Conclusion – Archetypes as Mirrors, Not Boxes: What Encanto Reflects About Us All

Beyond labels and roles - using story to recognize, feel, and gently rewrite our inherited patterns

A woman with a thoughtful expression

Reading through these characters and their psychological echoes, many of us recognize pieces of ourselves. That’s the quiet power of archetypes: they give shape to what we often feel but cannot name. They are not labels to constrain us - but frameworks to observe how we adapted, how we coped, and how we still carry old strategies into new moments.

Modern psychology supports this: we are not one archetype. We are clusters of them - patterns learned in childhood, inherited through culture, shaped by trauma, and occasionally softened through love. In Internal Family Systems, these are our parts. In Jungian terms, they are aspects of the psyche. In family systems theory, they are roles we adopted for survival.

Growth does not come from rejecting these roles, but from recognizing them. When we bring awareness to the archetypes we inhabit—The Pleaser, The Strong One, The Invisible Child—we loosen their grip. We learn when they serve us, and when they were meant to protect us in times long gone.

The true transformation begins when we stop performing and start integrating. When we hold our inner cast of characters with curiosity instead of judgment. When we reclaim the authorship of our story from the scripts we inherited.
Because we are not here to play just one part—we are here to become whole.

ByJesper Jurcenoks

Ready to Explore Your Own Archetypes?

If you found yourself reflected in more than one of these characters, you're not alone. Most of us carry a constellation of roles that helped us survive—but may no longer help us thrive.
I offer one-on-one coaching sessions where we gently explore these internal patterns together—mapping your archetypes, uncovering your hidden protectors, and identifying the stories that still shape your life. Using frameworks like Jungian theory, Internal Family Systems, and trauma-informed inquiry, we’ll work toward clarity, integration, and self-leadership.

If you're ready to understand not just what you do but why, and how to grow beyond it—reach out.

Book a session here or contact me directly

Because healing starts when you recognize your own story—and begin rewriting it with intention.

By Jesper Jurcenoks
Join the Community

Next in the series

Encanto characters in a colorful scene

100 Years of Archetypes Hiding in Encanto

How a Disney Movie Helps Us Name Our Feelings: The Psychology Beneath Encanto

2025-06-17
Mirabel Madrigal sitting on a couch with a mirror reflecting C.G. Jung

1. Mirabel Madrigal The Scapegoat → The Self / The Cycle-Breaker / The Wounded Healer

Refusing the family script, questioning the roles, and revealing the cracks in the “perfect” system

2025-06-17
Abuela Alma Madrigal holding a candle with C.G Jung

2. Abuela Alma Madrigal – The Matriarch / The Protector / The Enforcer of Legacy

Clinging to control and tradition in the name of survival - but at the cost of emotional connection

2025-06-17
Luisa Madrigal sitting on a couch with a boulder on her shoulder with C.G Jung

3. Luisa Madrigal – The Strong One / The Rock / The Parentified Child

Carrying everyone's weight with a smile - while silently crumbling under pressure

2025-06-17
Isabela Madrigal sitting on a couch with a flower in her lap with C.G. Jung

4. Isabela Madrigal – The Golden Child / The Idealized Daughter / The False Self

Performing ideal femininity, harmony, and submission - while suffering inside

2025-06-17
Bruno Madrigal sitting on a couch with a crystal ball in his lap with C.G. Jung

5. Bruno Madrigal – The Black Sheep / The Shadow / The Dreamer / The Truth-Teller

Cast out for telling uncomfortable truths - and choosing isolation over betrayal of self

2025-06-17
Julieta Madrigal sitting on a couch with a spoon in her hand with C.G. Jung

6. Julieta Madrigal – The Caregiver / The Soother / The Covert Healer

Always tending to others’ wounds — while hiding her own needs and pain

2025-06-17
Pepa Madrigal sitting on a couch with a cloud over her head with C.G. Jung

7. Pepa Madrigal – The Storm / The Emotionally Expressive One / The Somatic Empath

Taught to suppress her moods for others’ comfort - but her weather still speaks the truth

2025-06-17
Dolores Madrigal sitting on a couch listening with C.G. Jung

8. Dolores Madrigal – The Invisible Child / The Holder of Secrets / The Watcher

Hearing everything but rarely heard herself — burdened by knowledge she cannot express

2025-06-17
Camilo Madrigal sitting on a couch with a mask in his hand with C.G. Jung

9. Camilo Madrigal – The Shapeshifter / Trickster / Comic Defender

Adapting to others' needs to belong - but unsure who he is beneath the masks

2025-06-17
Antonio Madrigal sitting on a couch with a toucan on his hand with C.G Jung

10. Antonio Madrigal – The Innocent / The Animal Whisperer / The Connector

Still untouched by the family’s dysfunction — but already carrying their hopes for healing

2025-06-17
Félix Madrigal getting out of the couch with C.G Jung applauding

11. Félix Madrigal – The Grounded Partner / Co-Regulator / Safe Masculine

Offering warmth and stability - while quietly managing the storm beside him

2025-06-17
Agustín Madrigal sitting on a couch with a bandaged hand with C.G Jung

12. Agustín Madrigal – The Accident-Prone One / Gentle Masculine / Disarming Supporter

Loving from the margins of the magic — using clumsiness to soften family tension

2025-06-17
Mariano Guzmán sitting on a couch with a rose in his hands with C.G Jung

13. Mariano Guzmán – The Romantic / The Idealized Masculine / The Sheltered Suitor

Cast as the perfect match - but longing to be seen for who he truly is

2025-06-17
Señora Guzmán sitting on a couch with a fan in her hand with C.G Jung

14. Señora Guzmán – The Status Seeker / Prestige Parent / Social Climber

Focused on image and alliance - mistaking reputation for love and protection

2025-06-17