Archetypes
Born in 1875, Carl Jung was one of modern psychology’s first widely-respected voices. His theories are still in use today by counselors and theorists, and echoes of his work in the realms of personality, dreams and shared consciousness can be felt in modern cinema, fiction and storytelling.
An avid student of culture and mythology, Jung studied stories, fables and legends from around the world to find common themes and recurring imagery. He believed that discovering recurring character types and the personalities that defined them revealed universal tropes that shaped a person’s path through life. Like much of his work, Jung’s ideas about archetypes have found their way into popular culture, and can be seen in everything from fantasy novels to games to M. Knight Shyamalan films.
By uncovering the archetypes that speak to our personalities, we can use Jung’s 12 archetypes to get a better sense of who we are.
The Sage
Those who embody the archetype of the Sage seek knowledge and wisdom as their sustenance. They value the life of the mind, and tend to be free thinkers with an aptitude for using logic and learned knowledge to enlighten others or find solutions to problems. Many world religions are rife with wisdom-givers who embody the archetype of the Sage. Sages of fiction include Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice and Yoda from Star Wars.
Sages thrive within the life of the mind. Those who embody the Sage tend to be happiest when they are engaged in intellectual pursuits, puzzles of logic, philosophy, or the sciences. One can be a Sage and still be a creative thinker; Sages who favor right-brain activities may find themselves happiest when plumbing creative knowledge from their favorite works of art, or delving into traditions of spiritual wisdom.
The Innocent
Most of us probably know the Innocent on sight: they are the one person in the room who will remain bubbly and optimistic in the face of the gravest events. They quest after happiness and desire happiness for others. Innocents in mythology exhibit childlike spontaneity, and may make risky decisions in the blink of an eye. The Innocent can be found in the cartoon character Bubbles, and in the character Bode from the popular graphic novel series-turned-Netflix show Locke and Key.
Innocents are happiest when they are able to keep their optimism alive. While delving into intense feelings of anger or sadness may be cathartic for some, those who embody the Innocent seek joy even in the midst of pain, and tend to thrive by nurturing and expressing their inner child.
The Ruler
This archetype is exactly what it sounds like. Rulers lead naturally. They are the charismatic football captains and magnetic protest organizers of the world. Rulers in world mythology combine charisma with cool-headed logic to orchestrate group efforts while keeping the end goal in sight. Rulers in popular fiction include Leslie Knope from the television series Parks and Recreation, and Ragnar Lothbrok from the TV series Vikings.
When Rulers are at their best, they help groups of people collaborate to achieve a common goal by promoting teamwork and organization. Jung cautions those who embody the Ruler to be wary of ruling by fear, lest they become a tyrant.
The Explorer
Explorers of the modern world can be found hiking the Appalachian Trail, studying abroad in a different country, or traversing the weirder, wilder parts of the Internet in search of novelty and new discoveries. Explorers of legend are the first to find new places, tap into undiscovered resources, and map the unknown.
Those who hold the Explorer archetype live for the promise of adventure, and are prone to striking out on their own to seek out new challenges and the thrill of the unfamiliar. Examples of Explorers in fiction include Moana from Disney’s Moana, and Bill and Ted from the classic 80s comedy Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
The Orphan
The Orphan is an archetype defined by its need. Those who embody the Orphan have been abandoned, excluded, and double crossed. The hurt they feel from the wounds they’ve been given fuels their desire for companionship and shared bonds. They seek out others who feel the same way to soothe their hurt and prevent it from happening again. Orphans may become manipulative in their efforts to maintain connections they value.
The cautionary tale of the Boy Who Cried Wolf warns against the dangers of embodying the ever-endangered Orphan too much, while the popular Disney show Descendants provides an example of the Orphan’s power to diffuse the pain of exclusion through community and shared goals. Perhaps one of the most widely-known Orphans of fiction is Oliver Twist.
The Caregiver
Caregivers are fueled by a protective strength that moves them to warm, comfort and nurture others. They strongly desire happiness, safety and provision for those they care about. Caregivers are often the parents or parent figures in found families. Caregivers who follow their archetype down a career path often become social workers, counselors, doctors, and ‘alternative’ healthcare professionals like acupuncturists or massage therapists.
Caregivers in mythology include the Lithuanian Goddess Gabija and Gepetto from the folktale Pinochio. Among the long list of Caregivers in fiction are Joel from the popular, post-apocalyptic video game The Last of Us, and Morticia and Gomez from The Addams Family.
