Online Writing Workshops Presented by Melanie Anne Phillips (Creator of StoryWeaver & co-creator of Dramatica) How to Create Great Characters! Lesson Ten: The Eight Essential Archetypes: Guardian & Contagonist

Sections in Lesson Ten Introduction Guardian & Contagonist Functions of the Guardian Functions of the Contagonist Study Exercises Writing Exercises

Introduction

In this lesson we’ll explore two archetypal characters that are often mis-represented as our sense of right and wrong.  More accurately, they represent our motivation to decline an immediate benefit for fear of the potential consequences and our motivation to take advantage of the here and now in the belief we can avoid potential consequences.

Guardian and Contagonist

Our third pair of Archetypes, the Guardian and Contagonist, reflect our Conscience and Temptation.  The easiest way to get a grip on these two Archetypes is to picture them as that little angel and devil that sit on cartoon characters’ shoulders, urging them to do the right or wrong thing, respectively.  Of course, this is a gross simplification, but it does serve to get us in the ballpark.

The Guardian Archetype incorporates a number of additional qualities such as, helper, and protector.  In contrast, the Contagonist acts to hinder, and make vulnerable.  Essentially, the Guardian represents those qualities that cause us to look before we leap, buy insurance, and consider the consequences of our actions.  The Contagonist reflects our tendency to take things at face value, buy into deals that are “too good to be true,” and put off going to the dentist.

Functions of the Guardian

Functionally, the Guardian provides guidance in the story.  It is important to note that the Guardian does not have to be a respected character.  In fact, it is often intriguing to have a character who is despised or considered a fool be the Guardian.  In such a case, there are believable reasons why the other characters would not give the Guardian’s advice any credence.

Another key point is that the Guardian will give good advice to friend and foe alike.  It is a common error to assume that the Archetypes who represent culturally acceptable traits will help the Good Guys and those who embody unacceptable qualities will help the Bad Guys.  But the nature of a structurally functional character is that it reflects attributes of the Story Mind.  In our own minds, we don’t apply some of our traits only to worthy endeavors and others to our less sterling activities.  We use all of our mental and emotional abilities on every issue that confronts us.  And, similarly, every Archetype exhibits the attribute in all situations.

We should also consider that while structural Archetypes are assigned particular functions, the characters who embody them also need to be seen as real people in order for the audience to identify with them.  As real people, they have personal concerns and may act in any believable manner the author chooses.  But when it comes to the message issue – the central structural moral of the story – that is where each Archetype will act strictly according to his or her assigned function.  Only in this way can the audience follow each particular side of the overall argument clearly.

Functions of the Contagonist

The Contagonist’s function is to redirect, hinder, and tempt.  We all have a part of ourselves that we use to avoid things we hope will go away, even though we know it would probably be better to just face them and get it over with.  We employ that same quality to enjoy pleasures of the moment by convincing ourselves that somehow we’ll be able to avoid the consequences we would face if caught.

Some of us give in to this urge, while others set their minds to resist it at all costs.  Nonetheless, it is just as much an aspect of our minds as its more “noble” counterpart.  That is why both must be fully represented in the Story Mind, and why the battle between them must be fully developed to mirror our inner conflict.  How powerful each is made to be in a story is up to the author, but the more balanced they are, the greater the conflict.  And that, after all, is when stories provide the greatest interest and importance for an audience: when they deal with those issues that are not easily resolved.

Finally, note that the Contagonist is not any more likely to be wrong than the Guardian.  The Guardian would have us play it safe and do what is expected to be best in the long run.  But what if the future doesn’t unfold as expected?  If we listened to that argument all the time, we would never take chances, never give in to serendipity, never take the road less traveled, or climb a mountain just because it is there.  Sometimes, the Contagonist might steer us into a grand experience we would otherwise never had for which no price will ever need to be paid, despite the predictions of others.   That is why we said the mental image of the angel and devil on one’s shoulders is not completely accurate.  The real question is, which is the angel and which is the devil?

Study Exercises:  Guardian & Contagonist in Real Stories

1.  List three Guardian Characters from different stories.

2.  Provide an illustration that shows how each provides a consideration of ramifications and consequences.

3.  Find a Guardian who is a reprehensible character.

4.  List three Contagonist Characters from different stories.

5.  Provide illustrations showing how each provides the temptation to take advantage of immediate gains with disregard for potential consequences.

6.  Find a Contagonist who is an honorable character.

Writing Exercises: Creating Reason and Emotion Characters

1.   Devise a scenario in which there are immediate gains to be made, but only at the risk of potential consequences.

2.  Create a Guardian Archetype by stating how this character will approach the issue.

3.  Create a Contagonist Archetype by stating how this character will approach the issue.

4.  Write a short argument between the two characters as they argue of the best course to take.

Copyright 2003 Melanie Anne Phillips

Visit http://storymind.com for tips, tricks, techniques, and tools for writers

Owned and Operated by the Creator of StoryWeaver & Co-Creator of Dramatica Serving over 12,000 writers since 1997 Get the Writer's Survival Kit Bonus Package FREE with ANY Purchase! Writing Software Buyer's Guide About Our Store Shipping Information     We'll Beat ANY Price!      PLUS 30 Day Price Guarantee      90 DAY Return Policy Movie Magic Screenwriter List price: $269.95 Your price: $179.23 (Academic: $99.95) Our Bestseller! Storyweaver Step by Step Story Development Software Just $29.95 Dramatica Pro 4.0 Story Development List price: $269.95 Your price: $169.23 (Academic: $99.95) 12 hour Writing Course on DVD featuring Dramatica $19.95 Dramatica Writers DreamKit 4.0 $49.95 Hollywood Screenwriter $49.95 Power Structure Story Development Software List price: $269.00 Your price: $169.95 Power Writer List price: $159.95 Your price: $99.95   Final Draft Screenwriting Software List price: $249.00 Your price: $199.47 (Academic: $129.42) Dramatica Software Companion CD ROM $19.95 Word Menu + FREE BONUS $38.95 The Dramatica Theory 2 hour audio program $19.95 Dramatica Tips & Tricks Book $19.95 Master Storyteller: Improve your Writing Skills! $29.95 PACKAGE DEALS $59.95 & Up StoryWeaving Seminar Online Edition $100.00 The Story Mind: Structure Vs. Passion $9.95 Writing Characters of the Opposite Sex Writing with the Story Mind 1 hour audio program $9.95 Mental Relativity Book: The Psychology Behind Dramatica $19.95 2 Hour Plot Class Learn how to plot your story! $19.95 How to Make Your Movie An Interactive Film School List price: $89.95 Your price: $49.95 Mastering Dramatica Pro Online Workshop $49.95 How to Create Great Characters Online Workshop $49.95 How to Create Great Characters DVD Video $19.95 Prefer to order by Mail or Fax? Click here for information. Questions? Email customer-service@storymind.com We'll beat ANY Advertised Price! REALLY!  AND, if you see a lower price within 30 days of purchase we'll refund the difference! 90 Day Full Money-Back Guarantee! Return item within 90 days for a complete refund of your original purchase price! Get the Writer's Survival Kit & Sampler FREE with ANY Purchase! StoryWeaving Seminar Join the creator of StoryWeaver & co-creator of Dramatica for a two-day writing & story development seminar Click here for details! Visit the best writers' site on the web: Subscribe to the Storymind.com Writing Tip Newsletter!