I've often thought that what can be interpreted as a reference to an archetype is more likely to be just a reflection of a good story teller knowing what interests the audience.

Wouldn't the good storyteller understand that archetypes are part of good storytelling and there by be making a conscious decision to draw such an allusion?

Maybe so. I don't know enough about Portis to judge whether he would draw on archetypes or just spin a yarn.

I don't find spinning a good yarn and drawing upon archetypes to be mutually exclusive ideas. Some of the most basic, straightforward storytelling is steeped in archetype.

I agree they are not mutually exclusive, but sometimes a good story teller, having no idea that there are archetypes or what they are or that anyone has even thought about stories in that way, will use them anyway.

Perhaps but I doubt very much that a writer such as Portis is ignorant of archetypes.