Jane Eyre- the main character starts out the book at the age of ten. She at this point is an orphan, living with her cold Aunt Reed and cruel cousins. Jane is regarded as plain of looks. Her neglected childhood leads to an attitude of rebellion and Jane is often punished for her tantrums, and physically abused. Jane falls ill of fright and then when recovered is sent to Lowood Institute- a religious boarding school for orphans. While at Lowood her character is straightened out somewhat by the school’s cruel and meager ways. Here she meets Helen Burns who speedily becomes ill and perishes. After graduating from Lowood she stays for a couple years as a teacher, and resigns when Miss Temple leaves Lowood.
Jane then travels to Lowood where she becomes a governess to a young girl named Adele. There at Lowood she struggles with her love for her master and the need to express her freedom. Falling deeply in love she finds out Mr. Rochester has a mad wife living in the attic and flees the situation to preserve her self worth.
Jane takes on the false name of Jane Elliot and is taken into the care of St. John and his sisters when she falls ill. She returns to health and secures a job as a teacher, later finding out of her relations to the trio and the massive wealth she inherited from her uncle. After rejecting the chains of marriage without love as offered by St. John she returns to Mr. Rochester as an equal, as his sight has been taken from him and she can now support herself. This situation does not compromise her freedom as also the mad woman legally wed to Mr. Rochester had set the fire that robbed him of his sight, and later jumped off the manor’s roof.
Jane then travels to Lowood where she becomes a governess to a young girl named Adele. There at Lowood she struggles with her love for her master and the need to express her freedom. Falling deeply in love she finds out Mr. Rochester has a mad wife living in the attic and flees the situation to preserve her self worth.
Jane takes on the false name of Jane Elliot and is taken into the care of St. John and his sisters when she falls ill. She returns to health and secures a job as a teacher, later finding out of her relations to the trio and the massive wealth she inherited from her uncle. After rejecting the chains of marriage without love as offered by St. John she returns to Mr. Rochester as an equal, as his sight has been taken from him and she can now support herself. This situation does not compromise her freedom as also the mad woman legally wed to Mr. Rochester had set the fire that robbed him of his sight, and later jumped off the manor’s roof.
Mr. Reed- (Uncle Reed) is Jane Eyre’s uncle. He graciously took Jane in as his own when her parents died. On his death bed, Mr. Reed made his wife promise that she would take care of Jane as if she were her own, as he did. Although she promised, it meant little to her as she failed to remain a mother to Jane and became simply a benefactress. His death occurred in the infamous Red Room and is supposed to be seen by Jane after her lockup in the room
Mrs. Reed- Is Jane’s aunt who she lived with as a child. Her aunt was always cruel to Jane and never showed any love or sympathy towards her. Mrs. Reed made it very obvious that she disliked Jane. The main reason Jane is sent to Lowood Institute is because Mrs. Reed no longer knew what to do about her fits. Communication between the two ceases once Jane initially departs from Gateshead. When Jane is an adult, she discovers her aunt is on her deathbed and goes to visit her. Even when Jane forgives and tries to reconcile with her aunt before she passes, Mrs. Reed is still bitter and hateful towards Jane.
John Reed- Mrs. Reed’s son and Jane’s cousin, is four years older than Jane. He was large and stout for his age, and had an almost dim appearance. He is dreadfully cruel to Jane in her young years, and struck fear into Jane constantly; “every nerve I had feared in and every morsel of flesh on my bones shrank when he came near” (Jane Eyre pg 4) often becoming violent. Later in his adulthood he fell into the life of drinking and gambling. He later commits suicide after his mom refused to pay off his debts.
Eliza Reed- Is the eldest daughter of Mrs. Reed, and cousin to Jane. In childhood she is just like the rest of the Reeds, and especially headstrong and selfish. She had a love of money, and would “have sold the hair off her head if she could had made a handsome profit thereby” (Jane Eyre pg 26). After time Eliza becomes jealous of her sister’s looks and tries to block emotions completely from her life by rigidly scheduling her days. Eliza devotes herself to her religious beliefs in her church and after her mother dies she moves away to France where she becomes the Mother Superior.
Georgina Reed- Is Jane Eyre’s cousin and is one of two daughters to Mrs. Reed. She is considered beautiful (more so than her older sister), " with her long curls and her blue eyes, and such a sweet colour as she has; just as if she were painted!" Georgina is very cruel to Jane until later in their lives when she befriends Jane and confides to her. Georgina tries to run away from home to marry Lord Edwin Vere, but Eliza informs Mrs. Reed. Later in her adulthood after Mrs. Reed dies and Georgina marries another wealthy man.
Bessie Lee- Is a servant at Gateshead, and one of Jane’s only comforts. Although she does quite begin to favor Jane, she still must follow Mrs. Reed’s orders. One might say that Bessie acts as a surrogate mother to Jane. She provides Jane with a lot of constructive criticism and still doesn’t neglect to call her plain, a word used throughout the book. Bessie later marries the Gateshead coachmen and has three kids, one off which she names after Jane.
