Free 45 Master Characters by Victoria Lynn Schmidt Page B

eyes to reality. There are occasions where she may suppress a traumatic experience as if it never happened, but she then becomes a ticking time bomb as similar situations in her life force the memory to the surface.

    In Daisy Miller by Henry James, the title character shares traits with the Maiden archetype; her youthful naivete´ eventually leads to her death.
    What Does the Maiden Care About?
    The Maiden cares about her relationship with her mother. She tries to stay on the good side of others who support and take of her. She'll hold her tongue and keep her opinions to herself to keep the peace.
    She likes being dependent upon others; it removes responsibility for her life from her own shoulders. She prefers to let others worry about paying the bills.
    She loves to meet new people and have fun. She's always looking for the next fad, trend or game to play. Everything new and different catches her eye. She's never bored. She likes to take classes because they only last a few weeks and change often. She can meet new people every semester.
    What Does the Maiden Fear?
    The Maiden fears having to make decisions for herself. She'll bother everyone around her until someone makes a decision for her. She doesn't want to fend for herself if she doesn't have to. She believes there's power in making others do things for you.
    She doesn't want others to pass her by and grow up without her. She needs people to play with.
    Her greatest fear is being trapped in a nine-to-five job or a controlling relationship with a man. She needs her space and freedom. Her spirit is fragile.
    People think she's naive, and she fears being attacked.
    She's not totally immune to the world around her; she tries to enjoy life in spite of it.
    What Motivates the Maiden?
    Safety and security is what motivates the Maiden. She needs to know that there's someone there to catch her if she falls. Whether she has faced the harshness in life or not, or if she is rich or poor, she knows she needs someone to support her free lifestyle.
    If she ever faces a traumatic situation her need for security and protection will grow.
    Freedom to be herself is the most valued thing in her life. She has to express herself and her desires, but at the same time she has to please others enough so they don't write her out of the will, so to speak.
    She enjoys being different, special, talked about. She loves to do outrageous things. She loves Lucy Ricardo.
    How Do Other Characters See the Maiden?
    Women see her as young, inexperienced and aloof. Men see her as sexy and childlike, a woman they can control and rescue. She seems to attract dominating men.

    In Arthurian legend, the chivalrous Lancelot rescues his love Guinevere (a Maiden) from the evil knight Meligrance. (The abduction of Guinevere mirrors Persephone's abduction by Hades in Greek mythology.)
    A lot of men say they're attracted to her innocence and want to take care of her, but they can become overprotective and bossy. They just like her because she makes them feel young.
    She wears girlish clothing sometimes, and alluring and sexy clothing other times.
    Developing the Character Arc
    Look at your character's main goal in the story and then at the fears you've selected to use against her. What can she learn to help her overcome her fear? Does she need to learn how to take care of herself? Does she need to find her spiritual side? Does she need to transcend her desire to be around people and at parties all the time?
    Very often the Maiden needs to be forced to stand on her own two feet. She needs to support herself and make commitments. She needs to gain faith in her abilities and see strength in her character. She needs to be aware of the harshness of life and take off her rose-colored glasses.
    She can be a very strong person who gives openly to others, guiding them through pain and hardships. She needs to see this gift she has within herself. She is very innocent and pure at heart if she'll only turn her gaze inward and see