ISFP: Groot, “Guardians of the Galaxy”

ISFP, the Composer, the Seeker, the Virtuoso

Like Gamora, Groot doesn’t give us a lot of insight into what’s going on inside his head. I bounced back-and-forth between ISFP and INFP until I finally settled on the former, and I could still be wrong. He’s my favorite character, so I don’t know if I wanted him to be an INFP just because I am (hi, I’m an INFP!), or if he’s my favorite character because he really is an INFP.

Kind of a chicken-and-the-egg thing. Or acorn-and-the-tree.

Anyway, I think the evidence points to him being a Sensor over an Intuitive, so let’s all be Groot for a moment, shall we?

Dominant Function: Introverted Feeling (Fi), “Evaluate the Experience”

Groot lives in his own happy, contented place. He’s very rarely bothered by any of the activity around him. He fights for his friends because they’re important to him, but most of the time, he’s doing his own thing, enjoying the world on his own terms.

Groot’s not very talkative, either. He has one phrase that he uses for every response, and only those who know him well understand what he means. It also speaks to his strong sense of individual identity that the only words he chooses to use are those that express who he is.

He can bust out the rage when it’s time to fight, but he’s also very tender towards others. He uses his powers to heal Drax after his fight with Ronan and to produce light to guide his friends through Ronan’s ship. In the end, Groot finds his friends important enough to sacrifice himself for.

Auxiliary Function: Extraverted Sensing (Se), “Experience the Experience”

Groot is quite literally a force of nature. He can be tender and fierce from one moment to the next. He’s adaptable and can change his form to suit the needs of the current situation, whether to fight his enemies or heal his friends. He goes with the moment, one day fighting Gamora and the next day fighting alongside her.

Groot enjoys small, delightful sensory experiences, whether it’s sticking his head in a fountain or giving a flower to a little girl—or being distracted by chewing on leaves growing out of his arm.

ENTP: Peter “Starlord” Quill, “Guardians of the Galaxy”

ENTP, the Inventor, the Trickster, the Debater

What’s the difference between Se (Extraverted Sensing) and Ne (Extraverted Intuition)?

Guardians of the Galaxy is a movie with spaceships and rocket boots and explosions and alien assassins. Seems like it would need an Se in the lead. And for the record–briefly–Se experiences the physical world, while Ne engages in ideas. They’re both Perceiving functions, and the types that lead with them often tend to be archetypal rogues.

I’m an INFP, with Ne in the second (auxiliary) position, so you’d think I’d know it when I see it, but I didn’t immediately jump on ENTP as Quill’s type. I assumed he was ESTP or ESFP at first.

Maybe it’s an Intuitive thing, though, but I started to pick up on a sense of wonder in Quill. Throughout his adventures, it’s as if he realizes that he’s living in a sci-fi movie. He loves the idea of his life in outer space, and isn’t as practical about it as a Sensor would be. He’s not so much responding instantly and physically to his surroundings as he is being inspired to geek out about them.

Dominant Function: Extraverted Intuition (Ne), “Conceptualize from the Experience”

Peter Quill really wants people to call him Starlord. Aside from the fact that it was a nickname given to him by his mother, it just sounds cool. It represents his ideal identity, a legendary, bad-ass outlaw whose name inspires respect and awe.

Unfortunately, no one else gets it.

Quill spends most of the movie trying to live up to the idea of “Starlord.” Quill is able to adapt to his surroundings and brainstorm his way out of any situation. He sees adventure and possibility in every experience, using his own personal soundtrack to turn a walk across a gloomy planet into an epic quest. In the end, when he has nothing left to fight the bad guy with, he busts out into a dance-off.

Quill often uses metaphors and comparisons to describe a situation, even if others don’t understand the connection or the reference. He even imbues his Walkman with meaning, carrying it as a symbolic link to his home and his mother, and he fights to get it back when it’s taken from him. He goes years without opening the last present his mother left him, because the possibilities of what it might contain are more promising than actually opening it.

