• What is an archetype?
• Jung's 12 archetypes

We explain what an archetype is in various disciplines. In addition, we tell you what are the 12 archetypes of Carl Jung.

Carl Jung proposed the existence of twelve basic archetypes, inspired by the tarot.

What is an archetype?

An archetype is a model, pattern or example from which it is possible to obtain objects, ideas either concepts different, and that at the same time allows us to visualize the things that the latter have in common. The word comes from the union of two ancient Greek words: arche (“source” or “origin”) and types (“models” or “forms”).

The concept of archetype has been used in different disciplines throughout history, more or less as a synonym for prototype or paradigm, that is to say, of that which inaugurates a new series of similar elements or that serves as a prefiguration, as an advance or as a generalization of said series.

However, the term archetype is of particular relevance in the field of philosophy, in which it has been used since ancient times, by philosophers such as the Greek Plato (c.427-347 BC), for example, who thus called the perfect and eternal concepts that existed in the divine mind and served of pattern for the creation of the real world.

Subsequently, the concept of archetype appeared in the psychology analysis (psychoanalysis) thanks to the work of Sigmund Freud's friend and disciple, the Swiss Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961), as part of his formulated theory on the existence of a "collective unconscious".

According to Jung, the experiences of our ancestors are transmitted to later generations through psychic archetypes, that is, pseudo-literary figures that always evoke similar feelings and affinities in people, and that the psychoanalyst summarized in 12 fundamental cases. In the words of C.G. Jung himself:

“Primordial images are the oldest, most general and deepest thoughts of humanity. They have both feelings and thoughts; Moreover, they have something like their own independent life, like that kind of partial soul, which we can easily see in all philosophical or Gnostic systems, which are based on the perception of the unconscious as a source of knowledge” (the unconscious, 1976).

These archetypes are preconscious figures, that is, they are acquired unconsciously and are, according to Jung's theories, useful for the study of culture, since they not only allow us to recognize common cultural patterns in literary and fictional works (something literary criticism has often done), but also to discern between the types and aspects of the personalities human.

Jung's 12 archetypes

Carl Gustav Jung's psychoanalytic theory proposed the existence of twelve basic archetypes, inspired by the imagery of the Marseilles tarot and other Western literary sources, and strongly related to "archetypal events", that is, with deep symbolic meaning, such as birth. , death, initiation or marriage.

Many of these archetypes have been used as a model to compose stories and characters, or for branding and advertising of trademarks.

Jung's 12 archetypes are:

