We have now created four distinct pairs of Archetypal Characters. Each pair presents the birthing ground of a particular conflict. Two Characters bonded in such a relationship form a Dynamic Pair. Here are the Eight Archetypal Characters organized by dynamic pairs.

PROTAGONIST ANTAGONIST

GUARDIAN CONTAGONIST

REASON EMOTION

SIDEKICK SKEPTIC

Functions of Dynamic Pairs

We easily see how these Archetypal pairs represent a broad analogy to a human mind dealing with a problem. The Protagonist represents the wish to work at resolving the problem. Its dynamic pair, the Antagonist represents the wish to leave the problem alone. As with the Archetypal Characters, we face an internal battle between making decisions based on Reason or on Emotion. Like the functions of the Sidekick and Skeptic, the Story Mind will contain a struggle between Faith and Disbelief. And finally, in an Archetypal sense, the Mind will be torn between the Contagonist's temptation for immediate indulgence and the Guardian's counsel to consider the consequences..