Quill uses the word “loser” to describe himself and his fellow Guardians, but he re-defines the word to give it and the Guardians a new meaning—not people who are failures, but people who have lost something in their lives.

Quill may not be as bad-ass as he wants to be, but his dominant perceiving function (Ne) allows him to remain open to the people and experiences that will ultimately bring him real meaning in life.

ESTJ: Agent Smith, “The Matrix”

ESTJ, the Supervisor, the Achiever, the Director

The Wachowskis call Hugo Weaving their “dark muse.” If you love him here as the droll and vicious Agent Smith, you have to watch him play not one, not two, but six despicable villains in the Wachowskis’ most recent film, Cloud Atlas.

Dominant Function: Te/Extraverted Thinking, “Organize the Experience”

Agent Smith leads the three agents who are looking for Neo (the other two being Brown and Jones), and he won’t stop until the job is done. When the cops corner Trinity at the start of the movie, Smith shows up and immediately takes charge of the situation. “Your men are already dead,” he informs the lieutenant bluntly.

Smith remains cool and in control even when interrogating an obstinate Neo. He repeatedly refers to Neo by his given name, “Thomas Anderson,” trying to force Neo into accepting the Matrix’s version of himself. He tells Neo that one of his selves has a future, and one does not. Smith is determined to shape Neo’s life according to his—and the Matrix’s—will.

Smith also seems to like to hear himself talk. He voices his thoughts and opinions in long soliloquies like the one he delivers to Morpheus during the interrogation. He believes he has humanity figured out and classified, and sees all the humans living in the Matrix as a chaotic zoo in need of order.

Auxiliary Function: Si/Introverted Sensing, “Relive the Experience”

Agent Smith exists solely to maintain the order and function of the Matrix. Anything, or anyone, that falls outside that order must be put back into place. When he makes his speech to Morpheus, he compares humans to other life forms he’s known of, slyly making the observation that he believes we act more like viruses than mammals. He also compares us to the dinosaur, a being whose time has come and gone. It’s on these comparisons that he bases his superiority complex over Morpheus and other humans.

INTP: Neo, “The Matrix”

INTP, The Architect, The Thinker, The Philosopher

It’s a little funny, in this case, that the archetype name for INTPs is “The Architect.” Perhaps for Neo we would do better to call him “The Thinker” or the “The Philosopher.” Whatever we call him, the fact is, he’s awesome.

Dominant Function: Ti/Introverted Thinking, “Analyze the Experience”

Neo has one question on his mind: “What is the Matrix?” He feels that something is wrong with the world, “like a splinter in your mind,” and he’s driven to find the answer. He lives alone and stays up all night, searching the Internet for clues, analyzing every bit of information he can find.

He’s willing to take the red pill, to abandon the only reality he’s known in favor of the truth.

However, once he’s in the real world, he finds the truth hard to grasp. There’s a lot of new information to take in, and he needs time to process it. While his Ti has been telling him all along that there’s a bigger reality, he still wants to see the proof of it before accepting what someone else tells him. He also has a great deal of trouble getting out of his own head and taking a leap of faith into this new world.

Neo values his independence of thought and stands stubbornly in his own ideas and personal views. He knows his rights and won’t be intimidated by the agents. He balks at Morpheus’s mysterious commands over the phone, and almost bails out of the whole adventure when Switch bosses him around in the limo. He hates being told that he’s The One, or Thomas Anderson. He also “doesn’t believe in any of this fate crap,” and prefers to hear plain, logical truth from the Oracle, not vague prophecies.

ENTP: Hotep & Huy, “The Prince of Egypt”

ENTP, The Inventor, The Trickster, The Debater

I once interviewed two comedy writers for a podcast, and one of them was a self-reported ENTP. The other was usually more reserved—maybe an INTP?—but when she got together with her bestie, the two women never stopped talking, joking, and brainstorming, jumping from one funny concept to the next as they inspired each other. I said very little during the interview, and our original topic was lost within the first 30 seconds or so. It was extremely difficult to find twenty minutes or so of a coherent conversation to edit into the final podcast, but the recording session itself was tons of fun. I kind of think of those two as a real-life Hotep and Huy.

