45 Master Characters: Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters/Support Characters

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


This is a summary of the Friend, Rival, and Symbol archetypes from 45 Master Classes: Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters (see footnote on the index page, Master Characters). You can also find the Hero archetypes on Master Character Heroes, and the Heroine types on Master Character Heroines.

NOTE: The support characters may be closely identified with the Hero, the Heroine, or both. I'm not going to specific "Heroine" in all this because it'll lead to "Hero or Heroine" and "he or she" and "him or her" and I'm not even starting that mess. Just understand that these characters can interact on either side of the gender line.

Quick Overview

The Friend archetypes are those characters who are generally supportive, but may (for good or bad reasons) do things to hinder the Hero.

  • Magi
    • An advisor much wiser and more experienced than the Hero, but who may be hard to win over as a potential source of information or help. Also may mislead or manipulate the Hero as a form of "teaching."
  • Mentor
    • "Closer in level" to the Hero, and, when a positive character, far more likely to go all-out in helping him. When negative, may be competitive or controlling, and even jealous.
  • Best Friend
    • The Hero's confidant, always ready to lend a hand - but may hold the Hero back out of fear for his safety or fear for the loss of their close friendship.
  • Lover
    • A "secure base" and a shoulder to cry on, and the character the Hero should be closest to by the end of the story. Need not be a mate per se; may be a child or a pet.

The Rival archetypes are those characters who mostly hinder the Hero, without necessarily meaning him ill; a Rival is not a Villain, but may be a form of Antagonist.

  • Joker
    • Uses verbal humor and practical jokes to keep everything on a comedic rather than dramatic level, which may prevent people from getting down to discussing important issues. Craves attention and may lie or mislead others for the fun of it.
  • Jester
    • Well-intentioned but clumsy, or otherwise capable of causing physical havoc without meaning to ("What does this button do?"). Most times the Hero can't even bring himself to scold the character.
  • Nemesis
    • Consciously tries to mess things up for the Hero - a true rivalry here - yet when things really get bad might even lend a hand to get things back to normal. Would not enjoy life nearly as much if the Hero weren't around to spar with.
  • Investigator
    • Asks questions, demands details, and generally slows things down and saps the Hero's patience. Has little understanding of "acceptable risk" and doesn't want the Hero to make decisions based on limited data, even in a time crunch.
  • Pessimist
    • Points out everything wrong with the Hero's plan, and everything that could possibly go wrong, completely undermining the Hero's confidence. Doesn't believe anything will ever work, so never gives anything a try.
  • Psychic
    • At her best, uses predictions to guide the Hero (thus almost a type of Magi); usually, however, she withholds information and masks the truth, and may seek to be acknowledged for her unique powers. Needn't be a real psychic; can be, for example, a psychologist or behavioral analyst who can predict what people are going to do next.

The Symbol archetypes represent what the Hero was, is, and hopes to become. These qualities can overlap with other support characters; a Best Friend might also be the Lost Soul clinging to old influences (e.g., still a gang member), a Mentor might also be the Double and everything the Hero wants to be. A Lover who is also the Double is likely a Morality Pet (I think).

  • Shadow
    • Represents the character flaws that the Hero is trying to overcome. The Hero prefers to avoid this character - doesn't like being forced to think about his negative side.
  • Lost Soul
    • Represents what the Hero used to be, what he does not want to fall back to. May be a longtime friend who remains tied to old influences.
  • Double
    • Represents what the Hero wants to be, the person he is trying to become. A role model, but not the same function as the Magi or Mentor.

Character Examples

Friends:

Rivals:

  • The Joker: See the Sad Clown.
  • The Jester: See the Dojikko.
  • The Nemesis: See the Arch Enemy
  • The Investigator: See the Obstructive Bureaucrat
  • The Pessimist:
    • Near as I can tell, while The Pessimist probably counts as The Eeyore, not all Eeyores are playing the role of The Pessimist. Consider Puddleglum, who keeps reeling off the potential negative consequences of the party's actions, not to mention how their actions are going to be fruitless, yet continues to work just as hard as the rest and plays a crucial role in securing a positive ending.
    • Might also be referring to Commander Contrarian?
  • The Psychic: As a positive character, the book mentions the Oracle from The Matrix.

Symbols:

  • The Shadow: Dostojevsky put at least one of these into every novel. It's also called the Doppelgänger. They commit the crimes the heroes only want/dream of, or are just professional villains compaed to them. And they usually bite the dust at the end.
  • The Lost Soul:
  • The Double: Kamina to Simon in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

Greater Detail

...

Here list examples of stories or series in which these characters interact with the Hero or Heroine in a way that strongly showcases their role:

Spider-Man

  • Magi
    • Madame Web, a psychic who takes an interest in manipulating Spider-Man to her own ends. Uncle Ben is also a constant source of inspiration, but being dead, never gets involved.
  • Mentor
    • Robbie Robertson, Captain Stacy, and/or the Ultimate version of Ben Ulrich, who act as father figures to Peter and help guide him on his journalism career.
  • Best Friend
    • Harry Osborne. Holds Peter back because of his family's connections.
    • Ivan Vorputril cousin of Miles Vorkosigan. Lazy and reluctant, seemingly a useless courtier, but is always there for Miles.
  • Lover
    • Mary Jane or Gwen Stacy, depending on the writer.
  • Joker
    • Flash Thompson, bully with a heart of gold.
  • Jester
    • Betty Brant, original love-interest and co-worker whose good-natured stupidity and unwillingness to actually talk about any problems tended to make her the epicenter of disaster.
  • Nemesis
    • Felicia Hardy/Black Cat, a thief with a heart of gold who is only interested in playing cat and mouse games with Spider-man.
  • Investigator
    • Aunt May, whose constant fretting is a source of frustration for Peter.
  • Pessimist
    • JJ Jameson, who constantly criticizes every single thing Peter does in both identities.
  • Psychic
    • None
  • Shadow
    • Venom / Eddie Brock
  • Lost Soul
    • Flash Thompson becomes this after high school. He remains stuck in a rut while Peter's life changes.
  • Double
    • Almost any of the other Marvel Superheroes, but probably Captain America, the Fantastic Four, and Iron Man specifically.

Final Fantasy X

  • Magi
    • Auron serves this role for the viewpoint protagonist, Tidus. He offers advice and is a wise character, but never goes into depth (as Tidus puts it, "You can always count on Auron to complicate things.") and is somewhat distant.
  • Mentor
    • Wakka somewhat serves this role, as he acts like a sort of "big brother" character when Tidus first meets him.
    • Likewise, Lulu acts as Yuna's mentor, acting as a mature older sibling would.
  • Lover
    • Yuna becomes this for Tidus. At the beginning of the game, she's the only one that believes he is from Zanarkand and his relationship with her is the most prominent out of the entire party.

Final Fantasy X-2

  • Best Friend
    • Rikku shares this sort of relationship with Yuna, the protagonist. Out of all the members of the Gullwings, Yuna seems to trust her the most.
  • Lover
    • Tidus to Yuna
  • Psychic
    • Young prodigy Shinra definitely plays this role.
  • Double
    • Tidus is Yuna's Double. She acts very much like him in this game and seems to have modeled some of her ideals and lifestyle after his own.
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