Male Archetypes

• Archetypes


  Recurring patterns of situations, characters, or symbols that occur in narratives across different cultures and time periods
• Four questions to ask when using archetypes:
• Apollo


  • Olympian god of the sun and light, music and poetry, healing and plagues, prophecy and knowledge, order and beauty, archery and agriculture
  • Glides through the night watching over innocent young children and seeking out a challenger to polish his skill as an expert archer
  • His logical mind makes him the dispenser of justice, and his strong willpower allows him to accomplish any goal he sets for himself
• Businessman


  A man on the go who constantly thinks about his work, has a strong logical mind that makes him great at being a team player and a trustworthy employee, understands the nature of cause and effect and lives his life accordingly, can set goals and reach them where other men fail, has a focus that is rock solid and actions that are clear and precise, often falls short of his ultimate goals because he lacks the ruthlessness to reach them
• What the Businessman cares about

  His career, being the calm and centered man in the room to settle arguments and bring about order and peace, strategic planning and being part of a team, competition with either men or women
• What the Businessman fears

  Losing his career and having to get a job, his emotions and any type of intimacy, chaos, rejection especially from a woman
• What motivates the Businessman

  Self-esteem and self-respect, competition, success and moving up the corporate ladder
• How other characters see the Businessman

  Some see him as phony as he seems to talk to only those who can further his career, success is more important than friendships, he has no passion or love for life and seems devoid of compassion at times
• The Businessman's assets


  • Likes blending into the team at work
  • Is concerned about his image at work and is a neat dresser
  • Has a strong will to get things done
  • Is a logical and strategic thinker and can be a great analyst, detective, and teacher, thrives on order
  • Finds work and new ideas to be his only passions
  • Can be loyal and trustworthy, loves to help others when he can use his expertise
• The Businessman's flaws


  • Obsesses about his career, gives his attention only to those who can further his career
  • Has trouble expressing his emotions
  • Identifies with the aggressor when attacked and perpetuates the cycle of violence
  • Doesn't handle rejection well, can be arrogant
  • Lacks spontaneity, hates chaos, and is inflexible
• Villainous side: The Traitor

  Work comes first to this man, if he sees his company facing disaster, he'll go to extreme lengths to cover up any wrongdoing, he can be without mercy because he's been lost for so long inside his head and away from his feelings, he uses rules and order to avoid his feelings, he's a perfectionist with a strong preoccupation for details, rules, lists, order, and schedules, which interfere with him actually completing a task
• While it's true that most villains don't believe they're bad, this villain truly believes he's the good guy. Others are at fault; they caused the chaos, and he deserves better than that. His mental expertise bestows trust on him; many don't have a choice but to trust him because they don't have the knowledge to dispute him.
• The Traitor


  • Feels undervalued, wants respect and recognition for his efforts
  • Doesn't have any loyalty once he feels abandoned by the group
  • Will do whatever it takes to bring order back into his life
  • Wants to teach others a lesson and doesn't feel he's a villain at all
  • Can't sit still and accept rejection
  • Betrays only those he feels betrayed him
  • Is obsessive in his need to organize and work out his plan of attack
  • Views people as pawns in a game of chess
  • Likes long drawn-out attacks that challenge him as well as his opponent
• Ares


  • Greek god of war, perhaps the most unpopular of all the Olympian gods because of his quick temper, aggressiveness, and unquenchable thirst for conflict
  • Everything physical is joyous to him, and his passion leaves all in his wake breathless
  • He is known as the protector of the community and of families, but any reason to join in a brawl is a good enough reason for him
• The Protector


  A man who lives in his body instead of his head, feels everything intensely and craves physical activity of all kinds, protects the ones he loves so fiercely it seems as if he's fighting for his own pleasure alone, lives on eggshells, as if everyone were out to get him, like a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off
• What the Protector cares about

  Loves to get physical, his body is everything to him, it's how he experiences life, cares about winning the fight, cares about his friends and family and will jump at any chance to defend them without worrying about the consequences, every attack on his family and friends is seen as an attack on him
• What the Protector fears

  There's nothing another person can do to him that would make him feel fear, he fears only losing touch with his body and his abilities, he fears not being able to protect those he cares about, he would hate a job where he had to sit at a desk all day, he hates having to use his mind too much
• What motivates the Protector

  His biggest motivator is survival, every attack, small or large, is a threat to his survival, he lives each day on the edge, life without risk is boring to him, he leads people to take risks with him and enjoy life
• How others see the Protector


  He's seen as either intense and passionate or thickheaded and bullish, he wants others to sense the dark need for battle that lurks behind his eyes, he wants to intimidate, he needs to be free to move around and join in
• The Protector's assets


  • Very physical as opposed to mental
  • Will fight to save those he loves, never giving up
  • Will fight for a good cause when others are afraid to stand up
  • Forgoes career success for fun and travel
  • Searches for the next big thrill, challenge, or risk
• The Protector's flaws