Dominant Function: Ne/Extraverted Intuition, “Conceptualize from the Experience”

Hotep and Huy are never at a loss for ideas. They quickly invent a way to mimic the water turning to blood, and they turn their staffs into snakes to fight Moses’ serpent. They’re constantly adaptable and flexible in the moment, and they have a million tricks up their sleeves to impress their audience. If you pay attention in their song “Playing With the Big Boys,” they’re literally using smoke and mirrors to create their magic.

Auxiliary Function: Ti/Introverted Thinking, “Analyze the Experience”

For the ENTP, the analytical power of Ti supports the creativity of their Ne, resulting in the archetype name of “The Inventor.” We see Hotep and Huy studying and working hard to counteract the effects of the Ten Plagues. They manage to turn water into “blood,” but after that they’re left stymied.

Tertiary Function: Fe/Extraverted Thinking, “Relate to the Experience”

Hotep and Huy know how to work an audience. Despite the fact that most of what they do is a trick, they never fail to awe and wow. They also see Moses as a threat to their position, and use their power to emotionally manipulate him into cowing before them.

Inferior Function: Si/Introverted Sensing, “Relive the Experience”

I’m not entirely sure how Introverted Sensing acts in the inferior position for an ENTP, except that typically it’s supposed to mean they’re focused more on the future and novelty than on past experience (witness Captain Mal from Firefly, who has a specific scene where he talks about the fact that he never talks about his past). Hotep and Huy have a position in a long-established kingdom to maintain, and they’re also quick to point out the standard of law that requires the death penalty for Moses.

So, once again, I’ve ended up covering all four functions for a mini-profile, but Hotep and Huy are worth it, I think. The Queen and Jethro are up for mini-profiles next, and then we’ll finish the series out with Pharoah himself, Rameses.

ISTJ: King Seti, “The Prince of Egypt”

ISTJ, The Inspector, The Sentinel, The Trustee

I like to profile as many of the characters from a movie or series as I can. Problem is, once you get past the leads, the material gets a little sketchier. I tried really hard to flesh out characters like Uncle Henry and Auntie Em, but it took a lot of speculation to fill in the evidence for all their functions.

So, moving forward, I’ll do mini-profiles for supporting characters. Nailing down the top two functions should be enough to prove the type for most cases, anyway. For King Seti, I’m going to include all his functions, just because it’s a good chance to talk about Feeling versus Thinking; but this will still be short.

Dominant Function: Si/Introverted Sensing, “Relive the Experience”

Seti’s biggest concern is his legacy. “One weak link can break the chain of a mighty dynasty!” he declares to his reckless son Rameses. He values the dignity and strength of the kings that have come before him, and he desires his sons to live up to that standard. Though Rameses will later show a great capacity for ambition, Seti’s  focus is more on maintaining the kingdom than on expanding it.

The filmmakers show us this visually by framing Seti’s profile alongside the statues of his predecessors. For Seti, those giant sculptures aren’t just there to show off Egypt’s glory, but to remember the great kings of the past whom he desires to emulate. It’s this greatness and history that Seti wished to preserve when he ordered the extermination of the Hebrew children.

Auxiliary Function: Te/Extraverted Thinking, “Organize the Experience”

When Moses learns what Seti did, Seti almost shrugs it off. He explains very matter-of-factly, “The Hebrews grew too numerous.” They were a threat to the continued existence of the kingdom of Egypt, and so Seti took what to him was a sensible action to keep them under control. The effective orchestration of such a large scale act of genocide makes Seti a chilling figure.

It’s also through his Extraverted Thinking that Seti imparts the values of the past to his sons. One track of the movie’s score is titled, “The Reprimand,” so named because it plays under the scene where Seti…well, reprimands Rameses and Moses. An entire musical piece underscores the power that Seti’s authority has when he wields it to keep his kingdom, and his sons, in line.

