Examples Of Archetypes In The Death Of John

The first time I read The Death of John, I immediately recognized there were many archetypes within the words of the short story. An archetype is a typical character, an action or a situation that seems to represent such universal patterns of human nature. However, the short story does not limit itself to only one of these.
The story begins with a conversation between a doctor and a nurse in an Army hospital. The doctor is very blunt about a patient named John who has no chance of surviving. The situation is hopeless, and the doctor suggests that she be the person to deliver the terrible news. John is the stereotypical soldier who shows no signs of pain, although he is suffering the most. He does not desire to be a burden to those taking care

She experiences no physical pain but does encounter the emotional pain, which is more difficult to endure. She is hesitant at first because she is afraid that she will become too close to the patient, but the pros of helping John outweigh the cons. She admiringly takes some of the weight of his shoulders knowing that his death will be more significant.
John slowly transitions from the stubborn but polite individual into a man who understands he cannot do this alone. He is like a small child who needs his mother’s protection. He is hesitant to ask for help but then succumbs to the realization that certain paths are easier to traverse with another person by your side. He learns to share his pain and by doing so, his final days become easier to handle.
It is natural for human beings to help others in need. Some people will make it their mission to help anyone and even make a career out of it. Nursing is one profession that places the importance helping others above all else. The issue is that some people will not allow themselves to be helped. The nurturing trait is found in many women which will cause them to act as a mother figure to a certain degree. On the other hand, many men will not seek help since it may be seen as a sign of weakness. Regardless, people are inherently kind, but their environments sometimes alter or solidify the level of kindness that they show to