ISFP 2w1 Characters
Dominant Introverted Feeling – a self-knowledge and a desire to live in accordance with one’s personal values: Nicholas stands out in strong contrast to his peers, because he often refuses to hold back his tongue when it comes to expressing his true opinions on something. He doesn’t believe Madeline should give herself away in marriage to a man she does not love, just to get her father out of debt, and cannot understand her obligation in this regard (an inability to comprehend her Fe). Although kind enough to help up a girl who has fallen on a country path, when her friend insinuates that Nicholas is in love with her, he tells her bluntly that he has no interest in her, and is only ever thinking of getting away from this hellish place, so he need never think about it again. He is kind to Smike and easily earns his friendship, but only steps forward to protect him among the rest of the boys when he sees an injustice being performed.
Auxiliary Extroverted Sensing – acting on one’s feelings through living in the moment and hands-on learning: Nicholas reacts through his emotions with physical force—confronting people, taking risks to save Smike by sneaking into the inn to free him, beating Squeers to within an inch of his life (but stopping, because “I will show you what you never had for any of these boys, pity!”), and challenging a man who throws around his sister’s name and reputation casually to a brawl. He easily adapts to new situations, becoming a good actor on the stage, when it becomes clear he shan’t make it to the coast and get a job on a ship (something he was looking forward to, but doesn’t mind abandoning). He quickly changes his plans to suit new opportunities and needs, quitting his lucrative job on the stage to rush home to defend his sister from his uncle, and whisking Madeline away from her father’s dead body. He also doesn’t mind who sees them kissing on the bridge.
Tertiary Introverted Intuition – specific insights and premonitions, and a singular state of mind: This view never changes, but remains rigid in a low Ni way. Though initially trusting of his uncle, once he learns the truth about him, he loses any sense of loyalty or compassion for him, and identifies him as a ruthless enemy against whom he intends to protect his mother, sister, and friend Smike, not to mention Madeline.
Inferior Extroverted Thinking – blunt and irritated by incompetence when under stress or overly focused on “the facts”: Nicholas’ lower Te comes out in his occasional flashes of anger, directness, and lack of consideration for others’ reactions to his behavior.
Enneagram: 2w1
Enneagram 2 – a warm and caring helper, who focuses on doing all they can for specific chosen others: Nicholas shows a great deal of the 8 ‘force’ within the Enneagram 2, in how he moves directly to aggression and anger whenever he sees people being mistreated. But most of the time, he curbs the truth to keep others happy (focusing on the good in his letters to his sister, despite loathing the school in which he finds himself, and not wanting to upset her with the truth) and looks for ‘some way to be useful.’ He is eager to help and protect everyone, and cannot stand aside and let Smike suffer for running away from the miseries he has known. Though he tells Madeline that he needs ‘saving too,’ he also puts himself in a role as her protector and friend when she most needs it. He falls instantly in love with her and moves quickly toward her.
1 wing brings in a gut-driven sense of being right and a desire to help others improve themselves: His 1 wing has a fierce sense of moral obligation and duty, as well as strict ideas about what is right, wrong, and ‘proper.’ He confronts people about their ill intentions and wrongful behaviors and demands they answer for it, occasionally disintegrating into 8 aggression and rage (he stops himself from beating Squeers to death by ‘showing you what you never showed any of the boys in this room… pity!’). Nicholas also takes a little bit of cruel pride in informing his uncle of the loss of his fortune and of his son in the same breath, as a harsh judgment against his mercenary nature and his cruelty.
