Trope vs. Archetype

"For me, there is a difference between a trope and an archetype. A trope is a writer’s device that often plays into stereotypes and presumed expectations, refusing to embody any originality of thought. An archetype is a fundamental human motif that exists in universal myth. I don’t mind inhabiting an archetype if it has been given life and interiority."

-Lupita Nyong'o, Why I Chose a "Small Play" Over the Big Screen