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Looking to brainstorm new characters? Perhaps, you want to flesh out existing characters or pair them against another character to maximize drama and develop deeper character arcs. Writing a compelling character is easier said than done. However, it’s helpful to consider tried-and-true character archetypes to ensure every character behaves in a way that is unique, consistent, and believable. In this post, we’ll identify the various character archetypes that you can use to enhance your own characters. Plus, we’ll include plenty of iconic character archetype examples from your favorite movies and TV shows. Lastly, we’ll define which character archetypes can be paired to maximize either harmony…or conflict. Let’s get started.
WHAT IS AN ARCHETYPE?
Understanding character archetypes
Character archetypes are great building blocks for your stories.
You don’t want to make your characters too one dimensional, but understanding why people seem to gravitate to a particular set of character traits will help you analyze human behavior.
Which leads to crafting better characters in your scripts. But what exactly does archetype mean?
ARCHETYPE DEFINITION
What is an archetype?
An archetype is a consistent and typical version of a particular thing. It can be a human, an object, or a particular set of behaviors, but the point is that it fits into a time-tested mold that embodies a pure form.
A character archetype is the core traits, values, and decision making patterns of a particular type of person.
What does a character archetype do?
- Allows for a variety of different characters
- Solidifies the values for a particular character
- Establishes a unique skill set for the character
It’s important to understand that there is a difference between a story archetype and a character archetype.
You can take classic archetypical characters and place them into a narrative chain of events that plays against the associated story archetype.
A quarterback who needs to get to the playoffs is old hat, but a quarterback who is thrown into a murder investigation and gambling plot is relatively fresh. This is how the filmmakers behind The Last Boy Scout handled their archetypical characters.
Archetypical Characters in The Last Boy Scout
In fact, this is one of the best ways to make sure that your story is a bit more fresh and a bit less tired and derivative.
Why do character archetypes exist?
Human beings tend to find their place within a group dynamic based around their strongest personality traits.
You may have a group of friends with similar interests but often one will be the “social butterfly” while another will be the "homebody."
Your friends will begin to identify each other by these consistent traits.
You’ve now defined yourself by a character archetype.
When writing your own scripts, you may have a desire to use a character archetype for your hero, or for your villain.
Other times you may want to build an ensemble with many archetypes.
Here is a scene below that feature multiple character archetypes:
Archetypical Characters in Inception • Read Entire Scene
It’s also important to note that, not every character fits into a tiny little box.
We all have a certain percentage of different character traits. Which of them dominates the majority of our personality? Which traits manifest less often?
Take Michael Scott from The Office:
Character Archetype Examples • Michael Scott
Michael could be considered a leader, or perhaps a wildcard. Most characters will show signs of multiple character archetypes, but there is still a way to make a sound determination.
The simplest way is through the process of elimination.
Indiana Jones, for example, fits into three different character archetypes, but when you go through the process of stripping them away one at a time, what do you get? Would you still have Indiana Jones?
Indiana Jones Embodies Multiple Character Archetypes
Eventually, you’ll learn that there is a dominant character archetype that best exemplifies each particular character.
There are situation like Game of Thrones where a character may begin a seducer, but then walks the path of redemption to the warrior, like Jamie Lannister.
These particular archetypical characters can be applied to heroes, but they can also serve as character archetypes for villains.
Often, the same character traits can be used for different reasons…
You can use your charm for good, or far evil.
Also, many characters (especially in comedy) will attempt to fit into a character archetype that seems the appropriate for their personality...
But they really only possess the negative traits associated with the type.
Often, these characters fall into the unlisted character archetype:
The Fool.
This is true with shows like Veep, where the leader is a poor leader, the rebel is a poor rebel, and the caregiver can’t seem to get anything right.
Season 6 Recap | Veep
You don’t forfeit the label just because a character consistently fails to live up to the positive traits for particular archetypical characters.
ARCHETYPE Examples LIST
Complete character archetypes list
Another important thing to keep in mind is how the archetypical characters on this list interact with one another. We’ve divided this into categories:
- Allies
- Enemies
Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t have incompatible archetypes on the same team or vice versa, because that will often lead to logical conflict. While this is great for storytelling, certain personality types have a much easier time connecting with others.
