MBTI Type: ISTJ
Dominant Introverted Sensing – a strong emphasis on being realistic and detailed, and on personal experiences being a reliable source of information: Brandon is a true gentleman, who is very much defined by his personal experiences and impressions. He compares Marianne upon their first meeting to a girl he once knew, who had his heart, but only later, tells Eleanor the entire truth about her. He focuses on being attentive in sensory ways—bringing Marianne music to play and books to read, fetching her mother, going out and finding her in the rain, spending his time hunting and falconing and tending his estate. He invites her over to play his piano, and gives her flowers.
Auxiliary Extroverted Thinking – relying on facts, drawing logical conclusions, being efficient and straightforward: Brandon is also upfront with his thoughts, and remarks, which at first makes Marianne unsure of whether he means to criticize her piano skills or not; he remarks that she changed chords from what the composer suggested, she asks if that is a criticism, and he smiles and says not at all. He is quite frank when addressing Willoughby and asking what his intentions are toward Marianne, and later, when appropriate, giving his thoughts about the debacle with Willoughby and sharing the facts of his poor character. When Edward loses his inheritance, Brandon’s first thought is a rational one—that he will need a living, so he offers him one.
Tertiary Introverted Feeling – unwilling to go against their personal values and self-contained in their feelings: Like Eleanor, he is quite sensible and level-headed, but also deeply passionate underneath. He is in love with Marianne, but forebears and allows her to come to him over time, rather than to declare his feelings for her in anything other than kind gestures.
Inferior Extroverted Intuition – curious about the future and in different possibilities, but skeptical of “unrealistic” ideas: Brandon does not show much Ne, other than his interest in literature, music, and poetry.
Enneagram: 1w2
Enneagram 1 – a perfectionist who focuses on the ‘right’ way to exist and wants to shape events to fit their ideals: Marianne’s first impression of Brandon is that he could “find fault wherever he looked.” He notices that she played her own variation of a song, rather than the one suggested by the composer, and he brings her music with which to challenge herself. He is also restrained, and has a few sharp edges—when he receives word of his ward being found pregnant, he abandons the entire dinner party to ride out and take care of the matter. His high principles cause him to restrain from retaliating against Willoughby, until he knows it will not negatively impact Marianne (he tries to find out if they are engaged, since that would alter his approach). He in fact asks Willoughby what his intentions are toward Marianne, since he does not want her used amiss, and then when he finds out they are unattached, he challenges Willoughby to a duel to settle the matter regarding his ward.
2 wing brings in a self-assurance that what they are doing for others is what is good, right, and needed: Brandon acts very much out of a sense of duty, moral responsibility, and helpfulness; he is invested in caring for others, and providing for them. He cares for his ward and her child, he steps in for Marianne to defend her honor, and he offers Edward a living once he is left penniless by his mother, without ever having met him, but by knowing he is of value to Eleanor.