• The innocent. an archetype of optimism and purity, which embodies the childish, naive or dreamy gaze of the world, prone to helping and trusting others, even when it is detrimental to their own interests.The innocent is the eternal child and is inspired to some extent by the tarot card of the madman. Examples of this in popular culture are: Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Snow White or Samwell Tarly from game of Thrones.
• The magician. An archetype that embodies the transformation, the secret knowledge and the traditional attributes of the sorcerer or the alchemist, that is, the secret knowledge of the world. prone to selfishness Yet the obsession, the magician's behavior is always shaped by his high ambitions and his desire to control reality, so that he can make deals and then regret it. He is inspired by the tarot card of the same name and there are examples of it in popular culture: the magician Merlin, Rasputin, Faust or Saruman in The Lord of the rings.
• The warrior. An archetype that represents heroism, commitment, tenacity and faith in the chosen destiny, is inspired by the strength tarot card, where a man is shown opening the mouth of a beast. The warrior's destiny is guided by his passions and commitments, his promises to third parties or his ideals of a just and better world. However, he is prone to straying along the way, along which he proceeds in a blind, thoughtless manner. Examples of this in popular culture are: Hercules, Superman, Aragorn of The Lord of the rings or Neo in The Matrix.
• The caretaker. An archetype in which tenderness, compassion, sacrifice and generosity. The caregiver puts the needs of others before his own and finds his vital meaning in the protection of those in need, that is, in giving. The darker aspects of him make him prone to victimhood and martyrdom. It is identified with the high priestess in the tarot and there are examples of this in popular culture: the fairy godmother, Mary Poppins or Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the rings.
• The lover. An archetype inspired by passion, infatuation, the effervescence of pleasures and feelings, which is identified in the tarot with the card of lovers (or the devil). The lover aspires to nothing other than to live his love and he does everything to achieve intimacy: he can be generous, selfish, kind or cruel, depending on his love or her spite. He is a youthful, adolescent archetype, prone to narcissism and jealousy. Examples of this in popular culture are: Prince Charming, Tristán, Pepe Le Pew or Jaime Lannister in game of Thrones.
• The Explorer. An archetype that represents curiosity, the thirst for adventure and knowledge, eternally thirsty for new things. He is an individual eternally on the move, always dissatisfied and expectant, capable of driving others, but incapable of settling down and being still for a long time. He is related to the chariot tarot card and are examples from popular culture: The Errant Knight, Indiana Jones, Geralt de The Witcher or Han Solo from starwars.
• The governor. An archetype that brings together wisdom, can, control and overview, which is identified with the old king, that is, with the emperor or empress tarot cards. Identified with the father or mother, the ruler is a fan of control and sets the guidelines for others to follow, either because he is convinced that he has a general vision of the collective good or because he feels the only one capable of doing it the right way. . His determination and his uprightness can make him a ruthless, unyielding archetype. Examples of this in popular culture are: King Arthur, Professor X or Vito Corleone from The Godfather.
• The trickster or jester. An archetype that represents jocularity, a disposition to lightness, mockery and cynicism. The trickster connects with others through humor, either to brighten their existence, or as a form of subversion, of rebellion, since he has a vision or a TRUE that others ignore or are unaware of.His dark side, however, makes him prone to not believing in anything and not usually participating in any cause, or to selfishness, lies and deception. It is identified with the tarot card of the Hanged Man and examples of it in popular culture are: the Greek god Hermes (Mercury for the Romans), the Norse god Loki, Captain Jack Sparrow or the Joker from Batman.
• The wise. An archetype linked to wisdom, the asceticism, the renunciation of worldly pleasures and the search for enlightenment, which corresponds in the tarot with the hermit card. The sage turns his back on the known world to bet on transcendence, that is, on the truth that underlies everything. That means that he is possessed of great wisdom (as his name indicates), but also that he has little or no ties to everyday affairs and people. They are examples of this in popular culture: mr. Miyagi's karate Kid, Yoda in starwars or Gandalf in The Lord of the rings.
• The traditionalist. An archetype that should not be understood as "normality" or "regularity", but as attachment to the established order and the rules, that is, to a position of conservatism or traditionality. The traditionalist is a defender of status quo, which understands order as the priority of existence and fights to preserve institutions. His resistance to change, however, can make him oppose even noble or self-serving causes. Identified with the high priest of the tarot, examples of this in popular culture are: Sherlock Holmes, Spiderman or Deckard, the protagonist detective of bladerunner.
• The outlaw. An archetype of rebelliousness, longing for freedom and rejection of what is established, which plays a completely opposite role to the traditionalist: that of continuously opposing what is established.The rebel may be an outlaw, a criminal, a political opponent or simply a free thinker, but he is always in conflict with the world, always faced with a powerful enemy. Prone to paranoia, fanaticism and emotional isolation, the rebel presents himself as a vigilante, the defender of a lost cause, unfairly treated by society. He identifies with the tarot card of the Justice and in popular culture it has the following examples: Robin Hood, Bonnie & Clyde, The Punisher, Captain Nemo or Anakin Skywalker in starwars.
• The creator. An archetype linked to inventiveness, artistic passion, scientific curiosity and problem solving, it is identified with the moon tarot card, due to its contact with the unconscious and the world of dreams. The creator is an abstracted and distracted being, focused solely on his creative work, always seeking to find his own answer to everything. This means that he can often forget about the practical and mundane aspects of life. existenceOr else get caught up in his own inventions. Examples of this archetype in popular culture are: Daedalus in Greek mythology, dr. Frankenstein, Tony Stark (Hombre de Hierro) or Doc in Back to the Future.