theatre mbti

finding the myers briggs types of characters from theatre, four letters at a time.

[theatrembti]

Hello all!

After some deliberation and reflection, I have come to the conclusion that my schedule doesn’t really allow for regular updates on this blog. I love Theatre MBTI so, so much, and i don’t want to say I’m throwing this project away after all this time. 

Thus, I am officially changing my expected contribution to this blog from regular updates - one to two typings weekly - to posting whenever I find the inspiration and desire to make a new typing. 

I can’t promise any specific numbers or timings. But I’m not giving up this blog entirely.

Thank you for all for the support over the years!

- Rebecca

[theatrembti]

Antigone (ENFP) and Ismene (ISFJ) from Antigone by Rebecca

ENFP: Ne Fi Te Si ISFJ: Si Fe Ti Ne The relationship between the two sisters in Antigone is one of the most complex in the play, with their conflicting worldviews driving much of the action. The differences and similarities alike between Ismene and Antigone are reflected in their MBTI types, which are near function flips of one another. Antigone's dominant function - extroverted intuition (Ne) - is Ismene's inferior function, forming one of their foundational differences. Antigone is naturally idealistic and ready to look beyond the present, into new opportunities and ideas. Ismene, on the other hand, is prone to worrying - what Antigone sees as potential for good and change is what Ismene sees as danger and trouble. The distance between these two functions creates a deep tension between Antigone and Ismene, one risk-taking and one risk-adverse, one angry at the other for her fear. Both Antigone and Ismene have feeling functions in the auxiliary position: Antigone has introverted feeling (Fi) and Ismene has extroverted feeling (Fe). Ismene fits into the roles set out for her, caring and careful and trying not to go against the grain until her love for Antigone overcomes her fears. Antigone, on the other hand, has established her own system of right and wrong, one that she believes is higher than any mortal law. This again creates a clash between sisters: though they both show deep reverence and loyalty to family, Ismene is not initially willing to step past the laws and morals set in Thebes and Antigone cannot even begin to understand this mindset. Similarly to feeling, thinking functions fall in the tertiary position for both sisters: Ismene's introverted thinking (Ti) and Antigone's extroverted thinking (Te). Antigone is more able and willing to bring her thoughts and intentions to life, acting as a leader as she takes action to bury her brother. Ismene's intelligence is more quiet, as she internalizes the situation and assesses ideas within before acting. Antigone's thought process is clear and external, whereas Ismene's is obscured - especially as she asks to die alongside Antigone and claims guilt for the burial. Just as her inferior function was Antigone's dominant, Ismene's dominant introverted sensing (Si) is her sister's inferior. Ismene knows the way things have always been, and wants them to stay that way in spite of everything that has happened in her family and in Thebes. Antigone has a longing for this, too, with an intense loyalty to her family, but uses change and action as a way to get there. Their desire to stay loyal to their family and the way things once were is shared, yet manifesting distinctly through their other functions (mostly Ne and Fi/Fe). Much of what Ismene and Antigone prize and want is similar: they want loyalty to their family, a return to a world that feels right, a way to move forward. But through their individual MBTI types, they approach these goals in distinct ways, clashing and complementing one another along the way.

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[theatrembti]

Jane Seymour from Six ESFJ by Rebecca requested by anonymous

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) "Jane Seymour, the only one he truly loved.  When my son was newly born, I died. But I'm not what I seem, or am I? Stick around and you'll suddenly see more." Jane Seymour's focus is outward towards other people, appealing to them with sympathy and affection. The most important thing in her life is her family, the people that she loves, both Henry and her son. She presents herself as a support system for them, finding happiness by sharing her love with them. Additionally, she is deeply engaged in connecting with the audience on an emotional level. She is willing to bring her intense feelings to the surface to share them with the audience and compel them to see her side.

Introverted Sensing (Si) "But I took your hand, promised I'd withstand any blaze you blew my way. 'Cause something inside it solidified and I knew I'd always stay." Jane Seymour has a specific image of having a family, and spends her life making herself into someone who can be fixed at the core of that life. She is defined by her loyalty, by her steadiness in times of hardship and chaos, by her "Heart of Stone." She puts herself in one place where she guarantees she will stay, no matter what comes her way or changes. She desires a domestic life of stability and family, though she knows on some level that it is not going to last forever. In "Six," her ideal future is shown to be having a happy family that makes music together.

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) "You've got a good heart, but I know it changes. A restless tide, untameable. You came my way, and I knew a storm could come too. You'd lift me high, or let fall." For all her dreams of a happy, stable life, Jane Seymour is able to embrace new ideas in the world beyond what is already apparent. She shows a playful and excitable side, ready to imagine new possibilities of the future.  When given the opportunity to create new ideas, she takes it without sacrificing her foundational desires. She wants people to go beyond immediate impressions and consider deeper possibilities. Part of the reason she is taking part in the competition between queens is to show who she is beyond what people already know.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) "You could perhaps call us the Tudor Von Trapps. I'm just kidding! We're called the Royalling Stones." Jane Seymour primarily extends her energy outwards toward others, but she shows that she is capable of turning within. She is able to analyze the facts of her life, always through the lens of her emotional connections. Early in her relationship with Henry, she is able to see that things may go wrong or end completely, but decides to stay regardless. Within her life, she shows little concern for herself, more focused on those she loves, especially her son. Her care for others defines her and thus forms her internal structure.

