The best examples of character development: archetype examples that actually work

Why archetype examples make character development easier

Before we get fancy, let’s be honest: staring at a blank page and trying to invent a fully formed character arc from nothing is exhausting. Using examples of character development: archetype examples is like starting with a skeleton. You’re not copying; you’re borrowing a shape and then fleshing it out with your own details, culture, and voice.

Archetypes work because they mirror patterns we recognize in real life and psychology. Carl Jung popularized the idea of archetypes in the early 20th century, and you can still see his influence in modern storytelling and even in personality research at universities like Harvard and others that explore recurring patterns in how people think and behave.

So let’s skip the theory lecture and go straight into examples of character development—how specific archetypes change, break, or surprise us.

Hero archetype: examples of character development that go beyond “chosen one”

The Hero archetype is everywhere, but the best examples of character development don’t just hand the hero a sword and a prophecy. They give them flaws, bad decisions, and moments where they almost walk away.

Think of:

• Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings) – Starts as a quiet, comfort-loving hobbit. His development isn’t about becoming a badass warrior; it’s about enduring corruption and temptation without losing his core goodness. His arc shows that heroism can look like carrying something unbearable one more step.
• Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) – Begins as a survivor who only cares about her sister and immediate circle. Over time, she’s forced into the role of symbol and revolutionary. Her arc is messy, traumatized, and reluctant, which makes her one of the stronger modern examples of character development: archetype examples where the Hero doesn’t want the job.
• Miles Morales (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) – He’s a modern teen juggling family expectations, identity, and fear of failure. His development is about learning to trust his own style of heroism instead of copying someone else’s.

When you write your own Hero, ask yourself:

• What do they think being a hero means at the start?
• How does the story prove them wrong?
• What do they have to lose emotionally, not just physically?

Prompt: Start with a character who believes heroes are always fearless. Over the story, show them becoming a hero because they’re terrified—and doing it anyway.

Mentor archetype: examples include guides who fail, lie, or walk away

The Mentor archetype is more than a wise old person handing out advice like fortune cookies. The best examples of character development show mentors as flawed, scared, or out of their depth.

Consider:

• Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars) – In the original trilogy, he’s the classic wise Mentor. But when you add the prequels and series like Obi-Wan Kenobi, his development becomes richer: a man haunted by failure, grief, and responsibility. He’s not just a guide; he’s someone trying to atone.
• Professor McGonagall (Harry Potter) – She starts as the strict, rule-following teacher. Over time, you see her fierce loyalty, willingness to bend rules, and deep care for her students. Her development shows that a Mentor can be both intimidating and quietly nurturing.
• Iroh (Avatar: The Last Airbender) – A fan-favorite example of character development. He plays the fool, drinks tea, and cracks jokes, but his backstory—loss, war, and regret—turns him into one of the most layered Mentor archetype examples in modern animation.

When you’re using examples of character development: archetype examples for Mentors, push beyond the stereotype:

• What mistake from their past shapes how they teach?
• What secret are they hiding from the protagonist?
• What line will they not cross, even if it costs the hero?

Prompt: Write a Mentor who is training the hero only because they promised someone they’d never do it again. Let that promise unravel over the story.

Villain archetype: real examples of development from monster to human

Flat villains are forgettable. But villains who change? Those stay with you.

Some of the best examples of character development: archetype examples in recent years are villains who either soften, break, or double down on their darkness.

Look at:

• Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender) – A textbook case of a Redemption Arc. He begins as a furious, honor-obsessed antagonist. Across three seasons, his development tracks trauma, abuse, and the slow, painful process of choosing a different path. If you’re studying examples of character development, this is one to rewatch with a notebook.
• Killmonger (Black Panther) – He doesn’t get a full redemption, but his motivations are rooted in real historical trauma and injustice. His final scene adds emotional depth that complicates the Hero vs. Villain line.
• Wanda Maximoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe) – Across films and WandaVision, she moves from grieving victim to dangerously powerful antihero. Her arc reflects conversations around mental health and grief that are very current; organizations like the National Institute of Mental Health have noted how media portrayals of trauma and loss can shape public understanding.

To build your own Villain arc:

• Give them a reasonable point of view twisted into harmful action.
• Let them change their methods, even if they don’t change their goals.
• Show what it costs them emotionally to be the villain.

Prompt: Create a villain who starts as a whistleblower and slowly becomes the thing they were fighting against.

Trickster archetype: examples of character development hiding behind jokes

The Trickster archetype is the character who cracks jokes, breaks rules, and pokes holes in everyone’s ego. But some of the best examples of character development hide serious growth behind sarcasm.

Think of:

• Loki (Marvel) – He moves from jealous brother and chaotic villain to something closer to a tragic, morally gray antihero, especially in the Loki series. His arc taps into current audience love for morally ambiguous, emotionally damaged characters.
• Jessie Pinkman (Breaking Bad) – Not a pure Trickster, but he starts as comic relief and a screw-up. Over time, he becomes the moral center of the show, while the supposed “rational” protagonist collapses into monstrosity.
• Harley Quinn (various DC adaptations) – In recent versions like Harley Quinn (the animated series) and Birds of Prey, her development shifts her from sidekick and joke to a character reclaiming autonomy and identity.

