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one of bettering their race—of carrying knowledge into the realms of ignorance—of substituting
peace for war—freedom for bondage—religion for superstition—the hope of heaven for the fear of
hell? Must I relinquish that? It is dearer than the blood in my veins. It is what I have to look
forward to, and to live for.”
Mr. St. John is clearly not passionless, but neither is he a slave to his wild emotions. In the end, his
mind and will overcame his overflow of feelings, and he never lost his objectivity. Many find this
characteristic of Rationals very difficult to understand, but it is an integral part of their makeup.
It is also interesting to note that Mr. St. John was able to imagine his life with Rosamond in vivid
detail. Kroeger & Thuesen (1994) have suggested that the naturally rich thought lives of INTs carry
over into their experience of love. Like all intuitives, INTJs pour their imagination into romantic
encounters beforehand, envisioning what might happen and concocting possibilities in their minds.
But for INTs, who spend so much time in their heads, this experience is far more rich and satisfying
than for most types.
Another theme that comes up when studying accounts of INTJ and INTP behavior is the
phenomenon of an INT who goes for decades without the slightest interest in love, then one day
falls hard for a particular person. (As a parallel, see Susan Calvin in Isaac Asimov's short story
Liar.) This seemed to be the experience for Mr. St. John, and one wonders how frequently it occurs.
Mr. St. John saw his life's work was more important than domestic bliss. Since INTJs are one of the
types which most values "achievement" and the type that puts the lowest value on "home/family" 132
his decision is consistent with INTJ behavior. Doubtless the "either/or" nature of his Mr. St. John's
dilemma was a factor in his decision; if Rosamond would have been able to accompany him on the
missions field I think the result would have been different. As it was, he was being forced to decide
between happiness at home with a stiflingly monotonous career, or life without Rosamond but a
career that fulfilled his NT need for achievement and challenge.
Rosamond (ESFP) is of course the opposite type from Mr. St. John. It is interesting to note that
Charlotte Brontë, who of course had no knowledge of type, was able to perfectly oppose the
personalities of these two lovers. Most people have an informal understanding of the MBTI that
derives from life experience, and authors are particularly keen observers in this regard.
When Jane Eyre considered this situation later, she reflected,
"St. John was a good man; but I began to feel he had spoken truth of himself when he said he was hard
and cold. The humanities and amenities of life had no attraction for him—its peaceful enjoyments no
charm. Literally, he lived only to aspire—after what was good and great, certainly; but still he would
never rest, nor approve of others resting round him. As I looked at his lofty forehead, still and pale as a
white stone—at his fine lineaments fixed in study—I comprehended all at once that he would hardly
make a good husband: that it would be a trying thing to be his wife. I understood, as by inspiration, the
nature of his love for Miss Oliver; I agreed with him that it was but a love of the senses. I comprehended
how he should despise himself for the feverish influence it exercised over him; how he should wish to
stifle and destroy it; how he should mistrust its ever conducting permanently to his happiness or hers. I
saw he was of the material from which nature hews her heroes—Christian and Pagan—her lawgivers, her
statesmen, her conquerors: a steadfast bulwark for great interests to rest upon; but, at the fireside, too
often a cold cumbrous column, gloomy and out of place."
It is not true that INTJs make poor husbands, but it is true that they need an outlet for their NT
nature. For INTJs, the pull of the home sphere seems weaker than average.
132 Myers, McCaulley, Quenk & Hammer, 1998