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[theatrembti]

Hey guys! Idk if this will make sense but how can you differentiate between INFP and ISFJ? They seem similar, especially in theatre. Thanks!

Hello!

Interestingly enough, INFPs and ISFJs have only have their functions in common! To be specific: INFPs are Fi, Ne, Si, Te; and ISFJs are Si, Fe, Ti, Ne. I’ll explain a bit.

The biggest difference in my opinion is between Fi (introverted feeling) and Fe (extroverted feeling). Essentially, the former is all about how I feel, and the latter is about how everyone else feels. 

I just did a typing of Lydia from Beetlejuice as an INFP - she doesn’t want to fit into what others want for her, she wants authenticity to her own feelings. Compare that to the last ISFJ I typed, Velma from Octet, who is immensely worried about aligning to the feelings and perceptions of others. There’s also a greater tendency for ISFJs to openly express their emotions through Fe, whereas INFPs with Fi keep them in. 

The other major difference comes in their shared functions, Si (introverted sensing) and Ne (extroverted intuition). Si is all about the past, about maintaining a certain amount of stasis and stability, and self-awareness of bodily condition. Ne is about all of the potential opportunities of the future, far more abstract. 

Often you’ll see Ne manifest in ISFJ characters as worrying, because it’s their inferior function. But INFPs use it far more easily and healthily, focusing on the possibilities and opportunities in the world. Likewise, ISFJs use Si naturally and healthily, whereas INFPs are more prone to developing unhealthy grips on the past. 

So, Lydia and Velma once again. Lydia takes on a number of plans and is excited by new opportunities in her life, however, due to grief is in a place that causes her to unhealthily cling onto the past. Velma shows a great amount of loyalty, with a focus on her body, and tends to worry worry worry when other ideas come into her life. 

I would always look for Fi vs. Fe first if I’m trying to decide between if a character is INFP or ISFJ. Sometimes because of that inferior Ne manifesting in numerous “what if’s”, it can be hard to tell the difference at first. 

I was going to link to a character dynamics post between Ismene (ISFJ) and Antigone (ENFP, but lots of overlap with INFP), but it turns out I never made it. Oops. Look for that in the future.

I hope this helps!

- Rebecca

[theatrembti]

Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice INFP by Rebecca requested by anonymous

Introverted Feeling (Fi) "I myself am strange and unusual." Lydia keeps her emotions close and lets them guide her through her life, even if she rarely expresses those feelings loudly. She feels quite deeply, especially in her time of grief, and resents that people such as father try to twist her feelings into something else. Her refusal to perform the feelings that others want from her, instead staying true to what she feels. She senses herself as different from others, with a fixation on death and numerous idiosyncrasies. There is not a sense of shame in her differences, rather, it seems Lydia enjoys and fully embodies what makes her different much of the time.

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) "The sound of a scream is music to me, a sound that says fifteen years full-time therapy." Lydia is able to see and assess opportunities in the world, often looking for something exciting and unusual. She is willing to try a number of different plans to get her father to acknowledge what has happened to her mother. She entertains the idea of working with Beetlejuice, but ends up working with the Maitlands at the dinner party. Once she gives in to Beetlejuice's antics, she finds great joy and excitement in frightening visitors to the house. She takes a chance on something new and unusual, and ends up finding it both thrilling and fulfilling.

Introverted Sensing (Si) "Mom, I've got my heart in my hand. Speak to me and I'll understand. One little word to know I'm not alone, and show me the way back home." Before the events of the show, Lydia was used to a certain kind of stasis that she wants to find again in her own way. She is uncomfortable with the numerous changes that have slipped into her life after her mother passes away. From moving to a new house to Delia becoming engaged to her father, she is made upset by certain changes. She struggles immensely with the loss of her mother, finding that her grief makes it difficult for her to move away from her past. Throughout the show she asks her mother for a sign of her presence, wanting at least some kind of return to their life together.

Extroverted Thinking (Te) "Gee, I hate to break it to you. The universe is just the contents of time, matter and space. Ninety-one billion light-years across and the Earth's a small place where good people die." Lydia is guided primarily by emotion, and tends to keep her plans to herself and those she chooses to trust. She believes that she has little control of the world, taking a pessimistic view toward how the universe works as demonstrated in "No Reason." Objective facts are used to motivate and validate her emotional state, especially in her primarily introverted state of grief. She shows a great deal of planning and plotting, usually in the service of achieving her emotional goals of being seen and having her father acknowledge their loss. Her plans usually involve a fair amount of spontaneity through different opportunities (Ne), with her feelings sometimes overriding logic (Fi).

