An archetype is a typical character, an action or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature. Many critics believe that certain myths, legends and fairy tales contain these universal patterns. For example, the story of Oedipus, who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother, is an example of the archetype of the tragic hero. The story of Cinderella, who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters but eventually finds love and happiness, is an example of the archetype of the Cinderella story.