Why Being the "Main Character" Means Nothing Without Archetype

jeracaruna
Oct 22
6 min read

I'm sure you've witnessed people who act like they are the main character as an excuse to be an asshole, or just have that general air of belief about them; nobody likes those people. But they aren't just an irritating negative force or symptom of growing societal narcissism, they are actually tragic figures who are stuck at a certain level of being and can only convince themselves that they couldn't be any better anyway, and so they might as well embrace it.

These people are alienated from their own aspirations; cut off from even the ideation of their own empowerment. They have lost touch with their child-self, the wide-eyed dreamer who sees inspiration in anything and everything. And no more intensely is the bond between child and dreams found than Hero figures. These can be fictional or otherwise, but they share the same important element of characteristics that impress a sense of greatness upon the beholder. These characteristics could be relating to the individual's self-empowerment, principles, morals, discipline, intelligence, kindness, and so on... whatever the case, the paramount importance of aspirational role-models has been long overlooked.

However, while specific role-models are great, especially for younger folk who may need the relatability factor supplied by a real person or realistic character, a broader archetypal approach may be more effective for others, if perhaps only to start with. Jung's archetypes, whether we refer to the 12 he derived from classical literature or the 16 personalities created from his cognitive function theory, only hold the uses of identification and minor guidance. What I have developed is a spectrum of negative-positive character archetypes to elucidate both the heights and depths of personal character. You could consider it as a simplified, personified equivalent of the levels of consciousness as shown below:

Note: Obviously the assigned characteristics of each archetype isn't limited to one, nor does one need to possess all of the associated traits to best-fit an archetype. The essence of the concept is what matters most overall, but most of the time trait-mobility is descending e.g. it's easier for the Knight to be like the Noble than vice-versa.

Also, don't make the mistake of trying to fit yourself into one archetype, but consider it as more of a range; try to identify your highest and lowest positions, e.g. someone could go as low as the Thief in some aspects/situations yet reach to Noble in others.

Angel

At the very top of the spectrum we have the Angel, pretty much the summit of aspirational endeavour. You don't get much more aspirational than trying to embody the concept of an Angel. And I don't mean the fluffy, passive, overly-feminised Angels that have taken over the popular image of the archetype. I mean the kind of Angels that make darkness afraid. If there is a concept that fits the notion of a force of ultimate good and unconditional love, it is the Angels, not God. Because God is the absolute; both positive and negative; thoroughly neutral. Have you ever wondered why no one ever tries to become an Angel instead of directly trying to become God? You don't hear of people with an "Angel-complex", do you? But why the heaven not? Angels are badass. They are literally awesome. They're the apex-point of every positive archetype - warriors, knowledge-keepers, healers, and so much more... all in one! And even if it's completely unrealistic to aim to be like an Angel, in the words of psychologist Norman Vincent Peale: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you'll land among the stars."

Characteristics of the Angel: Powerful

Serene

Knowing

Guiding

Unconditionally loving

Saint

The Saint is closer to the essence of divinity than the Hero, but not as effortlessly as the Angel. They simply try their best to be the most kind and benefic people they can be. Often they have reached a point in consciousness where they can approach life in a genuine, light-hearted manner free from defense mechanisms and they show even greater devotion and servitude to their cause than the Knight; it becomes their entire routine way of being.

Characteristics of the Saint:

Patient

Calm

Forgiving

Jovial

Dedicated

Understanding

Hero

On the surface, we all know the archetype of Hero. It almost needs no explanation, but very few people aspire to be heroes these days. Why would they, when it's far more beneficial for a cynic in the age of nihilism to aspire to be the Victim instead? Or at least that's how it appears in the mind of the short-term thinker; those who have lost the ability to imagine themselves as the Hero. Bear in mind, a hero doesn't need to be anything glamourous. They don't need to necessarily achieve great things. Hero is a mindset. Unlike the Angel, who has no need of courage or determination because they exist in a state of serene knowing and effortless embodiment, the Hero needs traits such as these to persevere and triumph over the difficulties of the world. The Hero also has the making of a King/Queen, but I wouldn't consider those as another category; more like the final stage of the Hero's arc.

