Shadow Archeytpe and/or Evil Counterpart

From what I ahd researched, the Shadow archetype is simply repressed desires of the Id but what is the difference between that and an evil counterpart? I know 'Evil' is subjective but at same time, it just feels like that there is no 'evil' version of 'You', just an exxagated version of 'You'. Is there a difference between the two?

"Eratoeir is a Gangsta."

• Evil Counterpart: An antagonist who serves as the hero's foil.
• Shadow Archetype: A character that embodies something another character does not like about themselves.

Evil Counterpart also happens to be a subtrope of Shadow Archetype.

Bascally, an Evil Counterpart must be an antagonist while a Shadow Archetype doesn't.

I know the The Shadow isn't the evil version of 'You' but does the trope only concern your negative aspects?

"Eratoeir is a Gangsta."

Yes.

But doesn't the shadow also talk about your positive aspects as well? You know what do they call a person who forces the character to go through that process? Can you have an evil counterpart without having a repressed version of the character?

"Eratoeir is a Gangsta."

Now you're just making things too literal. I don't know how else I can help you with your confusion, I'm sorry.

I was referring to how the Shadow can embody your positive aspects? Or what is called?

Also, does Enemy Without count as a Shadow archetype?

"Eratoeir is a Gangsta."

If the character doesn't "repress" the evil side of themselves, then yeah, you can have an evil counterpart that isn't a shadow archetype. In that case, the evil counterpart will simply be more evil than the character's current evil.

For example, compare Street Fighter's Akuma to his evil counterpart, Oni. Akuma is a Blood Knight and remorseless killer, but his only goal is to gain strength and test it against a Worthy Opponent in a Duel to the Death. He will flat out ignore the weak, or spare someone's life if they're either Not Worth Killing or he wants them to get stronger. Oni, on the other hand, is an Omnicidal Maniac Generic Doomsday Villain who just wants to cause pain, destruction, and death. Akuma keeps his destructive urges in check, but he doesn't quite "repress" them. He's perfectly aware of his innate desire to purge the world in death and flame, but the main difference is that he seeks to master the Dark Side, not let it control him (which is what Oni is).

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A Shadow Archetype, however, does embody your positive aspects if those aspects are part of what you repress. For example, Kanji Tatsumi in Persona 4 has a Shadow that represents his feminine side, which he represses because he's self-homophobic. It's noted, however, that liking arts and crafts, adoring cute things, and having a gentle side are all positive aspects of his character. Likewise, Kid Detective Naoto from the same game has a Shadow which is a small child that loves detective shows, toys, comics, and things of that nature but gave them all up because she was tired of being treated like a little kid in a profession that's already sexist as it is. But, her love of the playful aspect of crime-solving is noted to be a good thing.

edited 22nd Sep '14 8:01:15 AM by KingZeal

Evil Counterpart is not a sub trope to Shadow Archetype. It just happens to be a good way of making one, kind of like not needing wearing a mask doesn't mean you have a secret identity, it just happens to work if you have one.

Is a antagonist or villain with a similar backstory to the protagonist an evil counterpart or a shadow archetype? (Like both aladdin and jafa are poor orphans who's mothers died and the father wasn't around or left them at am early age)

😅😅

I think that would be an Evil Counterpart and also Mirror Character, it would only also be Shadow Archetype if the similarity was not just in backstory, but in that Aladdin had some of the impulses and drives that led Jafar to doing evil but tried to suppress or hide them.

Yeah, there are many things that could consist the part of a character they try to suppress and deny without that part of them being evil. Though there is certainly some overlap between Evil Counterpart and both Shadow Archetype and Mirror Character, I don't think either are redundant.

I wonder that Good Sounds Deep and Raspy could be Good Counterparts to their sister tropes. I need some assistance.

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