Some will have more harmonious interactions while others will have more chaotic interactions.
Like in this scene from The Avengers.
The Avengers at their low
They all share anger at the moment, but each of them show it in their own way. Don't shy away from these interactions in your stories.
CHARACTER ARCHETYPES LIST
1. The Leader
Our first character archetype is The Leader.
Commonly, this character archetype is forceful, a person of action. They’re confident, motivated, and brave.
Which is beneficial for staying active and building story momentum but they can often be arrogant and domineering. This is great for generating a lot of natural conflict.
Here's a video breaking down how to create a dynamic Leader in your story:
Archetypal Characters — The Leader • Subscribe on YouTube
The Leader — Allies
- The Warrior
- The Caregiver
Leaders want to be surrounded by team players, and more often than not the team players are those who care about rules and standards.
That normally translates into strong, reliable relationships with both the strong will of a warrior, and the responsible approach of the caregiver.
The Leader — Enemies
- The Rebel
- The Wildcard
The leader has a plan, and wants to stick to that plan.
Naturally, anyone who seems to throw caution to the wind or rely heavily on improvisation will get under the skin of any leader.
A true leader knows that they are responsible for more than their own skin, so anyone who is a cavalier will inevitably gum up the works.
The Leader — Common Professions
- King/Queen
- President
- CEO
- Quarterback
- General
The Leader Archetype Examples
- Gandalf — Lord of the Rings
- Selina Meyer — Veep
- Jack Aubrey — Master & Commander
CHARACTER ARCHETYPES IN MOVIES AND LITERATURE
2. The Caregiver
Our next character archetype is The Caregiver.
Commonly, this character archetype prioritizes the needs of others. They want to make the world right. They’re kind, generous, and supportive.
They will often have meaningful conversations with your protagonist.
But they can often be meek, vulnerable and an easy target for a villain to capture or manipulate.
Archetypal Characters — The Caregiver Archetype • Subscribe on YouTube
The Caregiver — Allies
- The Leader
- The Professor
The caregiver will often connect with those who have a lot of responsibility or a lot of weight on their shoulders.
They will connect with a professor often because they are willing to overlook negative traits and cast them aside as “necessary evils.”
The Caregiver — Enemies
- The Seducer
- The Wildcard
The main thing a caregiver can’t abide is when characters take advantage of others. This means the seducer is automatically a problem area.
The caregiver will stomach a rebel under the right circumstances, but if they do not enjoy the antics of a wildcard.
The Caregiver — Common Professions
- Therapist
- Teacher
- Doctor/Nurse
- Nanny
The Caregiver Archetype Examples
- John Watson — Sherlock
- Sam Wise — Lord of the Rings
- Gary Walsh — Veep
- Dr. Stephen Maturin — Master & Commander
Related Posts
CHARACTER ARCHETYPE EXAMPLES IN MOVIES
3. The Seducer
Our next character archetype is The Seducer.
Commonly, this character archetype is charming, a person of charisma. They’re confident, persuasive, and sly.
Often debonair, they’re provocative and mysterious but they can often be manipulative and a bit jaded.
For a quick example, look no further than Han Solo.
Archetypal Characters — The Seducer • Han Solo
The Seducer — Allies
- The Rebel
- The Castaway
Often the seducer will get along with others who look out for their own neck, but also for those who have a vulnerability to be manipulated.
Seducers need someone impressionable and that is where the castaway can be a powerful unwitting agent on behalf of the seducer.
The Seducer — Enemies
- The Leader
- The Professor
Often, a leader and a professor can see right through the seducer. They won’t trust one, and know the seducer will take the shortcut if available.
The Seducer — Common Professions
- Spy
- Lawyer
- Salesman
- Gambler
- Detective
- Thief
The Seducer Archetype Examples
- Eames — Inception
- Jack Vincennes — L.A. Confidential
- Dan Egan — Veep
CHARACTER ARCHETYPE EXAMPLES
4. The Castaway
Our next character archetype is The Castaway.
Commonly, this character archetype is observant from a safe distance, a bit of a loner. They’re devoted, loyal, and introspective. But they can often be gullible and emotional.
Consider Brian, the brain, from a film populated with archetypical characters — The Breakfast Club.