Other characteristics of the Hero:

Leadership

Charisma

Personal sovereignty

Kindness

Self-reflection

Protectiveness

Conviction

Knight

The Knight can possess most of the specific traits of the Hero, so what sets them apart then? Mostly the willingness to walk their own path and the intuitive self-guidance towards what's right. The Knight serves, and serves with distinction; a cause, a principle, an individual, whatever the Knight swears their fealty to, they shall hold it true, come hell or high water.

Characteristics of the Knight:

Loyalty

Honour Faith

Humility Diligence

Reliability

Boldness

Noble

The Noble is simply an exceptional individual who simply hasn't found a cause to prompt their aspiration into the Knight. Nonetheless, fitting the archetype of the Noble is, well... noble.

Characteristics of the Noble:

Polite

Inquisitive

Diplomatic

Affable

Socially-adept

Generous

Peasant

The Peasant is your regular Joe. There's a good chance this is your baseline, if you're able to be honest with yourself, but please don't make the mistake of assuming that's a negative thing. Keep in mind there are 4 places below. The Peasant is the neutral position, and the only thing preventing them from ascending is their limiting beliefs. I don't mean this as a feel-good platitude either, it's quite literal. If the Peasant internalises the mindset that they can exceed - and are inherently worthy of at least the aspiration simply as a result of being a conscious entity - they may become unshackled from the chains of self-generated low-expectation. It's important, however, that they don't fall into the trap of envying the higher archetypes and failing to recognise the effort that goes into becoming them.

Also worth noting: the Peasant who finds their cause can skip Noble altogether and go straight to Knight if they are devoted enough.

Characteristics of the Peasant:

Unassuming

Adaptive

Constructive

Self-doubting

Anxious

Covetous

Scoundrel

The Scoundrel usually has good qualities - enough of a conscience to recognise their own flaws for one - but is held back by an inability or unwillingness to truly overcome these pit-falls and become a well-adjusted Peasant whom they often incorrectly perceive as a lower class of character then themselves, because they aren't as cool or flashy or aloof or whatever. But at the end of the day, the Peasant is viewed as several orders of magnitude more respectable by discerning higher archetypes than even the best Scoundrel on their best day. To have the respect of other Scoundrels or Thieves amounts to what, exactly? The only time the Scoundrel is a positive archetype is when it is a purely defensive persona for someone whose core archetype rests at a higher consciousness. This is common in media but unfortunately less so in real life.

Characteristics of the Scoundrel:

Superficially charming

Savvy

Cunning

Witty

"Fun"

Self-loathing

Prideful

Cynical

Thief

The Thief is consumed by survival consciousness, in their mind its a dog-stab-dog world and they're not about to be caught with the slower hand or duller blade. Everything is a competition, and everyone else - possibly excepting specific personal relationships - is a threat.

Note: this is symbolic of the mindset and these traits exist in degrees.

Characteristics of the Thief:

Amoral

Self-serving

Vengeful

Ruthless

Manipulative

Ignorant

Victim

The Victim is a void of internal power, a black hole that sucks power from others in whatever way they can as a matter of course. Despite not meaning to be destructive most of the time, they become the second most destructive archetype one can be, since victimhood is itself the essence of self-destruction. That is not to say that there is no such thing as being victimised, or that reactions to such occurances should be invalidated but that the sustained state of victimhood is an act of continuous disempowerment. The Thief may have worse traits but they also at least have the self-determination to act, which is still a more empowered position than blaming everything except one's own willingness to face themselves.

Characteristics of the Victim:

Petty

Parasitic

Accountability-dodging

Rageful

Self-absorbed

Daemon

Very few people reach this level, even most cluster-B personality disorders don't get this bad. This is 'the death-penalty or life-imprisonment is the only solution' kind of mental dysfunction. It's as rare and unrealistic as ascending to Angel, but that doesn't mean it's impossible or that there aren't already a few out there.

Characteristics of the Daemon:

Cruel

Malevolent

Immoral

Hateful

Destructive