Astock character is a dramatic or literary character representing ageneric type in a conventional, simplified manner and recurring in many fictional works.[1] The following list labels some of thesestereotypes and provides examples. Somecharacter archetypes, the more universal foundations of fictional characters, are also listed.
Some characters that were first introduced as fully fleshed-out characters become subsequently used as stock characters in other works — for example, theEbenezer Scrooge character fromA Christmas Carol, upon whom the "miser" stereotype is based, and whose name now has become a shorthand for it. Some stock characters incorporate more than one stock character; for example, abard may also be a wisecrackingjester.
Some of the stock characters in this list — reflecting the respective attitudes of the people of the time and the place in which they have been created — in hindsight, may be considered offensive due to their use ofracial stereotyping,homophobia, or other prejudice.
| Character type | Description | Examples |
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An eccentric scientificgenius stereotype who is so focused on their work that they have shortfalls in other areas of life, (remembering things,grooming, etc.).[2] The shortened term for this character is aboffin. It is the benign version of themad scientist stereotype. |
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The brave and heroic protagonist of a story which portrays action, adventure, and often violence.[4] They are resourceful, courageous, and have strong commitment to their cause, and they are comfortable with the fast pace of events in the story. Often overlaps with "chosen one" orsuperhero. | See:Action heroes. | |
| Albino | Thealbino has pale skin and long white hair and may be a magician or assassin. Is usually evil or anantihero. |
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| Alien | A visitor to earth from another planet. May be a friendlylittle green man or a monstrouseldritch abomination withtentacles. Often pilots aflying saucer and possesses advanced technology. |
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| Angels anddemons | Infantasy,archangels are beautiful and ethereal beings with long blonde hair. Wingedcherubs are small and childlike and carry abow and arrow likeCupid fromGreek mythology. Demons andnephilim arefallen angels and often have hooves, horns and tails likesatyrs. |
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A negatively stereotypical assertive, overbearing, opinionated, loud, and "sassy" American black woman — typically of theworking class — with an acid tongue, often depicted asnagging and emasculating a male character.[5][6] This stereotype is a more modern variant of the archetypes of the oldshrew and the foul-mouthed and sharp-tonguedfishwife character, exemplified byMolly Malone. |
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Aworking class hideboundreactionary, white man whose frustration withprogressive policies and social changes leading towards a more tolerant society — in which he has a lesser role and powerless to change this demotion — that leaves him at odds with accepted norms, so escalating into rage and on to violence, in extreme cases. In dramatic fiction, this usually leads to the character'sdownfall. In a running series, the angry white man may soften and become accepting with time to be more sympathetic — see alsocurmudgeon. |
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A violentantihero in British movies set during the 60s or 80s frustrated by the monotony of hisdead end job and the boredom on hisworking classcouncil estate. He finds purpose by joining astreet gang and descends on a dark path of petty crime, drug addiction and violence against other gangs that culminates either in prison, or the mortuary. Depending on the era, he may be amod,teddy boy,street punk, orfootball hooligan/chav. |
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Annoying neighbor | Acomic character known for pestering and hounding the protagonist. As they live next door to them, this creates a pretext for frequent unwanted or unplanned interactions. |
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A protagonist lacking conventional heroic qualities, such ascourage oridealism.[9] An antihero has weaknesses and may engage in criminal acts at times, but lacks any sinister intentions and is usually, if begrudgingly and unconventionally, ethical. |
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The opposite to the above, an well-intentioned or misunderstood antagonist who has character traits more commonly associated with a stock hero. He will uphold the law, save lives and try to capture theantihero protagonist. In acrime film he is often apolice inspector in pursuit of agentleman thief,con artist orfugitive wrongly accused of murder. |
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Apes often appear assidekicks in family comedy movies.Chimpanzees andorangutans are usually mischievous, gorillas are strong but protective,cryptids likeBigfoot or theyeti are misunderstood, and primitive humans are brutal and evil (seecaveman). |
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| Apprentice | A younger person who is learning a profession ortrade by working under the guidance of an experienced, oldermentor. In the crafts and trades, the younger person may be called an apprentice, but in other fields, they may be called aprotégé,intern,trainee, orrookie. In addition to learning technical skills, the mentor teaches the values and culture of the guild or profession. Apprentice characters range from hardworking, serious rookies who nonetheless make errors due to lack of experience, to problematic apprentices who may be careless, lazy, or mischievous. The apprentice'scoming of age journey, as they transition to adulthood is known as aBildungsroman. In fantasy, the wise mentor may be awizard orwitch. In historical stories, the mentor may be aMaster craftsman in aguild, and aknight’s trainee is asquire. |
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| Arab and Muslim stereotypes | Arab andMuslim characters in Hollywood films are often portrayed in anethno-centric or stereotyped way.[12] These characters often were depicted as all generic relatively faceless and interchangeable, speaking in a heavy accent, being hostile and vicious, along with being connected toterrorism.[13] As well, American films and television shows may havestereotypical and pejorative depictions of Arabs and Muslims. TheAmerican-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee states that "Arabs in TV and movies are portrayed as eitherbombers,belly dancers, or [oil] billionaires".[14][15][16] |
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Asupervillain with a personal vendetta against the hero. They may have once been friends or fellow students of thewise old man before the villain turned to evil. See:Villain | ||
A wealthy man who made his fortune fromwar profiteering and manufacturing weapons. May beCEO of a large company, owner of a small towngun shop with under the counterSaturday night specials, part of thecriminal underworld with a secretghost gun workshop in the council estate, or a seemingly legitimateOld West trader illicitlyrunning guns to the Indians or Latin American rebels. He is usually an amoral villain who sells arms to both sides in the conflict, but sometimes he is a patriot supporting the American war effort. |
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In science fiction stories, artificial intelligence (AI) are depicted ascomputational systems that are sophisticated enough to perform tasks typically associated withhuman intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. In contrast to mechanical robotic beings in fiction — some of which are depicted as having sophisticated AI capabilities — usually AI does not have a metal or humanoid body and they are instead depicted as residing in some type of computer system or network. AIs are depicted with varying degrees of ability to cause actions in the real world, ranging from communicating via text orspeech synthesis to triggeringdigitally-connected devices. AIs may be depicted in a variety of ways, ranging from benevolent to neutral to hostile. |
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Thescience fiction counterpart to theexplorer,flying ace andsea captain. Is courageous, charismatic, irresistible to women, and skilled in both unarmed combat and the use of aray gun. Often commands a crew that includes a scientist, a robot and a female love interest. In smaller spaceships or when in space, they wear a pressure suit and helmet. In large spaceships, they typically do not wear a spacesuit. | ||
This character portrays values such as determination and goodsportsmanship as they develop their skills. They may be anunderdog who overcomes the odds and defeats thechampion. They typically have to face a range of obstacles, including physical challenges (learning advanced techniques) and psychological issues (developing confidence and judgment). They are often trained by awise mentor or coach. Is often aboxer,wrestler,runner,swimmer,footballer,basketball player,baseball player orcyclist. |
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A character sharing the traits or appearance of its author or creator.[17] The author surrogate may be disguised to some degree, or there may be little attempt to make them appear different — for example, they may have the same first name and job. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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| Bad boy | Seerake. | |
| Barbarian | A fierce, wild but honorable warrior with uncut hair, tattoos, clothing made from animal skins and a large sword or axe. Consumes large quantities of red meat and beer for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Is often amongol horseman orviking with a fondness for raiding and battles. Female barbarians are oftenAmazons who refuse to give up their virginity until the hero has proven himself worthy. |
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| Bard | An archetype in Medieval and Renaissance stories of alute-playingsinger-songwriter who sings about the events of the day to earn a living. The Bard may be a travellingtroubadour going town-to-town and playing at inns andbusking in the street. They may have a wealthy patron and entertain in a noble court — playing for royalty at feasts — so may overlap with thejester, if they use their songs to speak blunt truths to a king or entertain the nobles with humour, (also providingcomic relief in the story). The bard may also be a wanderingminstrel who voyages with the hero to chronicle the hero's exploits in song. |
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Bartender / innkeeper | Owner or operator of atavern,inn,saloon bar,public house orhotel where the heroes first meet. Is often assisted by an attractivebarmaid who may be his daughter. Keeps abaseball bat or other weapon beneath the bar for breaking up drunken brawls. There is a range of types of bartenders/innkeepers, from respected members of their community to town villains who operate sleazy establishments linked to crime and prostitution. Ingangster films, the villain oftens owns anightclub which is a front for illegal activity. |
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| This is a traditionalderogatorystereotype describing an old woman characterized as aggressive, brash, brazen overbearing, and forceful. The term originated in the early 20th century as a descriptor independent of gender, but became primarily applied to just women around the middle of the century. |
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Ahipster character, with a distinctcounterculture style (usually wearing black or muted colors, turtlenecks, leotards for women, a beret, and sunglasses), loves jazz andavant-garde art and poetry,marijuana,bongo drums, and has a disdain for anything popular in mainstream culture. See alsohippie. |
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Besserwessi/ East and WestGermans | As with theNorth-South divide in England, there is a division in Germany between the affluent West and the post-German Reunification East. The typical West German orWessi is wealthy but lazy, wears trendydesigner branddenim and drives a newBMW orMercedes Benz. The East German or Ossi has amullet haircut, wears clothes 10 years behind current trends, lives in a greyStalin eraapartment block and drives aTrabant. |
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Typically a female character who is totally reliant on her appearance to get on in life and is normally supported by a someone with resources, such as asugar daddy. This stereotype can be of little depth of character and poor intellect or contrariwise, can have hidden depths and keen wits who keeps her intelligence under wraps. In romances, the character is often an initial source of sexual attention for a hero, and a side-track of the story, before he realises that another is the love of his life and is the realheroine. Unlike theingénue character, who grows emotionally and more worldly-wise through the story eventually fulfilling a heroine role, typically a bimbo does not and remains ultimately inconsequential, even if the pointlessness of her life is pointed out to her. A variant of this stereotype is the vacuous or empty-headeddumb blonde, who is usually a very attractive, young, and nubile blonde-haired woman with littlecommon sense and very little, if anything, to say — literally dumb. |
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| Blacksmith | A skilled metalworker and craftsman who is the only person able to repair the hero's weapon orshoe his horse. In fantasy, the blacksmith may be able to imbue an item with magical powers. Is often adwarf. Modern counterparts, who have advanced technical skills, include thetechnician,mechanic,inventor andengineer. |
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Black best friend | In American films and television shows, the Black best friend is a secondary character, often female, who is used to "guide White characters out of challenging circumstances..." and "... support[s] the heroine, often with sass, attitude, and a keen insight into relationships and life".[18] One disparagement of this stock character is that not much of their inner life is depicted and have little or no character development. |
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An evil warrior antagonist, whose identity is typically concealed behind his visor. He displays nocoat of arms, in order to mask both his own identity and that of hisliege. This character has a strong connotation to or is associated with death and this role is their to battle the goodknight-errant for the latter to prove his worth. |
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Black widow | A femaleserial killer who usually poisons her lovers. Is often an alluring vamp orfemme fatale. Sometimes, though, she is a harmless-looking oldspinster. |
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Blindseer | A prophet andmystic who is sightless or has poor vision — very common in assisting a hero in his quest in ancient myth — but uses spiritual or psychic powers to sense the events and sights around them. |
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Blindwarrior | Especially as a warrior-monk, a seemingly harmless sightless warrior who uses spiritual or psychic powers to sense the events and sights around them — a trope more common in theFar East. |
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A terrifying supernatural being that feeds onfear and abducts children. May be anurban legend or thealter ego of aserial killer. Often wears a hood made ofburlap. |
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| Most commonly found in East Slavic epic poems—bylinas, the bogatyr is a heroic warrior possessing great strength, martial prowess and religious fervor,[19] much like the Western Europeanknight-errant. |
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| Bomb disposal expert | They are depicted as brave, resourceful experts who are cool under the pressure of a ticking countdown clock and the risk of certain death. In part, their confidence comes from their encyclopedic knowledge of explosives, timers, triggers andbooby traps and their ability to think on their feet, but they may also have spiritual or philosophical beliefs that enable them to face down extreme danger. In some cases, they makedetective-like deductions about the bomb-maker's intentions from clues in the device that help them to defuse it. They tend to be quirkylone wolf types or misfits who resist instructions from authority and rules, a behavior which is tolerated due to their elite status and rarity. In military and police stories, the bomb disposal expert may be the protagonist or a secondary character. In action movies and spy thrillers, they may be part of an ensemble cast of military or law enforcement characters. |
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Bounty hunters arefreelance fugitive trackers who take the risk of capturing criminals for the reward. They often operate in a legal grey zone, because while they may be permitted to capture the fugitives, and they may coordinate with law enforcement, they are not police officers. They are often lone wolves with a past in law enforcement, the military or crime. They range from honorable, noble former law enforcement officers who only take lawful bounties and who aim to bring criminals to justice to morally ambiguous characters with a mix of lawful and shady motivations to villainous ex-criminals who are only after profit, who take on illegal or shady bounties, and who use lawless tactics to capture or kill their prey. Bounty hunters are depicted inWesterns,Western-inspired science fiction set in lawless frontier planets, modernneo-Westerns, and in other modern day fiction. | Westerns:
Science fiction:
Other fiction:
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| Boy next door | A nice, average guy who is reasonably, but not too good-looking with few distinguishing quirks. If any quirks are exhibited, then these are minor or played for comedic effect. If he is popular with the younger audience, he may become ateen idol. |
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Originally, the ancient archetype of a boastful soldier whose cowardice belies his claims of a valour-filled past that dates to theClassical antiquity, tapping a rich vein in bothsatire andcomedy. This stock character speaks with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about their achievements, possessions, or abilities, typically to prove their superiority and create admiration or envy. Some braggarts may misrepresent or exaggerate their accomplishments. His boasts may also extend to his purported feats in the bedroom. In the comic theatre of ancient Rome, this stock character — asalazon and the two variantsmiles gloriosus andsenex iratus — was often from a low class and he was typically engaged in sexual dalliances, excess drinking, and thievery. Incommedia dell'arte, the boastfulIl Capitano was one of the four core stock characters. He brags about dubious tales of military or sexual prowess to hide his cowardly nature. Sir John Falstaff created byWilliam Shakespeare, is the popularepitome of the braggart with the comic character — noted for having the most appearances and more lines than any other character in the plays — who is depicted as a fat, vain, and boastful knight who spends most of his time carousing and hanging about with petty criminals; living on borrowed, looted, or stolen money. He is ultimately repudiated by other major characters who eventually see him for the debauched, dissolute character he is. The word"Falstaffian" has entered the English language with a connotation of being corpulent, jolly, and debauched. After overplaying his cards once too often with the king, he gets hiscomeuppance inHenry V. |
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Bug-eyed monster / alien | Staple evil aliens in science fiction of the 1930s onward were often described — or pictured on covers ofpulp magazines — as grotesque creatures with huge, oversized orcompound eyes and a lust for blood, women, or general destruction.[2] |
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| Bully | A villainous character often found in stories centered around youth, especially in school. They delight in tormenting the protagonist, often usingemotional abuse and physical threats or assaults. |
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| Butler orMaid | A common supporting character in period dramas set inEnglish country houses. The butler is in charge of a team of servants and may be arobot inscience fiction works. Butlers inaction films often double asbodyguards or assassins. In smaller middle-class houses thelady's maid will also serve as the housekeeper, cook and nanny. A villainous butler may seek to do in his aged employers or their heirs to collect the inheritance. |
