Magician

Archetype

“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.”

—Yoda

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Magician Characters

Archetypal magicians possess extraordinary wisdom and faculties. In fantastical stories, they wield supernatural powers. In more grounded narratives, they simply have a deep understanding of human psychology and the complex mechanics at work in the world. With subtle actions, they can direct the course of events in progress. Magicians typically represent balance, wholeness, and the union or transcendence of opposites.

There is usually something paradoxical about magicians. They might appear meek or frail, for instance, despite possessing terrific power. And many are at once worldly and spiritual. The wise old man or woman is the most easily recognizable form of this archetype.

Prominent Examples

Merlin of Arthurian legend
Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Aslan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings books by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Childlike Empress in The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid (1984)
The Oracle in The Matrix (1999)
Charles Xavier in X-Men (2000)
King Baldwin in The Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Mama Odie in The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Definition

The magician archetype is oriented toward integration, balance, wholeness, and transcendence. It’s associated with stillness, serenity, wisdom, and deep insight. In Jungian psychology, it’s called the archetype of the self (as in the whole self as opposed to the ego).

Dramatic Dimensions

Archetypes are fluid orientations, not rigid types. These are common tendencies and associations—they may or may not apply in any particular case.

Narrative Roles

Mentor, guide, or advisor
Moral exemplar
Font of wisdom or insight
Bestower of gifts

Motivations

Balance and harmony
Benevolence
Justice
Devotion to the divine
Service to others

Virtues

Wisdom
Temperance
Patience
Piety and faith
Worldliness
Self-awareness
Serenity and equanimity
Eudaimonia

Vices

Resignation and passivity
Aloofness
Self-righteousness
Hubris

Perceptual Frames

Holistic vs partial or fragmented
Balance or equilibrium vs imbalance
Harmony vs discord
Reality vs illusion
Depth vs shallowness or short-sightedness

Growth Opportunities

Confronting past failures or misdeeds
Letting go of emotional attachments
Accepting mortality
Sacrificing life for a worthy cause

Taxonomy

Magician Variants

Eidolon: A magician who represents an ideal image of humanity
False Prophet: A magician who is overcome with fear or desire
Godhead: The magician archetype as a transcendent divinity or an avatar
Sage: A magician who holds rare knowledge and deep understanding
Syzygy: The magician archetype in the form of a perfectly balanced and harmonious pair (usually a married couple or siblings)

Pairing

Child: Archetypal child characters represent the promise and potential of the future relative to magicians whose time is passing.
Hero: Magicians frequently aid archetypal heroes and guide them on their missions.
Maiden: Archetypal maidens often find encouragement and advice from magicians.

See the whole taxonomy on the archetypes overview page.