Orphan Black: Rachel Duncan - Type 3w4
Rachel is cold, calculating, and insecure. She always thought of herself as better than the other clones due to her upbringing. Rachel is also a bit misunderstood as a lot of her personality comes from her upbringing, because she has always craved the approval of others.
At her best, Rachel does seem to somewhat care about the other clones. Towards the end of the series, Rachel does become more considerate and loyal, and plays an important part in helping the clone club (integrating to 6).
At her worst, Rachel can be manipulative, deceitful, and calculating. After she is stabbed in the eye, she becomes less driven and a shell of herself (disintegrating to 9). She also makes impulsive decisions and cannot regulate her emotions.
Rachel takes great pride in being the only ‘self-aware’ LEDA clone, because she believes it makes her elite. Unhealthy 3s like to emphasise their abilities and achievements as a means of seeming better than others, which I think Rachel often does. She has a fixation on Sarah because she thinks Sarah is ‘special’ and she can’t understand why she isn’t special. I think this due to the fact that Sarah and Helena are not infertile which is something that makes them different to the other clones. Rachel was consumed by jealousy after Ethan told her that she (and the other clones) were barren by design. She had a bad reaction to this, causing her to kidnap Kira so she could have a child. I think she also wanted to hurt Sarah and she knew the best way to hurt her would be by taking Kira away from her.
Rachel doesn’t like to show her emotions and she comes across as a very cold and unfeeling person. She feels like emotions and feelings are a weakness, and never wants to be seen as vulnerable. However, as the series progresses, she becomes more unhinged and lets her emotions get the best of her. For example, when Susan tells her she wishes she wasn’t born, Rachel responds by stabbing her. Rachel is very different to the other clones as she doesn’t seem to have any real attachments to other people. I think this is due to feeling abandoned by Susan and Ethan Duncan, and then being raised by Dr. Leekie as a self-aware clone.
Rachel likes to have the advantage in every situation and she is very good at manipulating others. She also plans things well in advance and is often two steps ahead of everyone else. For example, Rachel is able to take down Evie by covertly filming her confession about Brightborn, allowing Rachel to take her place. She also has no problem using others to achieve her goals, as we see with her treatment of Susan.
Rachel shows her wing 4 as she is very introverted, reserved and achievement focused, as opposed to being people-oriented.
Tri-type: 3w4 - 8w9 - 5w6
Some quotes to describe Rachel’s motivations
“Controlling evolution is the ultimate power.”
“You’re not immune to me, you cockroach.”
“Immunosuppressive therapy likely won’t save her. Untreated, her data has value. More value than her life. We shouldn’t intervene. That’s what you wanted to hear, isn’t it?”
“Of all of us, how is it the un-monitored tramp was successful?“
“Please. Things are different now. I’ve been lied to as well.”
“Like you, I was selected. I know now his hand guided my entire life. I know Susan Duncan, my mother, once stood here, as I am, appointed to move the future forward. And she did. She created me. It is time to be brave. To sacrifice. The fruits of nearly 200 years of Neolution science are now within our grasp. And we, here, shall drink from the fountain first.”
“I have a glass eye, no friends, and no identity unless I want to be found. Leaves little room for elitism.”
“Dear child, I know how frightening this must be for you. But you’ll get used to it. You may even grow to like it here. Just as I did.”
Evie (to Rachel): “Do you actually think Neolution would let a clone take a position of real importance?”