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| Byronic hero | Byronic heroes are dark, gloomy, and brooding where their passionate nature is often turned inward, as they ruminate on a private torment or a difficult secret from their past. They tend to be lonely andalienated, and have views or values that conflict with those of the wider community. The name refers to theRomantic poetLord Byron, who was active in the 19th century. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Usually, a cunning thief who has a strange gait, slouched posture, and devious facial expression. Variants include thegentleman thief who is a master of disguise, and the professionalburglar who usually wears black clothes, adomino mask and aprison stripe shirt |
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| Cab driver | In British stories, may be acockney fromEast London or in American stories, a street smartblack American orItalian-American from New York. Wears aflat cap andleather coat. May be avigilante orpolice informant with connections to thecriminal underworld (or do odd jobs for them). In Victorian times he drove ahansom cab but in the present day he drives either a blackLondon taxi or yellowChecker cab. |
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Circus performers and other employees include the daringtrapeze artist,animal trainer who puts his head in the lion's mouth,circus clown,strong man in aleotard, beautiful femaleacrobat who is often married to thecircus ringmaster,musicians,circus freaks, and theroustabout who is usually ablack American. For villainous performers, seeevil clown. |
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In anime, a young girl with the ears and tail of ahouse cat, or the ability to transform from a human into a cat. Malecat people also exist but they are less common. Has a cat-like personality that usually includeskleptomania and skill atclimbing andacrobatics. Is often jealous of the female protagonist but is also fiercely loyal to her friends. |
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An eccentric, lonely woman, often living alone. She may be depicted as dotty and benevolent or as unhinged. See alsowicked witch. |
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| Cavalry officer | A dashing, upper classladies' man who is at the head of everycavalry charge. Is usually chivalrous and courteous, although sometimes he may be acad orgambler. Is often ahussar from theNapoleonic Wars orUS Cavalry from the Civil War era. DuringWorld War I many cavalry officers becameflying aces. | |
| Cavemen / cavewomen | This stock character, which is loosely based onNeolithic people, is typically portrayed as wearing shaggyanimal hides, and capable ofcave painting likebehaviorally modern humans of thelast glacial period. They are often shown as armed with rocks, cattle bone clubs, spears, or sticks with rocks tied to them, and are portrayed as unintelligent and only capable of grunting. Stereotypical cavewomen are similarly depicted, but sometimes with slimmer proportions and bones tied up in their hair. See alsoJungle boy andJungle girl. |
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Media based onGreek mythology often features half-man, half-animal creatures. Centaurs are skilledarchers and noble warriors, satyrs lovewomanising, drinking wine and playing thepan pipes, and beastmen like theminotaur are evil,cannibalistic monsters ordemons |
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In historical works, this may be a respected older woman (less commonly an older man) who accompanies an unmarried teen girl or young woman in public, especially in settings where she might meet a man, such as in town or at parties or balls. Chaperones or duennas supervise the young woman to prevent her from getting into situations withrakes or “fortune-hunters” which would compromise her reputation and her marriageability, while also guiding her to a good match. The chaperone, who plays a blocking role in the blossoming romance of younglovers, may also be aLady's companion orgoverness. In 20th and 21st century stories about young athletes, students, or performers, they may still have chaperone characters. |
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Chinese,Korean andEast Asian people | In the early days of cinema, the stereotypicalChinese-American immigrant wore acoolie hat,pigtail and pronounced his Rs like Ls. By the 1920s, there were cunningyellow peril villains plotting to take over the world. In the 1930s Chinese people were represented more positively, often as hardworking, trustworthy, brave and intelligent in contrast to the treacherous, cruel Japanese. This continued in the late 20th century with Asians often portraying scientists and mathematicians. Koreans are often represented asKpop singers. During theRed Scare of the 1950s andVietnam War of the 1960s, Chinese, North Vietnamese and North Koreancommunists appeared as recurring villains. By the 21st century comedies made fun of the generation gap between the older generation of Asian-Americans and their children who had fully assimilated. |
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AMexican-American criminal or thug, usually an ex-convict. In modernhood films they are the rivals of theblack American crew and often dealcocaine. Hasgang tattoos,ducktail haircut, drives a 1960slowrider and wearsbaggy pants, white T shirt, arosary, andbandana in hisprison gang's chosen colors. The female equivalent aka chola has thick blackeyeliner, largehoop earrings andbig hair often in abeehive hairstyle. |
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A character destined byprophecy to save the world, frequently possessed of unusual skills or abilities — frequently going through extreme hardship andsacrifice, includingmartyrdom — this then overlaps into the "Christ-like figure" below. |
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A hero or major character who dies amartyr only to rise from the dead to fight evil, as in the story ofJesus — heavily overlapping with the "chosen one" character — this similarity may be intentional or not. |
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The opposite of theCousin Oliver character: a secondary or minor character — usually a sibling of one of the main characters — who, when abreakout character emerges from a continuing series, quickly disappears without any notice nor explanation (retconned out of existence) and from then onward is never acknowledged as having ever existed. Named after the character inHappy Days, who disappeared shortly afterGavan O'Herlihy left the series after one season.[22] Notably, this is distinct from the phenomenon ofkilling off a character or sending them away, in such cases the character is still recognized in the fictional universe but is no longer present. |
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The original "woke" hero fighting injustice such asslavery,misogyny,capitalism,totalitarianism,colonialism orapartheid. Variants include theabolitionist,trade unionist,feminist andsocialist. May be a peaceful old clergymen, youngupper class woman or angryworking class man. | ||
A trusted counsellor called upon to perform weddings and funerals involving the protagonists. Is fond of longfire and brimstone sermons. Often wearsspectacles, black clothing and aclerical collar. Variants include thepreacher,Catholic priest,missionary,Jewish rabbi andmullah. Sometimes the priest has a side job as aprivate dick. A variant is the immoral clergyman. In Victorian and early 20th century literature, adefrocked clergyman of dubious moral character performs forced orsham marriages for the benefit of the villain. In some cases he is criminalcon man who uses a preacher disguise to gain the trust of his victims. Another example is theWhiskey Priest. |
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A carefree, cheery and childlike character with a loose grip on reality. Despite their lazy or eccentric appearance they possess the intellect, talent or willpower to make their impossible dreams reality. May be ahippie high onpsychedelic drugs, anidiot savant or amagical girl. |
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| May drive anomnibus orOld Weststagecoach, anobleman's privatecarriage or aBrass Era car. In smaller or impoverished aristocratic households he frequently doubles as abutler. If his employer is acad, the coachman will often come from thecriminal class |
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A character who exhibits a very wide range of abilities and knowledge, making him a form ofpolymath. The competent man, more often than not, is written without explaining how he achieved his wide range of skills and abilities.John W. Campbell set out the idea of "competent man" who can deal with any challenges. Despite the use of "man" in the name, there are female examples. Critics may view some examples of this stock character to be too perfect or competent (or competent in a way that is not supported by the story), and they may pejoratively label them as a "Mary Sue/ Marty Stu" stock character. While not the first to use such a character type, the heroes and heroines ofRobert A. Heinlein's fiction generally have a wide range of abilities and so this character may be called a "Heinleinian hero". |
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Traditionally, the classic hero was accompanied by his horse and dog. In a fantasy setting, the hero or heroine may be aided by alion,bird,griffin,unicorn orwinged horse. |
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Thepolitical commissar of theRussian Civil War andGreat Patriotic War could be a charismatic leader loved by his troops, or a harsh taskmaster who executed troops who retreated against orders. In movies set during theCold War he was usually an officer in theKGB orStasi tasked with capturing the hero. |
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A person who tricks people out of money by gaining, and then betraying, their confidence. |
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| Construction worker/Tradesman | Ablue collar worker who could be a plumber, bricklayer, electrician or carpenter. In British stories, often talks with a working class English accent, wears ahard hat andoveralls even on his day off, and has a large moustache. |
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| Constable | The old fashionedpoliceman who walked his beat every day was trusted by the whole neighbourhood. He had a strong sense offair play, upheld the law and took satisfaction in sending the suspects to jail but was not above using excessive force on criminals or physically discipliningjuvenile delinquents. If the main character is a naughty kid, the constable is often on the receiving end of hispractical jokes. The Canadian equivalent is theMountie. |
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A character, often supernatural or fable-like, who providesmoral guidance and advice to the protagonist. This may be a "shoulder angel" (or "shoulder devil"), a character visible only to the protagonist who whispers advice to them. |
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| Contender | A competitive, scrappyunderdog who is driven to keep trying to win despite obstacles and poor odds. |
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| Corrupt cop / dirty cop | Alaw enforcement officer whobetrays their vows touphold the law and who commits crimes forpersonal gain, such as takingbribes or sellingillegal drugs, sometimes directly working for thegangsters they are supposed to be arresting. The "dirty cop" differs from the "cowboy cop" who bends the rules tocatch the bad guys because the corrupt officer breaks the rules for personal profit. A dirty cop often lives a luxurious lifestyle far beyond what their police paycheck could cover, due to bribes and they will betray fellow officers and use them as pawns in their corrupt activities. There are two types: obviously dirty cops who make little or no attempt to conceal their illegal activities, and "wolves in sheep's clothing" who may be outwardly respectable, decorated officers who have a hiddendrug addiction or criminal enterprise. |
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| Corydon | A Corydon is a stock character for a herdsman in ancient Greekpastoral poems and fables and in much later European literature. The Corydon character may be portrayed as amorous or cowardly. |
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| Cousin Oliver | A young child who joins the cast of an ongoing series (usually a sitcom) after the previous younger characters have grown older and can no longer provide the comic plot lines they used to as child actors. Named after a character added in the final episodes ofThe Brady Bunch, after the youngest Brady stepsiblings had grown into preteens. |
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| Thechairman ormanager of a large company. May be a paternalistic old man who rose fromrags to riches and treats his employees well, a distant figurehead indifferent to the needs of his workers, or a schemingsociopath who wants to take over the company or (if he is alreadyCEO) extract resources from a protected local landmark. |
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| Themafiagodfather is the main villain ingangster films who is involved inracketeering andcontract killings. Is usually Italian, Jewish or Irish. Will demandprotection money from local businesses and throw informers into the river encased inconcrete but also has a charitable side and will perform favors to those under his protection. |
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Cultured villain | This stock character is intelligent, highly educated (either at a university or by being anautodidact), knowledgeable about arts, culture and music, and has impeccable manners. Despite this sophisticated and refined presentation, they are immoral villains who plan and execute reprehensible crimes. |
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Curmudgeon /Malcontent /Misanthrope | A ancient stereotyped character, who is usually an unhappy outsider, but always dissatisfied, observed inClassical theatre that went on to often appear inearly modern drama. They observe and comment on the action, and are sometimesmetafictionally aware that they are in a play. Usually, but not always, portrayed as a male middle-aged or elderly who outwardly is bitter, argumentative, andpolitically incorrect. The curmudgeon usually has more sympathetic traits that are revealed over the course of a work of fiction. See also:Angry black woman See also:Angry white male |
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| Cyborg | A cyborg is a living organism that has restored function or enhanced abilities due to the integration of some artificial component or technology that relies on feedback such as:prostheses,artificial organs,implants or, in some cases,wearable technology.[23][24] A cyborg has bothorganic andbiomechatronic body parts which may give it enhanced abilities.[24] |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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A beautiful young lady who needs to berescued fromkidnapping or otherperil by a brave hero. Critics have linked the helplessness of these stock characters tosocietal views that women as a group need to be taken protected by men. Throughout the history of thetrope, the role of the woman as thevictim in need of a malesavior has remained constant, but her attackers have changed to suit the tastes and collectivefears of the period. In fairy tales, aprincess needs to be rescued from evil tyrants or monsters, traditionally fromdragons. In contemporary 20th and 21st century films, the threat is more likely to come from criminals or terrorists. |
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A good-looking, well-off, foppish young man, more interested in fashion andleisure than business and politics, who is prominent inRegency period andVictorian literature of English and French languages. Affluent, flamboyant dandies of the mid-nineteenth century who spend their days strolling the boulevards may also be calledflâneurs. |
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A risk-taking hero who breaks speed records and performs death-defying stunts with amotorcycle orbiplane. InWestern films he is asteer rider atrodeos. Often has an evil, boastful rival who tries to steal the limelight or compete for the affections of hislove interest. |
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A beautiful andaristocratic woman whose dark, mysterious, and inscrutable personality makes her seem alluring. She could be an antagonistic character if her temperament is malicious or cruel. Her darkness is either literally, in the sense she has a colored skin, or in a metaphorical sense, in that she is a tragic, doomed figure. This stock character in the United States is pejoratively sometimes called thetragic mulatto, otherwise the Hispanic or Latin lady / lover stereotype. Some scholars have called this — and the male equivalent,Don Juan — the only two positive Hispanic stock characters.[26][27] |
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An evil and all-powerful sorcerer, who is though, often wounded, still powerful enough to defile the land. The character may just be a symbol of evil with little backstory or explanation of motivation, except for solely wanting power and dominion over the world — aDevil archetype. |
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A classicvillain archetype from thesilent film era, who will tie amaiden to train tracks or burn down an orphanage as part of their schemes, all while twirling their longhandlebar moustache. They have over-the-top personalities. Seeks to either seduce the youngheroine, or swindle her out of her inheritance. |
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The autocratic leader of afascist,totalitarian orStalinist nation who wears an elaborate uniform and medals. If he rules abanana republic he may be a general who did amilitary coup and he may work for thenarcoterroristdrug cartels. Can be a serious villain or a ridiculousbuffoon. |
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Disabled person | The disabled person has long been anunderdog protagonist, especially in dramas, horror and comedy movies. They may be ablind man whose other senses are heightened, awheelchair user with hidden academic or athletic abilities, or amentally retarded person who is actually agenius. |
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These stock characters depict celebrated performing artists such as singers or actresses who have impressive skills but demanding, difficult personalities. The two terms describe a similar character, although “Diva” may have more positive connotations and “Prima Donna” tends to be associated with artists who have a “queen bee” attitude, and who make huge demands for special treatment and have heated debates with the director on artistic issues. They are hostile to rivals and ignore the fans andhoi polloi who wait outside their luxurious dressing rooms. While mainly associated with performing arts, the terms may also be applied to successful people and leaders in other fields. While both terms have female origins, they can be applied to women or men. |
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| Donor | A supernatural being in fairy tales and fantasy literature who helps the protagonist or tests them. Thefairy godmother is a classic example in fairy tales. |
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A villainous character employed by thedog pound who rounds up stray dogs and cats. Often has atoothbrush moustache. A closely related character is thepest controller called in by the homeowner to eradicate an infestation ofmice,rats orcockroaches. |
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Domestic servant (Black) | Black people in American books and films are often depicted asdomestic servants, due to the extensive history of slavery. The common stereotypical depiction of these roles has little or no characterization or character development beyond the functionary role. The pejorativeMammy stereotype is a subcategory. |
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A character that usually very closely resembles, but with a malevolent or diversely contrasting temperament, who is not necessarily related to another benevolent character in the same fictional universe and may come from aparallel universe. Inwar films the lookalike serves as the general'sdecoy. Usually, they are portrayed on screen by the same actor in adual role See also:Evil twin |
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An ancient, wingedreptile with the ability to breathe fire and sometimes communicate with humans. European dragons are evil and obsessed withhoardingtreasure, butChinese dragons are wise and compassionate. Variants include thewyvern,lindworm,basilisk, andcockatrice. |
