Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Mafia Don

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different archetypes to come up with interesting new versions. The result is a sizable pool of character tropes that we see from one story to another.

Archetypes and tropes are popular storytelling elements because of their familiarity. Upon seeing them, readers know immediately who they’re dealing with and what role the nerd, dark lord, femme fatale, or monster hunter will play. As authors, we need to recognize the commonalities for each trope so we can write them in a recognizable way and create a rudimentary sketch for any character we want to create.

But when it comes to characters, no one wants just a sketch; we want a vibrant and striking cast full of color, depth, and contrast. Diving deeper into character creation is especially important when starting with tropes because the blessing of their familiarity is also a curse; without differentiation, the characters begin to look the same from story to story.

But no more. The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus allows you to outline the foundational elements of each trope while also exploring how to individualize them. In this way, you’ll be able to use historically tried-and-true character types to create a cast for your story that is anything but traditional.

DESCRIPTION: This patriarch of a crime family is cutthroat, calculating, fiercely loyal, and holds to a deeply ingrained moral code that may not translate for others.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Don Vito Corleone (The Godfather), Tony Soprano (The Sopranos), Carmine Falcone (the DC Universe)

COMMON STRENGTHS: Analytical, Bold, Confident, Courageous, Decisive, Focused, Industrious, Loyal, Observant, Patient, Persistent, Private, Proactive, Protective, Responsible, Traditional

COMMON WEAKNESSES: Abrasive, Callous, Confrontational, Controlling, Devious, Evasive, Hostile, Inflexible, Manipulative, Obsessive, Prejudiced, Pushy, Sleazy, Stubborn, Suspicious, Temperamental, Unethical, Vindictive, Violent

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Being a strong leader
Being loyal to their family and expecting unquestioning loyalty in return
Commanding respect
Following a specific code of ethics and expecting their family to do the same
Viewing their crime family as blood family
Displaying wealth and living an opulent lifestyle
Thinking critically and strategically
Pandering to, blackmailing, and coercing people in high places who can be of use to the family
Having few (or no) people they are truly vulnerable with
Using violence and intimidation to achieve their goals

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM
Another crime lord horning in on their territory or criminal niche
Being betrayed by someone they’ve been grooming to replace them
Coming under intense investigation by law enforcement

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO…
Is reluctant to take over the role of don because they lack the necessary ruthlessness and cunning
Is a strong and capable female don
Has an atypical trait: Empathetic, Nervous, Needy, Sentimental, Trusting, etc.

CLICHÉS TO BE AWARE OF
The traditional Italian-American, cigar-smoking mob boss who lavishes care on his family while maintaining his position in the community with an iron fist
The ruthless and violent don with a spiderweb of connections within corrupt law enforcement

Other Type and Trope Thesaurus entries can be found here.

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