I’m going to analyze the main protagonists of Final Fantasy VII using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Please prepare for a long read. What is the MBTI?
Notice, each character’s MBTI type is the opposite of each other, making them perfect foils. I’m also going to split them into pairs, and contrast each against their opposites.
Character Analysis:
As an ISFP, Strago is quiet, friendly, sensitive, and kind. Undeterred by his old age, Strago is energetic and spirited. Although he’s also clumsy and prone to make mistakes. He enjoys the present moment and what’s going on around him. As a blue mage, he learns from his surroundings. Strago is loyal and committed to their values and to people who are important to them. Strago is overprotective of Relm, not letting her join the party when she asks. He dislikes disagreements and conflicts. He does not force his opinions or values on others.
As an ENTJ, Relm is frank, decisive, assume leadership readily. Relm is a sassy little girl. Quickly see illogical and inefficient procedures and policies. Quick to constantly scolds Strago for making stupid decisions, She also makes biting remarks when someone is acting foolishly. She’s forceful in presenting their ideas. If irritated, Relm often threatens to paint the offender’s picture, much to the fear of the party.
In this sense, the ISFP and ENTJ take on a parent/child relationship.
As an ISFJ, Sabin is quiet, friendly, responsible, and conscientious. Committed and steady in meeting their obligations, he has an unflappable determination. He excels at thriving in situations where most people would give up. He is loyal, considerate, notice and remembers specifics about people who are important to him. Sabin can get emotional at times and has a strong sense of right and wrong. He has a quick temper and takes rash actions that get him into trouble. But he’ss a loyal and dedicated friend, encouraging Terra and taking a shine to Gau.
As an ENTP, Edgar is quick, ingenious, stimulating, alert, and outspoken. Several people note that Edgar is a flirt making him a target for jokes, mostly from Locke. His twin brother Sabin refers to his behavior towards women as an “old bad habit”. Edgar is resourceful in solving new and challenging problems. He’s cunning and acts as a double-agent for the Returners while pretending to be an Imperial ally. He’s adept at generating conceptual possibilities, analyzing them strategically, while advising the group on strategy and tactics. Bored by routine, will seldom do the same thing the same way. He’s apt to turn to one new interest after another. But still Edgar is still a king first, and ruling is his top priority.
In this sense, the ISFJ and ENTP take on a sibling type relationship.
As an INFP, Terra is idealistic, loyal to her values and to people who are important to her. We can see this as she takes care of the kids in the makeshift orphanage. She shows an affinity for children. This also allows her to sympathize with Celes Chere, another former Imperial. She seeks to understand people and to help them fulfill their potential. Terra is courageous and resolves to fight and use her special abilities to make the world a better place. Once she learns her true past and comes to control her powers, she turns her introspection to her humanity. Terra later becomes assertive and determined. She adds her opinions to the discourse or spurs the party onward and can be catalysts for implementing ideas. All she wants is an external life that is congruent with her values.
As an ESTJ, General Leo is practical, realistic, matter-of-fact. Leo is a strong, upstanding, moral man with a strong sense of compassion and honor. The men of the Empire revere him as an ideal warrior and are proud to serve him because of this. Have a clear set of logical standards, systematically follow them and want others to also. At the same time, he’s slow to waste human life on both sides of a battle.
In this sense, the INFP and ESTJ take on a relationship of unrequited love.
As an INFJ, Shadow seeks meaning and connection in ideas, relationships, and material possessions. He has a cold and taciturn exterior, and often staying only until he can collect his fee. Yet Shadow does develop a kinship with the party. This makes him conscientious and committed firmly to his values. Shadow only shows tenderness to Interceptor. Otherwise, he’s a ruthless assassin. He wants to understand what motivates people and is insightful about others. When Shadow warns Terra about “people who have killed their emotions”, he encourages her not to do the same. He can still see the good in people, despite his troubled past.