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In the United States, astereotype of East Asian, (sometimesSouth Asian and Southeast Asian women, as well), as strong, deceitful, domineering, or mysterious.[29] It is a variant of theDark lady archetype. The term's origin and usage arose in America during the late 19th century. Thisethnic stereotype may negatively depict women as promiscuous, deceptivefemme fatales. |
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Dream maker/Sandman | Ruler of afantasy world who brings dreams (and sometimes nightmares) to children. Has a bag of magicalsand that sends them to sleep. |
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Thestaff sergeant,gunnery sergeant, orwarrant officer in charge of instructing incoming military recruits inbasic training. They are strict, demanding leaders who are either loved or hated; good drill sergeants earn respect of their recruits when the training and discipline they impart ends up saving lives, while bad or sadistic drill sergeants may be reviled or evenfragged.[31] |
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A villain who deals inheroin,cocaine,crystal meth orcannabis. May be a sleazy back alley dealer or adrug lord/narcoterrorist from theLatin Americancartel or a local gang leader. See alsocrime boss. |
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| A hardworking but clumsy immigrant with a heavy accent. The Dutchman wearswooden clogs and a blueskipper cap, lovespancakes, smokes ameerschaumtobacco pipe, growstulips and vegetables in his garden, and travels everywhere by boat or bicycle. The German lovesbratwurst andsauerkraut and may a scientist or doctor fleeingNazi persecution. For Germans who support the Nazis, seeHun |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Eccentric/ cooluncle oraunt | An eccentric older relative idolized by the kids. Often acts younger than his advanced age and has an unusual hobby. May be amillionaire,action hero orprofessor. |
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| El bandido /Vaquero | This pejorative stereotype of a Mexican bandit was established early and common in silent era Western films. It depicted the characters as missing teeth, being poorly groomed (unshaven, unwashed hair), unintelligent, and as having a violent, treacherous, and emotionally impulsive disposition.[27] Opposing the bandits was the heroic Mexicancharro orvaquero who protected the villagers from injustice and tyranny. If he is attractive, thisunderdog hero is usually aLatin lover. |
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| Elderly martial arts master | A wise old figure who mentors the young disciple in his ancient craft. Typically anEast Asian male, he is a near-invincible master of themartial arts, despite being advanced in age and presumably having a decrease in physical strength. Often he possesses the rank ofsensei and is referred to as such by his student. The elderly master most often teaches either generickung fu or an exotic style specific to the fictional period. During the films, the master often becomes close with his students, with the master becoming a guardian figure to the trainees, who are, in turn, looked upon as the master's children. |
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| Elemental | A spirit or creature personifying earth, air, fire or water or a person who can control one of thefour elements. The latter is usually a wizard or superhero. |
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| Elves,fairies andlittle people | A human-like race with magical powers such as the ability to grant wishes. Variants include theelf,fairy,leprechaun,gnome andpixie. Infantasy works fairies are usually good, but evil equivalents also exist like thegoblin,banshee orchangeling. |
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| Environmentalist/eco-warrior | A defender ofnature against thecorporations seeking to exploit its scarce resources or pollute the habitat ofendangered species. Is often ahippie orwhite saviour whogoes native. An evileco-terrorist will release deadlychemical weapons on innocent citizens in an attempt to force governments to change their policies |
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| Everyman | An ordinary, humble individual, the Everyman may be astand-in for the audience, narrator, or reader. |
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| Evil clown | Violent, malevolent beings that ironically resembleclowns. This stock character is a subversion of the traditional comic clown character, in which the playful trope is instead depicted in a more disturbing nature through the use ofhorror elements anddark humor. The character can be seen as playing on the sense of unease felt by sufferers of coulrophobia, thefear of clowns. |
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| Evil twin | A malevolent character that resembles and is usually related to — most commonly a literaltwin of — another, benevolent, character in the same universe; usually portrayed by the same actor in adual role. |
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The lawful guardian to anorphan who seems to want them dead. May be atyrant who usurped thegood king, an outwardly respectable member of the community secretly involved in criminality, or acad who intends to swindle the young heiress out of her inheritance. A similar character is the cruel or neglectfulaunt who is either the wife of the evil uncle, or an unattractive old spinster (seehag). |
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| Executioner | In medievalcostume dramas, thetorturer or executioner wears a black hood, may interrogate suspects, and beheads the king's enemies with an axe or sword. In an early modern setting, especially in continental Europe, he may operate aguillotine or other execution method such as ashort dropgallows. In modern prison films, he is often the villainousprison warden who operates thegallows trapdoor,gas chamber orelectric chair. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Fall guy | Typically a minor or side character — may be a total innocent or a petty criminal — ignorant of their role in the villain's larger plot, who is duped and "framed" or "fitted up" to "carry the can" as thescapegoat, when the police arrive, to be called to account for a crime in court. The term "fall guy" for one whom blame is directed upon to shield other more important people in a scandal had appeared in mass public culture in the US at least by the 1920s. In 1925, it was the title of a Broadway comic play turned into a film in 1930,The Fall Guy, byJames Gleason andGeorge Abbott. Separately, in the film industry, the term is used for a stuntman — the person who takes the fall instead of a leading actor, too valuable to put at risk. |
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| Fallen hero | Thechosen one's predecessor who was often a pupil of thewise old man before turning to evil. A common antagonist inwuxia andfantasy literature whom the hero must face in the final confrontation. |
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| Farmer's daughter | A desirable, wholesome, and naive young woman, also described as being an "open-air type" and "public-spirited".[32][33] |
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| Farmer's wife | The "long-suffering farmer's wife" is a foil against the leading characters, used as a contrast to the other female stock characters — the "hooker with a heart of gold" and the "schoolma'am" — and is common in Western films.[34]John Steinbeck, in his 1937 bookOf Mice and Men, has Curley's wife, who is never named, which shows that she is just a stock character to emphasize this point. |
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| Female clown (Hispanic) | Also called a "Latin Spitfire" or "Mexican Spitfire", in this stereotype, a Hispanic woman's ditzy antics are used to make the audience laugh derisively at her. While she is alluring, her value as a full character is blunted by her comic treatment. This is the female version of theMale buffoon (Hispanic).[27] |
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| Femme fatale | An almost obligatory character who is integral inFilm Noir, she is anantagonist originally appearing as a beautiful and alluring woman who is also cunning, deceptive, and traitorous. She may originally appear as adamsel in distress, but then she draws men into ahoney trap, and may be motivated by money, power, revenge, or status. |
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| Ferryman | They are guides who are paid to transport characters in a vessel to get them to a hard-to-reach destination. In mythological or fantasy stories, the destination may beunderworld,purgatory or a similar mystical realm. In some stories, there may not be mythological aspects and the character maysecretly transport people or cargo to a very hard to reach destination or help peoplesecretly leave an area controlled by the enemy. They may offer passage in some type of vessel (boat, flying craft, spaceship), or via magical or fantastic methods (teleportation, portals, or dream travel). The passengers typically pay the ferryman or guide. In mythological stories, gold coins on the eyes of the deceased or completion of a ritual or obligation may be required. In myths, they may act as aDeus ex machina. |
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| Finns/Scandinavians | The Finn is a peaceful farmer, hunter,reindeerherder,fisherman orlumberjack content with takingsaunas, drinkingmilk, rowing his boat on the lake, and enjoying walks in the forest toforage for berries and mushrooms. However, when his country is invaded he becomes a deadly one man army who uses his trusty hunting rifle and his knowledge of the terrain to decimate more numerous and better equipped enemies. In modern times the Finn lovesheavy metal music, playsice hockey and supportsconservationism. He may be on first-name terms with mythical creatures such astrolls, talking animals orSanta Claus'elves. A Finnish woman is often afolk healer orwhite witch. Danes,Swedes andNorwegians are ofteninterior designers, cheesypop singers ordetectives in grittyscandi noir murder mysteries. For theirviking ancestors, seebarbarian. |
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| Firefighter | A modern-day hero who risks his life to save people trapped in burning buildings. They wear a helmet, a heavy coat, and an oxygen mask, and they use afire axe to clear debris and a hose to put out fires. While the character may demonstrate a wide range of skills and ingenuity in their firefighting, their most important trait is their bravery. |
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| Figaro/barber | The French polymath playwrightPierre Beaumarchais created the comic character of Figaro who plays the role of a barber who has become a cunning, scheming, insubordinate gentleman's valet across a satirical trilogy of plays —Le Barbier de Séville of 1772,Le Mariage de Figaro of 1778, andL'Autre Tartuffe ou La Mère coupable (The Guilty Mother) of 1792. The character is inspired by thecommedia dell'arte stock character ofBrighella,[35] and like his predecessor he is a clever liar; moral and yet unscrupulous; good humored, helpful and brave, though somewhat embittered and cynical. Though he is normally calm, collected and intelligent, he can be irrational when angered. Given that the Figaro character tries so protect his wife from the romantic advances of his aristocratic master, the Figaro character is viewed as a fighter for freedom from tyranny, and as a result, some governments censored works about Figaro. Beaumarchais, may have created the Figaro character as anauthor surrogate forThe Barber of Seville, as the playwright served time in jail for insubordination to the nobility. | Beaumarchais's character appears in four opera adaptations of his plays: |
| Final girl | A "last woman standing" from a group left in a horror (slasher) film after a serial killer or monster has eliminated her companions. |
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| Fixer / Cleaner / Bagman | A fixer is a highly skilled person who can discreetly hide or destroy evidence of illegal or unethical behavior that could compromise a person or organization using a range of methods and tactics. Fixers range fromsleazy lawyers andspin doctors who use technically legal, but unethical practices to criminal fixers and "cleaners" who dobreak and enter and destroy evidence. A mob leader may hire a “cleaner” to remove a dead body and other forensic evidence from acrime scene or ahacker to delete digital evidence of crimes onCCTV cameras. A powerful corporation may hire acrisis management expert or lawyer to uselawsuits andpayoffs to make ascandal go away. A political party may have abagman who delivers a briefcase of cash to pay off officials. A celebrity's agent may hire a fixer to keep a rising star'ssexual misconduct ordrug addiction out of the headlines. |
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| Flunky | The flunky is an employee of a powerful leader in a high position of trust who is seemingly a loyal servant to their master. However, behind their obedient and submissive facade, they are a devious manipulator and schemer with their own agenda. In fantasy, he may secretly be an evilsorcerer. In works based on theArabian Nights, the treacherousvizier secretly conspires to be leaders instead of thesultan, but outwardly behaves like a dependabletoady. He may be abald, effeminateeunuch. An overambitiousCaporegime ingangster movies can behave like this before he betrays and supplants the oldcrime boss. |
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| Flying ace / fighter pilot ace / air ace / ace pilot / daredevil pilot /starfighter pilot | The advent of aviation spawned agenre of adventure stories in which the brave, skilled pilot was the natural hero. Traits often attributed to the ace in war films are "boisterousness, camaraderie,stoicism and [perceived]omnipotence".[41] In science fiction, this stock character is a "starfighter ace pilot." |
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| Foil | A character, especially in adouble act, who is in most respects the opposite of the protagonist orstraight man. The contrast between a character and their foil allows each characters' traits to be highlighted. |
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| Folk hero | A character whose heroic acts are left behind in their people's consciousness, often centuries after their death. | |
| Fool | A courtjester who made the king and nobles laugh by telling rhyming jokes and riddles, and by doing physical feats like juggling. Jesters could criticise nobility at court and make fun of royal decisions, as long as the criticism was hidden amidst witty wordplay and riddles. Shakespeare used the fool as a main character so that he could have a character who could speak truthfully, even to a powerful king. This character often appear as either a simpleton or the opposite, (who only pretend to be simple as aruse), with a very few falling in between. |
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| Fop | A pejorative character inEnglish literature and especially comic drama, as well as satirical prints, the fop is a foolish "man of fashion" who overdresses, aspires towit, and puts on airs. He may also overdo being fashionably Gallic by wearing French clothes and using French words. The fop may aspire to a higher social station than others think he has. He may be somewhat effeminate, although this rarely affects his pursuit of an heiress. |
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| Freedom fighter | An idealisticguerrilla,dissident or rebel fighting to overthrow atyrant and restore liberty. May be anAmerican rebel,Maquisard,socialist,Yugoslav partisan,peasant, or ex-bandit. In some cases, the freedom fighter commits atrocities and becomes an evilterrorist, or seizes power and becomes more tyrannical than the olddictator. |
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| French maid | A stylized, over-sexualized, flirtatiousdomestic servant with a distinctive black uniform with white lace and apron. Her uniform may range from a conservative knee-length skirt in more realisticperiod pieces to a short skirt, stockings, and garters in more fantasy-oriented depictions. She may use afeather duster. She is a version of the cheeky, saucysoubrette character. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
The poacher is alovable rogue with a patched coat andwhippet dog who shoots or traps small game such as bunnies or pigeons to feed his impoverished family. The gamekeeper is an employee of the bigEnglish country house who wears anorfolk jacket and is tasked with exterminatingvermin and catchingtrespassers. A reformed poacher may find employment as a gamekeeper, while an unemployed gamekeeper will become a poacher. Inwar films the unit'ssniper is usually an ex-poacher. Evil poachers also exist, usually in media set in Africa or America where they illegally huntendangered species in thenational park ornature reserve. |
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Infilm noir movies aboutcrime, the gangster's moll is usually an attractive, blonde — often a variant of the bimbo stereotype — who may be a formershowgirl. The gangster often uses the moll as a "trophy" to boost hisstatus. She may also be called a "gun moll". "Gun" was British slang for "thief", derived from Yiddishganef[43] and "moll" is also used as a euphemism for a woman prostitute.[44] |
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| Gardener/groundskeeper | An employee at anEnglish country house or urbanmarket gardener who sells his produce for a living. Is plagued byvermin such asrabbits orpigeons that constantly thwart his attempts to trap or shoot them. Oncouncil estates, the gardener may be adrug dealer who growscannabis among his vegetables. |
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Beginning in the 1980s, screenwriters ofromantic comedy films and television dramas set in high schools added the "gay best friend" stock character. Typically, this comedic character type has elicited controversy in the gay community, because while they have introduced "...queer storylines to mainstream audiences," they have also entrenched a stereotype that gay men's only "interests aremakeovers, shopping and drama".[45] In addition, "gay best friend" characters tend to be sidelined into the role of giving relationship and fashion advice, with their character rarely having any depth or development. It has a parallel in theblack best friend |
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Originally, a nameless demented side-show freak, with depraved habits — such as biting the heads of small animals — to draw in crowds, and who is usually tied to drug addiction, typically alcohol in Prohibition-era U.S. as shown in the 1947Film Noir classicNightmare Alley. Now, typically an eccentric or non-mainstream person who is anenthusiast obsessed with an unusual hobby — such as ananorak-wearingtrainspotter — or odd intellectual pursuit. It has a generalpejorative meaning of a "peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, boring, or socially awkward".[46] This stock character heavily overlaps and is used interchangeably with thenerd stereotype, but the geek may be depicted still in a more negative fashion. A more recent variant is the academically gifted but socially awkwardgeek girl. She is often agamer girl,larper orweeb with an obsession withanime andmanga. |
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An exotic, sensual and culturedEast Asian beauty able to charm any man (see alsoHawksian woman). Graceful and elegant, she usually wears a silkkimono or revealingqipao. If she is the protagonist, she may also be anassassin orsecret agent skilled inmartial arts. The villainous equivalent is thedragon lady. |
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Gentle giant | A folklore figure who, despite the huge size and enormous strength, has a kind nature and sometimes is also soft-hearted. Further information:Giants (Greek mythology) . |
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A sophisticated and elegant thief of thefin-de-siècle to the early 20th century. He has impeccable manners, courteousness, and charm, who typically tries to avoid violence by using deception, stealth, and his wits to steal. He goes for the thrill of the larcenous act itself, as well as to gain material wealth. This is often combined with correcting a moral wrong, selecting wealthy targets, or stealing only particularly rare or challenging objects. He is fairly similar to theconfidence trickster. The female counterpart is typically referred to as a "lady thief". |
