The Library at Mount Char

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of cursing, sexual violence, rape, mental illness, child abuse, child sexual abuse, child death, death by suicide, animal cruelty and death, graphic violence, illness or death, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

The Library at Mount Char’s protagonist is Carolyn Sopaski, an approximately 30-year-old woman with a knack for planning and keeping secrets. She is ambitious, cunning, and so fixated on her agenda that she struggles to relate to others and is sometimes oblivious to their experiences. Skilled at reading people, Carolyn effectively uses manipulation tactics to gain cooperation toward her goals. Her intent is not malicious, but it shows a self-seeking disregard for people’s rights. Her statement—“I won. That’s the only rule I’m aware of” (306)—exemplifies this and associates her with the rebel archetype, a character who believes rules are meant to be broken and is often driven by a desire for revenge. She also shares traits with the ruler archetype. She’s obsessed with the pursuit of power and becomes consumed by it.

Several other archetypes can be seen in Carolyn’s story, imbuing it with a sense of the universal and profound. Her

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now