Characters on the Couch (Part 11)

Wednesday, September 20th, 2006

This Follows on from: Characters on the Couch (Part 10). The first part can be found at: Characters on the Couch (Part 1).

The Magician Archetype

“It can happen. ”

Magicians seek knowledge so that they can make dreams come true. They are mediators and visionaries seeking win-win outcomes where no one loses out.

The shadow sides of this archetype are found in the misuse of the power and knowledge. Seduction and trickery, by magic and wizardry, are used to play on the desires of many people to transform their lives. Modern day magicians include spin-doctors and scientists.

Examples of the magician include Gandalf, Captain Picard, Merlin, Dr Who, Rumpelstiltskin, Katharine Hepburn in The African Queen and Jeff Goldblum’s portrayal of the shadow Magician in The Fly. Xavier and Magneto are magician and shadow magician in the X-Men. John Malkovich and Glenn Close in Dangerous Liaisons are both Shadows seeking to manipulate each other for supremacy.

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