The Lover Archetype - Everything You Need To Know
This is the fourth article in our fifteen-part masterclass on archetypes. Learn more about archetypes in our first article.
Welcome back to our masterclass series on archetypes. Today we visit my personal favorite—the Lover. Don’t let the name fool you. While the Lovers Archetype can, of course, refer to romantic love, Lovers can also embrace other kinds of love, such as the love they hold for friends, family, their gods, or simply the world around them. It’s more about an essence rather than the need to actually fall in love. Though that’s okay if they do.
In this article, we’ll talk about the Lover Archetype, how it serves your story, what the typical characteristics of the Lover are, and give you some examples of where they exist in popular culture.
If you want to learn more about the other archetypes, visit our comprehensive list here.
What Is the Lover Archetype
Simply put, the Lover seeks passion regardless of where that focus lies. They’re the character that brings emotion and feeling to your stories. They’re all about creating relationships and evoking devotion in the audience. They strive to make other people feel loved and secure and take pleasure in meeting the needs of others.
Lovers often have a zest for life and revel in the very notion of being human and alive. They follow their bliss and want everyone else to do the same. (I think we could all use a little of what they’re drinking.)
What Does The Lover Archetype Do?
The Lover can play several roles in your story, and here you’ll see how they aren’t necessarily romantic roles.
The Lover
This is your faithful and passionate character who is all about emotional and physical intimacy. They value togetherness and collaboration. They’re an idealist and believe in the power of love. Their quest for connection drives them. Their biggest fear is being alone and unloved. Think of Baby from Dirty Dancing or Charlotte from Sex and the City who both just wanted to be loved.
The Romantic
This is your emoji-heart-eyes optimist. They love people and want to be sociable and in touch with everyone around them. They are intensely emotional and seek connections that complete the person they are. They’re also liable to look the other way when challenges arise because that’s what rose-colored glasses tend to do.
Jack and Rose from The Titanic would fall under this category, falling in love, and casting off the conventions of society despite their disparate backgrounds.
The Friend
Ah, the loveable sidekick. What’s a story without one? This person can act as your hero’s shoulder to lean on, their sounding board, and sometimes as their moral conscience. They’re patient and giving and respect your hero while still questioning their questionable decisions.
You might recognize this archetype in the relationship between Chewy and Hans Solo, Donkey and Shrek, or Timon and Pumbaa and Simba from The Lion King.
The Sensualist
This is the hedonistic character in your story. They live for pleasure and seek out the indulgent things in life. They’re the life of the party. The one everyone wants to be with. The instigator of mayhem, which can sometimes be their downfall. Too much of a good thing and all that.
The Hedonist might also find themselves a little too absorbed in their pleasure and forget the needs of others. We’ve all been there… I think. Don Quixote, Robert Baratheon from Game of Thrones, or John Willoughby from Sense and Sensibility all fall under this type
The Matchmaker
Some people can bring the forces of the universe together to create magic. Enter the Matchmaker. Yes, they might act in the literal sense when they pair a destined lover up with their mate. But a Matchmaker can go beyond that by pairing your hero with a friend who helps fulfill their destiny or even a quest that ultimately serves your hero and their dreams. They recognize patterns of fate.
The Matchmaker needs to be careful they don’t succumb to their own personal agenda, though. Gandalf is an example of this type of Lover, when he brings the Fellowship together, all of whom end up playing a critical role in the quest to save Middle Earth.
What Are Typical Lover Archetype Characteristics?
We’ve discussed some of the characteristics of the Lover already, but here are a few more things that define lovers. They:
- Value beauty and luxury in the world around them
- Want to seem attractive to others (physically, mentally, or emotionally)
- Enjoy good food, drink and other pleasures (especially the Sensualist)
- Are drawn to enticing smells, decadent tastes, and aesthetically pleasing things
- Can handle intense emotions and feelings
- Have a sense of wonder and enthusiasm for the world around them
- Are dreamers with active imaginations
- Enjoy trying new experiences and are always trying to ‘live their best life’
- Sometimes tie their self-esteem into the quality of their relationships
- Fear loneliness or not being loved
- Make decisions based on their emotions
The negative traits of Lovers can manifest themselves as shallowness, obsessiveness, or being overly dramatic. If they lose themselves in the pursuit of attraction and beauty, sometimes they can become too single-minded in their focus. They can often end up sacrificing themselves for the object of their desire.
