This is K.M. Wyland and you are listening to the 551 episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors Podcast.

I hope you enjoyed this week's episode, Arcotypal Character Arks Part 18, The Flat Archetype of the archauteau type of the parent.

When we think of archetypal characters,

the parent probably isn't the first to come to mind.

Despite the fact that becoming and being a parent

is one of the most obvious initiations

within even our modern lives, we don't often think of the parent with the same enthusiasm as we do the hero.

And yet they are intrinsically linked.

The parent is the flat or resting archetype that follows or results from what is

currently our most iconic character arc, the Hero's Journey. In some ways, as with all archetypes, this is merely a symbolic evolution,

since not all heroes, fresh from their battles will literally settle down to start families. But not only is the parent

historically the next obvious step for the hero, it is also a deeply symbolic

transitional period between the first act of a character's life and the second

act. Remember, the first act of the life cycle of archetypal character arcs represents approximately the first 30 years of the human life,

during which the primary transformation struggles of the maiden and hero arcsks are defined by the challenges of relationship

with self. Successful completion of the Hero Arc signifies that the character has been able to achieve both

individuation from the tribe as a child and reintegration back into it as an

adult. Now as the parent the character rests upon the

turning point into the challenges of the Second Act during which the primary transformation struggles of the Queen and King Arks will be

defined by the challenges of relationship with others and particularly the power

dynamic of relating to younger people who have less power. The parents, quote unquote, rest before the next transformation of the Queen arc signifies a period in which the character can

regroup after the travails and victories of the now completed Heroes quest. In essence the character is a soldier

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