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[theatrembti]

Catherine Parr from Six ENTJ by Rebecca requested by anonymous

Extroverted Thinking (Te) "Remember that I was a writer - I wrote books and psalms and meditations, fought for female education so all my women could independently study scripture." Catherine Parr is deeply intelligent, able to approach the world from a logical standpoint. She demonstrates a kind of leadership as she presents her ideas about the queens and history, causing the others to follow her example and take back their narrative. Standing up for herself and her ideas comes naturally in such a way that others cannot help but see and listen to her. She specifically fights for education, with her own strong background in writing as a point of guidance. She is drawn to pursuits that require her to use thought, and is effective in doing this work.

Introverted Intuition (Ni) "Why can't I tell that story? 'Cause in history, I'm fixed as one of six, and without him I disappear." Catherine Parr sees beyond her own time and place, finding her place in a larger picture. She knows where she will end up in history: as one of Henry VIII's six wives, with her own accomplishments diminished. Her understanding of history takes on a larger context, allowing her to intuit that her story will disappear amidst those of the other wives. She wants people to see her for her accomplishments and to dig deeper into the stories of the queens. It is not just that she wants to look deeper for her own means, but to have others follow and work on a deeper level.

Extroverted Sensing (Se) "I've got no choice. With the King I stay alive. Never had a choice, been a wife twice before, just to survive." Rarely acting without thinking first, Catherine Parr tends to adapt to the situation without risking her own livelihood. She avoids speaking out against Henry in spite of her own feelings, knowing it will lead to no good. Her thoughts are intense and impassioned, but she holds them back knowing that there could be massive consequences. She knows that the world she lives in is one where she must do things she does not want in order to ensure her survival, including getting married. The world she lives in is one that is not kind to women, and she is able to adapt and shift to ensure that she stays standing.

Introverted Feeling (Fi) "Heard all about these rockin' chicks, loved every song and each remix. So I went out and found them and we laid down an album. Now I don't need your love - all I need is SIX!" Catherine Parr has a depth of emotion within her, even if it is not immediately apparent from how she carries herself. She cares deeply about the man she was with, Thomas Seymour, before Henry plucked her out of her life. She feels deep love and loyalty, but knows that sometimes those feelings have to be pushed aside so that she can survive. For the most part, she stays out of the conflicts between the queens, only coming forward when it is her turn to share. The feelings of the audience and her potential to lead the band is far less important to her than her personal morals and thoughts that she finally gets a chance to share.

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[theatrembti]

Joan from Far Away ISFP by Rebecca

Introverted Feeling (Fi) "If he looks into it a bit more we could expose the corrupt financial basis of how the whole hat industry is run, not just this place, I bet the old whole industry is dodgy." Above all else, Joan wants to do the right thing - something that stems from within. From her childhood, she wants to be a part of the side that is helping things get better, as seen in her conversations with her aunt. She probes deeper and deeper until her aunt gives her answers that suit her moral compass: that he was in the right, that the people he was hurting were bad, that she is now something bigger with which she can help. Once she is grown, she holds Todd to the moral standards he sets up during their time together in the hatmaking facility. Joan is frustrated when he seems to avoid acting on the corruption that he's told her about, wanting fully for something to be done to fix the way things are.

Extroverted Sensing (Se) "I got down from the tree. i went to the lorry after I looked in the window of the shed. " Joan is both deeply curious and deeply creative, highly attached to the sensory world. When she hears screaming outside of her window, she decides to go out and investigate. Though what is happening is deeply disturbing, she searches until she can see what is going on, and doesn't let anything push her away from discovery. Later, she is shown to be deeply skilled at making hats, so much that her work wins in the first week. She demonstrates proficiency with art, talking about shape, color, and other visual aesthetic aspects.

Introverted Intuition (Ni) "When you've just stepped in you can't tell what's going to happen. The water laps round your ankles in any case." Joan is interested in delving behind immediate appearances and looking at the bigger picture. She is quick to realize that her aunt is not telling the whole story about what is going on with her uncle. Though young, she is able to intuit that there is something more, and she does not stop until she is able to get this fuller understanding. This continues in her adulthood as she is suspicious of conflict and corruption on a larger level, whether in her time hatmaking or in the war. She wonders if all the parades are corrupt, and in the war finds reasons to suspect that anyone and anything could be her enemy.

Extroverted Thinking (Te) "You make me think in different ways. Like I'd never have thought about how this place is run and now I see how important it is." Joan ultimately feels powerless to change the world, relying on the thoughts of others to make her own judgments. Both Harper and Todd share their thoughts about the world with her, deeply informing her own approach and mindset. Through them, she is able to form a worldview where she believes she is truly seeing the larger picture and she is doing something to help, when really the world is far out of her control. When she returns to Harper's house at the end of the play, she displays a sense of helplessness against the forces of the world. She is exhausted, suspicious of everything, trying desperately to do what's right but truly only able to survive after failing to realize the real problems with her world.

