Archetypal characters are characters who embody one or more archetypes. For example, the protagonist of a story might be a heroic archetype who represents the triumph of good over evil. The antagonist could be a villainous archetype who represents the negative aspects of humanity.
Carl Jung, a famous philosopher and psychologist, popularized the idea of archetypes. He believed that archetypes are innate and universal, and that they manifest themselves in the arts, literature, dreams, and even our daily lives.