MBTI Type: ISFP
ISFPs believe in identifying their feelings and then acting on them, and that’s what Therese experiences within the narrative story arc—the awakening of her sexuality and a desire to pursue those experiences. She involves herself in an emotional relationship with Carol that is acted upon but never discussed, and she even admits “I miss you” only after Carol has hung up the phone during their separation. This silent “falling in love” is common in IFP types, who do not need words to communicate, and can sit in silence with the person they love. It makes it hard for other types to know their true feelings, since they won’t realize that the act of ‘being here with you’ is an expression of feeling. Therese has to process her own feelings of attraction first, but then she is quite interested in being with Carol—going on an impulsive road trip with her, making love in a hotel room. After Carol has disappointed her, she is quiet but firm in drawing boundaries with her (“I don’t think so”), but upon recognizing her true feelings, she changes her mind and rapidly runs back to Carol. She doesn’t show much in the way of middle functions, but I think ISFP is more likely than INFP for two reasons—one, she doesn’t hesitate to pursue an entirely new lifestyle and experiment physically with it, and she admits that she says “yes to everything,” which shows an openness to experience that INFPs find more difficult owing to their lower sensing function not being experimental (they feel safer with what seems familiar). Her primary interest is also photography instead of something more abstract, such as writing.
Enneagram: 9w1 sx/so
Therese admits to Carol that she can never say no and has no boundaries; she just goes along with everyone else’s agenda, and has to learn to assert herself. She isn’t sure what she wants from her life, or whether she could be a good photographer or not. She even mirrors whatever Carol orders at their first lunch, by ordering the same thing and pretending to enjoy it (whether or not she does). She is angry that she only ever says yes to everything. 9s find it hard to assert their true feelings and opinions when it means going up against others; they find it hard to locate their own sense of agency and figure out what they want from their life. It’s easier for them to adapt and go along with the agendas of their loved ones instead. She also shows a 1 wing tendency toward self-blame and guilt; she blames herself for Carol’s husband getting information that could hurt her in the divorce, and says if she had not gone along with this, she wouldn’t have ruined Carol’s life. When Carol invites her to dinner to apologize, she sits there in icy disapproval at the idea of reuniting with her, because she hasn’t forgiven Carol the deep, hurtful feelings her abandonment caused.
Funky MBTI 