The Big Reveal: Elizabeth Bennet’s Personality Type

Last week we asked you, dear readers, to share your opinions on the personality type of Elizabeth Bennet, the heroine of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. We were blown away by the responses that the article got – some thoughtful, some funny, and some totally surprising.

If you missed last week’s article, “What Personality Type Is Elizabeth Bennet? (You Tell Us!),” you can find it here.

Many of you speculated that Elizabeth’s personality type was the Debater, some thought she was the Campaigner, and others felt she was the Protagonist. We heard suggestions ranging from Advocate to Virtuoso. Some of the most insightful debates centered on whether Elizabeth was a Prospecting or Judging type, and there were plenty of diverging opinions on where she fell on the Feeling or Thinking spectrum too.

One reader noted that it’s hard to type a fictional character, because if we like the character (and many of us are Elizabeth Bennet fans!) we might want to assume they share our personality type. Another reader said that, even if it’s hard to be 100% objective, it’s still a fun thought experiment.

So, with that in mind, what personality type do we at 16Personalities think suits Elizabeth Bennet?

We consider Elizabeth Bennet to be an Assertive Protagonist (ENFJ-A). Here’s why:

What about you?

Free

Only 10 minutes to get a “freakishly accurate” description of who you are and why you do things the way you do.

Take the Test

Extraverted (E)

Elizabeth shines in the presence of company. Sure, she enjoys spending time on her own, but the prospect of a ball puts her in “the highest spirits.” Moreover, her energy seems heightened whenever she’s meeting someone new or engaging in conversation, which is why so many lines of her dialogue are witty to the point of being worthy of laughing out loud.

Intuitive (N)

Elizabeth’s disregard for convention and interest in broader principles mark her as someone with the Intuitive personality trait. Plus, she demonstrates a tendency – not uncommon among Intuitive types – for her mind to wander. For example, there’s one priceless moment when Mr. Darcy asks whether her mind is in “the present” and she replies yes – but she doesn’t even realize what she’s said because “her thoughts had wandered far from the subject.”

Feeling (F)

When it comes to making decisions, Elizabeth goes with her feelings. That’s why she walks all those miles in the mud to see her sister Jane – even though, as another sister remarks, this “impulse of feeling” is unreasonable and out of proportion.

Judging (J)

Let’s be clear – the Judging personality trait doesn’t mean that someone is judgmental. Instead, it points to someone who tends to be focused and steadfast in their opinions. This certainly is the case with Elizabeth, and although her steadfastness serves her well in many instances – for example, giving her the resolve to turn down Mr. Collins – it also blinds her to the true nature of Darcy and Wickham.

Assertive (A)

Elizabeth is stung when Mr. Darcy first snubs her – refusing to dance with her because she is “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.” That said, her self-esteem isn’t unduly affected by any external judgment. Almost immediately, she transforms Darcy’s snub into a humorous story she can tell her friends – “for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.”

Elizabeth Bennet is a wonderful example of an Assertive Protagonist because she dispels common misunderstandings about this personality type. Protagonists are noted for being principled – and, as a result, some people think of them as humorless or duty-bound. But Elizabeth reminds us that they can be lively and funny, delighting in the world even if they find themselves at odds with societal expectations or prevailing opinions.

Conclusions

Spirited and warm-hearted, Elizabeth Bennet is among the best-loved characters of all time. Although she is an Assertive Protagonist, readers of every personality type can learn from – and enjoy! – her journey toward open-mindedness, self-discovery, and love.

Do you agree with our assessment, or do you see Elizabeth Bennet as the embodiment of another personality type? Let us know in the comments below.

Still think she is an ENFP-A. Compared to, say, Emma Woodhouse, a true ENFJ-A, the differences are quite clear. The P and J trait is imo the hardest to pin down, and someone having steadfast opinions doesn't necessarily mean they are a J type. Elizabeth fits into an ENFP much better, as she is creative, witty, and light. Compared to Emma, who is people-based, Elizabeth is self-based, another indicator of an ENFP, not an ENFJ. (Not saying that ENFPs are selfish, but they tend to be more focused on themselves and their own thoughts.) Unlike Emma, who goes around meddling in everyone's business, Elizabeth is mostly meddling in her own business. ENFP-A for sure.

