An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde

Fe: Sir Robert is an exceptional communicator, and adapts his behavior to circumstance. He knows how to figure out what he wants and changes his language and behavior to fit the needs of others. He exaggerates his flattery when he has to and tones it down when others don’t need it. He’s not very stubborn, and easily agrees to change his position on arguments when coerced. Like most of Wilde’s characters, Sir Robert is morally flexible. He doesn’t make up his own moral code, but rather, molds himself to fit other people’s desires. Continue reading →

Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen

Dominant Fe: Lizzie is a tease, and she knows how to joke without being offensive (though not everyone gets her sense of humor). She teases so often that she even has a tough time being serious when her sister wants a serious answer from her. She always states her feelings expressly, but does so in a disguised joking manner so that others can’t tell her true feelings. As a result, it takes her ages to learn how to communicate with Mr. Darcy, who is blunt and straight forward in his talk. Lizzie is a romantic and would never marry for money. She is easily insulted, and openly shares her prejudice with others. She becomes friends with Mr. Wickham purely because she shares his resentment for Mr. Darcy.

Auxiliary Ni: Though Lizzie considers herself an excellent judge of other’s character, her opinions of others are often based off of false impressions and born out of her emotions. She stubbornly refuses to change her opinions, and as a result, it takes her a long time to see what people are truly like. Lizzie thinks long term, aiming for a happy marriage, rather than a financially enlightening one. She also considers how her behavior will impact her family’s reputation and doesn’t always approve of her sister’s behavior. When she realizes her faults, she changes for good. She does everything within her power to put right any wrongs she has done and fervently goes after what she believes is right.

Tertiary Se: Lizzie enjoys nature and makes time for lengthy walks and attending parties. She has little problem adjusting to group dynamics, and can converse easily with just about anyone. She is impatient and does not necessarily like to sit still for long periods of time. She pays close attention to her environment and watches other people’s behavior to try to judge their character. She is adaptable to change and willingly steps in to help others at the last minute (for instance, walking miles to visit her ill sister). Her adaptability carries over into conversation, where she acts to prevent uncomfortable topics from continuing.

Inferior Ti: Lizzie has a difficult time differentiating between truth and her own prejudices. She does not stop to consider other people’s perspectives until she realizes her own faults, and this often takes a long time, because she typically sees herself in a very positive light. In general, she has trouble accepting other people’s criticisms about herself and the people she loves. She doesn’t readily recognize the logical reasons for Darcy’s actions and as a result, she assumes that he is cruel and inconsiderate.

I’ve seen Lizzie typed as an INFJ in many places. However, I believe that if this were the case, her difficulties in understanding Mr. Darcy’s introverted tendencies would not have been so great.