Opposites do attract!
Posted by Kay on October 17, 1997 at 21:49:13:
In response to opposites attract, but will it last?, written by lisa in va on October 17, 1997 at 13:35:30
I think Emma and Mr. Knightley are well suited to one another. I've read the book, "Please Understand Me" by Keirsey and Bates, and they recommend the opposite temperament (ENFP for Emma vs ISTJ - Mr. Knightley. In the chapter on Mating, this describes the ISTJ: Try to imagine him married to one of his own kind: Two Rocks of Gibralter, each steadfastly tempering the other's steadfast tempering. Instead he needs the vivacity and sparkle which is enchanting to someone so sober. Emma would add an element of fun and Mr. Knightley would bring Emma down to earth.
The real problem is that I don't think the extroverted woman was valued in the early 1800s. There's no real outlet. All the admirable womanly pursuits are introverted (sewing, painting, practicing music). So the extroverted woman either seems meddlesome, like Emma, or silly like Mrs. Bates.
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