Examples Of Lover Archetypes In Popular Culture
You’ve seen countless examples of The Lover in books and movies. Here are a few you’ve probably heard of.
Edward Cullen
The famous heart-throb vampire of the Twilight series, is the perfect example of the Lover. He’s been alone for over a hundred years and just wants to find someone to love. Enter Bella Swan with her human blood and her clumsy ways and Edward is a goner.
This is a good example of where some might argue the Lover caved into his darker side when his interest in Bella becomes a wee bit obsessive. (Not me though. I loved it all. Team Edward forevah.)
Princess Anna
Elsa’s beloved sister from Frozen is also an example of the Lover archetype. She not only wants to find love, she wants human connection. After living her entire life locked away inside Arendell’s castle, she can’t wait to go out and see the world. Her love for her sister is intrinsic to who she is, and she’d do anything to protect her. Anna does just that when she sets out to save Elsa from herself and in the end offers her life as a sacrifice for her sister.
Thankfully, Disney movies have happy endings and her sacrifice is rewarded. Cue happy tears. (Seriously, I’ve seen it a hundred times and I still cry every time.)
Samwise Gamgee
Everyone’s favorite loveable hobbit from the Lord of the Rings is another example of the Lover. As the sidekick, he is Frodo’s indomitable companion who never falters. He’s cheerful and kind and patient and would do anything for his best friend. As the two travel to Mordor, Sam never falters in his devotion or love for Frodo.
At the end, when all seems but lost, it's Sam’s strength that ultimately sees Frodo through to a happy ending.
Using archetypes can help establish your characters in meaningful ways that your audience will naturally respond to. Since these traits are so familiar across all forms of media, you won’t have to spend time trying to establish your character’s baseline personality. Your readers will already understand who they are. All there is for you to do is put your own unique spin on your paper children.
Make use of the Dabble notes function to track your characters, the archetype they embody and, of course, any traits, quirks, or characteristics you dream up. Using this method can help you build characters with depth that your readers will respond to and root for.
Click here to try a 14-day free trial of Dabble Premium, no credit card required, and build your bestseller today.
SHARE THIS:
TAKE A BREAK FROM WRITING...
Read. Learn. Create.
Characters are the most important part of any story. They are the beating heart and the blood that flows through your novel’s veins. Yes, your plot and world and story structure are also important, but most people will fall in love with a book because they love the characters.
If you’re planning to become an indie author, one of the first things you might be wondering is: how do you price a self-published book?
Can't get a clear answer on how many scenes should be in a chapter? Here's how to calculate the answer for your book.
There's no easy way to determine how many chapters you should have in your book, but let's figure out how many will work for you.
You’ve cobbled together 100K words of sheer brilliance, but now you must tackle the hardest task. How do you write book titles, anyway?
Looking for great writing exercises for fiction writers? We've got you covered with prompts to inspire story, character, and more.
How much do authors make? It's a question every writer asks at least once. We break it down for you in this blog!
Theses six steps can help show you how to become a fiction writer. Figure out what works best for you!
Want to learn the secret of how to overcome writer's block? You've got to get to the root of the problem. We can help.
Fight scenes are what some readers live for, but writing them can be tough. Let's dissect how to write a fight scene in your novel.
Romance tropes are the heartbeat of what makes romance novels feel like cozy sweaters you want to snuggle into.
Not sure how to describe clothing writing? It's easier (and more fun) than you might think. Here's everything you need to know.
Character motivation is essential in creating characters your readers will care about. Learn about the types of motivation with Dabble!
