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| HEART BEAT ARTICLES by ANN DURAND DECEMBER 2005 |
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In the last issue of Heart Beat, I presented eight male hero archetypes that readers may
find not only in romance fiction, but in all genres, including science fiction and horror. We
looked at the eight types and discussed their characteristics. If you haven’t read the article
yet and are curious, here’s the link: http://themusemarquee.tripod.com/id80.html
In this issue, we will look at the eight female heroine archetypes that are also used in all
genres. According to Caro LaFever who wrote about them in Heroes and Heroines, 16
Master Archetypes, the heroines are discussed far less among romance authors than the
heroes, even though the role they play is an equal one. Maybe that’s because when it
comes to romance, women comprise the majority of readers, and of course, women love
talking about men. It’s the reason they read the books. They want to identify with the
heroine so they can focus on the hero.
No love story exists without the heroine however, and identification by the reader is not
possible without a complete characterization of the heroine. We will look at the eight major
types here as outlined by Caro LaFever, and will discuss how the sparks can fly between
the eight female types as they interact with the eight male types in the following issue.
Readers will be prompted to create some of their own combinations and results, so
please return for the next installment!
Here are the eight female types:
The Winner
She doesn’t like to lose and is highly competitive. She is confident, perhaps even
arrogant, and is single-minded about achieving her rewards. And she does achieve them,
in part because she will walk right over anyone in her way. She may have struggled to get
where she is, or it might always have been easy for her, but whatever her method, she’s
used to being on top. Since she’s willing to do what it takes to get there and stay there,
she’s a hard worker, maybe even a workaholic. And she’s often just as demanding of her
co-workers and subordinates. Think of Murphy Brown as Candace Bergren, Cate
Blanchette as Queen Elizabeth. If you read Nora Roberts, Rosalind Harper in Blue Dahlia
plays a Winner. In a caricatured way, you’ll also find them in many “tough lady” roles played
by Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry in Catwoman, and Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. To some
extent, Melanie Griffith played the role in working Girl. In the contemporary world, this
heroine will likely be a CEO or the president of a company. Whatever organization she is
involved in, she will likely be heading up the group.
The Sultry Temptress
She sashays into a room, blinking through thick lashes at the men and ignoring the
women. She tends not to worry about who she offends, as long as she gets what she
wants. Perhaps surprisingly, she is extremely insecure and cynical; her faith in the
goodness of mankind having been crushed early on. She resorts to flirtations as a survival
technique, and attempts to manipulate every man who crosses her path. Her unpopular
stance brings her close to being a villainess, yet when her vulnerability is exposed, she
can become a respected character in readers’ eyes. Her intelligence, wit, and ability to
land on her feet also serve as admirable traits. Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct played a
classis seductress as did Vivian Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara. In today’s world, you might find
her working as a model, an actress or in any capacity where she can exploit her charms.
The Plucky Lass
Everyone loves her; she makes friends easily and stays loyal, but not in a plodding way.
She’s adventurous and spirited with loads of talent and wit. She’s a hard worker, but not
because she needs to win; she’s more interested in doing a great job just because she
wants to. You won’t find her climbing the corporate ladder, more likely she’ll own that
charming little gift shop on the corner, or she’ll find and independent niche as a journalist
or a caterer. Whatever she does, it will likely involve creativity and a lot of interaction with
people, because that’s what she does well. She has a lot of spunk and guts. Mary Tyler
Moore played the Plucky Lass as Mary Richards, and Minnie Driver played her in Good
Will Hunting. You’ll find her in While You Were Sleeping in Sandra Bullock’s characters,
and Meg Ryan portrays a Plucky Lass in When Harry Met Sally. You can read about a
classic Plucky Lass in Nora Roberts’ Hidden Riches as Dora Conroy.
The Hippie Child
She doesn’t make plans well, but she’ll be a hit at your party. Fun and spontaneous, this
freedom lover laughs a lot and worries about nothing. Like the Plucky Lass, she is highly
creative, but in a more impulsive way. She seeks out the unusual, thrives on authentic
_expression and hates to be tied down. When you’re with her, you’ll feel like her best
friend. She loves helping people, and flits from friend to friend like a bee hopping over a
field of flowers. She may change plans on you frequently, but you’ll want to forgive her
because she’s just so sincere. Jenna Elfman as Dharma in Dharma and Greg plays a
classical Hippie Child. If you remember the old Saturday Night Live shows, Goldie Hawn
played another perfect Hippie Child. This character loves self-employment and may try
her hand as an artist, musician or hairdresser, sometimes in the same week!