Archetypal Characters — The Castaway • Brian the Brain
The Castaway — Allies
- The Leader
- The Wildcard
The Castaway is looking to be inspired, and because of this they often find themselves with a headstrong leader or a rather fluid Wildcard.
Anything else is just too “middle of the road,” and will reinforce the idea that things are cemented and have no room for change on the surface.
The Castaway — Enemies
- The Professor
- The Warrior
Both the Professor and the Warrior will look at the Castaway and see someone who is a bit parasitic. The Castaway is too weak in their eyes.
The Castaway — Common Professions
- Office Worker
- Driver
- Gardener
- Artist
- Cook
The Castaway Archetype Examples
- Frodo — Lord of the Rings
- Amy Brookheimer — Veep
CHARACTER ARCHETYPE EXAMPLES
5. The Rebel
Our next character archetype is The Rebel.
Commonly, these archetypal characters are energetic and individualistic, a thrill seeker. They’re street-smart, capable, and brave.
But they can often be cynical and quick tempered.
Think of how Tyler Durden in Fight Club brought an entirely new perspective to the Narrator's world.
Tyler Durden — The Archetypical Rebel
The Rebel — Allies
- The Seducer
- The Castaway
The Rebel is generally interested in self-preservation and bending the rules to get what they want. The Seducer has skills useful to the rebel.
The Castaway is open minded and just cynical enough to attract the good will of a Rebel, and they share a penchant for questioning the status quo.
The Rebel — Enemies
- The Leader
- The Professor
The Rebel will see these two as old guard, and unwilling to redefine methods and approaches toward goals.
A Rebel is often much more guess and check, whereas a Professor is more scientific, and the Leader more loyal to institutions.
The Rebel — Common Professions
- Criminal
- Fighter Pilot
- Adventurer
- Spy
- Cowboy
- Mercenary
- Mechanic
The Rebel Archetype Examples
- Reiben — Saving Private Ryan
- Maverick — Top Gun
- Will Hunting — Good Will Hunting
- Jonah Ryan — Veep
CHARACTER ARCHETYPE EXAMPLES
6. The Wildcard
Our next character archetype is The Wildcard.
Commonly, this character archetype is unpredictable, a person of improvisation. They’re often brutally honest, humorous, and creative.
But they can often be sarcastic, impulsive, and meddlesome.
Despite his loyal friendship, Walter in The Big Lebowski could be a Wildcard in any scene at any time.
Writing archetypes like Walter must be a blast
The Wildcard — Allies
- The Warrior
- The Castaway
The Wildcard pairs well with a Warrior because they both are all about the action, and they often needs one another’s skill set.
The Castaway and Wildcard have some common traits, one of which is their tendency to be more impulsive and fluid.
The Wildcard — Enemies
- The Leader
- The Professor
The Wildcard is all about doing what they want when they feel like it and everything is based around instinct. This is tough on a Leader.
It is also tough on a Professor who does so much research that someone who lives unprepared can seem ludicrous.
The Wildcard — Common Professions
- Blue collar
- Artists
- Beautician
- Freelancer
- Vagabond
- Gypsy
- Traveler
The Wildcard Archetype Examples
- Walter — The Big Lebowski
- Mike McLintock — Veep
- Charlie Kelly — It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Doc Holliday — Tombstone
Related Posts
CHARACTER ARCHETYPE EXAMPLES
7. The Professor
Our next character archetype is The Professor.
Commonly, this character archetype is literal, droll, and very often a genius. They’re logical, problem solving, and candid.
But they can often be socially oblivious and rigid.
Spock from Star Trek just might be the perfect archetype example. He prioritizes logic above all but what makes this character even more interesting is his half human side that is constant conflict.
Spock • Archetype Examples
The Professor — Allies
- The Caregiver
- The Leader
The Professor is often a flawed social being, and that often translates into a Caregiver being the only person with the patience to stand them.
The Leader is often someone who takes their work seriously, which will earn the respect of a Professor more than almost anything else.
The Professor — Enemies
- The Seducer
- The Wildcard
The Professor will get tired of the smooth antics of a Seducer, and the unpredictable actions of a Wildcard. Everything a Professor does is thought out, so a Wildcard may get in their way too much.
