MBTI Type: ISFJ

Where Darwin is invested in theories and logical analysis, Emma trusts what is tried and true, what has lasted for generations, and what seems to give her world meaning—her beliefs and her faith in God. Strong Si users trust what has proven itself over generations, and she sees faith as a stabilizing force worthy of respect. It worries her when her husband turns his back on it and drifts away from their shared beliefs, because she sees that as a destabilizing factor in their lives. She wants things to remain the same, to be reliable, to know what is going to happen next. She cares deeply about him and her children and tries to be supportive of them as much as possible, while also giving others the benefit of the doubt. She will talk openly about her feelings, unlike her husband, who tends to bottle things up and sometimes lose his temper in the process. She behaves appropriate to the situation and expects her children to do the same, but is also intellectually curious, interested in her husband, and in knowing more about him. She sees reading his thesis as gaining an insight into his mind, and respects his work tremendously even if she does not personally agree with all of his conclusions or beliefs. She knows it is ‘important’ and ‘must be shared.’ She is at peace the most when they find common ground and repair their marriage after the death of their child. She shows no real Ne beyond being curious about the unknown and enjoying talking to him about his ideas.

Enneagram: 1w2 sp/so

Emma clearly worries about what is right and wrong, and allows that thinking to inform her decisions; this makes her open-minded enough to encourage her husband to publish his theory of evolution, even though it contradicts what she personally believes about God and Creation. She sees it as an important work of logical science and respects him for all the thought, analysis, and information that went into it, even if she worries about his immortal soul. At one point, she asks him why he isn’t worried about eternity—because in her eyes, turning you back on your beliefs, and on God, is dangerous. It’s not a good thing to do. She is also objective when evaluating the punishment melted out against their kids in school; when Darwin gets upset that his daughter came home with bloody knees after a punishment, Emma points out that she disobeyed the rules, that the teacher ‘must maintain control’ in the classroom, and she does not think it merits a confrontation (the punishment was just and won’t be repeated, since their daughter has now learned her lesson). She also has a deep need to care for and love people, and it breaks her heart that she cannot go with her daughter when she’s ill, but must stay home and look after the rest of the family. It’s her greatest regret that she did not ‘go after them, and insist on being there.’

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