MBTI Type: ESFJ

Mary has a strong sense of community, and feels saddened by being slighted by some of the ladies of Avonlea, including Diana Barry’s mother, due to the color of her skin. She confides this much when asked how she is adjusting to her new life in Avonlea. Mary strives to find ways for acceptance, and to be socially warm, welcoming, and a regular contributor to the community, to break the ice. Initially, Mary teases Bash, challenges him about his smitten words (asking if he thinks repeating things she has heard a hundred times over is going to win her over), and straightforward in her words – but also considerate of him and Gilbert’s needs, in allowing them to stay the night in her house (“I know of one woman with rooms to let”). She tells her son straight out her disappointment in his bad attitude about her marriage. She acts more than she analyzes, and finds ways to attempt to patch up miscommunications between her son (whom she sees as irresponsible and reckless) and Bash. She has led a contented life in the laundry, working and going home, maintaining her longstanding relationships and fending off the idle flattery of men in The Bog, for a long time – but leaps at the chance to marry a good man, move to Avonlea, and set up house. There, Mary delights in keeping her house tidy, but also welcomes the assistance of Rachel Lynde and Marilla in enabling her to have “down time” – since taking care of a farm, feeding her men well, and taking care of a newborn are all exhausting activities. Her pleasant, good-humored attitude and optimism about the future, as well as seeing the best in her son and trying to urge him toward it, speak to her lower Ne’s unfailing ability to see the best in every situation and work toward it.

Enneagram: 2w1 sp/so

Though Mary doesn’t have to clean Bash’s clothes – she does it. Though she doesn’t have to lend him and Gilbert a room for the night – she does it. Mary wins over people in Avonlea by teaching them to cook, which delights them and helps her do some good among her neighbors, breaking down racial barriers in the process. Like most 2s, she feels the need for acceptance and to be seen as kind and generous. She also has a temper that on occasion, rears itself – especially when it comes to her 1 wing’s judgments of her son’s irresponsible behaviors and bad attitude. But Mary is also focused on being good herself, so that the last letter she writes him is one of total forgiveness.