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[theatrembti]

Karly from Octet ENFJ by Rebecca requested by anonymous

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) "I could be so good at love." Karly's internet addiction stems from her desire to find connection with others, which manifests through dating apps. Though she points out many of the issues with dating apps, she still wants to find true intimacy and love. Her prime motivation is finding someone outside of herself to share affection with, driven by a strong sense of loneliness. She takes on emotional weight through speaking to others, worried that the men she interacts with might be radicalized if she rejects them. Her concerns go far beyond her personal needs, as she moves into a sense of care and responsibility for others.

Introverted Intuition (Ni) "I am in a field. The field is beautiful and bright, beyond wrong and right. I will meet you there..." Even though she struggles to find it, Karly has a clear image of where she wants to be in life and love. She knows how her dating app interactions are almost all going to pan out, and yet continues in search of finding the perfect person anyway. She has a vision of herself in a perfect relationship, fully in love, and continues working towards it to her own detriment. She sees patterns in the world, such as likening the process of going through dating apps to gambling. These patterns also include her seeing the potential for radicalization after men are rejected, and problems with sex that are connected to porn.

Extroverted Sensing (Se) "Well I would love to pay attention to you, but I simply can’t. I might have an invite, I might have a coupon, I might have a snippet." Like many of the others at the support group, in-the-moment gratification from a phone draws Karly in, while she has trouble connecting with the real world. She talks specifically about sex and how it has become so flattened due to porn. She views sex as something that should be heightened and foster a true connection between people, rather than just a sensual event. Notifications and messages on her phone inevitably end up drawing her farther away from the real world. Getting a momentary rush is something that keeps her coming back to dating apps and the Internet in general.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) "The arousal of uncertainty, the irresistible pull of variable schedule rewards, wading through the fuckboy thot seeker incel catfish creepers and stumbling sophomore poetry magazine rejects. I get so lonely after swiping." Karly is deeply intelligent and willing to analyze herself and her situations, but never to the point she is fully able to overcome her problems. She demonstrates self-awareness about her problems, and links it back to her mother's gambling addiction. She is able to analyze how dating apps work and how they keep her coming back in as she keeps on coming back in. Her awareness that the dating apps are bad for her are likely what brought her to the support group. She has realized the importance of getting out of her own head and sharing her experience with others, as dating apps ended up isolating in spite of their purpose.

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[theatrembti]

Arthur from Camelot ENTP by Rebecca

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) "You mean that a king who fought a dragon, hacked him in two and fixed his wagon, goes to be wed in terror and distress? Yes." King Arthur is defined by his idealism and his desire to move Camelot in a new direction. He is unsettled about the state of Camelot when he decides to try something entirely new in the form of the Knights of the Round Table. His thoughts turn toward a big picture where he can take all of the might in the world and channel it into something great that solidifies him as a great king of a great civilization. He often thinks in a number of different directions and then evaluates them, such as when he makes propositions after realizing Guenevere and Lancelot are in love. Though never veering fully into a realm of chaos, his thoughts tend to branch outward from a given area.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) "I have been informed by those who know them well, they find relief in quite a clever way." Arthur is quite analytical, choosing to filter everything through his own thoughts first. When Arthur first appears in a tree, he self-analyzes his fear over getting married and the gossip surrounding it. He takes an objective look at his own thoughts and feelings even as they start to spiral out of his control. He frames his own thoughts as propositions, taking a logical approach to everything that goes through his head. His thoughts have their own unique framing that tends toward the pragmatic, even in emotional moments.

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) "The way to handle a woman is to love her, simply love her." Though typically sticking to logic, Arthur demonstrates a great depth of care for others. His love for Guenevere is one of the driving forces of the show. He cares so deeply about her that he at first overlooks the signs that she is in love with Lancelot, until he can no longer ignore it. He is prone to being swayed by the emotions of others, from his wife to Lancelot to Mordred. Arthur is open to other people's ideas, even when it ends up working to his detriment.

Introverted Sensing (Si) "I know it sounds a bit bizarre, but in Camelot, Camelot, that's how conditions are." In his pursuit of improving Camelot, Arthur attempts to set a new normal. During the song "Camelot," Arthur proudly explains the great way things are and how they should continue in the same way. He has built up an understanding of the way things should be that is guided deeply by the past. After all has gone awry, Arthur tells young Tom to carry on the story of Camelot. He wants the tale to be carried forward even as Camelot itself fades into the past.

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[theatrembti]

Creon from Antigone ESTJ by Rebecca Note: quotes from Richard Emil Braun translation

Extroverted Thinking (Te) “Nothing is worse than lack of leadership. It destroys nations, drives men from their homes, smashes armies, makes allies defect. But when men are ruled right their obedience to authority saves their lives.” As leader of Thebes, Creon asserts his power and influence over the city and its people through logic and enforcement. He believes fully in the importance of strong leadership, pressing that authority is necessary for a peaceful and stable society. He feels that this a role that he is equipped to take on by having a strong, heavy hand, in spite of being thrown into the role. Logic always comes over emotion for him, as he urges his son Haemon to push aside his feelings for Antigone. He says that Antigone has gotten under Haemon’s skin and refuses to bend to any of the arguments that he labels as flawed emotion.

