Orphan Characters

Archetypal orphans have learned early on that people can be unreliable. Despite their vulnerability, orphans don’t like depending on adults who could take advantage of them. So, they don’t seek out support, and they often push away potential allies to avoid being exploited, betrayed, or abandoned. The orphan archetype reflects the hard truth that trusting people can be dangerous for anyone in a vulnerable position.

Orphans are always young—teenagers at the oldest. They’re usually clever and scrappy. They often steal, con, and commit other petty crimes to support themselves. Or they act outrageously and destructively, testing the patience and loyalty of any would-be allies. But they’re not really responsible for their transgressions. Orphans simply get by the only way they know how.

Prominent Examples

• The Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
• Huck Finn in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• John Bender in The Breakfast Club (1985)
• Junior in Problem Child (1990)
• Charlie Bartlett in Charlie Bartlett (2007)
• Arya Stark in Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
• Conor O’Malley in A Monster Calls (2016)
• Young Furiosa in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
• Alex Lilly in Weapons (2025)