As an ESTP, Setzer is flexible and tolerant. He takes a pragmatic approach focused on immediate results (such as crashing an Opera to steal “Maria”). Focus on the here-and-now, spontaneous, enjoy each moment that they can be active with others. Setzer cannot resist a gamble (such as his willingness to gamble his airship for Celes Chere’s hand in marriage). He thrives on risks—such as his planned abduction of Maria—and never passes up an opportunity to prove his skill. He enjoys material comforts and style (as we can see from his playboy-esque mansion on the Blackjack).
In this sense, the INFJ and ESTP take on a casual type of relationship to each other.
As an ISTJ, Cyan is quiet, serious, practical, matter-of-fact, realistic, and responsible earning success by thoroughness and dependability. Cyan takes pleasure in making everything orderly and organized – their work, their home, their life. Value traditions and loyalty.
As an ENFP, Gau is warmly enthusiastic, imaginative, spontaneous and flexible. He often relies on his ability to improvise, but not on any verbal fluency. Gau has no concept for etiquette or grammar. Gau want a lot of affirmation from others (as he constantly reminds the party that they are friends). He readily give appreciation and support…in his own special Gau sort of way. Make connections between events and information very quickly, and confidently proceed based on the patterns they see. Due to his skills, he’s able to mimic the special attacks of the monsters around him.
In this sense, the ISTJ and ENFP takes a mentor like relationship.
As an ISTP, Celes is tolerant and flexible, quiet observers until a problem appears. Then she acts quickly to find workable solutions. Initially, Celes is aloof and independent, her bond with the other party members forms slowly. She has difficulty connecting with the other members of the group even after they begin to trust her. Analyze what makes things work and readily get through large amounts of data to isolate the core of practical problems. Celes is adaptable, capable of deceit and sabotage as well as martial skills. Still, Celes’s morals don’t allow her to support their more egregious acts. She accepts the mantle of a traitor at times. Celes retains a degree of pride in her rank and skills in battle.
As an ENFJ, Locke is warm, empathetic, responsive, and responsible. Locke protect women he meets. He instantly promises to help Terra and Celes despite them being former imperial soldiers. Locke is often less than serious. He jokes around with and about the other party members, particularly teasing Edgar for his flirtatiousness. He is sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership (despite not being the main character).
In this sense, the ISTP and ENFJ take on a romantic relationship.
As an INTP, Cid seeks to develop logical explanations for everything that interests him, leading to his magiteck research. He has an unusual ability to focus in depth to solve problems in their area of interest. Though Cid devotes himself to his research, he is not strongly loyal to the Empire. Theoretical and abstract, interested more in ideas than in social interaction. Still, he attempts to solve problems through diplomacy.
As an ESFJ, Gogo is warm hearted (from joining the party based upon learning about their story). S/he’s also conscientious and cooperative. Gogo has shown to have an actual personality besides miming. S/he has a normal conversation with the party before joining them. Gogo likes to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time as a master mime). Gogo notices what others need tries to provide it.
In this sense, the INFP and ESFJ take on a mirror relationship.
As an INTJ, Emperor Gestahl has an original (and shrewd) mind and great drive for achieving his goals. Gestahl’s ambition is to project power over the world. Gestahl is ruthless in attaining his goals, shown in his forceful taking of espers. He quickly sees patterns in external events and develops long-range explanatory perspectives. Gestahl holds little regard for human and intelligent life. His dream is a Magical Empire.
As an ESFP, Kefka is outgoing and accepting…so long as it is of chaos. Although initially Kefka seems lighthearted, his true nature is maniacal, short-tempered, flamboyant, destructive, and cruel. He cracks dark jokes, breaks out into hysterical laughter upon causing mayhem. His only joy is causing death and chaos. Flexible and spontaneous, adapt readily to new people and environments…so long as the new environment is born of destruction. He is a psychopath with no regard for human life nor remorse for the atrocities he commits. He revels in the suffering of others.
In this sense, the INTJ and ESFP take on a business-like relationship.
Mog and Umaro have no direct correlation to these types. They’re animals and their personalities can only be analogous to a human’s. But they definitely take on a platonic relationship.