Snowpiercer is a post-apocalyptic tv show about a world frozen by climate change and a couple of thousand humans surviving on a train that can run forever. Like in most post-apocalyptic stories, the tension is found in keeping humanity alive while maintaining one’s humanity.
In Snowpiercer, the train is misled to believe that the train is being run by the man who created the whole system, Mr. Wilford. In reality, however, he was shoved off the train, left for dead, and replaced by the lead engineer, Melanie Cavill. Cavill does this not because she’s power-hungry but because she’s a good and compassionate person. She knows that Mr. Wilford is a narcissist and created the train to be the new world’s all-powerful, ruthless fascist leader.
Melanie Cavill the Enneagram Five
In the Enneagram, the Type-5 is often called the Observer or the Investigator. They are considered to be the most objective and thoughtful of all types. They prefer facts over feelings. Evidence over emotions. Objective-thinking vs. opinion. However, I like to call them the Wise Counsellor or the Systematic Sage. Fives are system thinkers. They see things that most people don’t. And in Snowpiercier, Melanie Cavill is the Enneagram Five.
Although I don’t know much about engineering, I think you have to be good at understanding systems to be a good one. Everything has to be measured and make sense. Fives know things won’t just work out or work themselves out. To be an engineer, you have to see everything and plan accordingly. And Melanie Cavill is an engineer.
Not only is she a Five, but she’s a healthy Five. Melanie not only sees the inevitable demise of humanity with Mr. Wilford as the new world’s dictator but does something about it. She takes control. Melanie Cavill, the Enneagram Five moves towards the Enneagram Eight, the Relaxed Type for Fives.
And in the latest episode of Snowpiercer that came out this week (spoiler alert), Melanie is no longer leader of the train. The new leaders have decided to lie to the train and tell them there is a spot on the earth where it is warm and where they can finally get off and live. Although they have some evidence to suggest that is possible, the evidence is not conclusive. Melanie, on hearing what they are doing, says,
“Positive thinking is great. Just, not if it replaces critical thinking.”
Less Positive Thinking and More Critical Thinking
Positive thinking would be most characteristic of a Three or a Seven. As history shows us, it has its benefits. Thinking positively can help people move forward and experience things they would never have had, had they believed things were not possible or against them. Positive thinking, however, isn’t everything. Positive thinking, in the wrong situation, can lead to significant harm. And this is precisely what Melanie Cavill is trying to get at.
Being a Three or a Seven is great. Just not if it replaces Fives.
Fives know that you can’t tell everyone to believe in themselves, God, or the best and that everything will work out for them. Fives know that we live in a world of systems and that everything is connected and affects each other. Maybe this is why the Western world has difficulty recognizing and understanding systemic racism. We are:
- A high 3/7 society.
- A society of individualists and positive thinkers.
- A low-5 society that doesn’t value or spend a ton of time thinking about things systematically or wholistically.
We need Fives in this world— People that ask, “Is this true?” “What is the evidence?” “How can we make things work?” We need them not just as friends, or advisors, but also as leaders. Fives tend to be introverted which our extroverted culture doesn’t value all too much. But sometimes, like the end of the world, I’d much rather have a Five in charge.
Related: Why We Must Embrace the Anna Delvey, the Enneagram Three, Within
Related: Ode to Joy Analysis: What Ones and Sevens Can Learn From Each Other
Embracing Melanie Cavill the Enneagram Five
Whether a Five or not, whether high in Five or low in Five, all of us must learn to embrace Melanie Cavill, the Enneagram Five within us. We must all learn how to become more objective, more thoughtful, more systematic in our thinking, and when necessary, apply it for the betterment of others.
Fives and High-Fives
1) Know that you are valued. That you are essential to the running of the world. Without you, our world would not exist and would not function. Without you, we would likely all kill ourselves and die. Though under-appreciated by most, know that your objectivity is essential to our survival and flourishing. Although you can always learn how to communicate better, how to communicate more tactfully, more emotionally, more humanly, and less systematically and robotically while maintaining your objectivity and the facts, know you are fantastic.
2) Move towards the Eight, the Challenger, the All-In Advocate. Your introvertedness doesn’t always do you and the world good. Speak up. Metaphorically speaking, whom do you need to kick off the train? What do you need to take over and control for the better of all, or at least, most?
Non-Fives and Low-Fives
1) Think about how fabulous the Fives in your life are and let them know it. Text them and say, “I appreciate your down-to-earth, no-nonsense, logical, systematic, and rational thinking. If you don’t know who the fives are in your life, go find out. Be like a five— be curious and do the research. Get them to take this quiz.
2) Secondly, try to be more like them. Read books like Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think. It has 12,116 reviews with an average of 4.6. Obama says, “Factfulness by Hans Rosling, an outstanding international public health expert, is a hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts rather than our inherent biases.” Listen to various voices and read from various thinkers. Don’t put yourself in an echo chamber as most people do. Be more like a scientist, be more like a Five.
