Friday, 29 May 2009

• The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By by Carol S. Pearson

  This is a book I purchased with the idea of gaining an understanding of character types for writing stories. It provides those insights and much more.

  Pearson descripes the six archetype and also shows how all the archetypes are part each person. We don't go through them in any set order, though a couple of paths are most common, based on our society. Even more, though, she makes it clear that we may seem to be in one particular archetype mode, and as we grow and learn, move into another and another until we've covered all six, (or get stuck in one) we actually are processing all six all the time. She clarifies what each archetype is and contrasts it to stagnant societal understanding or stereotype.

  Although my copy of the book was written in 1989, it does not seem at all dated. In fact, I see more of the changes she believes our society is going through. You can see what archetype was and is dominant in our society. I think it can help make change less scary to those who identify more with the outgoing archetype and more hopeful for those who don't identify. She addresses this particularly with the stereotypes for male and female roles.

  This isn't a book you can use to make people change (probably not even yourself), but it offers understanding of where others, and you, are. It helps answer the question "Why do people do what they do?" This understanding can be what you need to help you make a change, if you are ready, but no one will change until it is time for them to change.

  The book is a lot of psychology, but Pearson treats religion with respect. I appreciate this. I didn't find it at odds with my own beliefs as I have sometimes found with some psychology books.

  As someone who occasionally writes stories, I find it gives background and understanding that will help me flesh out my characters when I need to figure out things like motivation. Mostly, though it's been a book that helps me see who I am and maybe where I'm going.

  

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  cross posted from Airy Nothing Book Reviews or Chatter

  Clearly, I've interrupted reading the book listed as the last "What I'm reading." When a book is slow going, sometimes it's just best to start another and get back to it when I'm ready. I'm still not ready, so I'm trying the one below, next.
  

  Currently In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens Womanist Prose By Alice Walker see related

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