MBTI Type: ESFJ

ESFJs have a very hard time allowing other people to disagree with them and to hold different ethical views without wanting to encourage them to change their stance to reflect the consensus. This comes out clearly in Philip’s interaction with Ellen and her son, Jack. After Jack has been kicked out of the city for fighting with Alfred and causing destruction to the cathedral upon which they are both working, Philip is willing to let him back into the cathedral, and to give him a prominent position within his own household (to act as his secretary and handle all financial transactions), but on one condition: Jack must accept the cowl, and become a novice / monk. This upsets Tom Builder, Jack’s surrogate stepfather, because it asks Jack to give up his individuality, in favor of a greater consensus of emotional feeling – Philip wants everyone working on his Cathedral to be of one mind and to share his Catholic beliefs. Though he is forgiving and compassionate, he doesn’t like the idea of Jack or his mother living in a way that goes “against” what is commonly accepted. For this reason, he also urges Tom to marry Ellen, rather than “living in sin” together. And although Philip does show most people compassion and charity and strives to do the honorable thing, he is not above deception for a “greater good.” Because a fellow monk he like and trusts suggests that he could collect a skull from the crypt to replace the one crushed in the fire, thereby bringing money and pilgrims to their cathedral throughout the building process, Philip goes against his own moral principles (his belief that would be wrong) to do it, since he sees both the financial benefits involved and how circumstance has required him to change his ethics. When challenged on this later, he admits to the deception, but justifies it as saying that given the previous skull had prompted no miracles in 50 years, it too was likely a fake (therefore, what he did was no more wrong than what his predecessors had done). (ESFJs are not above shifting their views to hold with a consensus, or adapting them to the situation, since introverted thinking looks for ‘an advantage.’) Philip is idealistic, but also firm in his belief of how you interpret scripture and of human behaviors, which is a more traditional mindset. He does not like deviations from what is seen as acceptable. He appreciates the vision and talent of Tom and Jack, without sharing it… he simply wants to finance and be there to see the Cathedral’s conclusion. Philip judges things on face value and is almost taken advantage of by the Bishop until Regan tells him the Bishop intends to use the forests he wants to petition King Stephen about for his own palace, rather than to build the Cathedral. He is always looking for ways to increase their finances so he can afford to hire more men, but often needs others to give him good ideas (like Aliena saying holding a fleece fair locally would give them a windfall of finances, and suggesting they have a market of their own to fund the Church coffers).

Enneagram: 1w2 so/sp

Philip confesses that “pride is my temptation,” but his desire to do what is right, moral, and pure often holds him back from overt wrongdoing. It is one thing to pretend a skull belongs to a lost saint, and quite another to join the Bishop’s household and work for him; Philip says that his entire household stinks of sin, and has the taint of corruption and ambition to it, and he would rather slop pigs for the rest of his life than be a part of it. He can be critical of others and their choices, urging them to take a more moral stance (telling Tom to marry Ellen, and agreeing to save her from false charges “if you legitimize your relationship” – but also wanting her to ‘come back to the Church’ and not hold pagan views), while also showing them the kindness and compassion of a 2 wing, in how he can forgive and tolerate their differences up to a point. Philip feels proud in his goodness, and in his generosity, and looks for ways to help the poor where he can.