Vogler's Archetypes

Vogler, Christopher. “Threshold Guardian- Trickster.” The Writer's Journey: Mythic
Structure for Writers. Third. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007.
Summary
These few chapters described the archetypes other than the hero and the mentor. The first to be discussed was the threshold guardian. These characters were often associated with the villain and stood to guard a new level from the hero posing a challenge or test. They can represent either internal fights like demons or just bad luck. They allow the hero to complete a challenge and gain knowledge from the experience that they may need along their journey. The next archetype was the herald who announced challenges or changes for the hero. The herald keeps the story rolling and brings news to the hero; he can be positive or negative. The third archetype to think about is the shape shifter which is a character that is hard to identify because he or she is unstable. This often resembles a romantic or seductive partner of the opposite sex but can sometimes be the role of a friend. Psychologically this can be related to Jung’s theory regarding the anima and animus, the male and female elements of the unconscious that we suppress but also seek out in our mates. This character often brings suspense or confusion to a story, misleading the hero. The next archetype is the shadow which is the darker energy, that of the villain. The can be internal including dark secrets or dislikes. These archetypes are threatening and cause the main conflict for the hero. Sometimes they are humanized with a touch of goodness which makes for an even better enemy. This is easily seen in many Disney films. The Ally is an important archetype, too. It is the hero’s sidekick or partner. The ally can be seen as spiritual, an animal, a ghost, technology, and a servant and can perform many roles like comic relief, challenge, or just an aid. The last archetype here is the trickster which brings the other characters to reality and points out the bonds between them or humor along the way. They are catalyst heroes who don’t seem to change although they are able to affect others in the story.

Response
I think that it is interesting to learn about different archetypes that appear in stories because they are different from stereotypes yet they are so familiar to an audience. We do expect to recognize the roles of these characters as each has its own purpose that impacts the hero. What I like is that these archetypes are so flexible, especially the shape shifter since that is its role. The characters tend to overlap often. The ally can be the mentor or the trickster. Along with overlapping each character has various possibilities like the shadow also being the trickster or the trickster also being the hero. It makes these stories relatable and allows them to be unique from one another. They are easily compared to films in the text and they are easily compared to psychology, especially Carl Jung as well with his explanations of the anima and animus.

Questions
Can a story survive without one of these archetypes?
How can you achieve all of these archetypes with a small cast, what overlaps or combinations can be made?
If a hero makes a solo journey, could all of these archetypes be internal, what would that story be like?