Carol leaves the characters behind when she leaves the theatre. Singular downstroke lower loop formations underscore her desire for privacy and time alone. The shelter stroke in Burnett, along with certain combinations of rhythm and pressure, indicate a steadfast loyalty to family and friends. Carol feels things deeply for a long time - loves as well as heartaches, although she is able to remain objective and poised on the surface. This concealing stroke in her name is not a form of masking, but rather of protection. Carol knows herself well. Her sensitive nature, open and willing to sacrifice for others has allowed people to take advantage of her good nature in the past, so she adopts a cautious stance (seen in the straight line ending strokes which thrust rightward).

Never one to accept a challenge half-heartedly, she would give her last ounce of energy to a friend, cause, or even comedy skit that she believed worthwhile. She possesses such natural enthusiasm and emotional energy, coupled with a deep sense of dedication, that she tends to physically exhaust herself in an effort to attain perfection.

Intellectually, Carol possesses a keen, sharp mind, able to grasp material in toto, absorbing ideas faster than the average person. She employs an investigative and exploratory thought process and is inclined to examine facts to determine the truth. She takes nothing on blind faith and will touch the WET PAINT sign "just to see for myself."

When learning new material, she employs a step-by-step, deliberate, thorough, cumulative thinking procedure. Once she "owns" the material, she'll then twist and fashion it to new ends. This is where the investigative streak surfaces, as she assimilates and correlates unrelated ideas, synthesizing them into a new application all her own. I'm convinced much of the dialogue in routines on her show was a distillation of the efforts of creative writers, spiced with Carol's own creative inventions. Her ability to mimic different moods, fears, defenses, and expressions of a wide range of both generic and specific cultural personalities is as much a product of the investigative, exploratory thought process as it is a natural God given gift for comedy. Carol has combined talent with plenty of hard work.

Although she uses comic relief to protect her sensitive nature, Carol does share her personal side with the public. In her show's opening sequence Q&A dialogue springs from a desire for candid one-on-one exchange, negating any notion that she puts herself on a pedestal. If feasible, she might take the entire audience backstage to show them the new carpet in her dressing room or explain how the lighting technician does his job. This is not due to a grasping need to be liked, but rather stems from an open willingness to share in the fun.

Dozens of personality traits surface. A few worth noting - she talks to herself out loud when alone, and may resolve problems by literally conversing (asking and answering questions) with herself. Extremely efficient, she can do ten things in the time it takes most people to do two. This thrifty, get-to-it aspect of her nature makes her restless during long phone conversations or drawn out explanations. There is evidence of cultural interest (music, art, ballet, theatre, etc.) which she has sought out and developed independently, apart from any formal training she may have had in school. I wouldn't be surprised to find books on the arts in her home. There is also evidence of undeveloped artistic talent and an eye for design.

Although she prefers not to display too much "gushy" sentimentality, she can be quite sentimental on occasion. Tradition is important to her. Holiday time for Carol evokes memories from all holidays she has ever experienced since childhood - her memories run strong and deep. She might cry during a sad move, but only after the lights have dimmed, again, utilizing conscious control over her strong sentimentality.

I see no trace of vanity, envy, jealous, or greed in her writing. She is genuinely happy for her friend's successes. Let me interject here that I am neither a pollyanna, nor zealous fan beating the Burnett drum. This analysis is based solely on graphic traits evidenced in the script. Those new to this fascinating science should know that no writing is judged on a single loop or swirl. Many traits taken together are evaluated when analyzing handwriting. If I happen to mention a specific trait, it's because my readers always want to know "where did you find that?" Keep in mind that this is only a portion of a two page letter I received from Ms. Burnett. If a trait is mentioned, evidence if it has been found more than once in the writing.

How does graphology work? Letter curvature, pressure, rhythm, speed, slant, depth, size, stroke formation, spacing, clarity, width and length of strokes and sentence impulse are considered individually and in combination. Different graphologists (as with different doctors, etc.) will construct a character portrait influenced by their own personal education, background, training, experience and exposure, but the basics of the analysis should remain the same. If other's training has been anything like mine, they too would deduce that Carol Burnett is a very private person who is intellectually quick and inquisitive; she's warm, sincere, and very loyal to her friends and family. A generous, sensitive, compassionate lady, her humor provides the extra magical spark that makes her so very special.

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About Ann Mahony
Speaker and author Ann Mahony addresses audiences nationwide on how to Lead From Your Strengths and Stay Connected in today's downsized, fast forward world.  Featured on ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN, she is the author of Handwriting & Personality...

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