ISFJ: Aaron, “The Prince of Egypt”

ISFJ, The Protector, The Cultivator, The Steward

Let’s talk about stereotypes. One of the major complaints against MBTI is that it’s just a bunch of stereotypes that define people by four measly letters. And that’s kinda true, to an extent.

Any number of “What would each type do in X situation?” posts out there typically rely on the stereotypical behaviors of each type to fulfill their meme. People click the “like” button and respond, “That’s so me!” and the stereotype is carried on.

However, a healthy, well-developed person of any type can look like anything they choose. The stereotypes exist because it’s easy to make predictions based on simple, exaggerated examples of the functions. Someone who has balanced access to all their functions will defy those exaggerations and stereotypes. An ENTJ with feeling? Yes! An organized ISFP? Absolutely! You can be anything you want to be, and your MBTI type is just a tool to help you get there.

If you match the stereotype, you’ve got some work to do.

Poor Aaron matches the stereotype of the ISFJ. He’s fearful of the future, appeasing to his oppressors, and set in his familiar ways, even though those ways mean a life of slavery. As the story of The Prince of Egypt unfolds, however, Aaron finds his faith—in his brother, his God, and in the future—and grows into a warm, supportive, and courageous Protector.

Dominant Function: (Si) Introverted Sensing, “Relive the Experience”

Introverted Sensing seeks to compare its present circumstances to those it’s known before. Unfortunately, all Aaron’s ever known is his life as a slave. When Moses comes along promising deliverance, he doesn’t quite know what to do with that.

Aaron tries to keep the boat from rocking. Slavery may not be the best life, but it’s all the Hebrews have got. Both times that Miriam makes a scene—when she excitedly introduces herself to Moses, and when she speaks out against an old man getting whipped—Aaron holds her back. He feels a deep need to preserve things the way they are, to keep them safe and normal. Circumstances might not get better, but at least they won’t get worse.

Except that they do. Rameses increases the Hebrews’ workload in response to Moses’ demand for freedom, and Aaron gets angry. He scolds Moses for his actions, recounting all the times that God has not shown up for them all these years. He wants Moses to understand what their life is like, and shows great envy and bitterness at the good life Moses had growing up.

ESFJ: Miriam, “The Prince of Egypt”

ESFJ, The Provider, The Harmonizer, The Caretaker

It’s been my impression that when we type fictional characters, we’re often quick to see any kind of spirituality as evidence of one of the Intuitive functions. It’s as if someone with strong Sensing, grounded in the physical world, is either too practical for such thoughts or isn’t capable of seeing beyond their everyday existence. The only exception seems to be if they’re clinging to old religious rules, like an Introverted Sensor (Si) or an Extraverted Thinker (Te).

Miriam’s arguably one of the most spiritual characters in The Prince of Egypt. It’s her faithfulness that buoys everyone around her and carries them through hard times into their deliverance. Because of the spirituality=intuition prejudice, I almost typed her as an ENFJ at first. Upon reflection, though, I think her faith comes not in the form of seeing a future no one else can see, but in trusting in what she was told in the past, even if it takes many years for it to happen.

Dominant Function: Fe/Extraverted Feeling, “Relate To the Experience”

Miriam faces her terrible existence with steady optimism and hope, which tends to catch on with those around her. She’s an emotional rallying point for her people, and lifts Moses’ spirits when he’s low. Even as a little girl, she shows care and concern for her little brother by following his basket and making sure it ends up someplace safe.

When Moses makes his fateful move to protect a Hebrew slave from his Egyptian taskmaster, it’s because Miriam sees the abuse happening first and cries out for someone to stop it. She isn’t afraid of the danger she puts herself in for speaking up. Her sense of empathy and justice for others demands that she confront the situation on behalf of her fellow slave.

Even when a stranger comes to her in the middle of the night—Zipporah, beating a hasty escape from the palace—Miriam is happy to help her on her way.

