Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Rebel Archetype

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.

Rebel Archetype

DESCRIPTION: Rebels are out-of-the-box thinkers who like to push boundaries and are undaunted by chaos. Whether they’re organizing a revolution, seeking revenge, or are making personal choices that challenge the status quo, these characters are often the catalyst for change.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Robin Hood (the Robin Hood legend), Lisbeth Salander (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), William Wallace (Braveheart), Ferris Bueller (Ferris Bueller���s Day Off), Estella/Cruella (Cruella)

COMMON STRENGTHS: Adventurous, Bold, Creative, Decisive, Focused, Independent, Intelligent, Passionate, Persistent, Persuasive, Private, Quirky, Resourceful, Socially Aware, Spunky

COMMON WEAKNESSES: Antisocial, Confrontational, Cynical, Disrespectful, Evasive, Impatient, Impulsive, Judgmental, Manipulative, Pushy, Rebellious, Reckless, Stubborn, Uncooperative, Vindictive, Volatile

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Deviating from societal norms���has their own style, refuses to conform to expectations or roles, etc.
Easily breaking laws and rules they disagree with
Being oppositional; is comfortable being at odds with others
Calling out injustice when they see it
Exhibiting loner behaviors (prefers solitude, keeps their own council, values privacy, etc.)
Respecting those who think for themselves
Engaging willingly in acts of subversion
Taking risks
Not always thinking things true (impulsivity)
Emotional volatility
Being blunt rather than sparing people’s feelings or beating around the bush
Distrusting authority figures, assuming they’re inept or corrupt
Difficulty following other people’s processes or instructions
Looking for ways to poke holes in the system or undermine the people in power
Discernment; being able to read people and see their true motives
Struggling in controlled environments, such as classrooms and 9-to-5 jobs
Making choices based on personal beliefs and values
Needing freedom to flourish (of thought, movement, opportunity, etc.)
Having less attachments than most people (to others, places, possessions, etc.)
Being highly loyal to the few people the character trusts
Scorning people who follow the rules or do what society dictates
Viewing themselves as being alone against the world
Engaging in delinquent or criminal behavior

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM
Being asked by a trusted loved one to conform in some way
Having to enforce rules or norms (with a younger sibling, at work, etc.)
Being forced into a situation where the character must follow rules and take orders (being sent to military school, needing to stay in a job with an overbearing boss, etc.)
Becoming aware of an injustice that will require the character to work with people they despise
Being watched and monitored
Being betrayed by a trusted ally, friend, or family member
Seeing a path to change but being blocked from it

INNER STRUGGLES TO GIVE THEM DEPTH
Seeing admirable characteristics in someone with opposing views or beliefs
Wanting to remain self-reliant but growing tired of the isolation
Discovering the cause they are fighting for is not what it purports to be
Having a loved one join the cause who is unsuited to navigate the dangers ahead
Being confronted with a truth that threatens everything the character believes in
Experiencing a failure that threatens the character’s self-esteem and confidence

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO���
Is secretly attracted to someone with opposing beliefs or who is in a position of authority
Is an extrovert and is always part of a group despite despising what the group stands for
Has other interests and goals, rather than a single focus on bringing the system down
Is ironically living a lie, rebelling when what they really want is a normal, uneventful life
Has a secret that, if discovered, reveals they are a hypocrite
Has surprising common ground with those they are seeking to undermine
Has a physical or cognitive challenge that they won’t allow to limit them
Is also a mother, grandfather, or other type of nurturing caretaker
Has an a-typical trait: diplomatic, tactful, hypocritical, vain, nurturing, materialistic, etc.

CLICH��S TO BE AWARE OF
The reluctant rebel who must lead the revolution but doesn’t want to
Inspirational rebels with no flaws to humanize them
The single-minded rebel who is devoted only to the cause and has no other passions or interests
The impulsive rebel who sacrifices everyone to the cause, then feels guilty about it later

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.

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