Heroes at Large

The Hero Archetypes          

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Text and Artwork:
Copyright © 2007 Beth E Peterson. All rights reserved.

Heroes come in all sorts, shapes, and styles. Even so, they all seem to fall into one of (or sometimes a combination of) three main hero archetypes. These are the Strongman, the Scholar, and the Saint. Within each of these three archetypes, there are a number of individual types of heroes, some of which are healthy and some of which are not.

Most of the difference between a healthy hero and an unhealthy way of being a hero depends on whether the need for control is taken through trying for external control of internal (self-) control. Sometimes we need to change where we are seeking control; sometimes we need to change or modify the definitions of concepts included in our sense of hero-hood.

But let's get back to the Strongman, the Scholar and the Saint and take a look at these archetypes and types. There are many, many ways of being a hero. These are just a few you may encounter, or perhaps are:

The Strongman:
The Strongman archetype is one in which the person in some way bases their sense of hero-hood on strength. This could be strength of purpose, physical strength, will power, endurance, perseverance, or some other form of strength. Subtypes include:

  • The Weightlifter — sense of hero-hood based on muscle-power
  • The Turtle — like the fable, this hero's hero-hood is based on endurance and perseverance.
  • The Hare — also like the fable, this person's hero-hood is based on quickness and speed.
  • The Willful — Hero-hood is based on willing themselves to success. More mature version of the Brat, but may still be based in external control (unhealthy) or internal control (healthy).
  • The Brat — Hero-hood based on getting one's own way, regardless of consequences or other people's rights and needs.
  • The Bully — sense of hero-hood based on ability to frighten, beat up, or overwhelm others.
  • The Rebel — when in continual and unequal conflict, the underdog may loose their primary form of hero-hood and become the Rebel. The Rebel's objective is to prove authority has no power over them.

The Scholar:
The Scholar archetype bases their sense of hero-hood on being 'smart'. This could be founded in formal education, street-smarts, skills and abilities, and so on. Subtypes include:

  • The Air Traffic Controller — sense of hero-hood based on keeping track of everyone/everything around them. In their healthy form, these heroes make excellent office managers and executive assistants.
  • The Know-It-All — Hero-hood based on assumption that they know everything worth knowing.
  • The News Hound — sense of hero-hood based on being well-informed, especially in regards to current events and/or gossip.
  • The I-Know-What's-Best — Hero-hood based on belief that they know best, generally for everyone else.
  • The Intellectualizer — sense of hero-hood based on intellectual abilities; Spock with human ears.
  • The Professor — Hero-hood based on formal education.

The Saint:
The Saints base their sense of hero-hood in a desire to be (or be seen as) good. This could be played out through formal religion or through doing things that are generally seen as "good". Subtypes include:

  • The Care-Taker — sense of hero-hood based on taking care of (doing for) others.
  • The Helper — similar to the Care-Taker, this person's Hero-hood based on helping others. Both the Care-Taker and the Helper often become frustrated when their sense of hero-hood butts heads with another person's independence-based sense of hero-hood.
  • The Loyalty Giver — Hero-hood based on giving unflinching loyalty to friends/family/employers/etc. These heroes need to be careful about who they give their loyalty too, and should be highly selective in doing so.
  • The Philanthropist — Hero-hood based on giving to worthy causes.
  • The Religion Keeper — sense of hero-hood based on following the tenants of their particular religion.
  • The Martyr — Hero-hood based on ability to suffer, especially for (or at the hands of) others.

Combos and Changes:
There are also combination types of heroes — those that draw on two or all three of the archetypes. For example, the Paladin is a hero-type that combines the strength of the Strongman with the goodness of the Saint. Their hero-hood is based on protecting the weak or helpless through their strength. Another example is the Spy, who combines strength and stealth (from the Strongman) with intelligence and cunning (from the Scholar).

It is also interesting to note that a fair amount of people may have different types of hero-hood for different environments. For example, the neurosurgeon who bases their sense of self-worth and hero-hood on their intelligence during working hours, and yet who bases their sense of self-worth and hero-hood on being a good, attentive spouse while they are home.

All these types of heroes exist in the world around you, and many more besides! Take the time to explore your own sense of hero-hood (what makes you feel best about yourself) as well as the hero-hoods of the people around you.