The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, also known as the MBTI, is a four-letter personality type broken down into sixteen combinations of letters based on if you are an extrovert or an introvert, an intuitive or a sensor, a thinker or a feeler, or a perceiver or a judger. It’s one of my favorite things to study (and I did mention it in my last post!), especially as it applies to movie characters. Therefore, I spent probably a total of three hours on Personality Database researching the MBTI type of my favorite movie characters, and for the fun of it, I’ve made a list. I don’t necessarily agree with the types of some of these characters, but I think arguing about why a specific character is one personality type or another is best saved for its own blog post. I was going to make this all one long blog post, but then this one turned out so long that I’ve decided to split it into four different posts. This one is dedicated to the Sentinels, which is any type with both an S and a J.
The ISTJs: Gamora and Darth Vader
ISTJs are one of the most if not the most rational MBTI types. They value logic over all else, which is especially evident in Gamora’s (Zoe Saldana) characterization. She never does anything without thinking it through completely, and when she deems someone’s plan to be stupid, she comes up with her own (even if it does get her into a bit of a mess like it did in Infinity War). She has a strict moral code that she refuses to compromise, which is something many other ISTJs also possess. Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) is also a textbook ISTJ (though as Anakin Skywalker, he types entirely differently, but I’m not going to get into that). Like Gamora, he clings to his ideals feverishly. In addition, before his fall to the dark side, he is frequently typed as an ENFP, which is the exact opposite of ISTJ, so it’s almost as if this other, ‘shadow’ version of himself has appeared and flipped everything we know about him on its head. Other ISTJs I love include Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter), EVE (WALL-E), Tigress (Kung Fu Panda), General Hux (Star Wars), Javert (Les Miserables), and Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit).
The ISFJs: Ian Lightfoot and Samwise Gamgee
If you thought I was going to make it through a blog post without talking about Onward, you thought wrong. Though there have been countless cases made about Ian Lightfoot’s (Tom Holland) personality type (and nobody seems to agree, which is frustrating), I choose to believe he is an ISFJ. As a sensor, he focuses on facts and details, which is evident in how he writes very detailed, almost nitpicky lists about the things he wants to do with his father once they get his torso back. They want little more than to keep the peace with others, which is visible when Ian promptly denies lying about whether or not he thinks Barley is a screw-up after the magic revealed the truth about his opinions of his older brother. Unlike Ian, whose personality type is widely disputed, Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) is a textbook ISFJ. When I went to look up some of his more ISFJ traits, I found that nearly 99% of people agreed on his personality type, which rarely happens. He is loyal to a fault and finds strength in this, which is a very ISFJ thing for him to do. He uses facts to support what he does, especially in his treatment of Gollum, something found commonly in Si dominated personality types. Other ISFJs I love include C-3P0 (Star Wars), Fear (Inside Out), Will Turner (Pirates of the Caribbean), Baymax (Big Hero 6), Primrose Everdeen (The Hunger Games), and Treebeard (Lord of the Rings).
The ESTJs: Princess Leia and J. Jonah Jameson
With perhaps one of the truest to Anna style entries on this list, we have my two favorite ESTJs. This personality type is guided by extraverted thinking, which means they are practical and skilled decision-makers--two characteristics of Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan (Carrie Fisher). They have wonderful leadership skills, which is even more evident in Leia in the sequel trilogy, where she takes on the role of general for the Resistance. ESTJs have a tendency to be argumentative, especially with other rather stubborn types such as the ESTP (the type of Han Solo and Poe Dameron, in case you’re wondering), and Leia is nothing if not headstrong and opinionated. J. Jonah Jameson is the pinnacle of an ESTJ, no matter which incarnation you’re seeing (though they’re all J.K. Simmons). In fact, on Personality Database, only one person typed him as anything other than an ESTJ. He shares all the characteristics I listed for Leia, in addition to valuing concrete evidence of things, which is why he so heavily encouraged Peter to submit photos of Spider-Man. He believes things should be done the right way or not done at all, which is a rather ESTJ sentiment. Other ESTJs I love include Hermione Granger (Harry Potter), Tiana (The Princess and the Frog), Theoden (The Lord of the Rings), Maximus (Tangled), Captain Phasma (Star Wars), Colette (Ratatouille), and M’Baku (Black Panther).
The ESFJs: Meg March and Emmet Brickowski
The ESFJ, referred to on 16personalities as the Consul, is guided by extroverted feeling, which means they are emotionally ruled and quick to pass judgment on others based on little more than a gut feeling. They’re selfless and loyal, which are two qualities I think perfectly describe Meg March (Emma Watson) from 2019’s adaptation of Little Women. As the oldest sister, she has had to give up many of the comforts granted to her three little sisters, and she’s grown up as a selfless, motherly figure to the other girls. She’s dependable and loves to take care of others, which makes her ideally suited to being a mother to Daisy and Demi. She is sensible and warm-hearted, and overall, a very lovable character. Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) from The Lego Movie, however, abandons all sensibility possible in the ESFJ. Like Meg, he is warm-hearted and loyal, and he sees the good in everything--leading to his ever so recognizable “everything is awesome!’ philosophy in the first film. Sure, he may not be the most responsible person (minifigure?) but he wants nothing more than to make sure that his friends are safe, especially in the second film, where he spends the duration trying to ensure that nothing bad happens to his friends. ESFJs are insecure in situations where things are out of control, which explains why he felt so uncomfortable at the meeting in the Dog in the first movie. Wow. I can’t believe I’m critically analyzing Emmet from The Lego Movie, but I’m glad I’m doing it. Other ESFJs I love include Fiona (Shrek), Russell (Up), Effie Trinket (The Hunger Games), Vice Admiral Holdo (Star Wars), Troy Bolton (High School Musical), and May Parker (Spider-Man: Homecoming).
So, there are my favorite fictional Sentinels. Are you one of these personality types? Let me know, and let me know who your favorite characters with these types are!