The Creator
The Creator lives to do just that. Imaginative and nonconformist, Creators think outside the box to generate new ideas, build creative constructs like art and video games, and reshape traditional ideas to fit modern paradigms. Creators are artists, innovators, architects, programmers, business developers, etc. They are engines of change that shape their worlds according to their creativity and their passion for invention.
Jung warns Creators not to spend too much time in their heads, as Creators may get caught up in their rich imaginations and forget the importance of birthing their inventions into the tangible world.
Creators of world mythology include Grandmother Spider and the inventor Daedalus from Greek mythology. Creators in fiction include Ariadne from the film Inception, and the inventor Teo from the animated series Avatar the Last Airbender.
The Hero
If you’ve seen Wonder Woman, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Remember the Titans, you’ve seen the Hero in action. Like a superhero in a comic book, the Hero’s path through life revolves around the responsible use of power. Heroes of mythology include the historical Celtic warrior Boudica and the Japanese ninja and magician Tsunade.
The Hero has the tenacity to emerge victorious from any confrontation and the perseverance to endure hardship while battling for justice and moral pulchritude. Heroes of the modern world may be found standing up for those who are the victims of oppression through any number of avenues. They may attend protests or make their way into positions of political influence, or blog relentlessly about the importance of equality.
Although the word ‘hero’ is commonly gendered as male, the word itself is gender neutral and may be used to describe any person.
The Rebel
Perhaps one of the most media-prominent Jungian archetypes in current events is the Rebel. The Rebel breaks convention by identifying and working to change oppressive norms. The Rebel’s quest for change is ongoing, and may take many forms: the Rebel can be found at protests, sign and loudspeaker in hand, or liberating their mind through meditation.
The Rebel understands that norms and social structures are intrinsically flawed, and constantly seeks to free themselves and those around them who have been marginalized and victimized through the imposition of norms. The recent film Hidden Figures provides a stunning and historical picture of Rebels who defied conventions based on color, gender, body type and intellect. Neo from The Matrix is an embodiment of the Rebel in popular cinema.
As befits their nature, Rebels in myth and story are often the subject of controversy: the fallen angel Lucifer from later stages of Christian lore is, for some, a seminal Rebel of legend, as is Brian Boru.
The Jester
From Robin Williams to Ellen Degenerous to Ru Paul, the Jesters of the world love to laugh. The lives of everybody who has watched a show, read a book, or seen a movie with a humorous character, have been touched by the whimsy of the Jester. Jesters are lovers of humor, which they express through creative endeavours or everyday moments.
Jesters use humor to diffuse tension, reconcile opposing views, and shed light on important subjects. Jesters of note who have used humor to air out important topics include Dave Chapelle, rapper Awkwafina, standup comedian Suzi Ruffell, and Stephen Colbert. Jesters don’t have to be extroverts - they’re in their element when their comedic talents are touching the lives of others, whether in person, on the stage, or via online comics and humorous memes.
Jesters of myth include Loki from Norse mythology and Coyote.
Magician
The Magician carries the power of transformation. Like an alchemist transforming base metals into gold, the Magician seeks to master cycles of change that bring vitality and flexibility to their world and those around them. Like the pop musician David Bowie, Magicians are able to shift their style and appearance through time to adapt and stand out in a changing world. They have a knack for opening others’ worldviews and presenting previously-unconsidered possibilities.
Magicians of fiction include the wizard Gandalf from Lord of the Rings and the curandera Ultima from the movie Bless Me, Ultima. The nonbinary, intersex Taoist immortal Lan Caihe is a notable Magician of world mythology, as is the Finnish shaman Väinämöinen.
The Lover
The lover sees the essence of life in the power of connection. Seeking to love and to be loved, Lovers value authenticity and depth in connection with others. They bring cohesion to groups and meaning to relationships. They see beauty in many forms and seek to help others see the beauty in themselves.
An example of the enduring connection of the Lover in film is the movie Ghost. The Netflix series Sense8 portrays the power of love to interconnect groups in spite of distance and differences. Lovers in mythology include, needless to say, Romeo and Juliet, and other, more controversial romantic relationships that have passed from history into modern myth, like Bonnie and Clyde.
Which of Jung’s 12 archetypes speak to you most clearly? Do you have the guile of the sage? Do you persist like the Hero? Do you seek new landscapes - either physically or emotionally? Or are invention and creation the lifeblood that fuel your passions? Jung’s archetypes can help us discover and embrace ourselves, and in doing so, we claim a unique, inner power that helps us find meaning and direction.
In addition to the 12 archetypes, Jung also categorized four parts of the psyche: the persona, the true self, the anima (or animus), and the shadow self. In future posts, we’ll discuss these four parts of the self, and how they can help you explore your inner world.