Archetypes

This section finishes describing the rest of the archetypes including: the threshold guardian, herald, shape shifter, shadow, ally, and the trickster. The threshold guardian can be menacing to hero but if properly understood, can be defeated. While the threshold guardian is not the main villain, there are often ties connecting the two.
A dangerous and often misunderstood character is the shape shifter due to its instability in appearance and characteristics. The shadow introduces the energy of the dark side or the unknown representing repressed feelings. Tricksters, embody attributes of mischief and desire for change. They cut the hero's ego down to size and connect the hero to the audience in addition to bringing about changes by pointing out the absurdity in a situation.

The reading examines the inner workings and behaviors of numerous characters and brings them down to a level that the audience can understand. Vogler took each archetype and described in depth the relationship the character has to the hero, his role in the story, and their psyches. This was especially helpful in understanding how stories and movies are able to develop characters that are compatible with the plot.

In discovering the various archetypes in a story, I see it only as human nature to compare yourself with that of characters in a story. I found myself imagining how I would perform in each situation and compared how I acted to the actual character. One thing I found intriguing was Vogler's statement, "It's often been said that a story is only as good as its villain" (Vogler, 66). When I read this, I immediately thought of the movie The Dark Knight. The Joker's lunacy and instability makes him a great villain because it forces Batman to rise to the challange and nearly break his only rule.

Questions:

1. Which archetype would Uncle George from "Indian Camp" fall into?

2. What makes the shape shifter such a dangerous character?

3. How has the sidekick evolved over time?