Functional Order: Fi/Ne/Si/Te
Dominant Function: Fi
Laura Chase is a woman who lives by her own rules. Even as a child, Laura is never afraid to look at situations from different angles, and she does not let a fear of consequences change her actions. When she invites Alex Thomas to dinner and then when she boldly hides him in the house, Laura follows her heart rather than acting logically. She is very compassionate and cannot bear to turn away anyone who might need her. Laura is drawn to Alex because his political beliefs place him in a vulnerable position, and Laura is always committed to using her wealth and privilege to help the less fortunate. Laura believes she has the capacity to be independent and make her own way in the world. She repeatedly suggests to Iris that they try to become financially independent, and she looks for opportunities to work and develop her skills.
Auxiliary Function: Ne
Laura’s lack of conformity ends up making her vulnerable. She is dreamy and often hard to understand, which can lead to others failing to believe what she tells them. First with Mr. Erskine and then with Richard, Laura tries to tell people about the abuse she is being subjected to. Because she has a history of acting impulsively and saying strange things, it is easy for people to dismiss her claims.Laura is a complicated character defined by contradictions: simultaneously anxious yet bold, childish yet altruistic, deeply religious yet prone to questioning everything about her faith. She gravitates toward strong, absolutist ways of thinking and is constantly curious, yet she never flourishes in an academic environment.
Tertiary Function: Si
Throughout the novel, it seems as if Laura is in love with Alex, although she never admits this out loud. As a teenager, Laura becomes increasingly rebellious, running away from home and faking doctor’s appointments so that she can skip school. This is likely related to the fact that Richard rapes Laura repeatedly after she comes to live with him and Iris, manipulating her by threatening to harm Alex if she doesn’t have sex with him. Laura is detail observant and notices thinks others miss.
Inferior Function: Te
When she is under pressure she snaps and often takes quite extreme actions resulting in her suicide. She is gentle and soft spoken, but assertive about her believes and love.