Film || Archetypes in 'The Princess Bride'

fig 1.

A perfect fantasy world would naturally need immaculate character designs. To explain archetypes in a most simple way it would be easily done through study of these individuals in the movie universe. Archetypes are applicable traits that appear across cultures in which they have almost universal application because they are recognisable by the collective, and they can appear under many different symbols. Several big examples include the Hero, the Damsel in Distress, and the Sidekick, of course these can be interpreted under different names but the application is virtually the same, for we know and sometimes expect actions performed by these specific roles. Specifically we will use the common labels found in the hero's journey structure.

During the course of The Princess Bride (1987) we are gradually introduced to some larger than life characters that carry on each stage of story, beginning with a sequence for the main tow characters, Buttercup, and her adoring farmhand Westley. They befit the roles of the Damsel and the Hero respectively, underlined in the fire swamp where Westley is fully responsible for her continued safety from the hazards of the location.

Inigo Motoya has a 'Shapeshifter' Archetype, which means his alignment lay somewhere in the grey area. His loyalty in questionable, especially since he has his own objective, but having this trait incites interesting, dynamic relationships.

Fezzik is a giant with incredible strength who finds issue with people considering him dumb. During the story he is a great asset to Westley and Inigo, protecting them from all kinds of danger, the ally archetype is there to help a hero through dramatic change.

Vizzini is a trickster archetype; he uses his somewhat short, but sharp wit to weasel himself into more favourable places. In the first half of the film Vizzini trips on this pride, until he is finally laid dead at the test of a poisoned chalice. As three, Vizzini, Inigo, and Fezzik act as threshold guardians, someone, or in this case, a group, who holds the hero back from their objective. 

As for the opposing forces, there are two characters; Prince Humperdinck the insecure prince, and the mysterious Count Rugen who has six fingers on one hand. They both play the part of shadows, reflections of the hero in the way they oppose his aim.