Much like Paul Revere announced the British were on their way to do battle in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, the Herald archetype in storytelling announces change and transformation to the major character.
The Herald places the protagonist on a state of alert, tells him or her how to read the signs, “One if by land, two if by see.” They warn the central character to be on guard. New things are coming her or his way.
The Herald not only notifies of coming transformation. He or she also declares the need for change, that the old ways of maneuvering through life and surviving no longer work. The Herald can appear as a dream or operate in a letter.
The Herald also amplifies what the Mentor archetype has seeded, by motivating and urging the protagonist to enjoin her or his personal power and decision making with those of the anticipated and required adaptation and evolution inherent for the survival of the central character.
Like the Guardians of the Threshold, the Herald also bids and dares the protagonist to meet the challenge wrought by the oncoming change.
Entrance of the Herald‘s energy starts the dominoes toppling. The cause-and-effect aspect of the plot begins to drive the story along.
The energy of the Herald usually it appears in the story at the beginning, but since stories embody change, the Herald can enter at any time. Likewise any character can assumed the role and mask of the Herald.
How important in your stories is the act of awakening your characters to the advent of change?
What are some of the changes and evolutions around which the stories and novels (those written and/or read) have turned and swiveled?