Archetypes for "Crank" By Ellen Hopkins

           "Crank" By Ellen Hopkins is about a girl named "Kristina" also known as Bree. In the first part of the book she was a talented, smart, and gifted high school student. But as soon as she gets involved with drugs, alcohol, and boyfriends she changes.  

          There are many archetypes in this book. A character archetype is a person, place, or symbol. For example, I think the "shadow" archetype for this character would be "Bree" because she is the dark side of Kristina. Bree changed Kristina mentally, because she made Kristina make alot of bad decisions that led Kristina into dangerous scenarios. This turned Kristina into a whole different person. A good example of this is shown on page 243, when Kristina/Bree says, "And there was Bree, smiling seductively and I swear that poster boy smiled back. Bree was not an invention, not a stranger. Bree was the essence of me..." This shows that at first, Kristina thought Bree was fake and broken. For example, "Whatever she had done to me, for me, and basically in spite of me, she’d given me a whole new sense of self. I never knew I could play vamp, do it so well, flirt.”  This shows that Bree was the opposite of Kristina. Kristina thought of Bree as another person staring right back at her reflection. Bree not only changed her, she took over. 

       The archetype of the "shape shifter" in this book, would be Adam. The reason is because Kristina thought she loved him, thinking that she would spend the rest of her life with Adam. For example, on page 178, Kristina thinks, "I asked Adam to hold me, kiss me longer, harder. Oh god I love you. Begged him to help me remember the taste of love. How will I live without you?'' This shows that she thought he was her everything. But she realized she got betrayed after he saw Lince, and Adam really loved Lince instead of Kristina. For example, on page 227, " Lince is coming home. Let's see other people.' My face flushed tears poked my eyes, scar tissue twisted my heart, wrapped itself around arteries, closed tight around my jugular. I coughed pain." This shows that Kristina realized she was hurt because she felt that Adam had betrayed her. Kristina thought that he loved her. But apparently he wasn't the person she thought he was.

A “mother figure” in this book would be Kristina’s mother, because she has always taken care of her and comforted her. The mother cares for Kristina more than she cares for Kristina’s dad. For example, “I know I’m only your mom and I’m not always easy to talk to, but I’m here for you!” This shows that she is faithful to Kristina and wants to help her when she needs it. Kristina isn’t use to someone caring about what she does in her life, anymore. Also, on page 215, she thinks, “Lucky me! Mom’s kitchen was a whole lot better stocked than Dad’s. I’d almost forgotten how great a cook Mom was.” This shows that her mom does the best she can to make her daughter happy and healthy.