ISTP 6w5 Characters

Henry is detached and realistic in his approach to the throne; he tends to prioritize “rational” methods all else; he is not afraid to deal harshly with traitors, nor secure his throne through whatever means he deems necessary. His analytical nature makes it hard for others to read him, or understand his thought process; he prefers to think in secret, then act, instead of consult others on what steps to take. His rationality is not always practical, though (his need to “test Elizabeth’s fertility” is counter-productive to the legitimacy of their heirs). His focus is more on the present than its possibilities; Henry prefers to do things himself, to be involved in the action, and to confront problems head-on. He struggles in how to balance his natural aggressive tendencies with a desire to “control” his environment. Henry frequently takes new approaches to everything, with very little faith in outdated systems or traditional beliefs; his treatment of Elizabeth of York, his intense physical relationship with her (despite a lack of emotional connection), and his arrest of her mother show a tendency toward knee-jerk, based-in-the-moment reactions. He is afraid of what the future holds; Henry wants to protect it. He’s not nearly as capable of long-term thinking as his mother, and tends toward more negative, singular conclusions… that are sometimes off, and sometimes right on point. Henry speculates (correctly) that Elizabeth Woodville is scheming against him and Lizzie is going behind his back, but he assumes she is not on his side, even after she tells him several times that he has her support. But his inferior Fe is out of control: Henry rails against Lizzie’s affair with her uncle, within several people’s hearing; he announces her premarital pregnancy with delight, when it should be a court secret; he blithely goes along with whatever his mother decides is the right thing to do, without any private moral conscience… and then, over time, shows his deep insecurities and need for external validation. He mourns that Lizzie can never love him, he shows and talks about his feelings toward her, her family, and their children. Henry can have an amiable, good natured, even charismatic side – and he can also deliberately set out to antagonize others and hurt their feelings (when Lizzie snarls at him over how “quick” he was in their first encounter, he counter-attacks with “I thought of your sister”).

Enneagram: 6w5

Henry has natural reasons for his anxiety, after all there’s no one in his court he can trust, but his distrust extends even to his family and friends. He is anxious, unsettled, suspicious, and paranoid, alternatively showing logical precision and wisdom and lashing out at people. He is neurotic in his fears and worried about his “right” to be king, so he is often proactive in taking out his enemies. Henry over-relies on his mother as an authority figure, but can even turn against her and denounce her when he feels betrayed by her. His 5 wing makes him a little more self-reliant, but also secretive.