45 Master Characters

Ms. Schmidt discusses the difference between a stereotype and an archetype. She talks a bit about individualizing characters using aspects of appearance, what the characters care about and fear, motivations, how others see the character, and so on. When providing examples of each archetype she deliberately provides a wide spectrum of possibilities so that you can see some of the variations that are possible.

My only problem here is that I can still see, having read through the book, how it would be easy to accidentally get trapped into creating stereotypes using these character archetypes. Why? Because many of our stereotypes are variations on (or simplified, judgmental versions of) these archetypes, and it's hard not to let all that history influence us. Perhaps if Ms. Schmidt had included an extra (small) section within each archetype reminding the reader to play with things, and including a few further suggestions and examples for how to do so, it would have allayed this fear.

The archetypes are quite detailed. Each has both a positive and a negative side. The author includes all sorts of information about the archetypes, from things they tend to care about, to which other archetypes they pair well with, and what their assets and flaws tend to be. Then Ms. Schmidt does more in the list of examples to break the stereotype worry than she does anywhere else. She includes examples from TV, film, literature, and history, so no matter what your reading or viewing pleasure, you should find something you can relate to.

Oddly, while the character archetypes are what sell the book, they turned out not to be the main attraction for me. There's a great section on supporting characters, for example. But best of all, roughly a full 95 pages of the book cover the feminine and masculine archetypal journeys. This is where things really take off and catch at the imagination. All in all, this book is interesting, useful, and well-detailed. If your characterizations could use a little help, this might be a fun place to start!


Loaded with character info   May 14, 2004
K.R. Wilson (Foggy San Francisco)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

First, I have to say that without this book I would not have been able to create compelling personalities for my characters. I am now a soon to be published author.

Now onto the review. I've read other character books before but this book by far had the most information I could hang my hat on. You find out how your chosen character relates to his world, what his and her fears are, what their villain archetype traits are. You also get to study the hero and heroine journeys. This is a wonderful resource for beginning and established writers.

Fun tip: Watch reruns of "Friends", have 45 MASTER CHARACTERS next to you and match the archetypes. It's fun, addictive. Best bang for my buck, ever.


Deffinitely a Bible!   August 25, 2003
I'm not sure why someone would say this isn't great to use for SF/F writing! This book covers everything! AND is the only book to cover the Female Hero's Journey...something very integral to SF/F writing as this is the genre where female characters shine!

I found this book extremely useful and very needed as it includes:

Female and Male Heroes and Villians,

Supporting Character Archetypes,

The Female Hero's Journey

And a great alternative Male Hero's Journey.

NO other book has this!

I guess you can tell I'm a fan and I hear she has 2 other books in the works. Can't wait.


I like the section on female journeys(m)   May 3, 2003
It was both enlightening as well as disturbing. I would suggest men read this section to get a better idea of how to understand what goes on in woman's mind.


A Must Read & Have for Writers Everywhere!   September 5, 2002
JK (USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book is hands down the best investment I have made in my writing career.
In a synopsis, Schmidt uses archetypes based on the Ancient Grecian gods to form two types of characters (good and bad). For instance, take Artemis. Her archetypes would be the Amazon (good) & the Gorgon (bad). With detailed descriptions for all characters, this book is a must for either identifying a current character's archetype, or creating a character from scratch.
Also included are friends (such as: the mentor, lover, best friend, magi), rivals (joker, nemesis, pessimist, etc.), and symbols, such as shadows, lost souls, and psychics. If you want more info on these, you'll have to buy the book!
If you're like me, you want to know what the archetypes (based on Jungian philosophy) are. I've enclosed a short synopsis:

Seductive Muse (Aphrodite): think Scarlett O'Hara and Emma Bovary
Femme Fatale (villainous Aphrodite): think Cleopatra

Amazon (Artemis): think Jo March (and Rose DeWitt Bukater-Dawson)
Gorgon (villainous Artemis): think Nikita

Father's Daughter (Athena): think Queen Elizabeth I
Backstabber (villainous Athena): think Lady Macbeth

Nurturer (Demeter): think Mary Poppins, Meg March
Overcontrolling Mother (villainous Demeter): think Nurse in Romeo & Juliet

Matriarch (Hera): think Monica from Friends
Scorned Woman (villainous Hera): think Mrs. Bennett (of Pride & Prejudice)

Mystic (Hestia): think Phoebe from Friends
Betrayer (villainous Hestia): think Blanche duBois

Female Messiah (Isis): think Monica from Touched by an Angel, Lady of the Lake in Arthurian Legends
Destroyer (villainous Isis): think Erin Brokovich (movie!)

Maiden (Persephone): think Rachel from Friends, Juliet from Romeo and Juliet
Troubled Teen (Persephone): think Ophelia from Hamlet by Shakespeare

MALE ARCHETYPES

Businessman (Apollo): think Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice, Jerry Maguire
Traitor (villainous Apollo): think Macon Leary

Protector (Ares): think Lancelot from Arthurian Legends, Romeo from Romeo & Juliet
Gladiator (villainous Ares): think Thor, Atretes from Francine River's 'Mark of the Lion' series

Recluse (Hades): think Quasimodo, Beast from Beauty & the Beast
Warlock (villainous Hades): think Dr. Jekyll

Fool (Hermes): think Joey from Friends, Austin Powers
Derelict (villainous Hermes): think the Fool in King Lear by Shakespeare

The Woman's Man (Dionysus): think Nick Marshall in What Women Want, Will Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Jack Dawson in Titanic
Seducer (villainous Dionysus): think John Willoughby from Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

Male Messiah (Osiris): think Luke Skywalker, Martin Luther King, Ghandi
Punisher (villainous Osiris): think Malcolm X

Artist (Poseidon): think Jack from Will & Grace, J.D. (Brad Pitt) in Thelma & Louise
Abuser (villainous Poseidon): think Dr. Zhivago

King (Zeus): think Ricky Ricardo (I Love Lucy), King Arthur, Julius Caesar, Tony Soprano Sr. from The Sopranos
Dictator (villainous Zeus): think Captain Kidd, King Lear

As a note, the Messiahs (both male & female) are not based on Jungian philosophy; they are rather a very much needed addition from Schmidt, whose in depth look at these archetypes was phenomenal.

I hope that you can use this book as well as I've been able to!