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[merthurmadness]

Merlin Enneagram Types

As I was looking up enneagram types to help me write my own characters, I unwittingly came across enneagram types that seemed to fit the characters from merlin really well and I wanted to know what the people on Tumblr think about this.

For those of you who don't know about enneagram personality types, here's a link to a website that explains them, if you are at all interested:

https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/enneagram-types/

Since I'll be waffling a lot in this analysis, I'm going to just focus on Merlin's enneagram type in this post, but I will make more posts on other characters in the future *cough* Arthur *cough*, and then once I've done those, I'll analyse the relationships between characters *cough* merthur *cough* according to the enneagram types and see if they match up with the characters, but anyways enough of this self-explanatory waffle. (apologies in advance, we begin just analysing merlin, but then it inevitably devolves into some merthur splurge)

Here goes!

Merlin's Enneagram Type: Type 2 - The helper

Strengths and Desires:

"This personality type is very concerned with other people's needs. They are motivated by their need to be loved and needed. When Twos are healthy and in balance, they are loving, helpful, generous, and considerate. People are drawn to them like bees to honey. Healthy Twos warm others in the glow of their hearts. They enliven others with their appreciation and attention, helping people to see positive qualities in themselves that they had not previously recognized."

Throughout the show, we see Merlin exemplifying these traits over and over again. Especially the phrase where people are drawn to Type Twos "like honey" seems to fit Merlin really well, as Merlin shows that he makes friends with people easily because he is warm, loving and will give people his full attention.

After one episode where Merlin meets Gwaine, Gwaine later on calls Merlin the best friend he's ever had, because Merlin was the only friend who pursued a deeper connection with Gwaine and truly cared for him. This type of attention he gives people, warms other people from the depths of their hearts. In another episode, Morgana comments on it, calling Merlin "a lover," I could ramble on about this for ages. But I'll stick to one example that I'll go in-depth into, in Season 5 Episode 8, titled "the Hollow Queen", Merlin agrees to help a young Druid boy called Daegal on a mission to heal his sick sister despite having responsibilities at Camelot. During the journey they take to get to the sister, Merlin surprises Daegal repeatedly with his acts of generosity and compassion, where he feeds Daegal breakfast, treats his wounds and tells Daegal that he, fundamentally as a human being, matters. That everyone matters. After being treated like he doesn't matter his whole life, being told he does matter shocks Daegal so much that it ends up inspiring him to become a better person. He ends up revealing to Merlin, that he's not actually a druid boy, and that he's leading him to a trap. But by then, it's already too late, Merlin falls into it and nearly gets killed by Morgana.

Afterward, despite Merlin telling Daegal to leave him alone, Daegal tends to Merlin's wounds, determined to keep Merlin alive. Merlin tells Daegal that he is doing a good job. Once Merlin is well enough, he and Daegal rush back to Camelot since they know Morgana is planning on sending an assassin to kill Arthur. In the process of saving Arthur, Daegal gets mortally wounded, as he dies he asks Merlin, "Did I do something good?" and Merlin tells him that he has and he stays with Daegal as he dies.

Repeatedly in this episode, Merlin was concerned with Daegal's needs, showed Daegal the positive qualities in himself that he hadn't already noticed and inspired him to act selflessly.

Fears:

"Their main fear is that they are unworthy of being loved, that they are unwanted."

This is a fear that corresponds well with Merlin's fear that if anyone found out he had magic, that they would see him as a monster. He had to leave his village, Ealdor, because he was unwanted, and he worries repeatedly that the same thing might happen again in Camelot.

