45 Master Characters (26 page)

Robert Louis Stevenson created a character that shows both sides of the Hades archetype: Dr. Jekyll represents the Recluse; Mr. Hyde represents the Warlock.

As a villain the Recluse becomes the Warlock. He uses his knowledge of the occult to harm others or the environment. He's out for his own personal gain and understands nothing of the effect his actions have on the outer world. He has spent so much time studying esoteric ideas he is drawn to test them out.

His loneliness may also lead him to a schizoid existence where his fantasies cause him to do harm to others.

He has a tendency to avoid people and social situations. He's so afraid of rejection he never shows anyone his work or tells them his ideas. He has no close relationships, is inhibited and socially inept, and is reluctant to take risks.

He doesn't understand why it's so bad to want to be alone. He doesn't want to be a part of society because people are killing each other every day. Spirits are his company. Their world is fascinating to him and they teach him things. He can cast spells to make others leave him alone if he wants to. He is very into the occult and all things antiestablishment. He likes it when others are afraid of him so they'll leave him alone.

• Is antisocial.
  

• Is out for his own gain.
  

• Doesn't care how his actions affect the world.
  

• May experiment with the occult to gain power.
  

• Is afraid of rejection.
  

• Has no intimate relationships.
  

• Can't feel or express real love without dominating the other person.
  

• Thinks society is a joke and that he doesn't have to live under its rules.
  

• Wants to be in control.
  

• Likes to intimidate others.
  

Angel (David Boreanaz) in
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
and
Angel

Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) in
The X-Files

Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in
Casablanca

Jerry Fletcher (Mel Gibson) in
Conspiracy Theory

Jim Stark (James Dean) in
Rebel Without a Cause

Lo (Chen Chang) in
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) in
Bull Durham

Beast in
Beauty and the Beast

Daniel Boone the Phantom in
Phantom of the Opera

Hamlet in
Hamlet
by William Shakespeare

Heathcliff in
Wuthering Heights
by Emily Bronte¨

Rochester in
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Bronte¨

Holden Caulfield in
The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D. Salinger

Dr. Hannibal Lecter in
The Silence of the Lambs
by Thomas Harris

George Emerson in
A Room With a View
by E.M. Forster

Victor Frankenstein in
Frankenstein
by Mary Shelley

Kurtz in
Heart of Darkness
by Joseph Conrad

Quasimodo in
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
by Victor Hugo

Daryl Van Horne in
The Witches of Eastwick
by John Updike

Roderick Usher in “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe

Philip Marlowe in novels by Raymond Chandler Byronic heroes

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
by Robert Louis Stevenson

Dancing through life, the fool lives without a care in the world. He exists between the world of adults and the world of children. All of life is simple, light and amazing to him. He wanders from place to place looking for a new playmate — whether it be a person, a dog or a game doesn't matter to him. His heart is full of love and laughter. He is the most playful of all the gods and often acts as a messenger between humans and the gods as he loves adventures and travel.

The Fool is a man who is still a boy inside. He won't grow up and doesn't feel inferior to others; he thinks they're somewhat blind to their own boring and shallow existences. People often flock around him after work because they know he'll lead them to the party where they can unwind.

He enjoys playing around and not acting his age. He thinks stressed-out businessmen are just plain crazy. He believes life should be fun and he's determined to enjoy himself. And he doesn't need a big fancy house with an expensive car in the driveway to do it.

He avoids commitments and romantic entanglements. The women in his life must respect this if they want to be around him.

He loves to be the go-between, circulating through many social cliques. He doesn't care if what he's doing is legal or not. The consequences of his actions aren't important to him because he lives in the moment as a free spirit. He won't go as far as to hurt someone, but that's his only moral code. He'll try anything once, and the more people present to witness his actions the better. He'd make a great salesman or actor because he loves to be the center of attention and doesn't want to be tied down to a nine-to-five job. He's a wanderer at heart and makes new friends wherever he goes.

Don Quixote exhibits some of the qualities of the Fool archetype with his idealistic energy and his reliance on the imagination.

What Does the Fool Care About?

The Fool cares about his freedom. He loves to come and go as he pleases and often disappears for days or weeks at a time. He's always looking for the next adventure. The newness of the experience gets to him.

He enjoys a challenge in all areas of his life and has no trouble being alone.

He cares about remaining youthful and carefree no matter what his age.

He cares about children and will risk his life to save them because he identifies with their innocence.

What Does the Fool Fear?

The Fool fears losing his freedom. Being stuck in bed or in a prison would be devastating for him, and he'd do anything to avoid it; he'd risk death to escape it.

He also fears boredom; he'll come up with a way to amuse himself with a rubber band if that's all he has. He's the first one to talk his friends into cutting school to go hang out.

He loves to be risky. Hang gliding off the Twin Towers is his idea of fun. His young attitude makes him feel invincible, and he's addicted to the rush of adrenaline.

He never makes commitments, at least not ones he can't walk away from easily.

He loves to help children and fears not being able to save them when they're in trouble. He's still a child himself no matter what his age is. He understands children and their capacity to play, create and inquire.

What Motivates the Fool?

His biggest motivator is the need to know and understand. He keeps his mind working as well as his body. His inquisitiveness drives his adventures forward and offers variety and spice to his life.