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A widely used character used since ancient times appearing in myths and legends of prehistory from around the world. Ghost stories take as apremise the possibility of supernatural entity characters who are dead, but which can still communicate or characters' belief in these entities.[47][48] The ghost may appear of its own accord or be summoned bymagic or by inciting events or triggers. Linked to the ghost is the idea of a haunting, where a supernatural entity is tied to a place, object, or person.[47] Ghost stories are commonly examples ofghostlore and they appear insupernatural fiction,weird fiction, andhorror stories. Originally, ghosts appeared in the narrative as sentinels, portents of doom, or prophets of things to come. From this, they went on deliver amorality tales and were common among Christmas stories, popularised by the many short stories ofSheridan le Fanu andM.R. James. From the firstGothic horror / romance storiesThe Castle of Otranto of 1764 by Horace Walpole, they were a staple, with the rise of scary ghost characters, while comic forms have also developed in the 20th century. | Literature and theatre:
Films and television shows:
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A sweet, innocent young woman with a wholesome demeanor who lives in the same neighborhood as the protagonist, so they know each other as childhood friends. While she is reasonably attractive, the key factor in her appeal is her wholesome character and the lifelong connection to a small town or rural area, which may be contrasted with the different allure of more glamorous, cosmopolitan female characters. |
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| Gladiator | The brave, skilled arena fighter is a recurring protagonist ofsword and sandal films set during theRoman Empire. The classic gladiator hero might be a prisoner forced to fight for his freedom, or the leader of aslave revolt. Variants include thecharioteer and modernmixed martial artscage fighter. Fantasy and science fiction films with adystopian orpost-apocalyptic setting may also feature gladiatorial combat, sometimes involving chainsaws, firearms and armoured cars. |
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| Glutton/fat man | A disgusting and greedy villain, normally a big fat man in a position of authority. Gorges himself on large quantities of lavish, expensive food while the common people are hungry and oppressed. |
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| Gods anddemigods | InNorse mythology andGreco-Roman mythology apantheon of gods ruled by askyfather such asJupiter orOdin observes humanity. If the king of the gods impregnates a mortal woman, the offspring will grow up to become a mightyhero. In Judeo-Christian mediaYahweh is usually invisible or obscured by clouds, but occasionally he takes the form of an old bearded man. |
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| Golden child | In stories about a family or other settings with a mother and / orfather figures, then the "golden child" is a child (including a grown-up child), or a subordinate member of a group, who is praised as the "perfect one" / "apple of the parents' eyes", protected from criticism, while their siblings, (or their equivalents), are unnoticed for their achievements and subject to significant chastisement. While this child benefits from positive attention andfavoritism, so may become entitled, they are also under a lot of pressure to live up to the parents' expectations.[49] Thechild archetype is aJungian the "divine child" archetype).[50][51] The opposite character is the "whipping boy", who is seen as the person who cannot do anything right, who is blamed for the family's (or organization's) problems and who gets minimum attention and resources.[52] |
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InJewish mythology, an inanimate object brought to life bykabbalah magic. It protects its master's family and will avenge him if he is killed in apogrom. A similar creature is thehomunculus orimp created to serve analchemist or evilwizard and sustained with human blood. Originally these werehumanoids made from clay, but in modern entertainment they may also be made from metal, snow or stone. |
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A group ofmade men or thugs led by acaporegime who reports to thecrime boss. Infilm noir they are often the first antagonists theprivate dick must defeat. In comedy they may be bumblinghenchmen |
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A stock character, popular in 17th-century Spanish literature, who iscomically and shockingly vulgar. |
Examples of similar characters in Anglophone culture include:
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A haughty, flamboyant, and elegant woman of the upper classes, prone to extravagant and eccentric fashion — from the French for "great lady". She is a stereotype of an elderlyaristocratic widow /high society socialite.[53][54][55][56] |
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A caricature of working-class 1950s American urban youth, with a "tough guy" or "cool" demeanor, usually seen wearing a black leatherbiker jacket, white t-shirt,blue jeans, and (pertinently) a slick hairdo with generous amounts ofpomade. He often has a thick Northeastern ethnic accent hoarse from cigarette smoking, with a love of rock and roll, along with customizing and racing motorcycles orhot rods. The British equivalent is the"rocker". See alsoOutlaw biker. |
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The personification of the angel of death. Generally takes the form of askeleton in a black cloak on a white horse, but is capable ofshapeshifting to any appearance he chooses. Will often make a wager orfaustian bargain for the soul of the protagonist. |
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A deformed or disabled person whose appearance scares strangers or inspires pity, and who may be mistreated. The grotesque is atragic figure. |
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Ajingoistic US military character who is overly enthusiastic and unquestioningly convinced about the right-mindedness of his nation's warmongering.[58][59] |
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A nomadic character having an irascible or passionate temper paired with an indomitable love of freedom, who lives in traveling caravans, making a living by playing music, juggling, or dancing. They are often shown using mystical powers offortune telling, associated with sinister occult tendencies,[60] along with criminal cunning and thievery.[61] Romani women have been portrayed as mysterious, gaudy, exotic, and provocatively sexually available.[62] The "gypsy" stock character is very loosely based upon theRomani people, who were historically and pejoratively known as gypsies. These stereotypical portrayals in popular culture of the Romani are on a par with the racistportrayals of Jewish people, with both groups stereotyped negatively as wandering, spreading disease, abducting children, as well as violating and murdering others.[63] A modern variant is theIrish traveller who lovesbare knuckle boxing,poaching and keeping pet dogs. They live in vans rather than wagons, work in construction and often have connections toorganised crime. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hacker | They are technology experts who can exploit vulnerabilities to get intocomputer networks, even if they have advancedIT security, includingpasswords andencryption. Incyberpunk stories andthrillers, they are depicted as rebellious young techwunderkinds who wear ahoodie, blacktrenchcoat, andspiked orgoth hair, and use multiple computer screens, laptops, electronic devices, and racks of powerful, customized computers to bypass IT system security. They may be benevolent ("white hat hacker") orhacktivist types who help law enforcement or act asRobin Hood-style crusaders for justice; chaos-loving types who like doing pranks on big corporations for the "lulz" (or to show off to thehacker community); or malicious ("black hat hacker") types who hack for the highest bidder, even forcriminals orterrorists. Given that they typically engage in illegal acts, they usepseudonyms or "handles" which may useL33tspeak. While they tend to be socially awkward loners, they may also work in a hacker collective where each member has special skills (cryptography, hardware hacking, etc.). |
See alsoList of fictional hackers. |
| Halfbreed harlot | This pejorative stereotype of a Mexicanprostitute was common in Western films. She is the female counterpart toEl bandido, a pejorative stereotype depicting a violent Mexicanbandit. The "halfbreed harlot" is asecondary character who is depicted as a lustynymphomaniac with a hot temper who is a slave to her passions. Filmmakers use the character to serve as asex object and provide titillation to viewers.[27] |
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Amisogynistic rendering of a cruel, withered old woman, often with occult orwitch-like powers of prophecy. As a stock character in fairy or folk tale, the hag shares characteristics with thecrone, and the two words are sometimes used as if interchangeable. See:Witch |
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Typically, apolice officer orprivate investigator — often, a one-time officer unjustlycashiered from the force — rendered bitter and cynical by violence and corruption. They are often hard-drinkingantiheroes who use questionable tactics. They are usually the protagonist ofhardboiled novels andpulp fiction and offilm noir crime movies. Derogatory slang terms for the stereotype are: |
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| Harlequin | A clown or professionalfool who pokes fun at others, even the elite. He is a light-hearted, nimble, and astute servant, often acting to thwart the plans of his master, and pursuing his own love interest,Columbina, with wit and resourcefulness, often competing with the sterner and melancholicPierrot. |
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| Hawksian woman | This characterarchetype of the 1930s → 1950s of a tough-talking, self-possessed, and independent woman — a strong film role with much screentime and character development. This stock character sparked against and vied with the male lead role, oftenGary Cooper orCary Grant — and was popularized in thefilm noir thrillers andscrewball comedy films of directorHoward Hawks. The Hawksian woman is up-front and frank in speaking her mind, so keeping up with her male counterparts in quick-talking and witty banter — well able to beat a man in verbal sparring — as well as taking action to get what she wants.[65] The archetype was first identified by film critic Naomi Wise in 1971. This character is broadly related to or synonymous with thefemme fatale. | Actresses who played Hawksian women include:
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Aphysician,nurse,barber surgeon orapothecary who provides medical treatment to the main characters. Theveterinarian will provide similar care to the protagonist'scompanion animal. An army medic may be apacifist orconchie especially during the WWI or WWII era. If modernantibiotics have not yet been invented they will useointments made fromherbs. Aquack doctor will sell dangerous fakeelixirs. In fantasy, the healer may use both potions and spells. |
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Theschool principal may be a kindly,wise old man or woman who provides guidance to the protagonist, or a terrifyingprison warden-type character who usescaning and other types ofcorporal punishment to keep order. Usually wears amortarboard and blackgown and carries awalking stick as a symbol of authority. May be awitch orwizard if the setting is at aschool of magic. |
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| Hero / heroine | This stock character bravely faces natural or human threats with feats of ingenuity,courage, orstrength. The original hero in classical epics did such things for the sake ofglory andhonor.Post-classical andmodern heroes, on the other hand, perform great deeds or selfless acts for thecommon good orjustice instead of the classical goal of wealth,pride, and fame. The antonym isvillain.[66] Other terms associated with the concept ofhero may includegood guy,white hat,superhero and an unconventional subtype, theantihero. | There are many types of fictional heroes, including:action hero,Byronic hero,folk hero,Randian hero,reluctant hero,romantic hero,superheros (heroes withsuperpowers) andtragic hero. |
| Hells Angel oroutlaw biker | A common antagonist or antihero in movies set in the 1960s and 70s. Is long-haired, bearded, tattooed, rides achopper bike and has skull patches on hisleather jacket and vest. The biker is in a biker gang which hangs out at a clubhouse, strip club, or bar where beer and other intoxicants are consumed. |
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| Hep cat | The male 1940shipster counterpart to theJazz Baby who wears azoot suit and dances thejitterbug. Is often anItalian-American,Hispanic orblack American. |
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| Hispanic maid | A Latina middle-aged servant who works for an Americanmiddle class family. Usually, she cannot speak English well, if at all — though sometimes this can be played with, in her abilities being better than her employers' — and is portrayed as being religious and havingsuperstitious beliefs. She is the first person to witnessparanormal activities such asghosts in the house and run away. |
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| A liberal, middle classcannabis smoker who attendsart school, drives aVW Bus and follows an Eastern religion such asHinduism orBuddhism. Always wearsflared trousers, atie-dye shirt or blackturtleneck and sometimes aberet. |
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Alovable rogue who travels from town to town on foot or by train looking for employment. Often carries abindle containing his possessions. Is usually bearded and may have patches on his clothes and holes in his boots. Survives on strong alcohol andMulligan stew cooked on arocket stove made fromtin cans. Keeps to himself but is targeted bycorrupt cops, brutalrailroad conductors and vicious young streethoodlums. |
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| Holmesian detective | A masterful police detective orprivate investigator who is modelled on the fictional 19th-century detectiveSherlock Holmes. These characters may emulate his perceptiveness, intelligence, and use ofdeductive reasoning. |
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| Hooker with a heart of gold | Aprostitute who lives on the fringes of the law, most often forced into this by need, but has a good moral compass and intrinsic morality. May also be known as a "tart with a heart". In historical works, her profession may bebowdlerized and disguised to some degree (e.g., as a "dance hall girl"). |
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| Hopeless romantic | A loving, passionate character who expects to find "love at first sight", who is obsessive over, or the expectation of, a romantic partner /love interest — to the point where it is her or his dominant personality trait — and so is usually very optimistic in viewing life. |
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| Housewife | A stereotypical busy mother of the protagonist family, with a pinned-down and homely appearance, who does the mundane work of running the family home, taking care of the children, and doing thehousework. |
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| Hotshot | An action/adventure hero with an impulsive, maverickmacho character, known for taking reckless risks and defying authority. Popular in American film and TV series. |
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| Human trafficker/slave owner | A cruel villain who profits from enslaving black people or other marginalized groups, such as immigrants orsex workers. May be aplantation owner or a modern-dayhuman smuggler who promisesrefugees a better life only to force them to do unpaid work to pay off their debt. |
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| Hun | A villainous aristocratic German officer from theWorld War I orWorld War II era, often wears amonocle and has adueling scar on his face. Is fond ofWagner'soperas. If he is an antagonisticfighter pilot he may follow a similar code ofchivalry to the British or American hero. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Ice King/Snow Queen | A villain with the ability to manipulate ice and cold, either with technology or supernatural powers. A male villain with ice powers is usually amegalomaniac who seeksworld domination or to advance aneco-terrorist ideology. If female, she is cruel, deceitful and cold hearted (see also Mean Girl). | |
| Idiot savant | A person with extraordinary genius in a narrow area who has a social or developmental disability, often consistent with being somewhere on theautism spectrum. |
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| Igor / Ygor | Theprotagonist orantagonist mad scientist's assistant, who often is afflicted with many physical problems, typically: a short stature, a dragging walking pace, a pronounced hunched back, speaks in a halted speech pattern or a low monotone accent, and an obtuse demeanor — embodied inDwight Frye's interpretation of the role in the1931 film version ofFrankenstein, and by similar characters played byPeter Lorre in subsequent films. Though inspired by the assistant toVictor Frankenstein, inMary Shelley's novel there was no such character, and this role originated instead in an early stage adaptation of the story who also was originally named Fritz.[67] |
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| Immigrant/refugee | A character from a foreign land whose bizarre manners, quirky behavior, and unusual traditions often clash humorously with Western cultural norms. The characters may unintentionally violate socialtaboos or make cultural malapropisms and their struggle with their new language may be a source of comic relief. |
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| Incompetent military officer[31][68] | Usually from a wealthy background, the incompetent hidebound officer is usually senior to the hero — with whom he is often at cross-purposes — and an antagonist in military fiction. The incompetence is depicted either as stemming from a blinkered viewpoint, blind innocence, or fundamental stupidity. There is some overlap withUpper-class twit.[68] |
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| Indian orSouth Asian person | Works as ashopkeeper, talks with a heavy accent and lovesBollywood music. Has a wife who usually wears abindi andsaree, and many kids who work with him in the shop. Has immense pride in his culture and traditions but often bickers with his sons if they behave in a westernised manner or date girls he disapproves of. Is very thrifty and lives in a house (normally above the shop) that still has the wallpaper he pasted on during the 1970s. If he is a Hindu, he will display anidol ofGanesh in his store. Travels byelephant orHindustan Ambassador. |
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| Ingénue | An attractive young woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome who is the romantic object of desire for the hero. |
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| Innocent/ Manchild | A character, often a child (or a child-like adult) who shows moral purity, kindness, and goodness. They may be naive, vulnerable, and afraid of abandonment. Despite having almost all positive traits, they do have some issues; with their sunny outlook, they may be blind to risks or unaware of the ploys of deceitful characters. |
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| Inuit | A native ofGreenland,Siberia,Canada orAlaska. Lives in anigloo, eats raw whaleblubber, wears a sealskinparka, hunts with aharpoon, and travels bykayak orsledge pulled byMalamutes. |
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| This is a culturalstereotype[citation needed] used inIreland to describeIrish mothers of a traditionallymatriarchal style,[71][72] who exhibit traits of over-protection or servitude towards their children or domestic visitors in general, but can also be exacting when needed.[73][74][75][76] | * Bridget (played byJennifer Zamparelli), in the sitcomBridget & Eamon (2016)[77]
| |
| Irish person | During thevaudeville era, the Irish stereotype was developed where it was called "stage Irish". It was an "exaggerated caricature of supposedly Irish characteristics in speech and behavior, which depicted Irish people as "garrulous, boastful, unreliable, hard-drinking, belligerent (though cowardly), and chronically impecunious".[83] In 1920s-era films, Irish characters were "fighters, gangsters, rebels, or priests".[83] In the 1950s, Hollywood films depicted Irish women as an "Irish colleen" with a "feisty independent spirit."[83] In the 1990s and 2000s, a new stereotype emerged: the "Irish male as a romantic ideal", with a soft, "soulful and poetic" demeanor.[83] During that same era, another Irish male stereotype emerged: the balaclava-wearingIRA bomb-maker or fighter, sometimes with an "indecipherable, tongue-twister accent".[83] | All the forms of the exaggerated caricature / stereotype are heavily lampooned and deconstructed in the 1990s television sitcom seriesFather Ted.