How to start a first chapter: include action, character, plot, emotion, and motivation or you’re going to lose your reader.
Want to learn how to write exposition that's not so explainy? Divulge compelling backstory using these tried-and-true tips.
English is whack. Let's make something better. Here's how to create a fictional language in four simple steps.
How long should your chapters be? On average, chapters tend to range from 1,000-5,000 words, with most falling in the 2,000-4,000 range.
Need original character questions to inspire your work in progress? Dig deep with these one-of-a-kind character interview questions.
It isn't easy to write a good villain, at least not without the right ingredients. Let Dabble give you the perfect recipe for a villain!
There are a lot of pieces of writing advice you can ignore, but here’s one you shouldn’t: you need to include character goals in your story.
Why does character motivation matter? Find out why a thrilling plot is not enough and how to design motivation that resonates with readers.
Outlining your future bestseller isn't easy! But we break it down for you so you can plan a novel that rocks.
You might be wondering: how long does it take to write a book? The answer depends on a variety of factors.
Here are sixty-five character development questions, plus tips on how and when to interview your characters. Get inspired and get unstuck!
Conflict is what makes books worth reading. Join us as we explore the four types of conflict you can use to make you story memorable!
Do you have a writer in your life who needs a gift? Check out this list of 61 gifts for writers that will help them with their author dreams.
Need character ideas for your next story? Find a ton of original ideas and brainstorming questions right here!
The words you use to start a story are some of the most important you'll write. We'll help make sure you get them right!
A character flaw is a fault, limitation, or weakness that can be internal or external factors that affect your character and their life.
The Seducer/Seductress archetype can help you craft unforgettable villains and surprisingly sympathetic anti-heroes. Learn how.
The Orphan archetype makes for both inspiring heroes and unsettlingly sympathetic villains. Learn how to use this archetype in your story.
Explore the fundamentals of the Outlaw Archetype and how they serve your story. Explore famous examples of Outlaws in popular media.
The Common Person or Everyman is a powerful archetype that can instantly relate to your readers. Learn how to use it in your writing!
The caregiver archetype is more than a saint. Learn how to craft a fascinating, flawed, and deep-souled caregiver for your story.
The Ruler archetype is one of the most recognizable and is about stability and maintaining order through control and power.
The Creator Archetype breathes life into their art, often to an obsessive level. Learn all about using this archetype in your writing!
Get to know the Innocent archetype, from Buddy the Elf to Andy Dwyer. Learn how to write this lovable (and sometimes chaotic) character.
The Sage archetype is an important one in all storytelling—one that can either help or hinder the protagonist's journey in your book.
Explorer Archetypes long for adventure and seek out new places, ideas, and experiences to live a thrilling, exciting, and fulfilling life.
What is the Jester archetype? Find out what you need to know to give your funniest character true purpose and depth.
Lover archetypes embrace the love they hold for friends, family, their gods, or simply the world around them.
The Magician archetype is one of the most popular archetypes in writing. In this blog, we explain everything you need to know about Magicians!
What is the hero archetype? From epic heroes to anti-heroes, here's everything you need to know about crafting a compelling hero.
The seven basic plot points offer perhaps what is the most open-ended of the structure archetypes with broad, high-level descriptions.
Chekhov's Gun is a fundamental principle in writing. Join us as we examine what this principle is so you can apply it to your own writing.
What is three-act structure? Learn why this story structure is so effective and whether it can help you plot your novel.
Save the Cat is one of the most popular ways of drafting screenplays and novels in modern storytelling.
The Hero's Journey is a classic story structure. Learn why it's so popular among writers and how to apply it to your own storytelling.
We call it John Gardner's aquatic monstrosity, the Fichtean Curve is a narrative structure that can help you easily plan out your novel.
We break down Randy Ingermanson's Snowflake Method, a type of outlining that can make writing your book much easier and faster.
A New York City story coach shares her best tips on how to create compelling characters. She walks through each step in the process.
