Chameleons and The Evolution of Character
Posted by Anjuelle Floyd | Filed under Articles and Essays, Musings
Writers and others in the dramatic arts find it hard to grasp the function of the Shapeshifter archetype due to its strongly psychological nature, and its role in story. Because of the energy it embodies, some term the Shapeshifter a Chameleon.
When viewed as a force, or aspect of personality or character the Shapeshifter operates as a Doubting Thomas or Devil’s Advocate, in its efforts to stir the protagonist towards pursuit, and quest.
As such the character operating as the Chameleon or Shapeshifter in the story guards against complacency, regarding both the pacing of the narrative line, and that of the evolution of character of protagonist.
He or she who serves as the Shapeshifter in the story keeps the major character forever on their toes.
Like the Herald, the Shapeshifter operates more from an energetic aspect, rather than that of a static character. As such various characters in a story can assume the function of the Chameleon.
If pretense provides a route of survival even the protagonist her or himself can shift shapes and operate as the Chameleon.
The ability to blend in to its surroundings serves as one of the Chameleon’s major defenses against dangers.
This ability to become what the situation demands so that she or he might attain her or his goal touches directly on not simply the innate aspects humans hold towards physical survival.
It also displays the desire to thrive and create, two qualities that lie in the terrain of the collective unconscious.
How does your major antagonist terrorize your protagonist?
How does your protagonist exhibit her or his fear and terror of the antagonist?
How do you seek to please your readers?
Tags: aspect of personality, central character, Chameleon, character, defense, Devil's Advocate, doubt, Doubting Thomas, dramatic arts, elusive, energy, evolution of character, force, function, Herald, masculine, narrative line, nurture, penetrate, protagonist, protect, psyche, psychological, pursuit, quest, receptive, role, Shapeshifter, static, story, survival, writers
November 5th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Intersting, I’ve never heard of a characters being categorized or called a chameleon before. Great food for thought.
LaTessa´s last blog ..NaNoWriMo 2009
November 5th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Yep. Chameleon is another term for Shapeshifters. Much like the animal species chameleons, characters bearing the energy of the Shapeshifter/Chameleon are able to morph and blend in to their surroundings as the context and circumstances demand.
In this way chameleons can weather, and survive many environments.
The chameleonic characters of our stories challenge and teach our protagonists to withstand the various climates and terrain of the journey of their story as presented in the obstacles they face towards reaching their goals.
In so doing they also reflect, and force our characters to access and acquaint themselves with aspects hidden from their consciousness.
Chameleon and Shapeshifter characters also awaken us as writers to the hidden qualities of our characters, aspects of their personalities we have yet discovered in the writing of their stories.
Glad this was food for pondering.
And as always, thanks for your comments.
November 6th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I will need to look into Jung and his theories more. I often times do things in my stories because my gut tells me too, or I just have a feeling it’s the best thing to do. I don’t have a reson for doing, at least not one that I am aware of, but the theory behind the shapeshifter archetypes really helps to shed some light of the some of the subconscious things I do.
I think I will look into Jung and his theories more once I finish a couple of projects. As a character driven writer, I am always interested in human psychology, how it works and the role in can/does play in story crafting.
LaTessa´s last blog ..NaNo Update: Day 6
November 7th, 2009 at 1:45 am
Following our gut is the best way to write a story, particularly in crafting that first draft. Jung, Joseph Campbell and theories created by other authors assist us in unraveling and understanding what we have created–the characters and plot–towards the nature of revision and refining.
I really enjoy our dialogue on this topic.