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| Italian-American person | Italian-American stereotypes depict men with "over-the-top gaudy couture", an "insatiablelibido that will sooner or later lead toinfidelity", "temper problems", a lifestyle of "vanity and violence", "tough", "uneducated", involved in "illegal activities, like bribery", and having "connections to theMafia". Italian-American women are depicted as "vain, hot-tempered, [and] power-hungry."[84] | Characters in American mafia films and series: Loretta Castorini and her mother, Rose, played by non–Italian AmericansCher andOlympia Dukakis in the 1987 filmMoonstruck portray non-stereotypical characters amongst others that do conform. |
| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Jamaican orAfro-Caribbean person | Is often arude boy in amohair suit or arastafarian withdreadlocks. Usespidgin English slang, eatsgoat curry, smokesganja and lovesreggae. May be an aspiring musician, artist or athlete living in Kingston or London who wants to escape the slums infested withyardies androadmen armed withmachetes. |
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| Janitor/Housekeeper | The caretaker of a school, apartment block, hotel, public building or theatre. Is often black or Hispanic. May have a secret identity such as asuperhero, or a dream to leave his job and become famous. A janitor with good repair skills may be promoted tobuilding superintendent. The female equivalent is the house keeper orcharwoman. |
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| Japanese person | During the 1940s first and second generation Japanese immigrants in America were represented as treacherousfifth columnists, whileImperial Japanese Army troops in the Pacific were depicted as fanatical, deceitful and cruel (as inreal life). From 1945 through the 1960s,Hollywood cinema propagated a racist stereotype depicting Japanese men as a "pint-sized man wearing black-framed spectacles, with protuberant incisors", like the "klutzy photographerMr. Yunioshi inBreakfast at Tiffany's" whereas Japanese women are depicted with the traits of thegeisha: "feminine, subservient, eager and willing to please males". White actors in make-up to try to make them appear asFar East Asian — in what has come to be known as"yellow-facing" — were typically cast in Asian roles until the 1960s. By the 1970s and 1980s, Japanese people started being portrayed as a "fusion of tradition and high tech", with the historical references being toninja andsamurai, which are both "part of the 'mysterious East'" (e.g.Gung Ho[85] (1986)). Depictions of Japanese people also link them tosumo wrestling,kabuki, or eatingsushi.[86] |
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| Jazz Baby/Flapper | In media set during theRoaring Twenties, a youngsocialite who lovescocktail parties and dancing. Has abob cut and wears a very short dress. Is sometimes anamateur detective. A bad girl may be agangster's moll. | |
| Jews | Stereotypes of Jews in literature have changed over the centuries. While there are some sympathetic Jewish characters in fiction, there have been recurrent pejorative and racistanti-Semitic Jewish stereotypes in literature from the Medieval era until the 20th century, often asmisers ormoney lenders. The first generation ofJewish-American authors presented "realistic portrayals" of Jewish immigrants presenting a sympathetic rendering of Jewish characters with proto-Zionist andKaballistic ideas.[87] | Anti-Semitic portrayals:
Jewish characters are portrayed sympathetically:
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| Jewish American Princess | A pejorative stereotype of well-off young women at Jewish "summer camps, Hebrew schools, [and] the suburbs of New Jersey" with a focus on grooming (flat-ironed hair), trendiness, "upmarket loungewear", luxury brands (Neiman Marcus,Filene's, etc.) "entitled dispositions toward luxury", and a liking for ease and comfort. They often engage in "manipulation and acquisitiveness" and they may act spoiled or engage in "pouting, complaining, [and] cajoling."[89] |
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| Jewish mother | A nagging, loud, highly-talkative, overprotective, smothering, and overbearing mother, who persists in interfering in her children's lives long after they have become adults and is excellent at making her children feel guilty for actions that may have caused her to suffer. |
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| Jock | A popular American high school or collegeathlete stereotype who is focused on sports competitions,working out and hook ups withcheerleaders. He tends to be better at physical skills than in the classroom, so he may get theNerd or the wholesomeGirl next door to do his homework. He oftenbullies the nerds and is the boyfriend of theschool diva or head cheerleader. |
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| Judge | Wears apowdered wig, carries agavel and is fond ofsnuff. May be a kindly old man who gives thejuvenile delinquent a second chance, or a sterndisciplinarian who hands out unduly harsh sentences for minor crimes. Often has a prominent chin. May order the local doctor orcoroner to perform anautopsy on a murder victim. InWestern movies thehanging judge is a common supporting character. |
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| Judas/traitor | These characters, named after the Biblical characterJudas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus, are traitors or turncoats who sell out their comrades to the enemy for profit or advancement, or out of spite. |
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A man who is separated from his parents as a very young boy andraised in the wild by animals. Despite isolation from civilization and lack of grasp of language, the jungle boy has an innate sense of civilization and morality and is usually portrayed heroically. See also:Noble savage |
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An adult womanarchetype of a female adventurer,superhero, or even adamsel in distress living in ajungle orrainforest setting. A prehistoric depiction is acave girl. See also:Noble savage |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
A bumbling, incompetent American police officer or squad, named after theKeystone Cops comicsilent film series inspired in good part by theLos Angeles police of the early 20th century, which did not have professional training of recruits until 1916. They show a great deal of action as they pursue a criminal, but they are uncoordinated and the attempt ends in chaos. Modern types may be depicted as lazy, overweight, and with a predilection for donuts. If set in the southern United States, the character is usually also portrayed asracist, corrupt and lacking regard for the rights of whom he is accusing. |
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A nobleknight on aquest for his Lady or who is seeking some object of significant, such as theHoly Grail. He expresses hiscourtly love for his beloved from afar. See also:Youxia |
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| Kuudere | A Japanesemanga andanime character, who is known for displaying a withdrawn or unemotional demeanor concealing a warmer side to their personality, in contrast totsundere andyandere characters. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Latin Lady | SeeDark lady | |
| Latin lover | In addition to the stock elements from theRake character of being a handsome and charming seducer, the Latin Lover stock character added a southern European origin or appearance (darker skin and hair) to add an "exotic" or foreign element for American audiences. He conquers women with a sharp, focused glare and outbursts of passion (orromantic dancing) and he is a fighter for justice or freedom. |
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| Legacy hero | A character thrust, often unwillingly, into the role of a hero through nepotism, sometimes having been previously unaware of their family's legacy. |
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In many forms of popular entertainment, gay men are portrayedstereotypically as promiscuous, flashy, flamboyant, and bold, while lesbians are usually portrayed withcrew cuts,work boots,nose piercings and masculine mannerisms.Transsexuals andcrossdressers are often portrayed negatively in a creepy, mentally unstable villains or campy, ridiculous characters with a crush on the straight male protagonist. Similar to race-, religion-, and class-based caricatures, these stereotypicalstock character representations vilify or make light of marginalized and misunderstood groups.[92] In U.S. television and other media,gay or lesbian characters tend todie or meet an unhappy ending, such as becoming insane, more often than other characters.[93] For feminine lesbian characters, seeLipstick lesbian. For the pejorative gay stereotype (typically used in 1930s), seeSissy. |
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Small humanoid extraterrestrials with often scaly, green skin and sometimes with antennae on their heads. These characters are often associated withbug-eyed monsters / aliens. Inscience fiction fandom, they are also known familiarly as "LGM".[94] |
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A woman disguised as an ugly hag (often cursed), reveals her true beauty when the curse is lifted. The order may also be reversed.Male counterparts also exist such as the Beast fromBeauty and the Beast. |
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| Lolita | A young and attractive teenage girl who is getting into a sexual relationship with a middle-aged man. The teenage girl may be portrayed as "precociously seductive."[95] It originates fromVladimir Nabokov's 1955 novelLolita, which portrays the male narrator'ssexual obsession with and victimization of Dolores, a 12-year-old girl whom he privately calls "Lolita." |
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| Loner | An isolated, alienated person who struggles to connect with people. Their personality may range from benign and withdrawn to embittered and angry, but they tend to seek out solitude. A variant is to depict the person as able to have inconsequential social interaction, but incapable of feeling love or caring — e.g., Meursault inThe Outsider. |
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| Legionary andhoplite | The fearlessancient Greek warrior and disciplinedRoman legionnaire were classicsword and sandal movie protagonists. Characterisation varies from historically authenticpeplum films tofantasy inspired byclassical mythology involving theGreek pantheon,demigods and monsters. |
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| Lord orLady | An upper class character with aBritish aristocracy title. Aduke,marquis orearl often fills the role ofprince charming due to his royal blood. The elegant English lady could be a glamorous heiress or asecret agent.Lords usually live on acountry estate and spend their timehunting orfishing, although some may also be adventurers andexplorers. A Scottishlaird is often aJacobite rebel.Barons are usually greedy and evil. Acount may sometimes be avampire. |
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| Lovers | Alongside thehero, these are probably the oldest of archetypes, dating back to prehistory, occurring time and again in ancient mythologies from around the world. These main characters who fall in deeply love, often despite the blocking effect of other characters (chaperones or family) or events asstar-crossed lovers that are strongly fraternizing with the "enemy". This pair of stock characters appear as theInnamorati in the 16th-century Italian theatre style ofcommedia dell'arte. In the plays, everything revolved around the lovers in some regard.[96] Whilecommedia dell'arte lovers typically overcome all obstacles and are united happily at the end, later dramatic and literary works may have the young lovers face atragic end. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Machiavel[97][98] | An amoral politician who is obsessed with power and willing to commit criminal acts to secure or enhance their position. The Machiavel character typically follows the principles set out byNiccolò Machiavelli'sThe Prince, a guidebook for 16th century rulers. The Machiavel as a villain devises ruthless plots to eliminate rivals and their families and is willing to do anything, including betrayal of allies or murdering noncombatants, to win more power.[99] |
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| Mad scientist | An eccentric or insane scientist, who is often amoral and the villain of the piece or else driven to insanity by their experiments.[2][102] Not all mad scientists are evil, with single-minded obsession with their field of study being mistakenly equated with mania — q.v.boffin. Some intend to be benevolent, but think little of the wider repercussions of their work in society or unintentionally cause an accident due to theirhubristic attempt toplay God in the laboratory. This character trope may well work alone or just have a single stereotyped hunchbacked assistant, often calledIgor. |
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| Magical girl | A youngwitch learning how to use her powers. May be highly competent, or clumsy and ditzy. Often transforms into a secretalter ego to fight evil. If she is in love with the male protagonist she is amagical girlfriend. | |
| Magical Negro | An American stereotype of a black person with special insight or mystical powers, who ends up coming to the aid of the white protagonist. |
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| Magical Native American[103] | A US stereotype of a person ofFirst Nations origin, withshamanistic powers, who typically comes to help a family troubled by disturbed supernatural or evil forces. |
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| Magician orillusionist | Theillusionist is avaudeville performer skilled atsleight of hand. He may start out doing simpleparlor tricks such ascard counting or pulling a rabbit from atop hat, then move on to more spectacularstage magic illusions such asescapology or making a large object disappear. Sometimes he is awizard with real magical powers who uses the party conjurer persona as a cover. |
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| Mailman | A familiar figure who travels by bicycle or van and carries a bag of letters. He may be a cheery character who knows everyone in the neighborhood, and keeps an eye on the community or a grumpy and overworkedmisanthrope. More rarely, they may be violent, angry characters prone togoing postal. |
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SeeCurmudgeon | ||
Male buffoon (Hispanic) | This stereotype is used forcomic relief. The characters' struggle to learn English or control their hot-blooded temper is used as a source of humor.[27] |
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An American stereotype of a rotund, homely, and matronly black woman who has a sunny demeanor and she is devoted to her role as a cook and caregiver. This archetype originated during the era of slavery, and it is considered to be a pejorative racial stereotype. |
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A solitary, rootless nonconformist"[104] orantihero whose extreme moral beliefs have led them to be friendless. Associated withLiterature of New Zealand. |
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| Manic Pixie Dream Girl/loosu ponnu | Usually static young female characters who have eccentric personality quirks and are unabashedly girlish, dreamy, and attractive. They often exist only to serve as a source of inspiration to the male character, and as such, little of their inner life is depicted. The Indian equivalent is theloosu ponnu. |
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| Mary Sue | A (usually female; male characters of the type may be nicknamed a Marty Stu or Gary Stu) character who is exceptionally talented beyond her (or his) training and has very few, if any, character flaws or weaknesses, to the point of absurdity.[105] The term has strong negative connotations and is generally used as an insult; it was originally coined in the 1970s to describe the work of young, amateurfan fiction writers. |
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A masked villain is astock character ingenre fiction that was developed and popularized in movie serials, beginning with The Hooded Terror inThe House of Hate, (1918) the first fully-costumed mystery villain of the movies, and frequently used in the adventurestories ofpulp magazines and sound-eramovie serials in the early twentieth century,[106][107] as well as postmodern horror films.[108] |
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Masochists enjoy feeling pain and being humiliated.Sadists enjoy inflicting pain on their victims and are usuallyserial killers,domestic abusers orsociopathicCEOs. A female sadist will often work as adominatrix. |
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| Master of disguise/enemy agent | A character, often (but not always) a villain, who is capable of disguising himself or herself as multiple other unrecognizable characters. Is often aprofessional thief,hitman or enemy spy. |
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A matchmaker or "marriage broker" is a character who helps single people find a compatible pairing formarriage. In some cultures, the role of the matchmaker is professionalized, so the matchmaker may be compensated with a fee. In other cases, the matchmaker may be a family member, family friend, or member of the clergy. The matchmaker in a story may be altruistic and benevolent, and have noble goals, such helping to find a good love pairing or ensure long-term financial security for someone. On the other hand, some matchmaker characters may have more cunning political or strategic goals, such as securing business influence or affecting the balance of power between aristocratic families. Some matchmakers may be portrayed negatively, as manipulators or meddlers. In someromantic comedies, the matchmaker's planned love pairing for a couple may not work, but the matchmaker may themselves fall in love. A subtype in stories set in Jewish communities is the marriage broker orshadchan. |
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A psychic person who helps the protagonist, or acharlatan who takes advantage of a character's gullbility. Mediums may be depicted using spiritchannelling, includingséance tables,trance, andouija. |
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Also known as the "school diva" or "queen bee" who is an attractive and popular high school girl who uses her status to bully others, primarily the protagonist. She is often the girlfriend of the school's popularjock.[110] |
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In a family setting, usually the second of three children, who is often neglected or disrespected due to their parents (and the overall story) paying more attention to the youngest and oldest siblings. |
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A delivery person roped into a sexual affair with a married customer. Common in pornographic films, the delivery person need not be delivering milk, though this specific type was a common joke when milk delivery was a common profession. Other varieties of this includedwindow cleaners. |
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| Miltonic hero | A romanticized type ofantihero who is both charismatic and wicked. The Miltonic hero resists the instructions of authority figures and feels that moral rules do not apply to them. The name refers to poetJohn Milton. |
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| Minstrel/Uncle Tom | An offensiveblackface stereotype from the 19th century, usually portrayed by a white actor ingreasepaint and an afro wig.Black American minstrels played a stringed instrument such as afiddle orbanjo and wore cast-offdandy clothing |
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Miser / Scrooge | This ancient archetype is a penny-pinching but wealthy boss with apreternaturally aged and dour demeanour, who refuses to spend money and prefers to hoard it. Is often aScotsman. Primarily, the character is now based on the protagonists of Molière'sHarpagon inThe Miser and onEbenezer Scrooge fromA Christmas Carol. The latter's name has entered thelexicon as a shorthand term for this character. Misers range from excessively thrifty, but otherwise benign types, through to avaricious, cold-hearted types who are willing to harm others to gain wealth. |
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A stereotypical portrayal of a character's spouse's mother; frequently abattle-axe and always disapproving of her daughter/son-in-law. There is typically ongoing antagonism between the mother and the character's spouse. |
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An awkward man who is excessively attached to his mother and who continues to act in a childish, submissive fashion even into adulthood. The character is depicted as having an unhealthy dependence on hismother at an age at which he is expected to be self-reliant (e.g. live on his own, earn his own money, be married). The character may be depicted aseffeminate. |
