Character is arguably the most important part of a story. You can have a well-driven plot and a magical setting but if the character is flat and boring, readers will tend to disdain the narrative. That being said, there are a ton of tropes out there and character archetypes that can be stolen and improved upon. Some are clichés, sure, but others feed my soul. It’s important to note though that some archetypes and stereotypes draw on prejudices against people with certain characteristics, like race or sexuality, and we must be careful to avoid those.
The Ambitious Queen
She has power and she’s out to get more, whatever it takes. They like being in charge and usually use their power to do good in the world. However, their ambition can be their downfall as they turn demanding or manipulative.
Examples:
Queen Lilac from The Queen’s Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz
Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
The Bad Boy
Why do bad boys and villains in fiction always steal my heart? The bad boy tends to do bad things–can even be a bit of a bully-but he does these things to hide his pain from some tragic or traumatic backstory. If it were real life, I’d say that doesn’t make his actions okay, just explains them, but I live for some of their actions in literature.
Examples:
Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith
Eli from Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
The Christ-Figure
A Christ Figure is a character that alludes to, well, Jesus Christ. They are usually loving, kind, and forgiving. They can sometimes perform miracles or are a martyr. Overall, they demonstrate compassion and empathy.
Examples:
Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Gandalf from Lord of the Rings JRR Tolkien
The Southern Belle
A beautiful, flirtatious lady with hospitality and a Southern drawl. I used to want to be one when I was a kid. Now I’m not so sure.
Examples:
Scarlett from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Unlikely Hero
He or she looks weak and is kind of a loser. Never did you expect them to save everyone.
Examples:
Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Living For Literature 