Here’s the Male Literary Character You’d Be, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

Back in March I wrote an article about the female literary heroines of each Myers-Briggs® personality type. Today we are finally getting to the remarkable men of the literary world! Whether you’re a bookworm looking for your next great read, or just curious about what kind of man you might be subconsciously emanating, this article is for you.

If you’re not sure what your personality type is, you can take our questionnaire at any time!

Credit to my 16-year-old daughter for drawing the pictures of characters that I could find no photos for.

Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

The Male Literary Character You’d Be, Based On Your Myers-Briggs® Personality Type

The ENFP – Patrick from The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Charismatic and outgoing, Patrick looks like a free spirit when we first meet him in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. A troubled boy named Charlie becomes his friend, and Patrick helps Charlie to break out of his shell and try new things. Unfortunately, while Patrick tries to present a lighthearted and goofy exterior to the outside world, he’s actually quite vulnerable and inwardly tormented. He’s searching for someone to understand him, and he sometimes turns to self-destructive behaviors to cope with the bullying he endures because of his homosexuality. His openness and idealism make him a great friend, but they also leave him susceptible to being taken advantage of.

Other Fictional ENFPs: Renly Baratheon (“A Song of Ice and Fire”), Theodore Finch (“All The Bright Places”)

Read This Next: 10 Must-Read Books for ENFPs

The ENTP – Tyrion Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire

Tyrion is one of the most complex and intriguing characters in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. He’s a dwarf, so he’s constantly underestimated and belittled by certain members of his family. Yet even through the bullying and disrespect he manages to maintain his charm, humor, and intellect. Tyrion is an incredibly intelligent individual with a quick-wit and a mind for strategy. He doesn’t hesitate to use his talents as a weapon, and he’s not afraid to speak his mind, even when it gets him into trouble. He’s a survivor, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make his life purposeful, even if it means making some morally questionable choices.

Other Fictional ENTPs: Augustus Waters (The Fault in Our Stars), Tom Sawyer, George Weasley (Harry Potter), Samuel (East of Eden)

Read This Next: 10 Must-Read Books for ENTPs

The INFP – Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye

Holden may seem angsty and angry on the outside, but inwardly he’s a sensitive and idealistic soul. He’s fed up with the phoniness of the adult world, and he longs for something more authentic. He finds the hypocrisy and ugliness of the world around him to be unbearable, and he often retreats into his own mind to escape it. He’s a complex character, and his journey towards self-discovery is a compelling one. It’s not a surprise that many INFPs I’ve spoken to have related to him and listed The Catcher in the Rye as a favorite book.

Other Literary INFPs: The Little Prince, Romeo Montague (Romeo and Juliet), Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings)

Read This Next: What It Means to be an INFP Personality Type

The INTP – Winston Smith from 1984

Winston is a thoughtful and introspective man who’s constantly questioning the world around him. He knows that there’s something wrong with the society he lives in, but he can’t quite put his finger on what it is. Ultimately, he fights against innumerable risks to try to unveil the truth behind “Big Brother.” INTPs will relate to his yearning for freedom and his hunger for truth. The dissatisfaction with the status quo he feels and his determination to undo it make him a character many INTPs will see themselves in.

Other Literary INTPs: Victor Frankenstein, Bernard Marx (Brave New World), Thomas (The Maze Runner)

Read This Next: 10 Things That Excite the INTP Personality Type

The ENFJ – Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games

Peeta is a compassionate and selfless young man who will do absolutely anything for those he cares about. His sweet exterior hides a deep inner strength, as he’s not afraid to use his abilities for good and fight for what he believes in. Like many ENFJs, Peeta often knows the words to say and the expressions to make to inspire people to feel emotions. He uses this power to make the citizens of the capitol love him and Katniss and to make it possible for him to protect her. He embodies all of the best traits of ENFJs: their vision, altruism, idealism, and determination. ENFJs don’t just focus on the present, they make choices to create a better future, and Peeta embodies that even to the point of risking his own life.

