45 Master Characters (5 page)

When we are under any type of stress this dominant archetype always takes over. A Nurturer can believe in independence and equality but that doesn't make her an Amazon. Does she act to enforce these beliefs? Or are they just part of her backstory? In the major scenes is she nurturing or speaking out? Basically we can all believe in saving the rain forest but how many of us tie ourselves to a tree and fight for it like an Amazon would?

Likewise an Amazon who raises children, lets say, doesn't cower when faced by the villain at the end of the story because at heart she's still an Amazon.

Once you've drawn your character outline and colored in the foundations of his personality you're ready for the final step of plotting and outlining the character arc in the journey section of this book.

If you haven't done it already, pick out three archetypes and write a one-page outline of your story for each one. Pay attention to how each archetype can change the plot or add new twists to it.

Write two pages, long hand, on why your character is the archetype you have chosen. If he's The King, write something like this: He loves to have as much control as possible especially over his home life. When he goes to work he frequently yells at the young computer-savvy kids in the office who make him feel stupid and inadequate for not knowing about the latest software.

Let your character talk to you. Write one page in first person letting the character tell you how she feels about the goal you're giving her.

From the depths of the ocean, the realm of emotions, Aphrodite emerges a perfect image of beauty. She covers herself with an implied modesty but does not crouch or hide from your gaze. She charms you with an innocent smile all the while knowing the hold she has on you. She steps from the sea, her hair flowing in the breeze. The sea creatures give up their lives just to follow her onto land and gaze at her for one moment longer. She takes in the sights and smells of her surroundings as if she's a child in a strange land. Everything is fascinating and beautiful to her. Desire and love follow her, turning wise men into fools.

The seductive muse is a strong woman who knows what she wants. She has a lust for life, forever satisfying all her senses. The gods bestowed on her gifts of creativity, beauty, love and abundance, which make her driven to creative projects that show the world who she is. She's a great inventor and visionary who often sees the simplest solution to life's problems. She's the child who tells the trucker to let the air out of his tires when he can't figure out how to get his tall truck through the highway tunnel.

A deep longing for love and connection with one man fills her heart, but she can't give up the thrill of the chase. She needs many relationships and sensual experiences to keep her stimulated and alive. She can't do anything alone unless it's an intense creative activity that requires deep focus. A natural healer, she cares deeply about other people's feelings and tries to help them heal their wounds.

With her desire for the drama of high society and passionate affairs, Gustave Flaubert's Emma Bovary displays the qualities of the Seductive Muse archetype.

In our culture, this archetype has gotten a very bad rap. Her openly sexual nature and the power it gives her are too much for society to handle. In ancient times sexual union in Aphrodite's temples was considered a sacred and purifying act. Now, however, a distrust of the sexually active woman has relegated her to the status of prostitute, slut or femme fatale. There is, however, a growing goddess movement in the United States that seeks to reclaim such images of women as powerful.

The Seductive Muse's open sexuality causes her problems when she looks to get married and start a family. She often finds herself playing the role of mistress. It's hard for men to see her playing the role of wife and mother even though her youthful charm would bring a lot of love and spice into a marriage. Sex is the answer and cause of her problems.

Watch episodes of
Sex and the City
for a modern representation of this archetype as seen in the character Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall). She isn't a prostitute, slut or femme fatale, just a beautiful woman who loves sex and doesn't care what others think about her.

What Does the Seductive Muse Care About?

The Seductive Muse cares about men — at least the intimate part of relationships. She loves being in control but doesn't try to dominate men openly. She secretly manipulates them with her charm. She's an expert in body language, always seeing the hidden desires of others. She tries to awaken them in her partners and friends by bringing their repressed feelings to the surface.

If she's been hurt, she can put up a wall when it comes to emotional involvement with a lover, telling herself “someone better is just around the corner.”

Her relationships with other women are important to her, but she seldom finds a true best friend. She wants other women to express their sexuality as openly as she does, but only other Seductive Muses can understand her intensity. At the same time she doesn't understand other archetypes. The Nurturer seems boring to her, and the Father's Daughter is too mentally focused and rigid. She lives for the moment and won't be held down by friendships with these archetypes.

Although she may not admit it, she cares about being the center of attention and about being the most desired woman in the room. She loves her body and shows it off every chance she gets. Her body is part of her identity.

Any form of expression can be important to her — dancing, singing or drawing. Her sexual creative energy can be channeled through these expressions, and it becomes an obsession.

In
Cabaret,
Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli) has an impulsive nature and a desire for a life free of commitments — both traits of the Seductive Muse archetype.

What Does the Seductive Muse Fear?

The Seductive Muse fears losing her sexuality, allure and creativity. It would devastate her. This can happen if she contracts a sexually transmitted disease or is assaulted. Her emotional center would be scarred for life.

Rejection of any sort can be an enormous blow to her, especially if it comes from a lover. Her charm over men gives her power, and she wants to be the one to end the relationship. She's like Cleopatra in her relationship with Caesar — filled with sex, power and intrigue.

Aging is terrifying to her, the end to her charm and magnetism, casting her into a lonely existence. She may never get married, but her need for people and attention is fueled by a fear of isolation. She believes youth and charm keep people around.