Wing Type:

After what I had written so far, I scoured the internet some more to see if there were already any posts made about Merlin's enneagram type, and I discovered one reddit post that seemed to agree that Merlin was a Type 2, but went into greater depth in terms of their "wing type". I hadn't heard of a wing type before this, but apparently, wing types are a secondary part of you, that act as a sidekick to your dominant enneagram type, and that depending on your enneagram type, you can have one of two options of wing types accordingly: "Wings are the numbers that reside directly on the two sides of your Enneagram Type. For example, if you are an Enneagram One, you will either have a Nine-wing or a Two-wing. Or, if you are an Enneagram Two, you will have a One-wing or a Three-wing." So according to this, Merlin could either be One-wing or a Three-wing since I believe he is a type 2. And this Reddit post explains how Merlin is a One-wing, the personality type itself is called "the servant," which, well, holy cow. Makes me wonder if the writers of the show knew about enneagram types because, wow, what a coinkidink. Anyways, have a link:

Looking at another website explaining the enneagram 2 wing 1, makes me more even convinced that Merlin is this personality type.

"Enneagram type 2 wing 1 main weakness is their silence. As they are unconditionally supportive, they may postpone their own things sometimes. Type One’s influence brings some objectivity and self-awareness, but they’re still very selfless. 2w1 types will constantly show affection and pay attention to others, but that loving style might not always be aligned with other people’s loving styles. If not acknowledged, they feel undervalued and not worthy enough. It’s important to learn how others show affection to reciprocate it and show appreciation back."

Merlin's main weakness being his silence is so accurate to Merlin as he constantly hides his problems from Arthur. Admittedly, out of necessity, but I think this is also part of his truer nature since he has the tendency to hide things from Gauis as well. Even when he doesn't need to.

Throughout the show, Merlin often feels undervalued and not worthy enough due to Arthur taunting him and how he gets treated like a servant. Certainly, in the earlier seasons of the show, Merlin wishes for recognition for his many many kind, selfless actions which he doesn't receive.

But later on, Merlin does receive some recognition on his bravery, wisdom and loyalty, which I think alleviates some of Merlin's pain but still doesn't stop Merlin from wanting to tell Arthur everything.

"They can get stressed out when they feel lonely when solving problems and nobody seems to notice they’re running out of time."

Again, this is so accurate, especially during the fifth season, when time is running out and Arthur's death is nigh. He carries the weight of the prophecy entirely on his own shoulders.

As shown by the scene in season 5, where Arthur comments on Merlin having not smiled in 3 days. *cries*

"They feel motivated when others acknowledge their selflessness and appreciate their affection. But their energy may drop when they have a response and their feelings are taken into account. Soft atmospheres with a great dose of recognition can make everyone smile, but they will especially make 2w1 thrive."

This is so sweet gahhh, because this reminds me of the scene where Merlin starts behaving sad and lonely, sitting by himself whilst everyone else sits by the fire and Arthur goes over to him. Merlin says "but you don't care," and Arthur replies with "only about my men, more than brothers, more than friends," and it's such a soft, soft scene. And you can tell that this really makes Merlin thrive, that this is the reason why he gets out of bed in the morning, because he loves Arthur and loves Camelot.

Merlin's love of Camelot and strong sense of morality makes sense when his wing type is Type 1. Type 1 being "the Perfectionist."

And you may be reading this, and thinking what? Merlin isn't a perfectionist, especially about his chores, but let me explain.

The Perfectionist is characterised by being, ethical, dedicated and reliable. They strive to help themselves and others be the best they can be. What they fear most is being bad or corrupt. They criticise others and themselves especially on moral actions. Throughout the show, Merlin is often shown to be afraid of being corrupted by his magic. Never wanting to be a monster, never wanting to end up like Morgana. Striving to help create Camelot be a better, fair and just kingdom.

From episode one, his strong sense of morality is shown when he stands up to Arthur against the mistreatment of one of his servants. Again and again, he guides Arthur towards becoming a better person.

So, in conclusion. I think Merlin is the enneagram 2 wing 1 personality type.

What do you guys think?

Part two analysing Arthur should be coming soon, and then a part three of their relationship analysis. And then, possibly more on other characters. Ohohohoho.