An archetype is basically an element of literature that has appeared over and over again since the dawn of storytelling. In the early 20th century, a psychiatrist named Carl Jung put together a formal list of archetypes from mythology, poetry, hieroglyphics, literature, and other art forms stretching back hundreds of years.

Many of these archetypal concepts will feel very familiar because they appear in the vast majority of art across all mediums. This may all seem passé, but the reason archetypes appear again and again is that they are deeply ingrained in the human experience, which in turn means using them will deeply connect with readers from all walks of life. And as such, archetype-adjacent characters may be encouraged closer in the editing process.

The 4 Categories of Characters

Characters are a combination of flat, round, static, and dynamic:

Flat – A flat character is one-dimensional and undeveloped. This means that they have some characteristics to make them memorable, but they are not complex.

Round – Round characters are multi-dimensional with several features, similar to real humans, that often work together but may sometimes be contradictory.

Static – These characters will not change over the course of a story.

Dynamic – A dynamic character undergoes one or several changes after learning or experiencing something with a big impact on themselves or those around them.

Flat characters will always be static. This isn’t a bad thing, it just means they aren’t important. In order for you to leverage an archetypal character for your story, they must be round characters at least. They don’t necessarily have to change in your story, but they must be complex enough of characters for your audience to imagine they have the capacity for change either in the past or the future.

10 Modern Archetypal Characters

The Caregiver This character is typically a parent. They protect and care for others and are compassionate and generous. Before their part of the story ends, they sacrifice something to aid the protagonist.

Present-day characters that could fit this role could include an older sibling of a family with a busy single parent, a doorman who is fiercely protective of the families he’s bonded with, or a family dog that sleeps watching over the baby.

The Creator This character has a vision that they express creatively through art, music, literature, invention. They take nothing and make it into something valuable to individuals and culture overall.

Creators have more occupations now than ever before! They may be an app developer, the owner of an Etsy store, or even someone with a dream of opening a bakery who brings baked goods to her coworkers at a shitty job.

The Lover Lovers are loyal companions whose biggest fear is being unwanted or unloved. They’re passionate and committed, but they can also be fiercely jealous to preserve their identity as the most attractive person in the room.

Taylor Swift is a lover, and clearly she knows it. Lovers can take on more than a romantic theme though and instead be passionate, committed, and jealous of competition in other traits like knowledge, status, or wit.

The Explorer

The explorer wants freedom above all else. Physical journeying is a must, but typically they seek a better, more authentic lifestyle and flee from the status quo. For them, adventure waits around every bend.

You know those people who self actualize based upon the number of countries they have visited? Yeah, those people are definitely modern-day explorers. So are the people pimping out school busses into custom tiny houses. One less obvious explorer is someone who wants to be ahead of the curve on things like new tech, social media sites, and trends.

The Hero

Oh look, it’s the archetype you’ve been waiting for. This archetype is typified by someone seeking to prove their worth through courageous or heroic acts. Above all else, they want to make the world a better place, and they won’t give up no matter the odds.

Heroes of the modern era could be people working for tech startups. Or they could be a small influencer wanting to grow their platform by being radically good. BLM, a Beyonce fan club, Qanon, Time’s Up, and even viral meme usage are all fodder for heroes. Anywhere there is a movement, there is a hero character both for and against it.

The Innocent

This character’s worst fear is doing something wrong. They have a particular naïve innocence about them be it inexperience or because they have been guarded. They do not understand the harshness of the world around them.

The true innocents of today don’t have social media and are, therefore, a dying breed. But innocents can be naïve instead to the primary theme of your novel. Maybe they’ve never been on Tindr before or have no idea what happens at furry conventions.

The Jester

This character will trade seriousness for levity every time. They’re more concerned with having a good time, making people around them laugh, and spreading joy than whatever consequences they could be facing.

You know these people. They’re the ones who always have a viral YouTube video up their sleeve or a new trick to show off. They’re the person who makes a joke when they have to give a eulogy. The question is when do they turn it off?

The Rebel This archetype hinges upon the belief that rules are meant to be broken. Rebels are often visionaries that want to change something that isn’t working. They typically have good intentions that can quickly get derailed as they cross the line from rebellion to crime.

The first person that comes to mind as a modern-day rebel is Elon Musk, who pushes buttons while pushing boundaries. But, much like the hero, there are rebels in every field and every movement where there are high stakes and passionate players.

The Ruler

Rulers seek control and to create a successful community as a first priority. They fear being overthrown, which can lead to authoritarianism or a lack of delegation.

Look for rulers in positions of power and influence: the have-it-all matriarch of the family, the haggard lead editor of an online magazine, the uncompromising politician, the retail assistant manager forever putting out fires.

The Sage This character seeks truth and intelligence. They fear ignorance, and as such spend much of their time studying and self-reflecting rather than taking action.

Sages can wonder about more than just the big questions in life like philosophy, religion, and truth. People who lurk on social media sites without posting or commenting can be a type of sage. So are people who religiously watch in-depth cake decorating tutorials but never bake.

Merge Archetypes for Modern Pairings

You may have read the list and noticed that many of these traits go hand in hand with characters in your own life. (I certainly did.) But because you know these people, they have more complexity to them. By taking both the strengths and weaknesses of multiple archetypes, you can build both deeply lovable and deeply flawed characters that readers love.

Choosing to write archetypes does not make you an unoriginal author. In fact, it’s likely you’ve written some already without realizing it. Archetypes exist because we all have pieces of them in our own lives, and acknowledging them also means fostering an innate connection with your readership.