If your story features powerful and compelling female characters, you may find you’ve written a Wild Woman or two.
As engaging as this archetype is, she can be tricky for writers to pin down in their narratives. Her wildness has the potential to set your entire story off in unexpected directions.
In this article, I’ll discuss how you can use this archetype to strengthen rather than confuse your story.
What is the Wild Woman Archetype?
The Wild Woman is possibly the most complex and least restrictive of all feminine archetypes. This makes her an exciting character to write.
There’s no clear definition on what a Wild Woman should look like, how she should act, or how you should write her. She’s essentially undefinable, which is exactly as she would wish to be!
She contains multitudes, able to borrow from other archetypes as she will. Your Wild Woman can include aspects of the Ruler, Caregiver, Mother, Lover, Crone, Huntress, Maiden, Outlaw, Rebel, Artist, Sage, or any other archetype you choose. She’s not a character to be easily tied down or summed up in a short sentence.
That said, let’s have a look at how we might define her, given her various possibilities and potential.
Wild Woman Definition
I’d argue that a character comes under the Wild Woman archetype when she’s in tune with her inner nature, intuition and instincts. Your typical Wild Woman will prioritise the wellbeing of herself, her loved ones, and the natural world, over and above the demands of conventional society.
Wild Woman Characteristics
There’s a variety of characteristics you could consider for your Wild Woman character. These include:
Instinctive and Intuitive
The Wild Woman has learned to listen to her conscience and intuition, and she gives these precedence over the demands others place on her. She won’t be dictated to about morality and ethics: she understands the difference between right and wrong deep within her core.
In Tune with Nature
The Wild Woman understands that we are of Nature, not separate from it. She stands against millennia of human civilisation, which have claimed that Nature is humanity’s possession to subdue and exploit.
The Wild Woman is usually against all forms of suppression and disempowerment, and believes everyone should be free to express their inner truth.
Creative and Mystical
The Wild Woman possesses an inherent creativity, which she needs to express. She may be an artist, or a spiritual mystic, or a wielder of magic.
Her artistry is linked with her understanding of her own inner vision and value, and this can make her seem threatening to more conventional characters.
Passionate, Loving, and Fierce
Patriarchal societies may prefer women to be tame, quiet, and in control of their appetites, but the Wild Woman has no time for such restrictions.
She may demonstrate her rebellious nature loudly, or she may quietly insist on following her passions–but she won’t allow anyone to keep her away from what she loves.
The Wild Women Archetype Examples
Vianne Rocher from Chocolat by Joanne Harris
A drifter, Vianne Rocher allows the wind to blow her where it will, until she eventually arrives with her daughter in a conservative small French town.
Vianne possesses a near-magical ability to understand both people and chocolate, always able to find the flavour that matches her client’s taste. Unfortunately, Vianne opens her chocolate shop just in time for Lent, bringing down the enmity of the local Catholic priest upon her.
Vianne’s a beautifully-drawn Wild Woman: in tune with her instincts, warm, and passionate about the things, people and places she loves. Polite society can’t control her.
She’s unwilling to be tied down, preferring instead to maintain her mystical connection to the elements.
These characteristics combine to make her the protagonist of a story filled with conflict, tension and a hint of magic. She’s a perfect example of the Wild Woman’s power to inspire engaging stories.
Beverley Brook in Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Beverley Brook is actually a River Goddess, rather than your typical Wild Woman, but she’s such a great example I couldn’t help including her. After all, there’s a little bit of the goddess in every Wild Woman.
Beverley’s not only a River Goddess, but also a charismatic Environmental Science scholar and mother to twins. She knows her own mind, fiercely protects those she loves, and is fully comfortable in her own power. Without a doubt, she’s a force to be reckoned with.
Languoreth in The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
Merlin’s forgotten sister, Languoreth, is the protagonist of this story, and she’s a gentler type of Wild Woman. Although Languoreth possesses an instinctive ability to communicate with ancient spirits, she’s barred from developing her healing abilities as her family needs her to marry for political stability.
But Languoreth is determined to find ways to break outside these social confines and be true to herself, her loves, and her abilities.
Wild Woman Archetype Writing Tips
Give Your Wild Woman a Convincing Backstory
As discussed, the Wild Woman is a complex character, in tune with her instincts and inner nature. She’s often inspiring, revealing to readers the depths of their own potential.
In order to make such a multi-faceted character believable and relatable, it’s important to spend time developing her backstory. How did she grow from a girl into this strong woman, capable of standing up for herself against societal expectations?
An inspiring Wild Woman doesn’t merely exist–she grows into herself through life experience and learning.
The story of how this woman became wild is key to developing her into an engaging character.
Give Her Strengths and Weaknesses
If your character is one-dimensional, she won’t be a Wild Woman. All of us have flaws and shadow sides, and because the Wild Woman leans towards authenticity and expression, she will doubtless be authentically and expressively flawed at times in your story.
For example: she may allow her passions to control her, or she may be overly critical of more conventional characters, or she may fail to understand others’ points of view.
Bring out all aspects of your Wild Woman and allow your reader to know and love her fully.
After all, the Wild Woman was never meant to be an angel. She’s not an archetype of perfection, but rather an archetype that understands how her essential humanity makes her powerful and strong.
If your Wild Woman happens to be a goddess or a non-human character, then we should still see the human aspects of her nature shine through. Otherwise, your readers may struggle to relate to her.
A great example here is Circe, in Madeline Miller’s retelling of the Greek myth. In Miller’s re-telling, Circe eventually gives up her divinity and becomes mortal in order to gain a life of love. This Wild Woman knows that it’s love, connection, nature, and humanity that gives her existence purpose.
Conclusion
If you’re writing a Wild Woman, both you and your readers are in for a ride.
As much as possible, try to familiarise yourself with other literary Wild Women, and see which characters speak most deeply to you.
If you’re looking for examples or discussions about great literary Wild Women, come join the Fictionary online community and start a discussion post about the topic.
Our community is filled with writers like you, who love discussing how best to write engaging stories and characters.