Introverted Sensing (Si) “Enemies and friends are two different things, and dying doesn’t reconcile them.” Creon is dedicating to restoring peace and order to Thebes, sticking to strict ideas. Acquiring the throne after Thebes facing immense chaos, he speaks on the notion of bringing stability by rejecting any kind of step out of line. He labels Polyneices a rebel, and shows his disdain for such behavior by refusing to give him a proper burial. He refuses to let other people’s thoughts and ideas in, even when they are coming from his own son. He commits fully to the structure and beliefs he has already built up in the past, avoiding flexibility and change at an ultimate cost.

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) “I know it. I know. I’m not sure any more. It’s terrible to give in. What can I do?” Creon avoids change and discrepancies at almost any cost, until everything crumbles underneath him. He places himself in stark opposition to the chaos that Polyneices brought to Thebes, labeling him a rebel and condemning him. He describes his own leadership as necessary to avoid the muddy and messy events of the past, even though his stubbornness are causing immense problems. He only yields when he feels there is no other choice, as Tirisias says that his actions will lead to immense destruction. Even in those moments, he struggles with the idea of forgoing what he has already established, avoiding a sense of weakness.

Introverted Feeling (Fi) “This is an example of my thinking. I shall never let criminals excel good men in honor. I shall honor the friends of the state while they live, and when they die.” Creon has his own highly binary ideas of right and wrong that he refuses to bend. He creates a strict distinction between friend and enemy, and applies this to Polyneices and Eteocles after their death. He considers this a moral certainty, to the point he refuses to take in any of Antigone’s arguments to the contrary. The only thing that truly drives Creon from his set ideas is his family, as when he loses both Eurydice and Haemon he finally reverses his decisions. He prays for death, only realizing his faults when it is too late and he has lost the only ones who truly cares about.

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[theatrembti]

Type 8: The Challenger Wing 9: The Peacemaker

Creon is a type 8, believing in absolute control through his own leadership. His first major edict as ruler of Thebes takes a hard stance against chaos and tries to force events into a certain path. His ideal of strong leadership as the best way to take a city forward is thus manifested early and intensely. He reacts poorly when Antigone and others disobey him, finding himself lost when he does not have a strong grasp on the situation. Her disobedience - and the reverberations it has throughout Thebes - threaten him immensely, hitting him in his major fear of losing control.

Creon's wing is 9, demonstrated in how he attempts to cultivate peace and structure among the people of Thebes. He appeals to the city's desire for calm after the war, certain his harsh measures will be able to provide this. Not burying Polyneices is cruel and violent by many perspectives, but in Creon's mind it is a way to separate friend from enemy and reinforce peace. He is initially friendly towards Tiresias and tries to dissuade Ismene from supporting her sister. His instinct is to gather support for his leadership first, and then become more forceful only when people show that they do not support him.

[theatrembti]

Joanne from Company ENTJ by Owen requested by dotty-otley and anonymous Note: Because I don't have access to the 2019 West End script, this is based off of the original production. However, Joanne uses the same functions in both versions of the show.

Extroverted Thinking (Te) "Tell him to take yours back and get the money. It's not the gift, it's the cost that counts." Joanne is direct and to the point, taking no prisoners as she moves through life in what makes (supposedly) logical sense to her. She often disregards the feelings of others and the civil expectations of society to uphold a commanding presence, such as her constant teasing of Larry and her introduction to Jenny. Joanne doesn't beat around the bush with her views on the world, best seen through "The Ladies Who Lunch" and the scenes that come before and after it.

Introverted Intuition (Ni) "Look into their eyes and you'll see what they know: everybody dies." Joanne is fully fixated on the future, but unlike many characters with auxiliary Ni, it is out of fear that she will inevitably turn into the exact kind of woman she hates as she gets older. As shown during "The Ladies Who Lunch", she begins with mocking those who lavishly wear hats and go out with their friends to gossip, but descends into a breakdown as she looks into the deeper meaning and realizes that she is not any better; instead, she is "just watching," waiting for life to come to a close.

Extroverted Sensing (Se) "It's sharing little winks together, drinks together, kinks together, that make marriage a joy." Although Joanne finds many deeper meanings when it comes to her wry observations of everyday life, it is clear that she can find joy in the thrills of the moment. She cares a great deal about her physical appearance, presenting herself as very fashionable and luxurious. Joanne enjoys going out on the town - even if she pokes fun at everyone there - and enjoys sex. This is showcased in one of the show's pivotal moments as she proposes to Robert that they have an affair when Larry isn't home.

Introverted Feeling (Fi) "Are they staring at me? Let 'em stare." Joanne has incredibly strong feelings about New York society, but struggles with inner turmoil as she keeps her internal emotions bunched up inside. She tries very hard to portray herself as not caring about other people's, or her own, sentiments, but instead it becomes clear that she is almost like a bomb waiting to explode. When talking about Joanne, Larry tells Robert that she doesn't act like she does when no one else is around, even insisting that Robert marry a woman just like her.