  • Physically reacts to an attack without thinking
  • Acts as if he's fighting for his survival all the time
  • Lives on the edge, has trouble considering the consequences of his actions
  • Is merciless in his actions and believes in an eye for an eye
• Villainous side: The Gladiator


  He's not out to protect or save the ones he loves or to fight for a good cause, instead he's out for the lust of battle and blood, he fights and destroys for the sheer pleasure and power it brings, he lusts after the roar of the crowd, his lust for risk taking makes him put other people's lives in danger and he doesn't give it a second thought, danger is all that can make him feel, he can't stand being alone and may drive others crazy needing to always go out and find something to do, life is so boring and cruel to him, and he won't be the one to suffer, at least he'll go out with the roar of the crowd—a hero till the end
• The Gladiator's characteristics


  • Feels abandoned, out of touch with his caring emotions, only feels rage and anger
  • Lusts after the roar of the crowd, craves blood, death, and battle
  • Has frequent temper outbursts, has a poor self-image
  • Can't stand to be alone, wants to feel, and danger is all that he can feel
  • Takes risks to compensate for feeling so empty inside
  • Pushes others to take risks with him, puts innocent people in danger
  • Plays the victim when confronted about his behavior
  • Doesn't expect to live long, welcomes a valiant death
• Hades


  • The God of the Underworld, together with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon, they defeated their Father Cronus, he has no need for friends or acquaintances, but instead prefers to linger alone, he never realized what he was missing in his life until he came upon the beautiful goddess Persephone
• The Recluse


  A man who has a rich inner life and creative spirit but can sometimes get lost in his own fantasies, he can also be a great philosopher who spends hours reading and analyzing ideas, he has no skill in relationships and may be distant for days at a time
• What the Recluse cares about

  Being alone, he has a rich inner life and enjoys being inside his head, he cares only about his inner world, everyone else can keep their dramas to themselves, he likes being invisible in large groups, he feels alien to everyone else and may want to move on to the next world, welcoming death, he chooses to do everything himself rather than running down to the store to buy a gadget that may do the job
• What the Recluse fears

  Large groups of people, losing his mind in one of his rich fantasy worlds, his own emotions, the world coming upon him and swallowing him up, people forcing themselves into his life
• What motivates the Recluse


  The need to know and understand, he lives in his head and is always thinking and analyzing, he is a great philosopher who can spend ages questioning the mysteries of life, his need to be alone motivates him to do whatever it takes to find a place where he can be alone, severe loneliness may cause him to seek out a mate or find a friend
• How others see the Recluse

  A bland person devoid of personality, too much in his head, seems fragmented and disorderly, always looking for things he's misplaced
• The Recluse's assets


  • Prefers to be left alone most of the time
  • Longs for the next project or idea to occupy his time
  • Has a rich inner life, psychically sensitive
  • May long for a small family unit
  • Can be philosophical and highly intelligent, very discerning
  • Can be a very loyal companion, reliable since he's always in the same place
  • Doesn't play the games people play or get involved in their dramas
• The Recluse's flaws

  • Unexpressive and able to withdraw easily
  • Afraid of his emotions and seems devoid of feeling
  • Has trouble talking to people
  • Very pessimistic
  • Holds grudges
• The villainous side: The Warlock

  Uses his knowledge of the occult to harm others or the environment, out for his own personal gain and understands nothing of the effect his actions have on the outer world, his loneliness may also lead him to use his powers to try to control others
• Sample Recluse


  • Prefers to be left alone most of the time
  • Longs for the next project or idea to occupy his time
  • Has a rich inner life. Psychically sensitive
  • May long for a small family unit
  • Can be philosophical and highly intelligent. Very discerning
  • Can be a very loyal companion. Reliable since he's always in the same place
  • Doesn't play the games people play or get involved in their dramas
• Recluse's Flaws


  • Unexpressive and able to withdraw easily
  • Afraid of his emotions and seems devoid of feeling
  • Has trouble talking to people
  • Very pessimistic
  • Holds grudges
• Warlock


  Uses his knowledge of the occult to harm others or the environment. Out for his own personal gain and understands nothing of the effect his actions have on the outer world
• Warlock Traits


  • Antisocial. Out for his own gain
  • Doesn't care how his actions affect the world
  • Afraid of rejection. Has no intimate relationships
  • Can't feel or express real love without dominating the other person
  • Thinks society is a joke and that he doesn't have to live under its rules
  • Wants to be in control. Likes to intimidate others
• Hermes


  Ancient Greek god of trade, wealth, luck, fertility, animal husbandry, sleep, language, thieves, and travel
• The Fool


  A man who is still a boy inside. Enjoys playing around and not acting his age. Believes life should be fun and he's determined to enjoy himself
• What the Fool Cares About

  • His freedom
  • The newness of the experience
  • Enjoying a challenge in all areas of his life and has no trouble being alone
  • Remaining youthful and carefree no matter what his age
• What the Fool Fears

  • Losing his freedom
  • Boredom
  • Making commitments
  • Not being able to save children when they're in trouble