ABSTRACT
In order to clarify the use of archetype, consider an actor who has chosen the goddess “Diana.” This goddess was a celibate huntress, revered for her ability to assist women in childbirth. If she is chosen as the archetype, the actor in question would do gestures and corporeal movements involving hunting, catching, and slaughtering, as well as assisting in birth. Diana is an archetype, as opposed to a stereotype, because she contains opposing energies, in this case, birth versus slaughter.
