In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different archetypes to come up with interesting new versions. The result is a sizable pool of character tropes that we see from one story to another.
Archetypes and tropes are popular storytelling elements because of their familiarity. Upon seeing them, readers know immediately who they’re dealing with and what role the nerd, dark lord, femme fatale, or monster hunter will play. As authors, we need to recognize the commonalities for each trope so we can write them in a recognizable way and create a rudimentary sketch for any character we want to create.
But when it comes to characters, no one wants just a sketch; we want a vibrant and striking cast full of color, depth, and contrast. Diving deeper into character creation is especially important when starting with tropes because the blessing of their familiarity is also a curse; without differentiation, the characters begin to look the same from story to story.
But no more. The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus allows you to outline the foundational elements of each trope while also exploring how to individualize them. In this way, you’ll be able to use historically tried-and-true character types to create a cast for your story that is anything but traditional.
DESCRIPTION: This narcissistic and antisocial character lacks empathy and will cross any line to get what they want.
FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men), Annie Wilkes (Misery), Amy Dunne (Gone Girl), the Joker (The Dark Knight), Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
COMMON STRENGTHS: Adaptable, Adventurous, Charming, Confident, Focused, Observant, Private, Spontaneous
COMMON WEAKNESSES: Antisocial, Callous, Controlling, Cruel, Dishonest, Evil, Haughty, Hostile, Impatient, Impulsive, Irresponsible, Manipulative, Rebellious, Reckless, Self-Indulgent, Selfish, Uncooperative, Unethical, Vain, Violent
ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Remaining cool under pressure
Acting assertively and decisively
Maintaining a singular focus on their goals
Being highly adaptable
Communicating strongly and effectively
Paying keen attention to details
Being confident
Showing resiliency in the face of setbacks
Being cruel for their own satisfaction or personal gain
Refusing to accept responsibility for their actions
Choosing relationships based on what the other person can do for them
SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM
Having to maintain a façade of emotional intimacy and normal emotional range in a long-term relationship
Their lies and manipulation being exposed
Facing legal or social repercussions for their actions
TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO…
Forms a genuine connection with another person
Has an atypical trait: Hospitable, Affectionate, Wholesome, Gossipy, Responsible, etc.
CLICHÉS TO BE AWARE OF
The sadistic serial killer who enjoys causing pain and chaos and who is evil for evil’s sake
The unemotional, superhuman genius who is an unstoppable force with no regard for the consequences of their actions
The psycho who uses his tendencies for the greater good and becomes an unconventional hero or antihero (à la Dexter Morgan)
Other Type and Trope Thesaurus entries can be found here.
Need More Descriptive Help?
While this thesaurus is still being developed, the rest of our descriptive collection (16 unique thesauri and growing) is accessible through the One Stop for Writers THESAURUS database.
If you like, swing by and check out the video walkthrough for this site, and then give our Free Trial a spin.
Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.