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[theatrembti]

Hermes from Hadestown ENTP by Rebecca requested by anonymous

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) “To know how it ends, and still begin to sing it again, as if it might turn out this time…” Hermes is interested in the cycles of change, and the way certain elements can deviate from these cycles and what effects this has. In particular, he discusses the feeling of wishing the stories of the past could turn out differently - he wants to break out even though he knows it is not possible. This is tied to the reason he keeps telling the story to new people, in the hopes that they can go away having learned something. He is aligned with hope and opportunity, often telling the protagonists of the story how they can continue moving forward and forge their lives. He wants to propel forward movement as much as possible, working as a messenger who sparks action and new directions into existence.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) “Either get to Hell or to Hadestown - ain’t no difference anymore!” Hermes is very much independent - he helps who he wants to helps, stays out when he wants to stay out, and forges his own path. While many others are plagued with doubt from the Fates, Hermes shows confidence in each of his decisions, allowing him to stay out of many difficulties within the narrative. He is not afraid to speak his mind, particularly when it comes to Hadestown and how he sees it as a hellish city focused entirely on hard labor. Hermes also carries around a great deal of knowledge that he can share with others when he sees fit, such as the path to Hadestown. He builds personal understandings of the conflicts and ideas that surround him, letting him figure out things for himself.

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) “Yeah, with all your heart? Well, that’s a start.” While Hermes may make himself out to appear gruff and aloof to people’s problems, it is clear he cares a great deal about others and easily creates bonds. Hermes clearly has a bleeding heart when it comes to Eurydice, Orpheus, and their love, as he presents their tragic story and helps them as much as possible around the way. For instance, he immediately bows down to Orpheus’s request for help after Orpheus discusses his boundless love for Eurydice, breaking a rule concerning Hadestown. He directly appeals to those listening to the story, showing a great deal of charisma and interest in their interest along the way. He doesn’t want to be anyone’s enemy - no, he would much rather have a wide variety of friends.

Introverted Sensing (Si) “It’s an old song, but we’re gonna sing it again and again.” Hermes’ role in Hadestown is tied to his role as a storyteller - he is returning to the tales of the past time and time again. The tale of Orpheus and Eurydice is clearly one that is long gone, but it is one that Hermes feels compelled to relive. Although he is interested in moving things forward, he has one foot solidly in the past. Hermes also shows an interest in the cycles of the world, from the stories he tells to the way the seasons pass by, but tends to focus on the change within these cycles (Ne). He shows that he knows there is no change without understanding what the past is, allowing him to look at the past and the cycles of the world without getting lost in them.

[theatrembti]

Type 7: The Enthusiast Wing 6: The Loyalist

Hermes is a type 7, an entertainer, focused on his enjoyment of life, always engaged. In the show, he is dedicated to sharing an old, sad story even when he knows it never changes. He is the one character constantly interacting with the audience, feeding off of their new energy and excitement. He cultivates an environment he enjoys, gathering lively people like him and providing guidance to push others out into the world. In particular, he is the one who gently guides Orpheus out of his comfort zone - first to engage with Eurydice, then to go to Hadestown, and then to sing his song to change the world.

To supplement this energy is Hermes' 6 wing, giving him a dose of skepticism and desire for a kind of stability. After everything, he still comes back to the story of Orpheus and Eurydice time and time again. He finds a kind of solace and a deep message within their tragedy and thus returns to it. Though he clearly cares deeply for Orpheus and Eurydice, he shies away from expressing the full vulnerability of this affection. He forms strong bonds to people over time, but does not trust immediately - he even questions Orpheus to make sure he is actually ready to go to Hadestown.

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John Wilkes Booth from Assassins ESTP by Rebecca requested by anonymous Note: mentions of murder, suicide, and gun violence

Extroverted Sensing (Se) And all you have to do is move your little finger, move your little finger and you can change the world." Booth understands, fundamentally, the power that a single moment can have. His assassination of Lincoln is sudden and dramatic, and quickly reverberates throughout history. In front of a large group of people, he takes action, knowing that he is changing the world. Even when he is about to be caught, Booth takes risks and tries to tell his story before committing suicide. He makes deliberate and strong actions even if they could potentially have negative consequences.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) "An indictment. Of the former President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who is herein charged with the following High Crimes and Misdemeanors." For every action he takes, Booth has a wealth of evidence and thought behind it. He has thought out the specific crimes of Lincoln and uses them for justification. Though he presents these as objective, they come from an inner place of thought and logic. He determines that the lineage of assassins needs Lee Harvey Oswald to create their narrative. This demonstrates his desire to fit occurrences into his own personal ideas.

