Although at first it may seem that because of her caring nature, generous spirit, and self-sacrificing attitude, the nurturer character archetype would be a female, this archetype can apply to men as well. Men become excellent romantic leads in a story when they display the nurturer qualities.
The Nurturer’ Positive Qualities
The nurturer is the person people turn to when they need a listening ear, a warm heart, and good advice. She is optimistic and seems able to find the silver lining in every cloud.
She remains calm in a crisis, and can help others get through the tough times as well. Because of these traits, she is liked by everyone.
The Nurturer’s Negative Qualities
The nurturer cannot say no. This in itself is not a bad thing, but when too many demands are made, she may begin to feel resentful. At that point, it doesn’t take much to turn the nurturer into a martyr.
The nurturer wants to make everyone happy, an impossible task, and can find herself in some uncomfortable situations due to her over-compromising nature. It may also make her appear as if she has no ideals that she stands for. She wants to please everyone and be everything to each person.
Roles for the Nurturer
Since the nurturer loves to take care of others, she becomes a mother figure in many stories. The den mother, the sorority mom, the perfect wife, all fit this profile. Teachers, social workers, and human rights advocates are also nurturers.
Mary Poppins qualifies as a nurturer, although she could be demanding as well. She was in control of the children and the household, she was all-knowing and wise, and she was efficient beyond belief. The nurturer aspires to be these things.
Vianne Rocher in the book Chocolat by Joanne Harris was a nurturer. Anyone who entered her chocolate shop was offered their favorite candies. According to Vianne, she knew everyone’s favorites. She took care of the elderly Armande, giving her a dream party for her birthday. She made friends with everyone, even those who did not accept her.
How to Use the Nurturer in Stories
The nurturer can be a bland character, such as June Cleaver in Leave It To Beaver, or she can become a vibrant, integral part to the plot of a story, such as Mary Poppins. The way the character is defined and the plot elements he or she is thrown into determine how important this character is to a story.
Other character archetypes:
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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