ENFJ, the Giver, the Mentor, the Believer
portrayed by Joan Collins
Season 1, Episode 28, “The City on the Edge of Forever”
(Note: It should go without saying that every profile I write is a spoiler, since I’m analyzing a character from the beginning to the end of their arc. But in this case, if you haven’t seen the episode, you need to stop right now and watch it first before reading. You’ll not only save yourself from spoilers, but you’ll also witness what is consistently held up as Star Trek’s finest hour.)
Previously on Heroes and Villains, we visited with one of Star Trek’s most villainous ENFJs. Now it’s time to meet one of its most saintly. Both Khan and Edith Keeler are visionaries who want to do the most good for the most people. Khan’s problem is his ego, and his unhealthy Fe desire to dominate everyone—for their own good, of course. While Khan believes he’s the pinnacle of human evolution, Edith sees potential for greatness in every person. She’s driven to make the world a better place by lifting people up, and pointing them toward a shared future.
Dominant Function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe), “Relate to the Experience”
Edith Keeler runs the 21st Street Mission in 1930s New York, in the middle of the Great Depression. She says that she considers her work “necessary.” There’s a need, and Edith Keeler must meet it. She has a big heart and wants to reach out and help everyone she can.
Though she immediately calls Kirk out for lying to her when they first meet, she nevertheless has compassion on him and helps him out by giving the captain and Spock a job. She bonds easily with them, and later with McCoy, caring for them and befriending them. She also sets rules for good behavior at her mission, and when Spock breaks those by stealing tools for his work, she directly confronts him.
Later, still trying to figure out what their story is, she asks Kirk, “Are you afraid of something? Whatever it is, let me help.” Kirk observes that the three words “let me help” can be greater than “I love you.” It’s those words that spur Edith’s mission. When McCoy intrudes on the timeline and saves Edith’s life, she goes on to become one of the most celebrated social activists of her time. Continue reading
Heroes & Villains of MBTI 