Using examples of character development: archetype examples for Tricksters, ask:

• What are they hiding behind humor?
• When does the joke stop being funny to them?
• What happens the first time they can’t laugh it off?

Prompt: Write a Trickster who uses humor to survive a serious situation. Halfway through the story, give them a moment where they try to be funny—and nobody laughs.

Caregiver archetype: quiet, powerful examples of character development

Caregivers are often written as flat support characters: the mom, the nurse, the best friend. But recent storytelling trends in 2024–2025 are giving them more agency and complexity, reflecting how we talk about burnout, boundaries, and emotional labor.

Look at:

• Joyce Byers (Stranger Things) – A mother written as more than a stereotype. Her frantic determination, anxiety, and refusal to give up on her son give her a strong arc from dismissed “hysterical mom” to someone whose instincts are consistently right.
• Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso) – A male Caregiver archetype who starts as relentlessly positive. Over the series, he confronts panic attacks, trauma, and the limits of optimism. His arc mirrors real-world conversations about male mental health; organizations like NIMH and Mayo Clinic have highlighted how men often mask depression with humor or work.
• Samwise Gamgee (The Lord of the Rings) – One of the classic archetype examples of a Caregiver whose loyalty literally carries the Hero up the mountain. His development is about courage, not spotlight.

When you’re thinking of examples of character development: archetype examples for Caregivers:

• What happens when they finally say “no”?
• What do they do when the person they care for doesn’t want their help?
• What dream did they sacrifice to take care of others?

Prompt: Write a character whose job is to care for someone powerful. Over time, show them realizing they’re the one holding the real power.

Everyman archetype: real examples grounded in ordinary life

Not every character has to be a chosen one, a genius, or a demigod. The Everyman archetype is the relatable center of the story—the person who reacts like we would.

Some strong examples of character development here:

• Jim Halpert (The Office) – Begins as the sarcastic, underachieving guy stuck in a boring job. Across the series, he wrestles with ambition, relationships, and the fear of becoming what he mocks.
• Chidi Anagonye (The Good Place) – A painfully indecisive ethics professor whose arc slowly pushes him toward action instead of endless thinking. The show playfully references real moral philosophy, echoing material you might see in university ethics courses or on sites like Harvard’s philosophy resources.
• Emmy in a small-town romance or indie drama – The friend who never left home, the barista, the rideshare driver. In 2024–2025, streaming series and indie films are full of these grounded arcs about housing, work, burnout, and identity.

When you use examples of character development: archetype examples for Everyman characters:

• Let small decisions matter. A job change, a breakup, a move.
• Show how their worldview shifts, even if their life looks similar from the outside.
• Use everyday pressures—rent, family, community expectations—as story fuel.

Prompt: Create an Everyman character who hates conflict. Build a story where avoiding conflict keeps making everything worse—until they finally explode.

How to turn archetype examples into your own character arcs

Looking at examples of character development: archetype examples is only step one. The real magic happens when you twist them.

Here’s a simple way to use these archetype examples without writing a copycat character:

• Start with an archetype: Hero, Mentor, Villain, Trickster, Caregiver, Everyman.
• List three expectations readers have for that archetype. For a Hero, maybe: brave, selfless, destined.
• Break at least one of those expectations in a big way.

For instance:

• A Hero who is physically cowardly but emotionally fearless.
• A Mentor who’s younger than the hero and secretly learning from them.
• A Villain who genuinely loves their family and is a good parent.

Use real-world psychology and social issues to deepen the arc. Current research into trauma, resilience, and identity—often summarized on sites like NIH or Mayo Clinic—can give you grounded reasons for why your characters behave the way they do.

Most importantly, remember this: archetypes are starting points, not cages. The strongest examples of character development use archetypes as a foundation, then personalize them so thoroughly that they feel like real people.

Quick FAQ: examples of archetypes and character development

Q: What are some classic examples of character development using archetypes?
Some of the best-known examples of character development: archetype examples include Zuko as a redeemed Villain, Frodo as a reluctant Hero, Iroh as a grieving Mentor, Samwise as a steadfast Caregiver, Loki as a shifting Trickster, and Chidi as an anxious Everyman learning to act.

Q: How can I use examples of archetypes without writing clichés?
Treat each archetype like a stereotype you’re trying to argue with. Look at a famous example of that archetype, then ask: what would make this type of character uncomfortable, ashamed, or surprised? Build your arc around that tension.

Q: Can I mix archetypes in one character?
Absolutely. Some of the best examples include characters who start as one archetype and drift into another—like a Hero becoming a Mentor, or a Trickster becoming a reluctant Caregiver. That shift is their character development.

Q: Where can I find more examples of archetypes in stories?
Rewatch your favorite series or reread a beloved book with a notebook. Label each major character with an archetype and track how they change. You can also check literature and film studies resources on university sites such as Harvard.edu for discussions of recurring character patterns.

If you treat these examples of character development: archetype examples as raw material—not templates—you’ll start to see new possibilities everywhere. The next time a character walks into your head, ask: what archetype are they pretending to be, and who are they really underneath?