The Hero/Warrior Archetype
Typical characteristics of the Hero/warrior archetype
Typically:
• Unusual Circumstances of Birth
• Leaves/Loses Family and Lives With Others
• Traumatic Event Leads to Quest
• Has a Special Weapon/skill
• Supernatural/mentorship help or guidance
Often times,
• Unusual Circumstances of Birth
• Leaves/Loses Family and Lives With Others
• Traumatic Event Leads to Quest
• Has a Special Weapon/skill
• Supernatural/mentorship help or guidance
Often times,
How has the archetype of the hero/warrior changed over time?
As I have further studied the archetype hero/warrior figure and
attempt to make ties to the modern entertainment world around me,
I find that many of the heroes now are traditional established heroes. For example, many
of the movies and scripted television shows are about superheroes. They all contain
the traits of the archetypal figure however their stories have been around
for many years.
If not a stem of an already established hero, I find that many heroes now
in modern times are actually reluctant heroes. The reluctant hero is the character
that has many of the qualities of the archetypal hero figure, however does not really
want to be a hero. At the end of everythng, he/she eventually does end up helps to save the day
and like it or not, becomes a hero.
An example of the now popular reluctant hero is a character from the CW television series,
The Vampire Diaries, Damon. Damon is a vampire and lives as a stereotypical vampire,
unlike the other characters on the show who survive off animals or blood bags from blood banks at hospitals.
He is a drunk, lazy, and often rude to those around him however when someone is in trouble,
he is often the one to fix it. True, he does solve the problem making underhand deals,
however his solutions always work and have little to no repercussions, unlike the show's "hero" figure.
attempt to make ties to the modern entertainment world around me,
I find that many of the heroes now are traditional established heroes. For example, many
of the movies and scripted television shows are about superheroes. They all contain
the traits of the archetypal figure however their stories have been around
for many years.
If not a stem of an already established hero, I find that many heroes now
in modern times are actually reluctant heroes. The reluctant hero is the character
that has many of the qualities of the archetypal hero figure, however does not really
want to be a hero. At the end of everythng, he/she eventually does end up helps to save the day
and like it or not, becomes a hero.
An example of the now popular reluctant hero is a character from the CW television series,
The Vampire Diaries, Damon. Damon is a vampire and lives as a stereotypical vampire,
unlike the other characters on the show who survive off animals or blood bags from blood banks at hospitals.
He is a drunk, lazy, and often rude to those around him however when someone is in trouble,
he is often the one to fix it. True, he does solve the problem making underhand deals,
however his solutions always work and have little to no repercussions, unlike the show's "hero" figure.