Marilla Cuthbert MBTI Personality Type
Personality
What personality type is Marilla Cuthbert? Marilla Cuthbert is an ISTJ personality type in MBTI, 1w2 - E1 - 163 in Enneagram, in Big 5, in Socionics.
At first, I also found it hard to choose between ISTJ and ESTJ, since both share the same cognitive functions (Te and Si). But the more I observed Marilla, the more I felt her decisions were shaped by Si-dominant supported by Te—not the other way around. One moment that illustrates this well is the brooch incident (episode 3): • Si : focuses on past experiences, familiarity, and established order. Marilla is used to routine, fixed places for things, and a strong sense of reliability. The brooch (belonging to her late mother) carries deep emotional and historical value. Its disappearance shakes her trust in the familiar order she depends on. When Anne says she returned it but the brooch is nowhere to be found, Si interprets that as: “the natural order has been broken,” and suspicion arises. • Te : shows in how she addresses the situation: direct, firm, and focused on reaching a logical resolution: “The brooch is gone. Anne had it last. So she must be responsible.” It’s a practical chain of reasoning, even if it lacks emotional softness. But later, we get a key moment of reflection when Marilla says: “I suppose Anne lost it ( the brooch ) and doesn’t want to admit it out of fear of punishment. It’s frightening to think she might be lying. I must admit, that upsets me even more than the brooch being gone.” This shows how much trust and consistency matter to her. Her disappointment stems more from a perceived break in moral or relational order than from the missing object itself—very Si in nature. Another moment that supports Si–Te over Te–Si (episode 1) is when Marilla first meets Anne. She has every reason to return her, there was a clear mistake. But after hearing Anne’s backstory and realizing that another woman (who seemed harsh) wanted to take her, Marilla quietly decides to take Anne back. She doesn’t announce a change of heart; instead, she simply adjusts her decision based on new, concrete information. That kind of response feels more like Si-driven empathy than Te-led decisiveness. Her quiet stability, strong sense of duty, respect for structure, and growing warmth over time all reflect a classic ISTJ. As for her enneagram I see 1w2, Marilla appears to be a core Enneagram Type 1 due to her strong sense of responsibility, moral conviction, and high personal standards. However, her wing seems to be 2, not 9, as she often expresses her beliefs through action aimed at helping others. Her desire to do what’s right is closely tied to caring for Anne and ensuring her well-being, even if it comes across as strict or controlling at times. She doesn’t just want order for its own sake, but because she believes it’s what’s best for those she loves. Her willingness to sacrifice, teach, and correct out of duty and concern suggests a 1w2; someone who leads with principle but is driven by a quiet desire to serve.” Firm on the outside, warm on the inside”.
