Zombies Ruin Everything

Of all the heroines that would eventually break into the video game scene and be a sex symbol (I guess), action star, and role model to girls everywhere (psh) it only makes sense she would be compared to Indiana Jones in style and profession.

The 2013 reboot was a welcome edition to a franchise that seemed like it had pretty much had it’s day. Lara’s newer modest look and ability to adapt all feel like the action ISFP. She uses a bow and arrow you say? Hmm…

While the original Croft captured the hearts of teenage boys everywhere, I always found the gameplay to be sluggish and wonky. Yes, I said “wonky.” But the character of Croft always seemed hollow and cliche to me. Just because your female lead isn’t a damsel in distress doesn’t necessarily mean you’re breaking boundaries. Between her and the damn-them-to-hell Angelina Jolie movies, I would type her ISTP, but that would be more for lack of good writing than making a truly developed character.

Sooo…were there ever any girls that actually looked up to this?

I can’t give them too hard a time, it was the 90s after all. Part of the times. I guess. We had to move through our “Pamela Anderson phase.”

From the beginning of 2013’s Tomb Raider, we’re thrown into the shipwreck with Lara. Her reactions to the catastrophe don’t reveal anything about her type as much as her narration does-

“A famous explorer once said, that the extraordinary is in what we do, not who we are. I’d finally set out to make my mark, to find adventure. But instead adventure found me. In our darkest moments, when life flashes before us, we find something. Something that keeps us going. Something that pushes us. When all seemed lost, I found a truth. And I knew what I must become.”

“….A man.”

First of all, it wasn’t a famous explorer that said that first part, it was Batman. But more importantly, it could be considered the first reflection of the ISFP mindset when placed in unfamiliar territory- adapting. One of the biggest aspects of the game is the point made time and time again that Lara has never been in the survivalist situation she’s put in here.

ISFPs adapt, baby. It’s what they do. It’s why you often don’t even know the ISFPs from the INFPs or the ISFJs. It’s not because the types are really that much alike other than being introverted, but that they keep to themselves and you often don’t know what’s going on in their head until they choose to say it- which isn’t that often. INFPs can’t help but comment on the other side of the topic, while ISFJs may bring up what’s incorrect about how you’re filing that paperwork or something stupid you said.

But ISFPs believe what they believe, and aren’t generally inclined to let you know.

But the Honey Badger? He don’t care.

It’s not that they’re quietly thinking about how stupid you are, but due to their lead Fi, they have their beliefs…and due to their secondary Se, they take things as they are. In the more extreme scenario that Raider deals with, Lara is faced with life or death situations throughout the story, and while any type could attempt to survive, Lara stands out as an ISFP in the way she deals with it all. Emotions can’t help but come out at times, it’s natural. But she carries on.

ISFPs aren’t the type to complain about their problem unless they feel the timing is right. You’re not going to hear the ISFP huff and puff until you ask what’s wrong only to hear them say “…Nothing.”

Lara’s position, while traumatic and violent, is the ideal role for an Artisan as far as fiction goes and ISFPs are thought to be the most naturalistic of all types. They prefer the real world as opposed to the hypothetical and theoretical. When Lara’s friend Sam begins to talk about the legend of Himiko, it’s not something that Lara is interested in. Sure, ISFPs love a good story, Hollywood is thought to be filled with ISFPs and other Artisans, but if there’s nothing to take away from it, they don’t want to bother themselves.

“Don’t bother me with fictional characters in fictional stories!”

It’s also worth nothing that while it takes place with good reasoning, here we have another ISFP that gets a hold of a bow and arrow, then eventually, a sword. We’ve talked about other ISFPs and their aversion to the old school weapons and fiction, so Lara follows suit as well. Legolas, The Bride, Raiden…ISFPs, loving the natural world, would see it as more graceful and sensible in fiction (or in real life if it were so dramatic) to choose a quiet, old fashioned weapon rather than the rocket launcher that would also take down the building the intended target was inside of.

Well, at least the roaches will live.

Lastly, ISFPs are a lot more serious than they seem. As relaxed and carefree as they are, their playful exterior is masking a mind that’s constantly taking in information about the world around them.

Not in the logical, calculated sense that a Rational would, but in a way that keeps them centered about how they feel. This explains why people would think the 21 year old wouldn’t make it off the island being that there’s a million different ways to die, but the ISFP Lara has a million tricks up her sleeve as well.

This entry was posted on 11/05/2013 at 4:40 am and is filed under MBTI Artisans, MBTI Stuff with tags 2013, isfp, lara croft, mbti in fiction, tomb raider, tumblr. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.