The Professor — Common Professions
- Instructor
- Detective
- Economist
- Engineer
- Pathologist
The Professor Archetype Examples
- Sherlock Holmes — Sherlock
- Greg House — House
- Kent Davidson — Veep
CHARACTER ARCHETYPE EXAMPLES
8. The Warrior
Our next character archetype is The Warrior.
Commonly, this character archetype is courageous, self-sacrificing, a person of honor. They’re strong willed, involved, and have a code.
But they can often be stubborn and obsessive — just like Sarah Connor in The Terminator franchise.
Sarah Connor — The Archetypical Warrior
The Warrior — Allies
- The Leader
- The Professor
A warrior needs something to fight for, and often that can be a leader rather than a cause. Warriors are driven by honor and by a code, which means they respect those with a code of their own like a professor.
The Warrior — Enemies
- The Caregiver
- The Castaway
Generally, the warrior will see a nurturing soul or a searching soul and see their traits as a complete waste of time. The caregiver is too worried about consequences while the castaway is too lethargic for a warrior.
The Warrior — Common Professions
- Soldier
- Police Officer
- Fire Fighter
- Lawyer
- Journalist
- Missionary
The Warrior Archetype Examples
- Aragorn — Lord of the Rings
- Ryan — Saving Private Ryan
- Bud White — L.A. Confidential
- Ben Cafferty — Veep
STORY ARCHETYPE EXAMPLES
Character archetypes in ensembles
While character archetypes are meant to interact with one another, each and everyone of them can be used as a main protagonist.
Just because the Leader has many of the classic traits associated with a main protagonist, that doesn’t mean the Castaway cannot be the main protagonist for their own story.
However, when your story features a group, squad, or team you will often build that team based on their unique character traits.
When behind enemy lines, your commando team needs a green beret, marine, driver, sapper, sniper, and a spy.
These are specialities that make-up a winning team, because you need a different skill set for each problem you encounter.
These skill sets (like professions) will often connect to certain archetypes.
Let’s take a look at a few examples of movies and series that used the ensemble cast and how they went about applying character archetypes.
Character Archetypes | Game of Thrones
Let’s take a look at the archetype examples in Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones Season 5 Recap
Cersei/Daenerys — The Leader
Samwell/Jorah — The Caregiver
Jamie/Euron — The Seducer
Tyrion/Sansa — The Castaway
Bronn/Arya — The Rebel
The Hound — The Wildcard
Davos/Varys — The Professor
Jon Snow/Brienne — The Warrior
Character Archetypes | The Avengers
Let’s take a look at the archetype examples in Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War.
Archetypal Roles in Infinity War • Subscribe on YouTube
Captain America/Black Panther — The Leader
Scarlet Witch/War Machine — The Caregiver
Ironman — The Seducer
Hulk/Gamora — The Castaway
Thor/Loki — The Rebel
Starlord/Spiderman — The Wildcard
Doctor Strange/Vision — The Professor
Black Widow/Thanos — The Warrior
Character Archetypes | Inception
Let’s take a look at the archetypical characters in Inception.
Different Archetypes in Inception
Cobb — The Leader
Ariadne — The Caregiver
Eames — The Seducer
Fischer — The Castaway
Saito — The Rebel
Mal — The Wildcard
Yusuf — The Professor
Arthur — The Warrior
Character Archetypes | Saving Private Ryan
Let’s take a look at the archetype examples in Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan.
Machine Gun Nest | Saving Private Ryan
Miller — The Leader
Horvath — The Caregiver
Mellish — The Seducer
Upham — The Castaway
Reiben — The Rebel
Jackson — The Wildcard
Wade — The Professor
Ryan — The Warrior
Character Archetypes |Ocean’s Eleven
Let’s take a look at the archetype examples in Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven.
Build a Crew | Ocean’s Eleven
Danny Ocean — The Leader
Rusty Ryan — The Caregiver
Frank Catton/Saul Bloom — The Seducer
Linus Caldwell — The Castaway
Basher Tarr — The Rebel
Virgil/Turk Malloy — The Wildcard
Reuben Tishkoff/Livingston Dell — The Professor
Yen — The Warrior
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