Jessie W.

Protagonist (ENFJ-A)

ENFPs are the most people based people I know though lol

Lizzy

Protagonist (ENFJ-T)

Well, I am definitely an ENFJ, and I think I‘m creative, witty and light too. That‘s actually how many people describe me. And I tend to „meddle in my own business“ as well.

Harlett

Advocate (INFJ-T)

After I read this I have learn something about myself.

Isabel

Advocate (INFJ-T)

As a fellow Austenite and Pride and Prejudice enthusiast, I must disagree. First, I must say my opinion is derived from the personal interest that arose durng university, but nonetheless, my endearment with her when I watched the film at 12 years old, and now, as an adult and Historian, I think this analysis misses key points. I have spent quite some time pondering over this, and I have no doubt she is an INFJ-A. She is clearly Introverted. The prospect of conversation is interesting to her if it carries any apparent delight she might feel from the discussion. Hence her pointing out at a ball when dancing with Darcy, as to him not speaking, with a witty joke as to that being part of his personality - suddenly, the dance has become boring. She does not care for his money, and she has decided to give him a chance to gain proximity, a judgement based on intuition and feelings alone, without being fully aware of it. The moment she realises they are dancing for the sake of it, she feels annoyed, upset, because how could someone as intelligent as her, end up in this situation? She would rather be sitting down at that point. Moreover, in Regency Era Britain, communication was not what it is today - people, especially those of her ''rank'' and social class, would spend the majority of their days regularly getting on with the same work, the same mundane tasks, and what brings excitement to the balls is the arrival of Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy. She is provoked by his behaviour she cannot quite understand, because that is not the norm for her. For instance, walking with Mr Collins to Rosings Park, and being a guest for Lady Catherine De Burgh only becomes interesting when she realises that one of her friends will be present, which means, to her, interesting conversation, or when she sees Darcy. She begs her mother not to be alone with Mr Collins when she realises he is going to propose, she turns down several opportunities of accompanying Liddy in her pursuit of uniformed officers to walk and read books instead. She, much like her father, would rather be alone with a book, or with her sister and best friend Jane, who is intrinsically different from her, offering support, listening, and different perspectives. In the film, she does not want to go to the ball where she has to dress up - she makes an argument with her mother against it. She feels coerced because it becomes a family event, but even when visiting Pemberley with her aunt and uncle, she deviates from the idea first, scared of seeing Darcy or any of the family around. Moreover, at the first opportunity, she disappears (in the film, book and BBC series) into the garden or a different room, where she can wander and look at things by herself. And at encountering Mr Darcy, she is flustered, ashamed and insecure, insure what to do. In some depictions, she runs away completely. In others, she politely excuses herself. She is perfectly happy staying at the Inn in the village and exchanging letters with Jane whilst reading books and walking the vincinity, until his restless -yet delicate and respectful- approach in inviting her and her family for dinner makes her change her mind. Finally, in the 2005 film, when she is so flustered and overwhelmed she runs away in the way and finds shelter under roman-style pillars and is soon found by Mr Darcy, with his less-than-ideal-proposal, she goes away and apologises to him, spending some time alone, again, processing what happened. In his last proposal in the film, he finds her wandering the fields with a book, and out of the fog he appears and speaks to her. She had no intention of finding him whatsoever, but he reaches out. As far as she is concerned, she is outdoors, with her book, ''recharging'', as an introvert would do. Her pleasure isn't centred around people, rather, the right people that she approves of.

Bevin

Advocate (INFJ-T)

I agree with what you say about her being Introverted, if you read the book you can see that she is much more introverted.

Hadassah Bertram

Executive (ESTJ-A)

I feel like they are talking about the movie...

The Big Reveal: Elizabeth Bennet’s Personality Type

What about you?

Extraverted (E)

Intuitive (N)

Feeling (F)

Judging (J)

Assertive (A)

Conclusions

Further Reading

Full understanding is just a click away…

Comments