Other Literary ENFJs: Will Solace (Camp Half-Blood), Rhysand (A Court of Thorns and Roses), Max Demian (Demian)

Read This Next: 10 Must-Read Books for ENFJs

The ENTJ – Gale Hawthorne from The Hunger Games

Like his best friend, Katniss Everdeen, Gale is incredibly determined and fiercely loyal to what he believes in. Ambitious and strategic, he’s always thinking ahead to the next move. We see this in his tendency to think in the long-term about the welfare of the people of Panem, while Katniss tends to think more short-term. His ruthlessness and anger fuel his desire to come up with strategies that, while harmful to some, help to take down the Capitol. Gale isn’t afraid of a challenge, and he’ll stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He’s the perfect example of an ENTJ: someone who’s constantly striving for more and is always looking for ways to go after his vision. But he’s not all action and no heart either. Despite his sometimes brutal methods, he’s capable of great depths of caring and loyalty, as evidenced when he supported Prim and Katniss’s mother while she was competing in the games.

Other Literary ENTJs: Edward Rochester (Jane Eyre), Tywin Lannister (A Song of Ice and Fire), Kevin Day (All for the Game)

The INFJ – Paul Atreides from Dune

Paul Atreides is a deeply complex and introspective character who’s constantly searching for meaning and truth. He’s looking to create something better in the world, but he knows that to do it, he’ll have to enter the unknown. His ambition combined with his idealism make him a powerful force in Dune, and a great example of an INFJ. Just like Paul, INFJs often find themselves on a journey of self-discovery as they try to make sense of the world around them and their place in it.

Other Literary INFJs: Yozo Oba (No Longer Human), Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter), Remus Lupin (Harry Potter), Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)

Read This Next: 12 Amazing Fictional INFJ Characters

The INTJ – Severus Snape from The Harry Potter Series

Snape is a fascinating and compelling character: he’s mysterious, intelligent, and driven by an intense passion to do what he believes is right. He may seem cold on the surface, but as we follow him through the Harry Potter series, we see that he’s more sensitive and caring than anyone realized. INTJs will see themselves in Snape because they share his strategic thinking skills, intellectual capability, and capacity for unyielding dedication. They also may relate to the way people misunderstand Snape and think he’s a cruel person, when deep down he’s dealing with inner turmoil as well as a strong sense of responsibility to do what’s right and what’s rational. INTJs are often misunderstood as being unfeeling or insensitive, when they are really quite deeply feeling.

Other Literary INTJs: Henry Winter (The Secret History), Edmund Dantes (The Count of Monte Cristo), Petyr Baelish (A Sonce of Ice and Fire)

Read This Next: What It Means to be an INTJ Personality Type

The ESFP – Perseus “Percy” Jackson from The Camp Half-Blood Chronicles

Percy is a fun-loving and adventure-seeking young man who’s always up for a good time. He’s spontaneous, daring, and he loves to live in the moment. He’s also fiercely loyal to his friends and family, and he’ll do whatever it takes to protect them. His careless exterior hides a deep well of compassion, and he shows this by risking his life for others – even when they are his own enemies. His sense of humor and his boldness make him the perfect character for ESFPs to see themselves in.

Other Literary ESFPs: Ron Weasley (Harry Potter), Edmund “Bunny” Corcoran (A Secret History), Theon Greyjoy (A Song of Ice and Fire)

The ESTP – Mat Cauthon from The Wheel of Time

Mat is a charming and quick-witted man who lives for the thrill of adventure. Whether he’s gambling or fighting, Mat never stops finding ways to live a life on the edge. But beneath all of that fun-loving energy is an protective soul, as evidenced by Mat’s determination to protect his younger sisters. ESTPs will relate to his bold, no-nonsense nature and his desire to live life to the fullest. The tactical way Cauthon approaches any situation showcases the ESTP’s natural sense of in-the-moment strategy and logic.

Other Literary ESTPs: Jaime Lannister (A Song of Ice and Fire), George Wickham (Pride and Prejudice), Godric Gryffindor (Harry Potter)

The ISFP – Legolas from The Lord of the Rings Series

While Legolas appears stoic and aloof on the outside, on the inside he’s driven by a deeply kind and caring spirit. He’s sincere, gentle, and protective of those he loves. Like most ISFPs, he has a love for nature and a yearning for adventure. His perceptiveness pays off on the battlefield, where he’s able to anticipate his enemies’ moves and react accordingly. His fighting style is a perfect example of the ISFP’s ability to be both creative and spontaneous in the moment.