Miriam’s Extraverted Feeling is crucial for making the emotional transition from the end of the plagues to the Hebrews’ triumphant march out of Egypt. You can listen to the commentary for the film and hear how difficult a tone it was for the filmmakers to strike, finding joy after such a dark experience. It wouldn’t have worked without the character of Miriam.

When we call the Feeling functions “Judging” functions, then, it isn’t because the person is being judgmental in the common meaning of the word.

ISTJ: Billina, “Return to Oz”

The Inspector

She’s not warm and fuzzy like Toto, but Billina the hen plays a similar role as he did, acting as Dorothy’s tie back to her home in Kansas. She also enjoys the distinction of being able to talk (one wonders what held Toto back). And although Billina doesn’t end up returning with Dorothy, her running commentary provides a sensible outsider’s perspective on the weird and wonderful land of Oz.

Dominant Function – Introverted Sensing/Si, “What Was”

Billina’s not terribly impressed with Oz. The first glimpse she gets of it is the Deadly Desert, which would creep anyone out. After seeing the wrecked Yellow Brick Road and the petrified Emerald City, she doesn’t understand Dorothy’s enthusiasm for the place.

“Why don’t we just fly back to Kansas?” she sighs, after they escape on the flying Gump. She wants to return home, but not for the sentimental reasons that Dorothy had in the first movie. It’s just safer and more predictable there. For instance, there’s not an entire race of evil Nomes in Kansas who want to destroy her just for being a chicken.

However, by the end of the movie, Billina decides to stay in Oz. As a talking animal, she now has free agency to live her own life. And of course, no one’s going to stew her up for supper if she can’t lay an egg. It’s her best and most sensible option.

ISFJ: Jack Pumpkinhead, “Return to Oz”

The Protector

Brian Henson, son of the famous Jim, got his first big puppeteering gig as Jack Pumpkinhead. Not to be confused with another lanky Halloween-inspired Jack, he’s that strange combination of a sweet nature mixed with what could be seen as a scary face, staying true to the charming weirdness that is this version of Oz. And though he’s a young creature, discovered much like the Scarecrow having not had much life experience yet, Jack proves to be a pretty healthy, developed personality.

Dominant Function – Introverted Sensing/Si, “What Was”

Jack doesn’t have much of a past to draw from—he’s only been alive a few years at most, and he’s spent those years locked away alone in a castle tower—but he’s completely devoted to his Mom, the girl who constructed him. His greatest wish is to find her, and when he first meets Dorothy, he perks up with hope that she’s the one. His Mom’s identity and fate turns out to be one of the story’s key mysteries.

Jack also has a highly detailed memory, on display when he recounts the story of how he came to life. He recalls that when Princess Mombi trapped him in the tower, she was wearing Head #22, and must not have worn it since, because she’s forgotten about him. His knowledge of the Powder of Life comes in handy when Dorothy needs to figure out a way to escape, and he remembers all about the Ruby Key and what Dorothy will need to do to get at it. He’s also sensibly concerned with making sure that his head hasn’t spoiled, and asks Dorothy to check it for him.

Like many Si-doms, once Jack finds himself part of a group, he connects with them as his own people and acts to preserve and protect them. When the group makes it to the Nome King’s Mountain, Billina hides away in Jack’s head. It’s never addressed directly in the dialogue, but it seems that Jack and the others all wordlessly agree to keep Billina safe, since the King has a thing against chickens.

As one does.

Auxiliary Function – Extraverted Feeling/Fe, “What We Need”

Jack attaches himself to Dorothy right away. He knows instinctively that she can be trusted. He follows her dutifully and depends on her for approval. “May I call you Mom, even if it isn’t so?” he begs of her. She nods yes, and he gasps with happiness.

Later, when Jack is about to take his turn in the Nome King’s guessing game to save the Scarecrow, he grows sad. But he isn’t sad for himself. He understands that if he gets turned into an ornament, he won’t be missing much. It’s Dorothy he’s worried about, because as a being who is actually alive, she’ll miss getting to eat and sleep, “and other such activities.” Jack’s feelings are directed toward his travelling companions and their needs, not so much his own.