reading and analyzing ideas. If he finds the right woman he can have a small family life and enjoy some companionship but the entire relationship is up to her. He has no skill in that department and may be distant for days at a time. Hestia is the perfect woman for him. She enjoys being alone.
When Hamlet (a Recluse) sees his father's ghost, he is forced out of his solitary world by a need for revenge. He later exhibits Warlock qualities, as he turns away Ophelia and seeks to bring about Claudius's downfall.
What Does the Recluse Care About?
The Recluse cares about being alone. He has a rich inner life and enjoys being inside his head. He's not comfortable around people, especially large groups, and would prefer to be a mountain man than a businessman. If he lives closer to the city he may opt to become a monk.
He cares only about his inner world; everyone else can keep their dramas to themselves. He doesn't want to be bothered by others at all. He likes being invisible in large groups.
He feels alien to everyone else and may want to move on to the next world, welcoming death.
He cares about his hobbies and projects, often spending hours and hours on one small task. He chooses to do everything himself rather than running down to the store to buy a gadget that may do the job.
Many of the characters in Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, such as Roderick Usher in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” demonstrate a solitary nature that is typical of the Recluse archetype.
What Does the Recluse Fear?
The Recluse fears large groups of people. He loves his solitude, but a part of him may long for a small family unit to bring him some companionship.
He fears losing his mind in one of his rich fantasy worlds, especially if he's highly psychic and can hear spirits.
He's afraid of his own emotions and seems very bland, without personality at times.
He fears the world will come upon him and swallow him up. He's afraid of people forcing themselves into his life. His home base is the most important thing to him; it's his safety net.
With their solitary ramblings in the wilderness, many early explorers, such as Daniel Boone, exemplify the Recluse archetype.
What Motivates the Recluse?
The Recluse's biggest motivator is the need to know and understand. He lives in his head and is always thinking and analyzing. He uses his need to understand his world to occupy his time. He is a great philosopher who can spend ages questioning the mysteries of life.
His need to be alone motivates him to do whatever it takes to find a place where he can be alone.
At some point severe loneliness may cause him to seek out a mate or find a friend.
How Do Other Characters See the Recluse?
Others may see him as a bland person devoid of personality. They wonder if he's insane at times because he obsesses about the deeper meaning of things.
He pays no attention to the clothes he wears or the food he eats. He's too much in his head. He's somewhat like Albert Einstein who wore the same type of suit every day.
He seems fragmented and disorderly, always looking for things he's misplaced.
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 him. What does he need to learn to help him overcome his fear? Does he need to learn to speak in front of large groups? Does he need to organize his life? Does he need to learn how to feel and express love? Does he have to interact with a large group of people in order to save his home?
Very often the Recluse needs to learn how to relate to people. He needs to learn that human companionship has its own rewards and can enrich his life as much as his inner worlds do. He needs to reconnect with his body and be pushed into physical activity.
What happened to him at an early age to make this archetype dominate his personality? Were his parents reclusive? Did he have friends growing up? Did he live in an isolated area and never learn how to
When Hamlet (a Recluse) sees his father's ghost, he is forced out of his solitary world by a need for revenge. He later exhibits Warlock qualities, as he turns away Ophelia and seeks to bring about Claudius's downfall.
What Does the Recluse Care About?
The Recluse cares about being alone. He has a rich inner life and enjoys being inside his head. He's not comfortable around people, especially large groups, and would prefer to be a mountain man than a businessman. If he lives closer to the city he may opt to become a monk.
He cares only about his inner world; everyone else can keep their dramas to themselves. He doesn't want to be bothered by others at all. He likes being invisible in large groups.
He feels alien to everyone else and may want to move on to the next world, welcoming death.
He cares about his hobbies and projects, often spending hours and hours on one small task. He chooses to do everything himself rather than running down to the store to buy a gadget that may do the job.
Many of the characters in Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, such as Roderick Usher in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” demonstrate a solitary nature that is typical of the Recluse archetype.
What Does the Recluse Fear?
The Recluse fears large groups of people. He loves his solitude, but a part of him may long for a small family unit to bring him some companionship.
He fears losing his mind in one of his rich fantasy worlds, especially if he's highly psychic and can hear spirits.
He's afraid of his own emotions and seems very bland, without personality at times.
He fears the world will come upon him and swallow him up. He's afraid of people forcing themselves into his life. His home base is the most important thing to him; it's his safety net.
With their solitary ramblings in the wilderness, many early explorers, such as Daniel Boone, exemplify the Recluse archetype.
What Motivates the Recluse?
The Recluse's biggest motivator is the need to know and understand. He lives in his head and is always thinking and analyzing. He uses his need to understand his world to occupy his time. He is a great philosopher who can spend ages questioning the mysteries of life.
His need to be alone motivates him to do whatever it takes to find a place where he can be alone.
At some point severe loneliness may cause him to seek out a mate or find a friend.
How Do Other Characters See the Recluse?
Others may see him as a bland person devoid of personality. They wonder if he's insane at times because he obsesses about the deeper meaning of things.
He pays no attention to the clothes he wears or the food he eats. He's too much in his head. He's somewhat like Albert Einstein who wore the same type of suit every day.
He seems fragmented and disorderly, always looking for things he's misplaced.
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 him. What does he need to learn to help him overcome his fear? Does he need to learn to speak in front of large groups? Does he need to organize his life? Does he need to learn how to feel and express love? Does he have to interact with a large group of people in order to save his home?
Very often the Recluse needs to learn how to relate to people. He needs to learn that human companionship has its own rewards and can enrich his life as much as his inner worlds do. He needs to reconnect with his body and be pushed into physical activity.
What happened to him at an early age to make this archetype dominate his personality? Were his parents reclusive? Did he have friends growing up? Did he live in an isolated area and never learn how to
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