Other Literary ISFPs: Jon Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire), Andrew Minyard (All for the Game), Macbeth

The ISTP – Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes is highly aware of his surroundings, spotting even the tiniest details and piecing these details together to create a larger picture. While many people type Sherlock as an intuitive, his attention to detail is more typical of a Sensing-Perceiving type. ISTPs take in massive amounts of sensory data and then in the quiet they move into an intuitive space (or “mind palace”) where they can piece together clues and formulate predictions and meanings. Intuitives (N types in the Myers-Briggs® system) are highly aware of concepts and abstract ideas. They start in a conceptual place first and then veer into details; whereas Sherlock notices the details first, and in excruciating detail. That said, his sensing and intuitive sides are far beyond the capabilities of the average person! ISTPs will relate to his keen attention to detail, sharp wit, and quick-thinking abilities.

Other Literary ISTPs: Jace Wayland (The Mortal Instruments), George Milton (Of Mice and Men), Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Perfume)

Read This Next: Understanding ISTP Thinking

The ESFJ – Lucien Vanserra from A Court of Thorns and Roses

Lucien Vanserra comes from the ruling nobility in the fairy world of Prythian. He has a great deal of compassion for others, and will even put himself at risk to help people of a lesser rank. As an example, he comes to Feyre’s aid even after he’s punished for helping her. ESFJs will relate to his sweetness, grounded outlook, and humor. They will also sympathize with his emotional scars and his tendency to put on a bright face even when he’s suffering on the inside.

Other Literary ESFJs: Cedric Diggory (Harry Potter), Charles Bingley (Pride and Prejudice), Peter Keating (The Fountainhead)

The ESTJ – Robb Stark from A Song of Ice and Fire

Robb Stark is a courageous leader with an intense sense of justice and duty. He exhibits the determination, decisiveness, and practicality typical of ESTJs. Like many with his personality type, Robb carries a strong weight of responsibility. He’s determined to protect his family and friends at all costs, even when it puts him in danger. His pragmatism and in-charge demeanor allow him to be a skilled military tactician – mapping out battle plans and making decisive decisions in the heat of warfare. ESTJs will relate to his strong sense of duty, practical approach to problem-solving, and ability to lead others with confidence.

Other Literary ESTJs: Peter Pevensie (The Chronicles of Narnia), Boromir (Lord of the Rings), Zeus (Camp Half-Blood Chronicles)

Read This Next: What It Means to be an ESTJ Personality Type

The ISFJ – Aziraphale from Good Omens

Aziraphale is a kind-hearted and compassionate angel who genuinely cares about people. Although he’s supposed to be a fierce advocate for moral living, he’s drawn to a quiet and simple life of tranquil earthly enjoyments. He loves to read, collect antique books, listen to classical music, and dine at sushi restaurants. Aziraphale’s relationship with the demon Crowley is a perfect example of the ISFJ’s ability to find the good in even the most unlikely of people. ISFJs will appreciate Aziraphale’s gentle nature, love of beauty, and appreciation for the simple things in life.

Other Literary ISFJs: Neville Longbottom (Harry Potter), John H. Watson (Sherlock Holmes), Newt (The Maze Runner)

Read This Next: Understanding ISFJ Feeling

The ISTJ – Matthias Helvar from the Six of Crows Series

Matthias might seem cold and aloof at first glance, but once you get to know him, you realize that he’s a trustworthy and reliable friend. He’s the type of person you can always count on to be there when you need him. Matthias is also a skilled fighter, utilizing his brute strength and military experience to take down his enemies. ISTJs will identify with Matthias’s sense of duty, practicality, and loyalty. They will also appreciate the fact that he trusts his inner sense of right and wrong, even if it goes against what others expect of him.

Other Literary ISTJs: Eddard Stark (A Song of Ice and Fire), Percy Weasley (Harry Potter), Azriel (A Court of Thorns and Roses)

Read This Next: Understanding ISTJ Sensing

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you enjoy these characters or have any others you would recommend? Let us know in the comments!