freedom fighter, like Katniss Everdeen or Jyn Erso, or they may push back against a societal norm.
They are often the underdog and may not have the resources to achieve their goals, but often do anyway due to their sheer will and determination. However, it’s not uncommon for them to cause collateral damage in pursuit of their goals.
The lover
The lover desires connection with others and is great at bringing joy and meaning to simple moments in life. They avoid conflict and strive to bring harmony to their lives and others.
This character fears they may end up alone or unloved. As a result, they may become people-pleasers or end up in a bad relationship.
Examples include Desdemona and Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and Jack and Rose from Titanic.
The jester
The jester is also known as the trickster or joker. This character brings some light-heartedness and comic relief to the story and makes both the audience and the characters in the story laugh. They can also impart wisdom to the other characters.
They can also have a powerful influence on the way a reader perceives a situation. Because this character is normally light-hearted and frivolous, if they become serious, it grabs the reader’s attention. When Simba climbs Pride Rock at the end of The Lion King, Timon and Pumbaa watch him with awe, and this hits hard because we have never seen them regard Simba in that light, since they normally don’t take him (or life) seriously.
Other examples include Olaf in Frozen and the Fool in King Lear. The downside is that this character can be viewed as superficial or annoying.
The everyman
The everyman can be described as “just an ordinary person,” and is one of the most popular protagonists in fiction. It’s easy to understand why: these characters are very sympathetic and relatable. They represent us.
They are sturdy and hard-working, are usually down on their luck, and dream of a better life. Think of Luke Skywalker gazing out at the double sunset, longing for something more. It’s easy to get the reader to invest in this character’s story, because they have so much to gain and we relate so easily to their circumstances. Who hasn’t been trapped at a mundane job or wanted to leave the nest?
It’s not uncommon for this character to develop into a hero archetype as described above. Some examples are Pip from Great Expectations and Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit…you will find many main characters that fit this archetype.
