6. Julieta Madrigal - The Cast of Encanto and their Archetypes

Archetype: The Caregiver / The Soother / The Covert Healer

Julieta embodies the archetype of The Caregiver, not through grand gestures or overt emotional labor, but through quiet, constant presence. Her healing power—activated through food—serves as a direct metaphor for emotional attunement and the nurturing role many caretakers play in systems that undervalue them. She holds the family together, not by force but by service. Her nurturing is often unseen or taken for granted, a familiar reality for many who carry this archetype.

In Jungian terms, Julieta reflects the positive side of The Mother, as well as The Mentor—she is deeply wise, but does not seek control or recognition. In Internal Family Systems (IFS), Julieta shows signs of a well-regulated Self-like Part: calm, caring, and connected, especially when others are in pain. Unlike many in the family, she does not operate from fear or control. Her system seems more integrated, which allows her to serve without self-erasure.

That said, she may also carry Protector parts that are so focused on nurturing others that her own needs are neglected. This aligns with the 7 Inner Child Archetype of The Selfless Child, someone who learns that being good means always being available to soothe others. In this framing, her caregiving may be partially shaped by a burdened belief that her needs are secondary—or dangerous to express.

Julieta’s relationship with Mirabel is telling: she listens, affirms, and nourishes without trying to "fix" her. In this way, she contrasts with Alma and models secure attachment. Her emotional presence gives Mirabel space to discover her own path, making Julieta a kind of secure base—a foundational IFS dynamic where the presence of a non-reactive part allows for internal healing.

Julieta’s archetype does not require transformation as much as it asks for balance. It’s worth considering whether part of her nurturing instinct subtly relies on Agustín being in need—suggesting a Florence Nightingale-style dynamic, where caregiving reinforces her sense of identity and emotional value. Her healing gift is real, but it becomes even more powerful when it includes herself. If she were to shift from a caretaker who serves to one who also receives, she would fully embody the integrated Nurturing Mother—not just a healer of others, but a model of wholeness for herself. Julieta heals through nourishment, playing the quiet, consistent mother. Her archetype is The Nurturer, or in codependency terms, The Selfless One—often neglecting herself to care for others. She may be the only adult in the family who operates primarily from Self-energy (IFS).