MBTI Type: ESTP

Mary often tries to make things happen through force — putting herself physically into play, whether on the battlefield or in the bedroom. She can be careless at times, marrying Darnley too soon, exerting her authority over others too freely (and creating unnecessary enemies), risking her reputation in allowing a man to visit her bed (ammunition John Knock uses to discredit her later, an oversight of her inferior Ni), and being swift to respond to threats. Mary prefers to keep her options open, but always focused toward a singular goal, approaching Scotland intent on finding a husband, but not knowing whom – and choosing Darnley for political reasons (and out of desire). Mary handles things logically, but not always in a manner that wins her support. She comes to Scotland with one objective, to usurp the Queen of England and asset her claim on the English throne. Each decision she makes takes her one step nearer to that goal. She chooses religious tolerance, aware that she cannot expect support from a divided country by asserting her Catholicism above her Protestant allies and subjects. She chooses to marry Lord Darnley, aware his own British royal blood will produce an heir with an even stronger claim on Elizabeth’s crown. She tries peaceful negotiations with her cousin, in an attempt to encourage her to support her future son and heir’s claims to the throne (Fe); she also scorns any of Elizabeth’s “cast-offs” (Robert Dudley) as being beneath her, and is aware of the political motivations behind the English diplomat’s actions. She exerts force and leadership on multiple occasions, demanding others submit to her authority – including in face to face negotiations with her cousin, when she asserts herself as Elizabeth’s “better” because she has Stuart blood (is descended from the Scottish kings and Margaret Tudor). But Mary’s tert-Fe comes out in her tendency to first appeal to people on an emotional level (“we should be allies as two queens”) and then when that fails, attack them – she unwisely provokes Elizabeth and threatens her to her face, she insults diplomats, she kicks John Knox out of her council (when it would have been better to keep her enemies close). She knows what she wants, and spends her entire life trying to further a single vision – to bring either herself or her son to the throne of England. Her tactics shift, but her goal never changes – even toward her later years in imprisonment, when it would be better to preserve her life and not scheme against the queen. She fails to think ahead enough, and realize how her actions may cause others to turn against her — something Elizabeth remarks on, when she confesses she once envied Mary — until she realizes that her mistakes and bullheadedness will be her downfall.

Enneagram: 8w9 sx/so

She pushes people. Hard. Mary tries to hide her true ambition under a veneer of politeness when it comes to her cousin – at first, but her hands-on approach to her cabinet is another matter. She scorns people who are “weak” or raise their voice. She demands they submit to her. She refuses to bend her knee, unless it will get her what she wants (an army to take back Scotland). When Elizabeth refuses her this, she unwisely berates and provokes her cousin – claiming her superior bloodline and calling herself “Elizabeth’s better.” Rather than seduce her husband, she tries to control him and winds up having angry sex with him after they slap each other around. When it becomes obvious her captor will rape her, Mary submits – because she cannot stand to be controlled, and submission in her mind is keeping a measure of control. Her 9 wing brings in a numbness she uses to distance herself from things she does not like – angrily waking her husband up in his male lover’s bed, then forgiving his lover out of fondness that same day; trying to pacify her cousin in letters; using occasional charm and emotional distance in decision-making.