The Sidekick Archetype

The sidekick archetype is rich with nuance and emotional resonance. They are more than just a tagalong; they are the emotional ballast, the sounding board, and often the moral compass of the protagonist.

Common traits of these individuals are loyalty, the 'supportive' role, comic relief, and emotional depth with perspective. Think of these sidekicks like Dr. John Watson from Sherlock Holmes, Ron from Harry Potter, or Donkey from Shrek.

The symbolism behind these characters is conscience, anchor, and reflection. When the protagonist comprises something, the sidekick questions or grounds the 'hero' in personal values and community.

In storytelling, they serve to be vulnerable, intensifying the stakes at hand. They provide a stark contrast to the protagonist and complement the protagonist's personality, often evolving in parallel to the protagonist.

But these characters leave readers aching for more - they fear being left behind, overshadowed; a fear shared by most readers. They ache to be known as well.

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