What is an archetype?
Within the framework of the “Deconstruction of Reality” project, the following definition of archetype is proposed:
Archetype (from the Greek ἀρχή — origin, source, and τύπος — image, imprint, form) is a universal pattern, structure, or semantic motif that recurs in events, actions, characters, ideas, and phenomena of reality. An archetype does not fix the form, but rather the internal scheme of meaning, which can manifest itself through various carriers.
Commentary
An archetype acts as a semantic “matrix” or invisible scheme that can manifest in different eras, cultures, and forms — from myths to modern stories, from collective events to individual behavior. Archetypes do not depend on specific details or external form: they preserve their essence even in radically different incarnations, serving as constant structures of the semantic field.
In contrast to a stereotype or template, an archetype carries a deep meaning and reflects fundamental patterns of experience and the organization of reality. An archetype is not a “mask” or an external role, but an original scheme upon which countless plots, ideas, and human types are built.
Examples
- The Wise Old Man — the archetype of the teacher, guide, or keeper of knowledge (Gandalf, Merlin, Socrates)
- The Hero’s Journey — the archetype of the life path through trials, falls, and overcoming obstacles (Odysseus, Buddha, Luke Skywalker)
- The Great Flood — the archetype of renewal and purification (the Biblical flood, Sumerian myths)
- Sacrifice — the archetype of rebirth through loss or heroic deed (the myth of the Phoenix, the death of Christ)
- Rebellion Against the System — the archetypal motif of striving for freedom (Prometheus, Sisyphus, Socrates at his trial)