This is K.M. Wyland and you are listening to the 552 episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors

Podcast. I hope you enjoyed this week's episode Arcetypal Character Arks Part 19,

The Flat Arc archetype of the ruler.

The ruler represents the flat arresting archetype that bridges the Queen's rise to power and

the King's eventual surrender of that same power.

As such, the ruler represents the potential period in a person's life in which he or she

is in a position of leadership. This ruler might be a

literal head of state, queen, king, president, prime minister, etc. Or the

ruler might be a CEO, general, admiral, lead scientist, patriarch or matriarch,

captain of a small fishing boat, etc.

What is important to this archetype and what distinguishes it from the previous flat archetype

of parent is that the ruler is not just in charge but is the undisputed authority

within his or her sphere of influence. The ruler is not merely the loving

guide represented by the parent,

although in a healthy character the parent well of course have been incorporated

into this more advanced archetype.

But rather the ruler is someone who has learned the hard

lessons of the Queen's rise to power. Namely the ruler understands that the primary

challenge of true leadership is that of order.

A good ruler will understand mercy but will err toward justice.

And as a result, the kingdom runs smoothly and successfully.

At least until the dawn of the subsequent king arc

...