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An experienced guide who knows the mountain like the back of his hand and can be relied upon to lead theexplorers to the summit or rescue lost climbers. Is usually Indian or Swiss. Carries anice axe and hascrampons on his boots. |
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Incomic books andscience fiction, a mutant is a being with newphenotypes that go far beyond what is typically seen in actual biologicalmutants and often result in the mutated life form exhibiting enhanced or evensuperhuman abilities. In theMarvel Comics Universe, they are a persecuted minority who many people fear and hate. |
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Mythological king/good king or queen | A ruler in myth or legend, usually a wise and heroic one. A historically grounded variant is thegood king whose character flaws humanise him and whose courage, generosity and wisdom are virtues for successive rulers to emulate. TheChinese emperor and RomanCaesar is a respected elder who is both a conqueror andphilosopher. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Named after the common (but false) myth regarding ruler and military commanderNapoleon Bonaparte's supposed short height. This is usually comical villain whose short stature drives them to seekworld domination. |
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Former / hidingNazi | A character who is a former Nazi military man, politician, or scientist and is often very clearly German, though attempting to conceal their past, (poorly and may be played comically). Former Nazi characters in places such as theUnited States and theSoviet Union are often rocket scientists or other educated professionals, whereas characters hiding out in South America will usually be officers or political leaders from theThird Reich who are trying to evade justice for their actions duringthe Holocaust. |
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Typically these nameless and characterless dead Nazi soldiers reanimated asundead monsters, who become mindless killing-machine figures and the cannon-fodder for the heroes of horror-themed films and players of video games. Their bodies and uniforms are typically rotting, giving a horrific appearance. |
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InGreek mythology, the king of the sea. A friend to all sailors, but terrifying and merciless when enraged. Has a long white beard, atrident, a crown, and a fish tail. |
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A socially-awkward, obsessive, or overly-intellectual person. They are often interested in doing well in school (academically and in terms of behavior). They tend to dress in unfashionable clothes and behave in a clumsy way. The "geek" character is similar but may be depicted in more negative manner. |
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A young man of wholesome morals, agreeable personality and usually modest means. This character is closely aligned with theboy next-door role. In romantic fiction, he usuallystruggles with finding women willing to date him — since, as the phrase goes, "nice guys finish last" — in idealhappy endings, he finds a more appropriate woman (possibly aManic Pixie Dream Girl) for him than those who rejected him. |
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Singers/crooners and other artistes who specialize invaudeville performances in nightclubs. Nightclub acts are usually portrayed as bottom-of-the-barrel, "has-been" entertainers with limited talent. |
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A ninja (also known as "shinobi") is depicted as mysterious, black-masked Japanese fighter with advanced martial arts andninjutsu skills ininfiltration, assassination anddeception. Ninjas may be depicted as having supernatural abilities such asinvisibility, walking on water, and control over naturalelements. There are manymyths and legends about ninjas in popular culture. | ||
Noble adversary | A villain who poses a legitimate threat but operates with honor and reason. The battle between the protagonist and the noble adversary is driven by different interpretations of justice rather than a clear demarcation of good and evil, and there may be enough common ground between the two for them to collaborate against threats greater than both. |
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An idealized Indigenous person or otherwise "wild" outsider who is uncorrupted by civilization. The character is depicted in a romanticized way as living in a peaceful golden age of primeval happiness. Is often aCossack,Highlander, Africanchieftain, orIndian brave. |
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| Northerners | TheNorth-South divide in England is a popular subject for comedy. The people of theYorkshire Moors aresheep farmers who weargumboots andwaxed jackets, inhabitants of themill towns especially inLancashire wearEnglish clogs and eatgravy on theirfish and chips,Mancunians aremods who wearsheepskin coats and lovenorthern soul,Geordies keepracing pigeons, don't feel the cold and wear T shirts even when it's snowing,Blackpool residents arecarnies orlandlords of seedyboarding houses, andscousers are eithershoplifters intracksuits or dodgyplumbers who urinate in the kitchen sink. |
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| Personifications of thehuman emotions, organisms that live inside thehuman body, or the parts of the brain that control the organs or bodily functions. Usually take the form of tiny human-like technicians operating acontrol centre inside thebrain. Awhite blood cell will take on the role of a cop orwhite knight hunting down monstrousviruses. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Occult detective | A detective who uses traditional techniques to solve supernatural mysteries. The occult detective may have few or no supernatural powers of their own — or, if possessing such powers, little understanding of how to harness them — and instead rely on someone who does, such as a psychic or medium, as a sidekick. |
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| Oddball/Misfit | A kindly but misunderstood character who is feared or avoided by everyone else in town. Is often amad scientist, oldwar veteran, ex-convict,hobo, orgoth girl. May become a reluctant townhero whom the formerly hostiletownspeople idolise. |
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| Old timer /Mountain man | A common supporting character inWestern movies who speaks old fashioned frontier gibberish. Serves as acomic relief sidekick to the hero, especially insinging cowboy movies. Is similar to the Britishcurmudgeon but much friendlier and less misanthropic. Often works as agold prospector,mountain man orarmy scout who can speak the Indians' language. Has a long beard and usually wearsbuckskins with aunion suit andcoonskin cap orslouch hat. Lives in alog cabin in the forest, rides a stubborn oldmule, brews his ownmoonshine and uses ashotgun or an antiquatedlong rifle for hunting and carries aBowie knife. If married, his wife is usually aNative Indian. |
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| Ogre | A fearsome, ill-tempered but stupidgiant humanoid with atreasure hoard, usually acannibal. May possess a magical artefact that the hero must steal. |
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| Orcs andgoblins | A fantasyslave race used ascannon fodder in theDark lord's wars. An orc's rank is determined by his size, skill at arms, cunning, and aggression. In the absence of a Dark lord, the orcs degenerate into primitive and chaotic warbands. The science fiction equivalents are expendablecombat robots,cyborgs andhuman clones. |
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| Orphan | A common protagonist inDickensian novels. They are often astreet urchin orchimney sweep but may find a loving family or foster parents or rise fromrags to riches with help from a kindly benefactor | |
| A pitiful character shunned by society. May be abeggar,LGBT person,prostitute,homeless person,leper,dalit orcriminal onparole. For disabled or disfigured outcasts, seeGrotesque. |
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| An armedrobber, can be a murderous villain dressed in black or a romanticizedfolk hero who robs the rich to feed the poor. In the 19th century bandits were depicted in a romanticised way, often as charismatic and appealing, despite their lawless and violent conduct. Examples include the medievalarcher orbrigand, the 18th centuryhighwayman, and thetrain robbers,bank robbers inWestern movies, and heist crews in modern stories. |
| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
A pantomime portrayal of middle-aged/elderly female characters by male actors indrag of theprincipal boy's mother or other close relative. She often appears as vain, ridiculous, andaccident-prone to provideslapstick entertainment. See alsodrag queen. |
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A pantomime portrayal of theprotagonist, often a prince, as a young heroic male characters by female actors indrag. Further information:Prince Charming |
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Takes care of the local park and the wild animals that live there. Wears a green or tan uniform with acampaign hat. In media set in Africa or America, the heroicpark ranger protects theendangered species from evilpoachers; in comic works, the ranger also keeps the mischievous anthropomorphic animals and park visitors in line. A closely related character is thezoo keeper. |
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An easily irritated villain withcampy mannerisms and a distinctive, whiny, and slightly effeminate voice — named after character actorPaul Lynde, who played numerous roles in this style during the prime of his career during the 1960s and 1970s and adopted by numerous others after Lynde's death in 1982. |
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A Russian kind ofPulcinella-typejester, typically who is mischievous, self-serving, gluttonous, aggressive, and cowardly.[114]: 62 He is usually at the center of conflict in the Petrushka carnival plays, often getting himself out of trouble by killing the other puppets on stage with a swing of his club. |
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InFrench pantomime, a sad clown in a distinctive all-white attire and makeup, often pining for the love ofColumbina, who usually breaks his heart and leaves him forHarlequin. |
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A common antagonist in 70sblaxploitation films involved withprostitution anddrug dealing. Has amoustache,afro hair andgold teeth, usesjive talk, wears afur coat with asatin shirt andgold chain, and drives a decrepit 50s or 60scadillac with leopardskin seats and hideous gold paint job. He is often a rat who passes on information to the cops. A female pimp orbrothelmadam is usually an older, retired ex-prostitute. |
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A romanticized stereotype of high seas pirates of the 18th century. Features may include a blacktricorn hat withskull and crossbones, unkempt facial hair, missing body parts (e.g. eyepatch, peg leg, hook for a hand), adventurous but surly demeanor, and a distinctive accent. Variants on the theme includeair pirates andspace pirates. |
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Indetective stories andpolice procedurals, this can either be the investigating detective or the police officer is the leader of the law enforcement organization. The title often varies by country or region — chief constable, police commissioner, detective inspector, etc. — but they have a similar role, which is to lead the police detectives and uniformed officers and liaises withforensic experts and may be aHolmsianconsulting detective in order to solve a crime or mystery. Police inspectors range from strict "by-the-books" types to those who will "bend" the rules to catch the perpetrator, as they feel "hampered by officialdom" (asInspector Poirot states inThe Patriotic Murders). A subtype is the chief who is aCorrupt cop. |
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A stock character of the 1980s films and television, or in other works set in this era, preppies are students oralumnus ofIvy League schools who haveAmerican upper class speech, vocabulary, dress, mannerisms andetiquette.[115] Like the relatedyuppie stock character of the 1980s, preppies range from benign (albeit materialistic and pretentious), to arrogant or even immoral. In movies set during the 1950s, the antagonistic rich kids are known asSocs,Rahs,Jocks orSquares and usually wearbaseball jackets. |
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A handsome and courageousstock character, who is the romantichero offairy tales who coming to the rescue of adamsel in distress orprincesse lointaine and so must engage in aquest to liberate her from an evilspell. A historical prince may hold anoble title such asArchduke orCount. This archetype is essentially interchangeable across many traditional folk tales — often given no name at all — serving as afoil to the heroine; in many variants, they can be viewed as a metaphor for a reward the heroine achieves for the decisions she makes.[116] |
The princes in: | |
The princesse lointaine role is an idealistic romantic love interest and beloved sweetheart for aknight-errant or aPrince Charming. Usually, a wealthy woman of much higher noble birth, beautiful, and of admirable character. Often far distant from the knight, some having become smitten in love with the princess without seeing her, owing merely to hearing descriptions of her, due to her beauty and virtue. |
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A villainous character who abuses his position of trust at acounty jail, hospital orinsane asylum. Usually talks with asouthern drawl. He will order beatings, torture,solitary confinement, food orsleep deprivation, and sometimesextrajudicial killing of prisoners from thechain gang who show defiance or try to escape. Inwar filmss the Japanese or Naziprison campcommandant will show similar behaviour (see alsoHun). The female equivalent is in charge of anorphanage orhospital ward and is often a sadisticnun ornurse. |
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A wayward adult child as exemplified in theparable ofThe Return of the Prodigal Son. The wayward son has become estranged from their family and gone into exile, where they squander their inheritance on a debauched lifestyle, while their older sibling works hard. Then the estranged adult child suffers a reversal of fortune and ends up doing a low-paid job to make ends meet, which leads them to repenting, and they return home, where the kind, loving father forgives the adult child and welcomes them home with a celebration. The name of the stock character comes from theParable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), in which the young son who has lost his way symbolizes the sinners and tax collectors (see Luke 15:1), the hardworking elder brother symbolizes the self-righteousPharisees, and the kind father symbolizes God. Novels, films and other stories that use the prodigal son stock character may depict a son or a daughter who returns, and rather than have the person who returns be from a family, they may be a member of a school, team, or organization who returns after going through a reversal of fortune. The benevolentfather figure may be a mentor, elder, or leader. |
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A person with mental powers such astelepathy,telekinesis orprophecy. Can be a wizard, superhero or supervillain. When the powers are supernatural in origin, seeMedium. |
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Typically, an old woman who is embittered faded ex-celebrity, usually with psychotic tendencies. |
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Psychotic manchild/ Evilprince | The evil counterpart to the manchild, a narcissistic, impulsive and spoiledtyrant with the mind of a small child. May suffer frommental retardation due to generations ofincestuouscousin marriage and often hasdaddy issues due to being the least favored child. The psychotic manchild is unfit to be king due to his cruelty, selfishness and vanity but nevertheless inherits the throne from his virtuous father or older brother, sometimes as the result ofregicide. Is usually aided in his scheming by a treacherous and manipulativeflunky like thevizier oreunuch who will often be on the receiving end of the evil prince's violent outbursts. Will often be an evil uncle if thegood king left an heir before he died. | |
| A religious fanatic driven by a desire to purge society of sinful influences. In comedy, he is a miserable killjoy who hates Christmas, music and the theatre. In more serious dramas he is aroundhead officer,witch hunter, abusiveslave owner orcolonialist. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Quincy punk | An "establishment showbiz" version ofpunks — dubbed "Quincy punks" after a 1982 episode of the TV seriesQuincy, M.E., about a crime-solving medical examiner, appearing in the episode "Next Stop, Nowhere" that depicted punks asnihilistic "spiky-haired teenagers and flippant young adults" full of "punk rage", who are "cartoonishly naive and short-sighted" thinking with a "rigid ideology and relentlesshopelessness" — shown with "torn clothes,spiked hair, bizarre makeup, and (for some reason) bandanas".[117]Maclean's calls it a "fakeHollywood-ized version of a punk."[118] |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad engineer | The driver of asteam locomotive or otherrailroad engine. Like their maritime equivalent, thesea captain, they tend to be rugged, brave in the face of danger, and highly competent. In children's stories and thrillers set in railroads, the train engineer is usually thehero. | Children's stories:
Other fiction:
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| Rake / bad boy / bounder / cad / libertine / Latin lover | The "tall, dark, and handsome" sharply-dressedByronesque archetype of a roguish and sometimesmacho young, seductive man — orbad boy — who habitually behaves immorally, and especially is a gambler and womanizer. He is suave and confident in demeanor with elegant courtship and dancing skills, typically in thetango seen in the Latin lover. Paradoxically, he shows both tenderness and "sexual danger". He draws the woman into a passionate romance that is doomed due to the pair being enmeshed in an intrigue.[27] In his frequent sexual affairs, he shows manipulativeness and a little concern for the woman's feelings. The archetype is theprodigal son, prior to his redemption on returning home and is the antithesis of theboy next door. If this character's actions tip into criminality, then he is seen definitely as anantagonist oranti-hero. Typically, lovers of this self-destructive character are in the seriously mistaken belief that they can reform him or otherwise are aride-or-die chick — the female equivalent. |
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| Rag and bone man,peddler orscrap dealer | A grubby, penny-pinching character with a dark or mysterious past who runs a scrapyard or sketchyused goods business. They often try to pass off slipshod merchandise or cheat customers and they haggle aggressively. They drive ahorse and cart or decrepitpick-up truck or van. They are often a Londoner,Irish traveller or Eastern European immigrant. The junkyard may be a front for organized crime and the junkyard man may work for the localmafia boss, who uses the car junkyard to conceal or destroy evidence or hide contraband. |
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| Raw recruit | Young, impressionable, and naive, who has to learn how to live with military discipline and understand the reasons behind the way the military works, often ending up in a position of leadership and / or may have a tragic death. |
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| Rebel / maverick | A character who refuses to follow society's rules and conventions, who may simultaneously be aloner orhotshot. |
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| Red herring character | Inmystery novels,detective novels andthrillers, a red herring character is someone who appears suspicious to the sleuth, either because they are behaving evasively or lying, or because they have motivation, means, and/or opportunity to have committed the crime. The red herring character may have a mysterious or shady past that throws suspicion on them or they may be acting strangely. In the end, though, the sleuth realizes that despite the red herring character's seeming potential for being the culprit, they could not have committed the crime. | *InSir Arthur Conan Doyle’sSherlock Holmes story,The Hound of the Baskervilles, the detective finds a number of suspects. The Barrymores seem mysterious and Stapleton seems suspicious, but they are red herring characters who are distracting Holmes from the real culprit.
