Examples Of Archetypes In For One More Day

A Mother’s Love

Archetypes can always be found throughout any type of literature. They help guide and create everlasting stories that stick with the readers for a lifetime. Archetypes in Mitch Albom’s novel For One More Day create a deep philosophical tale of a man and his mother’s relationship throughout his life. An archetype such as the journey is present with Charles “Chick” Benetto following his dead mother and trying to figure out what’s happening and his place in life. Pauline “Patty” Benetto also shows the character archetype for the mentor; always being a good role model for her son and guiding him throughout the novel. Another major archetype is the crossroad where Chick is able to realize his mother has never hated him and

In For One More Day the“hero” Chick meets his dead mother again after he attempts suicide and goes with her to each of her “appointments” at her clients’ houses. Each appointment consists of a figure in Chick’s life who, whether directly or indirectly, was a part of it. Along with these visits, flashbacks of Chick’s childhood are shown. At the first “appointment” we meet Rose who was a client of his mother’s. While Rose was getting her hair done, the two women discuss how children get to a point where they’re embarrassed by their parents and act out harshly in response. While shampooing Rose’s hair, his mother laughs and says towards Chick, “Remember, Charley. Sometimes, kids want you to hurt the way they hurt.” (89) This line then leads to Chick recalling times he was rude to his mother. The archetype the journey is an efficient way to tell Chick’s story. By going on a “journey” with his mother, Chick is able to discover and understand more about himself and his mother then he ever did before. He was able to have closure by finding the “truth”and ultimately saving himself from death and once again

Chick is no exception. Pauline “Patty” Benetto is the exact definition of mentor. She’s always been there for Chick, even through all the harsh things he’s done to her, and has given him on more than one occasion good advice to help him grow. When Chick first sees Patty again, she leads him to a tree where the words ‘please’ are carved into. She begins to tell him how when his father and her tried for a child she couldn’t get pregnant. In a last ditch attempt, she carved a prayer into a tree, since trees are always looking up at God. Patty puts her hand on the carving and claims, “So now you know you know how badly someone wanted you. Children forget that sometimes. They think of themselves as a burden instead of a wish granted.” (73) Patty’s wise and kind words help convince Chick that he wants to live and make right with the rest of his family. Her influence is also what leads Chick on the stepping stones to forgiveness. Without Patty, Chick wouldn’t have been able to forgive himself and would have died after his suicide