Archetypes in Shakespeare

Big words like "Archetype" and "Shakespeare" are scary - especially when you have no idea what an Archetype is.  So, first things first.

What is an Archetype?

An archetype is like a code that we use to help us understand things - it helps us lean what to expect: what is normal and what isn't.  One of the most common archetypes is the prince and the princess - not only fairy tales, but lots of other stories as well, end with the prince marrying the princess.  Another common archetype is the prince saving the damsal in distress - why does he kill the dragon and kiss the girl?  Because everyone expects him to.  Killing the dragon is right, saving the girl is right.

However, archetypes go a lot deeper than the surface value you may see at first.  People like to play with archetypes, they like to follow them sometimes, and other times they like to break the "rules" and do something unexpected.  (Whether you like the movie "Enchanted" or not, it is a good example of breaking rules.  Does it break any real rules?  No . . . and yes.  It breaks the rule that the prince marries the damsel in distress.)

So we've answered the first question.  The second question could be who is Shakespeare - but hopefully you already know.  He is a famous playwright.

Archetypes in Shakespeare:

• Black and White.  Black is evil.
• Light and Dark.  Dark is bad, light is good.
• Stars and Constellations.  The universe exerts its will over others wills.  A prime example of this is Romeo and Juliet as star-crossed lovers.
• Magic and Bewitching.  Women have been portrayed as witches or other creatures with magical powers for centuries (think of sirens or mermaids).
• The Hero.  Whether you think it or not, archetypes teach you to look for a hero.  There is always one person set up to be the protagonist, the hero.
• Good and Bad.

This is a good start, although by no means a comprehensive list of the archetypes Shakespeare uses in his plays. 

There are many different Archetypes that we don't think about, or even seem blatantly obvious.  I hope this helps explain how archetypes work in Shakespeare's plays.