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| Redneck | A staple character in the 1970s "hixploitation"B movies, appearing asAppalachian or Southern "good old boys" involved in illicitmoonshine operations. Redneck sub-types include the crooked Southern sheriff, the "back-road racer", and truckers.[119] |
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| Redshirts | Minor, expendablecannon fodder characters who are killed soon after being introduced. This term refers to characters from the originalStar Trek television series, from the security or engineering departments of the starship, who wore redStarfleet uniforms. A redshirt who survives may be promoted tomauve shirt and become a recurring background character. |
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A protagonist who is thrust against their will into a heroic role, which overlaps with theeveryman character. |
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| Ride-or-die chick | A woman willing to support her partner and their risky lifestyle, despite how this might endanger or harm her, who may even take an active role as anaccomplice. This character is the female form of therake character and is a variant of thegangster's moll. |
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| Rightful king | A usurped, just ruler whose return or triumph restores peace, who may be as well areluctant hero, reticent to take the throne. |
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| Ringmaster | The owner of atravelling circus. May be an idealistic, flamboyantshowman with ambitions to make it big, ahuckster, or a ruthlesstyrant who exploits the performers and is cruel to the animals. |
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| Robots and androids | A staple ofscience fiction stories that include artificial mechanical beings, which are typicallyautonomousprogrammablemachines including stark functionalrobots, such as anindustrial robot, and more human-like robotic beings with flesh-like bodies such asandroids. These robotic beings have varying levels ofartificial intelligence (AI) orindependent thought, spanning from a narrow range of programmed actions to beings constrained by strict rules, to having a human-likeartificial intelligence beings withfree will. Robotic beings may be depicted with a range of characters — ranging from benevolent, neutral, or aggressivekiller robots — and typically having a vast range of informational knowledge, but littlewisdom as to its application. See alsoArtificial intelligence andCyborg. |
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| Ronin, drifter orgunfighter | A wanderingsamurai who has not sworn fealty to afeudal overlord, similar to theknight-errant frommedieval literature. The lonegunslinger,bounty hunter,mercenary and drifter characters fromspaghetti westerns and post-apocalyptic movies were inspired by these Japaneseantiheroes. |
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| Ruritanians/Austro-Hungarians | Inhabitants of a small and isolated central European or Balkan kingdom formerly part of theAustro-Hungarian Empire. It regularly fights small inconclusive border skirmishes with similar neighbouring kingdoms, with both sides claiming victory. In a modern setting, the Ruritanians still live in the same way as their ancestors in theMiddle Ages. The peasants are superstitious, wear archaicfolk costume such aslederhosen, and distrust outsiders. The country's mainpublic holiday celebrates a battle against theTurks centuries ago that led to the kingdom's independence. The palacecourtiers wearpowdered wigs, houses are lit bycandles ortorches, the capital city has only oneold fashionedpayphone, trains are still hauled bysteam locomotives, the army hasox-drawnmuzzle loadingcannons and horsecavalry armed withlances, the navy comprises a few smallrowing boats and onepaddle steamer converted into ariver gunboat, and theair force consists ofbiplanes. Theautocratic ruler has a grandiose title such asking,crown prince orarchduke, lives in an ancientcastle last renovated during thebaroque era, collects British and Germanluxury cars, and always wears a flashyhussar uniform. He is generally eccentric but benevolent likeKing Zog ofAlbania orNicholas I of Montenegro, althoughtyrants also exist (see Evil Prince). |
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| Russian | Acommunist with a furushanka and striped T-shirt who lovesvodka,chess andbare knuckle fighting. Drives aLada Riva, plays thebalalaika and often has a petwolfdog orbear. His female counterpart may be abutch lesbian or a seductive, dark hairedfemme fatale. |
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| "Runyonesque" characters | Characters with colorful monikers, who use equally colorful street slang, appearing in short stories by US author and sports writer,Damon Runyon, which depicts aProhibition era underworld populated by New Yorkers from Brooklyn or Midtown Manhattan —gamblers, bookies, boxers, hustlers, actors, and gangsters — few of whom go by"square" names, preferring creative nicknames. ["Runyonesque" refers to the type of situations and dialog that Runyon depicted,[120]] |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Claus and other holiday characters | The jolly big man with the beard, red suit and sack of gifts makes regular appearances inholiday-themed movies and other fictional works. A more recent variant has an imposter impersonating Santa, either in a good faith effort to deliver presents, or with the intention of ruining Christmas. Other Christmas holiday characters include Mrs Claus, elves who assist Santa and magical Reindeer. |
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| Scapegoat | The character made to be responsible for the ills or shortcomings in a group or the person who is held responsible for what has gone wrong and has to face justice (seethe fall guy). In a family or similarly close-knit group, a "scapegoat" is another name for a "whipping boy", the person to blame for anything that goes wrong, thus allowing the favoredgolden child free rein. |
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| Schoolmarm[121] | Typically, a teacher in a 19th-centuryMid-West frontier town or settlement with a wholesome, virginal demeanor, modest dress, and good education — representing civilization — in order to distinguish her from the otherWestern female stereotypes, especiallywhores at the brothel or "dance hall girls" at the saloon (the latter is a bowdlerized version to placate censors). Young and pretty teachers are often the love interest for the hero, whereas older teachers, who tend to bespinsters, are strict disciplinarians. |
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| Schoolmaster | The male counterpart to the above. Usually wears abowtie andtweed cloth jacket with leather elbow patches. Can be a by-the-book disciplinarian, an inspiring and respectedrole model or a laid-backslacker. Thegym teacher is usually a formerjock who peaked in high school and still thinks he's 17. |
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| Scribe,news reporter andresearcher | A studious character who chronicles the hero's adventures or reads through old maps and ancient documents to rediscover a lost treasure or uncover aconspiracy. Usually wears glasses. May be a youthfulbookworm or an oldprofessor. Sometimes serves as thenarrator. Variants include thejournalist,historian,archivist,secretary,librarian, andtreasure hunter. | |
| Scotsman | A red hairedmiser who wears akilt andTam O'Shanter, wields aclaymore, plays thebagpipes, and survives onporridge,haggis oroat cakes washed down with a bottle ofScotch whisky. The default personality ofdwarves infantasy literature. Is often anarmy officer,money lender,physician orcivil engineer. Scots fromGlasgow are often vicious streethoodlums orNeds whoheadbutt and slash each other withstraight razors. |
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| Secret agent/G-Man | A glamorous British or American agent from theCold War era investigating internationalcrime syndicates and Russianspy rings. A 21st century G-man or intelligence agent may also foilterrorist plots ororganized crime rings. Men usually wear atrench coat, grey suit andfedora, or a tailoredtuxedo in a more formal setting. Female agents are beautiful and elegantly dressed usually in acocktail dress,catsuit, orminiskirt. An agent who reaches retirement age or receives adishonorable discharge usually becomes aprivate dick. Is often a highly skilledcompetent man who can pilot any boat or plane, use any weapon, and speak multiple languages. | Male agents:
Female agents:
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| Senex amans | This stock character in medieval romances and classical comedies is an old, ugly man who is married to a pretty young woman. The senex amans, which is Latin for "ancient lover", is depicted as having wrinkles, greying hair, and struggling with impotence. He is oftencuckolded by a good-looking young man who charms the young wife. |
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| Senex iratus | Afather figure and comic archetype who belongs to thealazon or impostor group in theater, manifesting himself through his rages and threats, his obsessions and his gullibility. |
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| Sexy mother | An attractive middle-aged woman who has an open and active sex life, mostly with younger men (see:MILF orcougar). If she is a glamorous, successful woman with grey hair, she may be asilver vixen. A similar term for elderly-aged women is known as "Sexy grandma" or "GILF". A younger mother may be referred to as aYummy mummy. |
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| Sexy dad | A charismatic and attractive middle-aged man, either a literal father or afather figure, who is depicted as being attractive to younger women. There is overlap with the "silver fox" stock character for characters with grey or greying hair. Sometimes also called "hot dad", this is the male counterpart of "sexy mother" — see:DILF orsugar daddy. |
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Also known as awitch doctor,fakir ordruid. May wear amask or feathered head dress. Can be either a respectedtribal elder andhealer who aids the hero, or a dangerouscharlatanquack doctor who partakes inhuman sacrifice andcannibalism. In modern times, he is often avoodoo priest or evilcult leader. |
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| Sheriff | The brave, skilledgunfighter who upholds the law and protects the innocent was a recurrent protagonist ofWestern movies. Variants include theUS Marshal andTexas Ranger. A more kid-friendly version is thesinging cowboy who brings order and decency to a lawless town then leaves at the end to seek further adventures. The modern equivalent in police shows and neo-Westerns is the maverick "cowboy cop", often transferred from a small-town precinct, who cleans up the gang-infested city and exposes corruption in the police department. |
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| Ship's captain or sea captain | The ship captain is typically a rugged, confident leader who is cool under pressure and who has a wide-ranging competency in maritime matters through to an obsessive, authoritarianmartinet. Whether they command a wooden or iron-hulled ship or a naval vessel, they inspire respect, or in some cases fear, from their subordinates. They are often depicted with a weathered or sunburned face, a beard (or stubble), a peaked officer's hat, sweater, and a blue wool navy pea coat and they may smoke a pipe. They range from honorable, law-abiding figures who insist on strict discipline to more ambiguous characters–often with a "salty" vocabulary–such as thetramp steamer captain orsmuggling vessel captain, both of who tend to have a mysterious past and who are practiced in deception.Pirate captain, submarine captain and, in science fiction, spaceship captain, are variants. | Maritime captains:
Spaceship captains:
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| Shonen manga hero | A simple-minded yet spirited and friendly hero eager to face any challenge and prove his/her strength. | |
| Shonen manga rival | A stoic loner who serves as afoil to the hero. | |
A woman given to scolding and particularly nagging treatment of idolent and feckless men, with the application of occasional violence, typically of pots and pans being thrown in exasperation. Also called a harridan or virago. Further information:Virago |
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| Sheikh | The Middle Eastern equivalent toPrince Charming. If young, he is frequently the charming, handsome love interest for the white heroine. If older, he is a generous host and a wise, benevolent ruler who protects his subjects and swiftly punishes criminals and marauders. They are often depicted inflowing ankle-length robes with a checkered scarf draped over the head and secured with a cord. |
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| Sidekick | A loyal companion to the protagonist (or antagonist) who may also be the best friend, love interest, or partner in crime. |
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| Silver fox / Silver vixen | These are older characters, typically in their 50s or older, with grey, white, or "salt and pepper" hair who is depicted as attractive, glamorous, and charming. While they no longer have a youthful appearance, they still have sex appeal due to their confidence, sophistication, and sense of style. Silver foxes may be depicted as suave and debonair. Silver vixens may be depicted as elegant and cosmopolitan. They are often successful professionals or leaders, which adds to their appeal, including to characters who are younger than them. There is some overlap withSexy dad andSexy mom stock characters. | Silver foxes:
Silver vixens:
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| Sinnekins | Pairs of devilish, impish characters who exert their perfidious influence on the main character and are a staple of Disney animated films. |
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| Sissy | In the 1930s, the "sissy" or "pansy" was a pejorative stereotype used as one of the earliest gay stock characters in Hollywood films. "Sissy" characters had an "...extremely effeminate boulevardier type sporting lipstick, rouge, a trim mustache and hairstyle, and an equally trim suit, incomplete without a boutonniere."[122] Filmmakers used the characters to elicit a "quick laugh", and they never had any character depth. These roles "...cemented the gross stereotypes of gay men that are still seen today."[122] |
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Theskater boy is a rebel orbad boy who wearsbaggy pants, a plaid shirt andChucks orVans. Talks like a Californiasurfer orhippie. The girl on rollerskates may be love interest, partygoer at a 70sdisco orbubblegum chewingwaitress orcar hop at adrive-throughdiner. |
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Sleazy lawyer | A staple of American drama from the early 20th century, becoming regulars infilm noir, corrupt attorneys use technicalities to get obviously guilty, but wealthy and well-paying, clients acquitted. Sleazy lawyers are driven by a mixture of desiring wealth and a ruthless, competitive desire to win at all costs. They are masters at manipulating witnesses, district attorneys, and judges to ensure they win. They range from lawyers who work within the law, bygaming the system or findingloopholes, to those who break the law by destroying evidence or intimidating witnesses. |
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Sleazy politician | An elected official who is embroiled in corruption and scandals such as taking bribes, using secretslush funds, embezzling money, or engaging in affairs with staff (or othersexual misconduct). They may be hypocrites, who speak out against crime, while using illegal drugs and hanging out in brothels. |
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| Slow burn | A character who begins as calm and collected, but increasingly becomes more angry and exasperated as the childish antics of those around them escalate. | |
A variant of thepirate archetype who uses his ship to smuggle contraband such as alcohol, gemstones, drugs or weapons. During thegreat depression era he is abootlegger who transports liquor by boat or by road. A modern-day smuggler is often atruck driver who has a longstanding beef with the localrednecksheriff. In science fiction, he has a mixed spaceship crew of humans and aliens and will often conceal illegal items insecret compartments within his spaceship. An evil smuggler will use false lights todeliberately cause shipwrecks and steal the cargo. |
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A lone lead female character in an otherwise all-male cast, named after the comic characterSmurfette fromThe Smurfs. Often portrays exaggerated feminine traits. |
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A female character who is vain, girlish, mischievous, lighthearted, coquettish, and gossipy. The role of the soubrette is often to help two young lovers overcome the blocking agents, e.g. chaperones or parents, that stand in the way of their blossoming romance. |
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A farmer,big game hunter,mercenary orgold miner who goes to church every Sunday, loves grilling meat, and thrashes his kids with a belt for minor infractions such as forgetting to read the Bible. Takes great offence at being mistaken for a Dutchman. Often has aneckbeard similar toPaul Kruger. If he is a villain, he will have ashaved head and supportapartheid andwhite supremacism. |
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An elegant, beautiful young woman of the American Old South's upper class. She speaks with a Southern accent and is flirtatious. There is a good, wholesome variant and a vain, darker version. |
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| Spear carrier | A minor character who appears in several scenes, but mostly in the background roles. The term is a reference to minor characters in old plays set in Roman eras who would literally carry a spear as they played guard characters. |
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Starving artist | An impoverished painter, jazz musician,singer,screenwriter, ornovelist who is so dedicated to their artistic vision, that they refuse tosell out and do commercial art (or pop music, or mainstream feature films, etc.). They live in an attic orcouch surf, dress shabbily, and struggle to put food on the table. The depiction ranges from a romanticized,rose-tinted glasses portrait of libertine,absinthe-sippingbohemians to a grittysocial realist examination of the artist'simpoverished existence. A starving artist may also be atroubled artist. |
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A sidekick to a funny person who makes his partner look all the more ridiculous by being completely serious — not to be confused withheterosexual man |
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Strong man/ brute | A large, physically powerful man who often serves assecond in command orbodyguard to thevillain. May be a nightclubbouncer,Bond villain,heel wrestler orcareer criminal. Usually has facial hair,tattoos and Russian or German accent. His good counterpart is the gentle giant. |
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A demon that appears in the form of an alluring female lover. The male version of a demon-lover is anincubus. For another type of alluring, yet dangerous, female character, seeFemme fatal. |
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| Superhero | A noble, brave being with extraordinary powers who dedicates their life to defending the general public.[2] Many superhero figures are a secret alter-ego personality of a "normal" person, e.g. Clark Kent/Superman, Bruce Wayne/Batman | |
In 19th century Russian literature, a dashing young aristocrat or landowner who is bored from his privileged life, and who distracts himself from his sense ofennui by engaging in intrigues, casual affairs,duels, gambling, and drinking. He is selfish and manipulative, and cares little about others or broader issues in society. |
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A type of heavily armed, futuristic soldier or marine who operates beyond human limits or abilities with enhanced abilities may come from extensive training,mechanical implants, or superpowers. They may usebody armor, powered armor, and advanced weapons with some types of enhancements. In some stories, this soldier may operate in outer space or on extraterrestrial planets and can be deployed by orbital dropships, a science fiction version of paratroop deployment. See also:Cyborg |
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Thearchenemy to thesuperhero, the supervillain is a sinister being who plots crimes against society. Theirorigin story, which explains why they turned evil, is important to their character. | ||
A spaced out,marijuana-loving Californian surfer who wisecracks their way through life and uses youthful slang. Despite their lack of a job or fixed address, they have a happy-go-lucky demeanor. See alsohippie. |
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An exuberant and boastful swordsman of theRenaissance orBaroque era. He is chivalrous, courageous, and skilled in sword fighting and acrobatics as he seeks prevent the stratagems of the villain. May be a French royalmusketeer,English Civil Warcavalier, gentlemanhighwayman, or Elizabethanprivateer. In cinema, this character is popularly associated with theGolden Age of Piracy films. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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| Talking tree/Ent | An ancient and wise plant-based organism with the ability to move independently and converse with humans. It closely resembles the trees it protects. Is usually benevolent and slow to anger, but will attack anyone who threatens its forest home. |
