Post #4
Book 1 pages
65-80
Contributor: Cassie
Trohn
I
was very intrigued by Christopher Vogler’s description of what certain
characters’ roles are, as well as the meaning behind what these characters do.
Today I will introduce you to three character
types that I read about— Shadow, Ally, and Trickster.
SHADOW:
Vogler describes Shadow as the energy
of the dark side, the unexpressed, unrealized, or rejected aspects of
something. This is the negative face of Shadow in a story and is represented by
characters that are villains, antagonists, or enemies. The Shadow can be the
suppressed things about our characters, dark secrets, and things that lurk in their
past. Villains are usually dedicated to death, destruction, or defeat of the
hero.
The positive face of the Shadow shows this
archetype in a more genuine light. Qualities that hide or that have been
rejected for some reason can bring out the positive side of the Shadow. The
positive side can make the Shadow more human with a touch of goodness or some quality
that is admirable or even vulnerable. The positive face can almost give the
reader a sense of feeling sorry for the villain because he/she has shown a more
human side, or a reason why he/she reacts the way he/she does.
The function of the Shadow is to challenge
the hero and give him/her a worthy opponent in his/her struggle. Shadows can
create conflict and bring out the best in a hero, often by putting the hero in
a life-threatening situation. Heroes can also manifest a Shadow side, by
wearing a mask.
The mask of the Shadow can be worn by
any character, for instance: the primary Mentor figure who tests the MC by
pushing him to his limit (Louis Gossett, Jr., An Officer and a Gentleman), the Shapeshifter figures, darker
characters that act like Mentors (Anthony Hopkins, The Silence of the Lambs), the Trickster figures, villains who
fight bravely for their cause or experience a change of heart only to become
heroes themselves (the Beast—Beauty and
the Beast)
External Shadows must be vanquished or
destroyed by the Hero. Internal Shadows can be disempowered by bringing them
into the light of consciousness and can even be turned into a positive force.
Knowing the psychological concept of
the Shadow archetype will help you understand the villains and antagonists in
your stories and uncover deeply hidden aspects of your heroes.
ALLY
The Ally character can serve several purposes
for the hero. The Ally can be a companion, conscience, comic relief, or someone
to run errands, carry messages, scout locations or have someone for the hero to
talk to. The Ally brings out the human side of the hero or challenges him/her
and allows for a more balanced hero. You can have multiple Allies building up a
team of adventurers with each having their own special skill, or just a single
Ally who provides comic relief and/or challenges a deeper look into the hero’s
soul.
Allies can explain things that are
second nature to the hero who is introverted or that would be awkward for him
to explain.
The Ally can also be an “audience
character” who is someone who sees the world in a special way or through fresh
eyes. This is my favorite type of Ally. I have a tendency to want to have another
character other than the Main Character throw a fresh light on circumstances.
Allies can be sidekicks. They can be a
comical sidekick, a faithful sidekick, an accomplice, or serve as a conscience.
An Ally could be the most effective in drawing more emotion into your story.
The Ally can also be non-human, such
as a guardian angel, or a spirit protector. Animal Allies are common in
storytelling and make great allies. In folktales, Allies can serve as a voice
beyond the grave giving aid to the living. Helpful servant Allies can help the
hero achieve his/her goal.
The psychological function of an Ally
is to be helpful to the hero in the journey of the hero’s life. The Ally represents
powerful internal forces that can come to the aid of a MC in a spiritual crisis.
TRICKSTER
The Trickster archetype is very
popular in folklore and fairytales. They are usually clowns or comical
sidekicks. They embody the energy of mischief and desire for change. They have
several important psychological functions. They are good at cutting big egos
down to size and bringing heroes and audiences down to earth. They bring about
healthy change and transformation, often by pointing out the imbalance or
absurdity of a stagnant psychological situation. Tricksters are known to bring needed
perspective when characters might be taking themselves too seriously.
The dramatic function of comic relief
is to relieve tension, suspense, and conflict. Tricksters can be servants or Allies
working for the hero or Shadow. They can also be independent agents with their
own agendas.
Trickster Heroes are most common in
folktales and fairytales and can stir up trouble or outwit others, bringing
about change. They are usually catalyst characters who affect the lives of
others but are unchanged themselves.
Meet Today’s Contributor—Cassie Trohn
My
name is Cassie Trohn and as a Reading Specialist for children with disabilities
such as ADD and Dyslexia, I found my love in writing. I did not start out in Education;
I actually was a wedding planner for eleven years. I have four children. I am
also an artist and combine the arts with reading in order to help with sensory
learning. It really speeds up the process of teaching reading if you know what
type of learner your student is (visual, audio, hands-on).
My
writing background is very formal. What I mean is I have written articles for
local magazines and was a ghost writer for an international business company. Although
my writing background has been a formal writing style, my love for writing was
much more creative and I’ve wanted to entice teens to read more, especially
those with disabilities. I want to be the author who keeps them reading through
their adult years. I am presently working on a YA fiction trilogy, “Three
Rings” with my mentor and editor, Joyce Sweeney.
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