Frieren: Beyond Journeyโs End: Fern (ISTJ)
Fern from Frieren: Beyond Journeyโs End is widely recognized as an ISTJ, so this analysis shouldnโt be surprising. We considered multiple personality types for Fern, such as ISFJ and INTJ, but ultimately landed solidly on ISTJ. The alternate type that we considered the most was INTJ, but the case for Si ended up being stronger. Hopefully this makes sense. We intend to release an analysis for Frieren and Stark soon.
Si:
โHe would make things safer, and our journeyโs headed deeper into the unknown from here.โ
โI did my best to do everything by the book.โ
Fern concerns herself with physical matters, essentially micromanaging those around her. She makes sure people get up on time, donโt overspend, etc. In some ways, she acts like Frierenโs mother in the sense that sheโll brush her hair, remind her not to fall asleep with her hair wet, makes sure she eats, cleans up her messes, etc. Of course, their finances are specifically something that Fern makes sure to track and manage as best as possible. Fern struggles with overspending and indulging, because she wants to ensure that they remain financially secure. (This is why she disapproves of Frieren for her indulgent spending, and stops Stark from buying her a gift that was too expensive.)
Fern explains to Sense that, when training to become a mage, she did her best to do everything by the book. This is a standard Si approach, reflecting their desire for security. Fern essentially follows the tried and true methods to ensure a specific result. Similarly, when it comes to her training, she sticks closely to what Frieren says, and doesnโt experiment beyond it. When an opposing mage in the exam questions her use of basic attacks, Fern responds by saying that sheโs just following her masterโs instructions.
Te:
โLetโs search as efficiently as possible.โ
โStark, youโre wasting everyoneโs time. Help me.โ
โGoodness. Youโre so disorganized.โ
Fern is task-oriented and orderly. As a child, she fixates on a goal and works determinedly toward that goal. After she begins travelling with Frieren, Fern focuses on optimizing their efforts, so as not to get stuck meandering in one area for too long. She tries to encourage efficiency, in both Frieren and Stark. Fern finds it frustrating when they do things like waste time or forget tasks. She also struggles with how disorganized Frieren is. She makes a comment to this effect while watching Frieren rummage through her suitcase, searching for a specific item.
Fernโs focus on tasks and structure leads her to come across as cold and callous. Initially, Fern refers to Stark formally, keeping to polite language. The moment he tells her that she can address him as an equal, Fern instantly starts berating him for wasting time, and demands that he help her. Generally speaking, sheโs quick to scold others, and shut down any impractical decisions they try to make. (This is why Stark constantly gets upset and calls her rude.) Oftentimes, Fern acts like the boss of the group, even though the large scale decisions are ultimately being made by Frieren. Frieren may be choosing the direction and the ultimate goal, but Fern constantly makes the decisions regarding their time and money.
Fi:
โPeople who gamble are the lowest of the low.โ
โEven for you, thatโs cold.โ
Fern possesses strong values, which she expresses without hesitation, such as her distaste for gambling. In addition, she makes sure Frieren helps people with any significant problems, in spite of Frierenโs more selfish impulses. For example, Frieren expresses a desire to move on from the village that has been struck with a sleeping spell, stating that it smells like trouble. Fern calls her cold, and they end up helping. In another instance, she makes sure they clear a blocked path of the rubble, rather than just lifting the travelerโs carriage with magic.
Fern possesses strong sentimental attachments, as a result of her Si-Fi combination. When her staff is broken, Fern gets extremely upset at Frierenโs suggestion to get a new one. The staff has been nearly shattered, so fixing it is unlikely and impractical. However, Fern has a personal attachment to it that ties into her past, so she canโt imagine replacing it.
Ne:
โI devoted my life to achieving that goal without considering what my world would look like afterwards. Maybe thatโs the problem. I spent all my determination. Now Iโve got no passion left.โ
Fern shows little to no interest in exploring or speculating, outside of what is required, which could suggest inferior Ne. When speaking to Sense, she explains that she devoted her life to a single goal, without considering what her life would look like beyond it. Now that sheโs completed her goal, Fern is essentially aimless, lacking in passion and determination. Therefore, Fern sticks with what she knows, training under Frieren. She helps Frieren with her goal, and never shows any signs of forming a new vision for her future. Essentially, Fern fails to consider other possibilities for her life, or explore other potential interests.
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Great insight as usual.
As a fellow ISTJ Fern definitely presented pretty quickly as one, contrasting pretty nicely I think with Frieren, who Iโd argue is textbook INTP. The difference in time management is a clear marker between Ti and Te once you know this stuff.
Be curious to see you all break it down! Stark will be interesting as he is pretty clearly a feeler and Iโm not as sure on him. ISFx i lean towards. Not a high Se user heheh, not prone to risk taking so low Extraverted perceiving.
Personally, I think Frieren is an ISTP.
โ She makes sure people get up on time, donโt overspend, etc.โ
โ After she begins travelling with Frieren, Fern focuses on optimizing their efforts, so as not to get stuck meandering in one area for too long. She tries to encourage efficiency, in both Frieren and Stark.โ
She certainly sounds like she keeps everyone on-track! It makes me wonder about Frieren and Stark, though, haha.