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| Terrorist | An extremistbomber,kidnapper ormass shooter who tries to raise awareness of their ideology or cause political change by committing atrocities. Is usually ananarchist,revolutionary,Irish republican, radicalIslamist orwhite supremacist. Terrorist leader or mastermind characters may be well-educated members of a high social class (seeCultured villain). |
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| Theatre kid | A teen or young adultactor, usually a student, who openly displays a talent or passion forperformance.[125] Common traits associated with the stereotype include obsession with or devotion to school plays,[126] the tendency to spontaneously perform or quote lyrics in everyday social situations,[127][128] a personal obsession with musicals,[128]sexual heterodoxy,[129] and not fitting in well with the rest of society.[129] | The casts ofGlee andHigh School Musical |
| Thug | A henchman organg member who commits violent crimes. In US films and television dramas, a subtype is the "black thug", which depictsAfrican American men as "drug dealers,pimps,con-artists and other ... criminals". A criticism of this stock character is that the "disproportionate amount of black people playing criminals in Hollywood fuels theracial stereotype that black men are dangerous and drawn to illicit activities."[18] |
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| Astereotype of East Asian mothers who relentlessly push their children to achieve success. Tiger moms set the highest standards and insist that their children strive for top marks so they can get into the best schools. In US TV and movies, thisethnic stereotype depicts East Asians as a "model minority". |
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| A character with no distinguishing characteristics whose sole purpose is to provide nominal diversity to the cast. In 1980s TV shows, screenwriters introduced the "African-American workplace pal" stock character as a way to add a Black character in a secondary role.[130] |
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| A girl or young woman with boyish or manly behavior. Sometimes wears clothes associated with men. | ||
| A painter, sculptor, composer or other creator frustrated with their artistic challenges, or with being misunderstood. They may have mental health issues or addiction, and they are hard to be around due to their narcissism and frustration. In horror films, their artwork may be cursed and bring misfortune to anyone who possesses it |
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| A male in a small town who is intoxicated more often than sober. They often have a good heart and may end up helping the protagonist with advice. He can also be a street hobo. The town drunk is frequently depicted in a humorous light ascomic relief, playing a harmless and lovable character whose social failings stem from their excessive consumption ofalcohol. However, some portrayals can be more nuanced, exploring the social and personal costs associated withalcoholism. |
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Town hero | A good-hearted person who supports their town in the face of challenges or bravely defends it from threats. InWestern films he is often asheriff. |
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Town villain | An influential or powerful person in a town who puts their own interests, typically profit or power, above those of the townsfolk. They are often a sleazy mayor, a corrupt cop, a greedy business leader or head of acriminal gang. |
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| A hero with a flaw, mistake, or misconception (hamartia) that leads to their eventual death and downfall. Historically, they were the main character in a Greek or Roman tragedy. The flaw often arises due to the character'shubris. Despite the character's flaw, the audience usually finds them to be admirable or appealing at a broader level, which increases the dramatic impact of their downfall. | ||
| Amulatto who is sad or suicidal because they fail to fit in withwhite orblack people. The tragicmestizo has a similar clash with whites andNative Americans. |
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| Inmythology and the study offolklore andreligion, a trickster is a character in a story (god,goddess, spirit,human oranthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree ofintellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwise disobey normal rules and defy conventional behavior. Tricksters, asarchetypal characters, appear in the myths of many different cultures. They are "boundary-crossers"[131] who break physical and societal rules, "playfully disrupting normal life and then re-establishing it on a new basis."[132] Often, this bending and breaking of rules takes the form of cunning deception and thievery. As well, there are manytricksters in folktale and mythology. |
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| A cunning individual, of a lower social class than the heroes (originally bound inslavery), who facilitates the story's completion in exchange for improvement of his lot. |
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| A maverick rebel andantihero who smuggles drugs or alcohol, the modern successor to thecowboy anddrifter characters fromspaghetti Westerns. Often owes money to aloan shark or has a longstanding feud with a small-townsheriff. Drives asemi-truck with pictures ofpin-up girls in the cab, chews tobacco, has a beard or moustache, drinks cold beer straight from the bottle or can, and wears a meshtrucker cap withcowboy boots and an oversizedbelt buckle. Is single by choice, but sometimes he is adivorcee orwidower. |
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| Tsundere | In Japaneseanime andmanga, a character who is initially harsh (and sometimes even hostile;tsuntsun in Japanese) before gradually showing a warmer, friendlier side (deredere) over time. Similar in temperament to the curmudgeon, but usually young and female. | |
| Turks | TheOttoman Empire is remembered as a sophisticated but decadent and warlike civilisation that seeks to conquerChristendom. In media set during theearly modern period, only the walled city ofVienna or theCossack tribes of theUkraine stand in the way of the Sultan's forces. The stereotypical Turk smokes ahookah, carries ascimitar, drinkscoffee, has a big belly from eatingdoner kebabs andturkish delight, possesses an elaborate carpetwhich may or may not fly, and wears afez, pointedslippers with curled toes, and baggypajama pants held up with asash. |
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| Tumblr Sexyman | A character who typically combines characteristics of the "theatre kid" and the "bad boy", developing a highly vocal following onsocial media as a result. |
| Character type | Description | Examples |
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A perfect — though usually, only seemingly — human being. |
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A common figure inhorror films andwestern movies responsible for preparing the deceased for burial, making coffins and digging graves. Is tall, thin and wears black suits. May be accompanied by acrow,owl orbat. |
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A character who is frequently referenced in the script of a production but never seen. In stage, film and television, they may be indirectly present through hearing their voice offscreen (such asCarlton the Doorman), or from afirst-person perspective as the cameraman, answeringquestions addressed to them by bobbing the camera up and down to nod or left and right to say no (as with Vern in theErnest P. Worrell series). Unseen characters may become seen near the end of a series. |
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Upper class twit / aristocratic twit | A wealthy, pampered person from ahigh or aristocratic social class who is affable, good-natured, and dim-witted. While their life of privilege may have given them an expensive and extensive education — with a smattering of pretentious classical references and foreign phrases — they have been so sheltered from everyday life by their retinue of servants and advisors that they often misjudge or misunderstand everyday situations when left to their own devices. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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A teenage girl from theSan Fernando Valley with a distinctive accent and emphasis on superficial traits. She is typically amaterialistic upper-middle-class young woman.[134] The term in later years became more broadly applied to any female in the United States who embodiedditziness,airheadedness, or greater interest inconspicuous consumption than intellectual or personal accomplishment.[135] |
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A woman with dark hair, usually seen wearing jet black dresses, and having a macabre sense of humor. A Gothic variant of thefemme fatale, based on the vampire stereotype (below). |
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Dating from Middle EasternSemitic andGreek mythology, a vampire is amythical creature that subsists by feeding on thevital essence — generally in the form of blood — of the living. Initially depicted as just female, from the 20th century male vampires came to dominate, typically depicted as exhibiting an aversion to sunlight, having a gaunt and paleimmortal complexion, with dark swept-back hair in awidow's peak and noticeable fangs, along with a charismatic, suave elegance that makes them attractive to women. Female vampires are depicted similarly — see the "vamp" (above) — as literally very seductivefemme fatales. | In mythology: In novels:
On film:
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This is a category of aged, male characters from Italiancommedia dell'arte theatre. They are overwhelmingly the ill-temperedantagonists, opposing the blossoming romance of the young noble lovers, theinnamorati. The comic ending is produced when theZanni (servants) manage to overcome the Veccio's blocking and unite the lovers. |
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The archetypal character of Vice is anallegorical evil part in medievalmorality andpassion plays. This can be a representation of one of the seven cardinal ordeadly sins or a more general portrayal ofevil as thetempter of man. Vice often takes the audience into complicity by revealing its evil plans, often through briefasides, longersoliloquies, ormonologues.[140] Its enacting is frequently comic orabsurd. |
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A person known locally for ignorance or stupidity; this character often turns out to be brave and sweet, and is sometimes underestimated — see also theyokel and thewise fool stereotypes. |
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Anantagonist appearing as anevil, "cruellymalicious person who is involved in or devoted towickedness or crime. This character constitutes an importantevilagency in the plot".[141] Theantonym of a villain is ahero, for whom the villain's structural purpose is to serve as the opposition of this character and their evil actions and motives behind them drive a plot along.[142] In contrast to the hero, who is defined by feats of ingenuity andbravery in the pursuit ofjustice and the greater good, a villain is often defined by their acts of selfishness, evilness, arrogance, cruelty, and cunning, in displayingimmoral behavior that can oppose or pervertjustice —the ends justify the means. An arch-villain / arch-enemy / arch-foe is a persistent, indefatigable, and undefeatablevillain — equal to or better than the hero orsuperhero in skill and power — who thwarts all attacks and sometimes evenreappears even after being killed, (particularly in comic books). The arch-villain is sometimes referred to as arch-nemesis, but should not be confused withNemesis.[143] The villain can also appear as anantihero. Further information:Archenemy | Arch-villains include:
See also:Lists of villains |
| Character type | Description | Examples |
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Typically, a formersoldier who leaves home a naïve young man, experiences the horrors of war, and then returns home embittered and deranged — suffering frompost-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological problems often havingflashbacks andnightmares about the war — unable to adjust to his post-war civil and daily life. This character therefore has family problems with an unhappy spouse or partner and his children due to violent emotional outbursts. This stereotype can be seen in most US action and drama films. A war veteran who stays in the army after the war or re-enlists at the outbreak of the next big conflict will usually be promoted tosergeant. A late 20th century variant is the bitterVietnam vet, a combatant in theVietnam War. Because of the atrocities they witnessed and disrespect on their return from domestic anti-war protesters, they are fragile and unstable. Similar cases can be seen with combatants from theKorean War and the World Wars, with the latest being from theIraq War andAfghanistan War. |
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Wealthy Southern aristocrat | A usually male character who is well-dressed, well-educated, wealthy, arrogant, and haughty yet still has a healthy sense of humor. Despite his elegant demeanor, he likely holds racist and sexist views associated withSouthern chivalry, and he may overly imbibemint juleps and finewhiskey. |
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Taffy, the stereotypical Welshman, is lazy, hard-drinking and stubborn and believes he is descended fromKing Arthur. At the same time, inwar films, Welsh fighters can be courageous and persistent and make inspirational leaders. In comedy he works in acoal mine or farms (or is on thedole), lovescheese and pints ofbeer, sings in achoir, plays or watchesrugby and lusts after the farmer'ssheep. The Welsh have a long history ofantagonism with England. |
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A monstrous, devilishcanid sometimes capable ofshapeshifting. The werewolf curse is transmitted by biting, likerabies. | ||
Whisky priest | A priest or ordained minister who shows clear signs of moral weakness, either due to alcohol use, having a mistress, or doing other forbidden activities, while at the same time teaching a higher standard and showing courage and moral resolve on a broader level. The stock character name was coined byGraham Greene to describe the renegade priest inThe Power and the Glory (1940). |
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White friend | In US fiction centered around a group or family of blacks or other people of color, the white friend is an exaggerated parody ofstereotypes of white Americans, including having awkwardness around people of color, an inability to dance, and being an all-around "square". |
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Khaki-clad andpith-helmeted Caucasianbig-game hunters or safari leaders in Africa, used to illustrate the Imperial mindset of the colonial era. | ||
A western white, person — almost always a man — who saves an indigenous population from an external threat. Is often amissionary,explorer or adventurer.[146] |
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Wimp | A mild-mannered, ineffectual, and weak-willed character, who often is easily manipulated and not well-liked. |
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A simpleton or a person who seems like an idiot, who may speak inarticulate nonsense in one moment, only to later show wisdom. The fool's mocking humour shows his ability to understand events or speak blunt truths to a leader. |
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An elderly and wise man who serves as mentor / father figure to the protagonist. In fantasy, typically he may also be awizard. |
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A user of magic, usually a woman, who can appear as neither wholly benevolent nor malevolent.[147][148] Often depicted as wizened, withered old hag — sometimes afairy ordeity — occasionally benevolent of cruel, malicious, malevolent nature, though can also be mysterious and alluring young woman or could take any appearance withshapeshifting magic, but sometimes chooses the appearance of such an old woman in the first instance of meeting. The character is found extensively throughoutmythology,folklore, and children's tales, often in groups orcovens of three. The ancient magicaltriumvirate of the maiden, mother, and crone is linked directly to the key stages of women's lives and their development of their roles in society.[149][150][151] The words witch and hag can also be usedsynonymously.[147][148][152] |
See also:List of fictional witches |
| Character type | Description | Examples |
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An unsophisticated country person whose rural accent, lack of formal education, and coarse manners are used forcomic relief — see also"village idiot". Often talks with aWest Country orSouthern accent, plays thebanjo, wearsdungarees andwellington boots, has missing teeth, and smokes acorncob pipe. |
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The underestimated youngest child in a family of many children, usually all of the same gender. Often portrayed as the most childlike of the children due to their youth; though, in aplot twist, this character may be portrayed as comically sinister. In a continuing live-action series, they may be effectively succeeded by the even younger "Cousin Oliver". |
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They are type of ancient Chinesewarriorfolk hero who defend the weak, celebrated inclassical Chinese poetry and fictional literature. Most often depicted as swash-buckling wandering adventurers orknight-errants of China going back to the endWarring States period and the foundation of theQin dynasty of the 3rd century BCE through to period of the Ming→Quing dynasties transition in the 17th century. |
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A young, urban professional of the 1980s and early 1990s — typically anadvertising executive, corporate businessperson,investment banker,stock broker,corporate lawyer, or similar — who is driven by their goals of achieving wealth, career success, and the status symbols that come with these, to the exclusion of all else. They have a love of materialism and exclusivity associated with success in afree-market economy of theneo-liberal politics driven by theRonald Reagan andMargaret Thatcher governments. They measure their lives by their luxury car (aBMW orSaab), their house in a trendy downtown neighborhood, dressing in designer clothes, and eating at exclusive restaurants. They have no time for any family life. Usually, they are depicted as immoral and villainous profiteers or for satirical purposes, may be benign swept up in forces beyond their control. |
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| Character type | Description | Examples |
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Servant characters incommedia dell'arte. Zanni were of two distinct types: one is an astute, cunning servant and the other is a silly, stupid servant. They were called First Zanni and Second Zanni.Mezzetino andBrighella are examples of the First Zanni;Arlecchino andPulcinella are examples of the Second Zanni. The Second Zanni provides comic relief. The Zanni also help the young lovers to overcome the blocking efforts of theVeccio, or elderly male characters. |
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A type of undead creature that appears across various media, typically appearing as a mindless destructive horde. It is a mythologicalundeadcorporealrevenant created through the reanimation of acorpse. The term comes fromHaitian folklore, in which azombie is a dead body reanimated through various methods, most commonlymagical practices in religions likeVodou. Variants include themummy,ghoul,wendigo,lich, andskeleton. In modern popular culture, zombies are most commonly found in horror and fantasy genre works. Modern media depictions of the reanimation of the dead often do not involve magic but rather science fictional methods such ascarriers,fungi, radiation,mental diseases,vectors,pathogens,parasites, scientific accidents, etc.[154][155] |
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{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Mary Shelley'sFrankenstein was adapted for the stage many times, and the first of these interpretations was Richard Brinsley Peake'sPresumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein (1823), which dramatized key scenes from the novel and added Frankenstein's assistant, Fritz, to the mix.
In Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel, Lolita, the character Lolita is a child who is sexually victimized by the book's narrator. The word "Lolita" has strayed from its original referent, however, and has settled into the language as a term we define as 'a precociously seductive girl.'...The definition of Lolita reflects the fact that the word is used in contemporary writing without connotations of victimization.