Learn about Dan Harmon's Story Circle—what it is, how it can help you plot your novel, and whether it's right for you.
One of the original story structures, Freytag's Pyramid is the foundation for dramatic stories and tragedies. Learn all about it with Dabble!
Learn how to write a children's book with this ultimate guide and template for designing a story that resonates with young readers.
In this article, we’ll explore what active and passive writing is and when you should use them. Contrary to some beliefs, sometimes passive voice does make sense. Not everything you write should or needs to be active (though it should be most of the time).
Editing your book can be a daunting task. In this article, we breakdown the different types of editing and when you should apply them.
Learn how to write a book synopsis that gets the attention of agents and publishers. It's easier than you think.
3rd-person limited or 1st-person epistolary? Here is what you need to know about narrative point of view and your story.
Story structures are the frameworks that tie your story together. A story structure can help guide your book to be the best it can be!
Bestselling author Kristina Stanley breaks down the three questions you need to ask to self-edit your book's characters, plot, and setting.
Which of the four character arc types is right for your story? And what is a character arc?
To write a romance you need to manage three separate arcs: your main character, your love interest, and the romance itself.
Character archetypes can help you write complex, three-dimensional characters. Learn more about them, including 14 common types, with Dabble.
Learn how to write a book in this ultimate guide. Plus find editing tips, map out a publishing journey, & download a free outlining template.
Unsure of how to start writing? This easy guide and checklist will help you turn your writing dreams into a reality.
Writing with proper punctuation can feel like the hardest part of writing. Don't worry, we've made a Beginner's Guide to Punctuation to help!
Plot is pretty much everything that happens in your story. So let's look at some methods that can help map out your story.
Snag this free, downloadable character development worksheet, designed to help you craft compelling characters and write an unputdownable story.
Finishing your first draft is quite possibly the biggest challenge you'll face as a fiction writer. To be successful, where should you start?
The publishing landscape is always changing, so many writers wonder: should I pay a publisher? Let's take a look at all your publishing options.
Time to learn one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal. Welcome to the Plot Grid.
Author's tone is an abstract, slippery concept. But once you've mastered this skill in your writing, you'll have a powerful tool for captivating readers.
It's time to start writing. Get started by setting goals, and removing some sneaky myths from your mind.
If you’re embarking on a topic that requires a lot of research, you might wonder where you even begin. How do you make use of all those juicy tidbits, and what kind of process should you use to ensure complete and total accuracy?
Writing well requires preparation. Set up your space, gather your tools, and adjust your mindset to crush your writing goals.
You have the knowledge and you have the tools. Time to become the writer you want to be. You got this!
Today we’re going to look at story beats to help craft your romance novel. Beats are specific points of significance that occur in stories that a) help keep the tension up and b) help drive the story forward. They can also be extremely useful in helping you map out your story before you dive into your first draft.
Not sure how to become a successful author—or if it's even possible? Learn exactly what it takes to make it as a writer.
Your writing method will determine a lot about your process. Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?
Have you every wondered whether you can make a living as a writer? It is far from easy, but we break down the way you can achieve your dreams as a career author.
Antagonists are some of the most important types of characters in stories, but also some of the most difficult to write. Let's breakdown what makes a good antagonist.
Prose describes how you write your book, and it can be challenging to get right. So, in this article, we cover what makes good prose.
Characters are the heart of a story. Let's talk about arcs, conflict, and growth.
Theme is subtle, tricky, and will likely be the most effective way to get your audience emotionally engaged. So how do you do it?
First person narrative is when you write using the words “I”, “us”, or “we”. It’s when your story is told through the eyes of one person and we spend time in their head, hearing their thoughts and seeing what they see.
Creating character arcs isn't for the faint of heart. You've got to be ruthless. You've got to be strategic. And it also helps to read this step-by-step guide.
We've got you covered with the best character template ever to help bring your story's characters to life!
Characters come with traits, flaws, problems and much more. Time to dig into those and start giving some depth to them.