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) "This is the big one. You are the big one. You are the one who is going to sum it all up and blow it all wide open. I have seen the future, Lee, and you are it." Booth is immensely charming, appealing to the desires of others to get what he wants. He sees himself as a hero of the South, in opposition to the enemy in the form of Lincoln. His actions are meant to represent the anger and despair of thousands. He appears to Lee Harvey Oswald and is able to prod him closer and closer to assassinating Kennedy. He demonstrates a great deal of charisma in these actions, even if he alone cannot convince Oswald.

Introverted Intuition (Ni) "He was a bloody tyrant and we brought him down! And I will not have history think I did it for a bag of gold or in some kind of rabid fit!" Booth knows that every action has its consequences and major effects. He is desperate that he is known in history for the true reasons why he killed Lincoln, as described in "The Ballad of Booth." He demonstrates a single-mindedness toward marking down his place in history. He looks to a bigger picture, both for his own actions and for those of all the assassins. Booth understands that a single gunshot can reverberate, and desires to control the story as much as possible.

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Nathan Leopold from Thrill Me ISFP by Owen requested by anonymous

Introverted Feeling (Fi) "Yes, everybody wants Richard, but not the way that I do." Nathan relies on his emotions and what he thinks is right or wrong to guide him. He first appears to be much more shy and awkward than Richard, keeping his deepest feelings internalized. Nathan is completely devoted to Richard as a crime/sexual partner ("Everyone Loves Richard"), enough that his moral compass shifts a little, as seen when they start participating in more serious crimes. However, he speaks out when what Richard wants to do goes against his ethics - mainly, Richard's plan to kill a child - and does what he thinks is the right thing to do to combat him.

Extroverted Sensing (Se) "Why spoil my evening? Why must you deny me? I'll stop my complaining once you satisfy me!" Nathan, like Richard, is interested in the present and immersed in sensory details. He has an intense attraction to Richard, and is quite easily seduced by him; leading to the "Written Contract" they sign in blood, stating that Nathan will help Richard with his crimes in exchange for sex. He gets upset when Richard doesn't uphold the contract in "Thrill Me", finding that he needs constant stimulation. Nathan's ability to act in the moment is eventually what leads him to beat Richard at his own game, successfully incriminating the scene of the murder.

Introverted Intuition (Ni) "We'll be together for life, plus 99 years..." Nathan is so concerned with the immediate that he gets swept up until he finds himself in trouble, but he does still have hopes for what comes ahead. He worries about how his criminal past will affect his future, even more when Richard comes to him with "The Plan". Nathan longs to be with Richard for the rest of his life and sees the deeper meaning in their relationship, fearing that he may lose him. This is partially what leads him to sabotage Richard's crime by planting his glasses as evidence, ensuring that they will be sent to prison together.

Extroverted Thinking (Te) "How did it come to this? Was something wrong inside of me?" Nathan's weakness is definitely his lack of logical thinking, even though he is undeniably quite intelligent. He is driven more by his heart (Fi) and his hormones (Se) than his mind. He eventually realizes that things have spiraled out of control in "Way Too Far", admonishing himself for his lack of sense. It's then that he starts plotting his own scheme to bring Richard down, implementing his own plans in the way that Richard did to success. Until then, Nathan has felt powerless under the sway of Richard's seduction and false promise of romance.

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Velma from Octet ISFJ by Rebecca

Introverted Sensing (Si) "For so long, I saw myself so badly. Stupid and lazy, sad and crazy, fat and gross." Velma is prone to falling into repeating patterns of behaviors and thoughts, which is a major reason why she has attended this group. Even though she is supposed to be moving away from the Internet, she ends up still texting her close friend. Her friend has become fundamental to her everyday actions, a steady base that she is unable to give up. In "Beautiful," she expresses her self-hatred and low self-esteem that was her way of existing in the past. She demonstrates both an awareness and a disgust with her own body that was her way of living until her friend came along and helped her break the cycle.

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) "This ugly thing lets me sing so beautiful, beautiful, beautiful." Velma wants to be a good person, something which she finds primarily through external validation and connection with others. She is highly attached to online communities, and thus hyperaware of the discourse and drama that come with these groups. She has learned what she feels is good and bad, right and wrong, from other people - and she wants to stay on the good side. Seeing the beauty in her friend in Saint-Marie is vital to her finding worth within herself. Her love and admiration for her friend can be reflected back onto her, and her friend provides that same love and admiration in return.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) "When we say 'in real life,' this a lie to protect us. It is all real. It is all real life." Velma is constantly thinking - and often overthinking - about her actions and opportunities in the work. She is able to sort through the reasons why certain things are problematic, like the Sephora witch starter kit. All of the various reasoning behind drama can get complex, but Velma evidently has a strong hold on it. She is associated with the Fool card, representing someone approaching a journey to achieve wisdom. She has already learned much about analyzing and forming her own ideas about the world, but she also has much room to grow.

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) "And it's just like the other community I was in, and it's like, I just want to be part of something that's pure, and good, you know? Like I just want to be a good person, you know?" It is easy for Velma to get caught up in spiraling thoughts and notions about the world. When she talks about her past Internet experiences, she jumps from topic to topic with increasing speed. This demonstrates how her thoughts function, how she can get overwhelmed and wrapped in thoughts that go deep and far away from where she began. Through her conversations with her friend, she learns how to move past a binary view of the world. Through the support of others, she gains a wider understanding of possibility, far beyond her formerly small piece of the world.

