There are twelve main literary archetypes derived from Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung's findings. The Innocent is one of the twelve:
As the adjective indicates, the Innocent archetype, would represent a character who is innocent, naive and vulnerable as well as kind, honest and righteous. The character Marina from the play Pericles, Prince of Tyre — believed to be written in part by William Shakespeare and perhaps a collaborator George Wilkins — is an example of the Innocent.
Marina responds thus to Leonine who is tasked with killing her by his lady Dionyza, wife of Cleon, the governor of Tarsus:
Why would she have me kill'd? Now, as I can remember, by my troth, I never did her hurt in all my life: I never spake bad word, nor did ill turn To any living creature: believe me, la, I never kill'd a mouse, nor hurt a fly: I trod upon a worm against my will, But I wept for it. How have I offended, Wherein my death might yield her any profit, Or my life imply her any danger?
[IV.i.80-89]
Marina's defence fits squarely with the qualities attributed to the Innocent. She comes across as naive, vulnerable, kind, honest and righteous.
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