Based on the character archetypes activity, Book Club members identified a character from a book and their archetypes:
1. John Keating
Book&Author: Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum
Written by: Choyoung Kim
Character: John Keating
Character Archetype: The Mentor
In the book Dead Poets Society, the English professor John Keating represents the mentor archetype. He is the main source of motivation and encouragement for the boys to "seize the day". He is energetic, insightful, and charismatic, and inspires the characters in the book to live their lives to the fullest and further motivates the students to start the Dead Poets Society. Todd Anderson, a shy and insecure conformist, takes Keating’s wisdoms to heart and eventually becomes a strong and courageous character towards the end of the book. Moreover, under Keating’s lessons, Neil Perry, a character who is constantly intimidated and pressured by his father, pursues his own interests instead of following his father’s wishes of sending him to law school. Hence, John Keating serves as the mentor in the novel as he supports and encourages these characters to pursue their dreams and live every day to the fullest.
2. Nan Sparrow
Book&Author: Sweep- The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier
Written by: Hannah Gray
Character: Nan Sparrow
Character Archetype: The Rebel
In Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster, Nan represents the rebel archetype because she is the face of the protest aiming to stop dangerous child labor (the book is set in Victorian London). She wanted to do this because of her experience as a chimney sweep, an occupation that is often forced upon children and causes them great physical and psychological injury. Although she is orphaned (one of the major plot points of the book is the loss of her father), she has the strength to gain supporters and organize the protest. She is proud of who she is and stands up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.
3. Shirin
Book&Author: A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
Written by: Claire Jeong
Character: Shirin
Character Archetype: The Orphan (Sensitive, timid, introverted, but grows to be strong and confident)
Shirin was always afraid of how people would think of her, especially because she's Muslim. Shirin speaks mostly with frustration and sensitivity, when it comes to talking to someone. However later in the book, she becomes strong about her race and not afraid to speak with faith, ever since she meets Ocean.
4. Patroclus
Book&Author: Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Written by: Jessica Dong
Character: Patroclus
Character Archetype: The Ally
In Song of Achilles, Patroclus represents the ally archetype. Although Patroclus is the protagonist/narrator of the story, he serves as an ally of Achilles, the hero of the story. He is Achilles’ comrade throughout their journey from Phthia to Mount Pelion and to the final Trojan War, someone that Achilles can always turn for support. Patroclus has quite the opposite personality and physical traits in regards to Achilles. He is sensitive, pacifist, and not good at fighting while Achilles is proud, petty, and extremely good at fighting. Although it seems counterintuitive why they become best friend, their different personalities complement each other to endure in the war and set up the tragic downfall of Achilles at the end.
5. Louise (Mrs. Mallard)
Book&Author: Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
Written by: Emma Lee
Character: Louise (Mrs. Mallard)
Character Archetype: The Orphan
In the Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Mallard represents the "orphan" archetype. Although she had lost her husband, not her parents, she fits in this archetype because she invokes sympathy among the readers. This emotion is most prevalent at the story's beginning because the text depicts the thrust of sadness Mrs. Mallard experiences after hearing about her husband's demise. In the story, Chopin describes this scene: "She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless, except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams." This excerpt depicts detailed imagery to describe Mrs. Mallard's immediate reaction to a tragic and sudden event—her husband's death. How Chopin articulates the scene enhances the intensity of Mrs. Mallard's emotions, making readers feel sympathetic. In addition, Chopin successfully uses imagery to reflect the "orphan" archetype within Mrs. Mallard, especially after she realizes her husband's demise.
6. Elizabeth Bennet
Book&Author: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Written by: Nayoung Lee
Character: Elizabeth Bennet
Character Archetype: Heroine
In 18th century Britain, when the story Pride and Prejudice takes place, woman were required to be docile wife and mother, their entire lives fettered by the concept of “ideal womanhood.” Elizabeth, the protagonist, however, does not limit herself to the frame of a young middle class woman who needs to marry a man with sufficient fortune and decent social status. She believes that she possesses the power to determine her very own destiny, thereby behaving as an individual fully capable of self-determination. She boldly puts forward a question to the readers: are you living up your true identity now?
7. Abby
Book&Author: Five Feet Apart by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott, and Tobias Iaconis
Written by: Sujin Kim
Character: Abby
Character Archetype: The Caregiver
Abby is the main character's sister who died a year ago due to a diving accident. The main character Stella misses her so much that she sometimes gets sad and even depressed of Abby’s death but she remains as a great source of motivation to Stella. Every time Stella hesitates or fears something, Abby’s bright personality and recall of the moments when she was alive make Stella feel much better. Although she is dead, Abby inspires and encourages Stella, which makes her calmed and cheered up at the same time. Therefore, Abby is a caregiver to Stella in the book.