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Lily Craven from The Secret Garden ESFJ by Owen requested by crazygurulala

Extroverted Feeling (Fe) "Forgive me, can you forgive me? And hold me in your heart?" Lily, as a ghost, represents warmth and forgiveness within the walls of Misselthwaite Manor. She, in life and death, is kind and accepting of everyone she knows, as seen with how she falls in love with Archibald even though he is known as a "hunchback" by the other party goers, particularly Mary's mother Rose. Lily appears many times within the show to comfort those in pain, such as when she comforts her son Colin in "Come To My Garden", and especially when she finally appears to Archibald in "How Could I Ever Know?".

Introverted Sensing (Si) "How could I know I would have to leave you?" Because Lily has died, she naturally represents the past and holding onto what once was. She haunts Misselthwaite, wandering alone and looking for a way to connect with the people she once knew ("I Heard Someone Crying"). Lily seeks most to be forgiven by Archibald for her death, as seen best in "How Could I Ever Know?", hoping that the closure will allow him to become the man he once was again. She also places much importance on her old garden, planting the seeds (pun intended) for Mary, Dickon, Colin, and Martha to return it to its once glorious state.

Extroverted Intuition (Ne) "I shall see you in my garden, where love grows wild and free." Although Lily holds onto and is literally stuck in the past, it is clear that she is enthralled by new opportunities. In the party scenes, she appears to be much more progressive than the rest of her friends in the way that she is willing to marry Archibald, even at the protest of Rose and the others. As well, Lily's garden itself comes to represent a new, better future for the residents of the manor that Lily is guiding them towards from the afterlife, appearing to Colin in "Come To My Garden" and closing the show in the finale with the same refrain.

Introverted Thinking (Ti) "No one is asking for your approval, Rose!" Lily is mostly conducted by her emotions, using her logic last. This is best seen when she is arguing with Rose about whether or not she should marry Archibald; she doesn't care what anyone thinks, ignoring Rose's warning that her children might become hunchbacks as well. Because she is a spirit, she doesn't have much physical control over the manor she haunts, finding that she can only appear as a vision and connect with them emotionally. However, this works for her, and she is able to bring the residents of Misselthwaite together after a period of suffering.

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Hermes (ENTP) and Orpheus (ENFJ) from Hadestown by Rebecca

ENTP: Ne Ti Fe Si ENFJ: Fe Ni Se Ti Hermes has taken Orpheus under his wing - he serves to guide Orpheus, even to Hadestown itself. Their relationships is reflected in their MBTI types, with several shared and complementary functions. Hermes and Orpheus are both intuitive types - Hermes has dominant extroverted intuition (Ne) and Orpheus has auxiliary introverted intuition (Ni). They are both interested in the notion of change and looking forward to see what happens next. Orpheus has his own way of seeing the world, something which Hermes both appreciates and fosters as it allows him to see more possibilities. However, Orpheus's forward-looking tendencies have much more of a singular focus: finishing his song to bring the world back into tune. Hermes, on the other hand, has a strong focus on cycles and how to break them, seen through his dedication to storytelling. Both Hermes and Orpheus have extroverted feeling (Fe) in their stacks: it is Hermes's tertiary function and Orpheus's dominant. Each of them have their own charisma and care for others, including for one another. Hermes has effectively taken Orpheus "under his wing," developing a sort of paternal relationship. Orpheus has a greater tendency to let emotions get the better of him, whereas Hermes has more distance. While Orpheus's emotions guide him to Hadestown, allow him to lead, and inevitably doubt himself, Hermes watches - he lets the story affect him. Another shared function is introverted thinking (Ti), as Hermes has auxiliary Ti and Orpheus has inferior Ti. Hermes poises himself as a giver of knowledge and information, some of which he shares with Orpheus. He guides Orpheus to talk to Eurydice and then to Hadestown, taking his internal knowledge and putting it to use. Because of his inferior Ti, Orpheus tends to need some guidance, sometimes getting stuck within his own mind and feelings. With his immense focus on his music and then his quest to get Eurydice, he struggles to actualize his inner thoughts and logic. Perhaps the most different part of their respective stacks is the sensing function: Orpheus has tertiary extroverted sensing (Se) and Hermes has inferior introverted sensing (Si). Orpheus is a creator through his music, which is part of the reason why Hermes likes to have him around. Orpheus's mastery and dedication to music defines him, but also demonstrates his moments of disconnect from the present. Hermes dedicates himself to telling stories, notably the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. He carries knowledge and understanding of the past within him, and - inspired by Orpheus - uses it to inspire change in the present. Hermes's influence in Orpheus's life is clearly a guiding force - but it is clear that Orpheus and his optimism has influenced Hermes immensely too. Their types are rather different, but this allows them to complement one another in this way.

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