The Martyr
This heroine is hero-made! Docile, sweet and grateful, she makes the men around her feel
strong and useful. Her soft demeanor cries out for protection. If she needs to be rescued,
you won’t hear her cry out for help. She doesn’t want to bother anybody. Endowed with
unlimited patience, she’s willing to wait as long as it takes for the right man to come along.
And she won’t complain while she’s waiting either. Whatever dice fate rolls toward her,
she will adjust and accept her circumstances. Just when you think she has no will, she’ll
perform an incredible task. Still, it’s usually to please someone else. Who are some of our
Martyrs? Audrey Hepburn played this role in Sabrina, and you’ll see her in Robin Wright’s
portrayal of Buttercup in The Princess Bride. This heroine does not seek a career. It tends
to find her. She does whatever is needed, whatever is in front of her.
The Intellectual
She is analytical, bright, and well-informed. Since she usually has the answer before most
men do, they tend to find her intimidating. She will likely not notice, or if she does, she will
not care. Being smart has earned her the jewels in her crown, and she’s not about to
relinquish what she deems to be her best asset. She spends the majority of her time
getting and staying informed, and can be rigid about her opinions. You’ll find her working
in a library or as an accountant or a chemist. While she is efficient and responsible, she is
also emotionally repressed, and after spending a day with her, you may need a good
glass of wine just to relax! Kathleen Turner played The Intellectual in Romancing the Stone.
She is also played beautifully by Bebe Neuwirth as the ice cold psychiatrist, Lillith, in
Cheers. To a lesser degree, but still in the ballpark, the role is played out by Stella in Nora
Robert’s novel Blue Dahlia. Many of the Silhouette Desires and Harlequin Temptations
books make ample use of the growing sexuality of the Intellectual as she eschews her
repressions for love.
The Activist
She evaluates her worth by the measure of positive difference that she makes in the world.
She is intent on saving the world and everyone in it, and has little time for you unless you
can pitch in and help. She’s likely to work late into the night, doing whatever it takes to
realize her lofty goals. While she can be as serious and intent as the Intellectual, her
primary purpose is to give to others, while an Intellectual is concerned with protecting
herself and her status. The Activist may seem impersonal, however, because she tends to
help in large calculated ways that benefit many people, instead of giving to individuals in a
warm and cuddly manner. She is sincere in her quest, and thinks nothing of her daily
sacrifices. Helen Hunt in Twister played the Activist, and so did Charlize Theron in Coal
Country. Julia Roberts plays the Activist in Erin Brockovich, Sally Field gave a brilliant
performance of an Activist in Norma Rae. You’ll find the activist working as an
environmentalist or a political lobbyist, or maybe a schoolteacher or a volunteer with
abused children. She figures well into a romantic suspense, such as the kind found in
Harlequin Intrigue, where you’ll likely find her on a mission.
The Nurse
And finally, we have the Nurse. Like the Activist, she wants to take care of people, but she
does it one by one and in a highly personal manner. She manages to touch every man,
woman or child that wanders into her sphere of influence with her warm smile and easy
listening. She’ll make sure you’re comfortable, and if you’re hurt, she’ll nurse you back to
health. If you’ve been hurt emotionally, her wisdom kicks in and she’ll offer words to soothe
the soul. You feel great after an encounter with a Nurse, more relaxed and happy. She
always puts others’ needs before her own, and she seems happy to do it She works in
professions where she can serve others, such as a social worker, a hospital aide or nurse.
Julia Roberts played the Nurse well in Mona Lisa Smiles, and many of the heroines in
Steele Magnolia such as Sally Field, gave a fantastic performance of this nurturing role.
So there we have our eight archetypal heroines. When you pair them up with the eight
archetypal heroes outlined in the last issue, all kinds of explosions can occur!. In the next
issue, I will present a contest for the best characterization in two paragraphs of one of
these pairs. The winners will receive an eCopy of my book, A Promise to Keep, a
romantic suspense published by Double Dragon Publishing. Please check back to get the
rules; this one should be a lot of fun! Winners will be published in the February issue of
Heart Beat. Until then…
Happy Heartbeats!
Ann
| Eight Archetypal Heroines in Romance Fiction, December 2005 issue by Ann Durand copyright 2005 |