Mr. Brocklehurst- Is the master of Lowood School. He is a cruel man who harshly repremands, and seems to have little mercy. At the start of the book he points out if Jane keeps living the way she is, she will go to hell and promises Mrs. Reed, “You can rest assured that she shall root out the wickedness in this small, ungrateful plant.” While keeping Lowood humble and in poor condition for the sake of their souls as he seems to think it is, he lives a life of luxury. His actions and cruelty are later brought to light, and he is discredited by society as an honorable man.
Helen Burns- Is Jane Eyre’s childhood friend at Lowood School. She chooses to express a model of Christianity that allows room for acceptance and the tolerance of people. Where at the traditional Christian school (where Mr. Brocklehurst uses religion to control people and gain power), acceptance is not taught or permitted, and policies are considered harsh to Helen. Helen has a more subdued and quiet personality. She is too an orphan, who is wanting a home. She sees injustices being done to the girls at her school, yet she does not believe that punishment should fall in the mortal world but rather in the afterlife, as part of God’s ultimate plan. Helen dies at Lowood during their first years there but tells Jane, “We all must die one day, and the illness which is removing me is not painful; it is gentle and gradual: my mind is at rest. I leave no one to regret me much: I have only a father; and he is lately married, and will not miss me. By dying young I shall escape great sufferings.”
Miss Temple- Is the head teacher at Lowood School. She is exceptionally kind to Jane and Helen, as well as the rest of the girls. She gains Jane’s loyalty, and discovers she is not a liar, as claimed by Mrs. Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst. Her presence at the school allows for some comfort to the girls, and at one point she replaces a spoilt meal with precious bread so the girls would not starve. The departial of Miss Temple from Lowood school is the point at which Jane choses to leave and travel to Thornfield.
Mrs.Fairfax- Is the head housekeeper at Thornfield Hall. She seemed withdrawn but warm hearted, and carried a mild look. At first Jane perceives her for the owner of Thornfield upon her arrival. She cared and loved for Jane in ways others had not. She seemed to be ever present while tying her best to not be nosy. She was clean, organized and the model for the ideal Victorian woman.
Adele Varens- “A child, perhaps seven or eight years old, slightly built, with a pale, small featured face and a redundancy of hair falling in curls to her waist.” (Jane Eyre pg 75). Adele is Jane’s pupil and the reason she is at Thornfield. She lives with Mr. Rochester as her mother, Celine Varens (a French dancer and one of Rochester’s previous mistresses), abandoned her. Adele is not particularly bright nor dull, but a good pupil for Jane especially because Adele speaks mostly French a language Jane is versed in. Adele is never quite considered a daughter to Jane, simply a joy and the reason for her occupation.
Edward Rochester- Is the wealthy owner of Thornfield manor, who inherited his wealth from his deceased father. Rochester is not particularly handsome and has a harsh cold front to him at the start of the book. Though his demeanor softens his passion does not whether. He is the caretaker of Adele, Jane’s student and he employs her to tutor the child.
Rochester starts out simply as an employer to Jane, but throughout their interactions he captures her heart, as she believes they are kindred spirits. Supposed true love persuades Jane to marry Rochester but moments before the ceremony is complete Mr. Mason informs the priest of the resistance of Bertha, Mr. Rochester’s mad wife. Jane is appalled and leaves to preserve her dignity. She resolves she may only return once she has both a fortune and a family, and the dreaded Bertha is gone. A few years later Rochester’s manor has been burned by Bertha (who then jumped to her death) leaving him crippled, blind and without a wife. Jane returns to find him and the pair are reunited on equal ground.
Rochester starts out simply as an employer to Jane, but throughout their interactions he captures her heart, as she believes they are kindred spirits. Supposed true love persuades Jane to marry Rochester but moments before the ceremony is complete Mr. Mason informs the priest of the resistance of Bertha, Mr. Rochester’s mad wife. Jane is appalled and leaves to preserve her dignity. She resolves she may only return once she has both a fortune and a family, and the dreaded Bertha is gone. A few years later Rochester’s manor has been burned by Bertha (who then jumped to her death) leaving him crippled, blind and without a wife. Jane returns to find him and the pair are reunited on equal ground.
Grace Poole-Mrs.Poole is the paid nurse in charge of the care for Mr.Rochester's wife, Bertha, who secretly lived in the attic at Thornfield Hall. “two hundred a year to live here with my wife, as you term that fearful hag; Grace will do as much for money” (Jane Eyre pg…) Ocassionaly Grace would drink, and at the point of intoxication Bertha would escape and reek havoc
Blanche Ingram- Is the daughter of Mr. Rochester’s distant neighbors. She hopes to marry Mr. Rochester, in hopes of acquiring his wealth, yet she quite despises Jane. She is a socialite who looks down on servants and ‘lesser folk’ with a seemingly special grudge against governess “I have had, I should think, a dozen [governess] at least in our day; half of them detestable and the rest ridiculous, and all incubi.” In the beginning of Blanche’s visit to Thornfield, it appears that Rochester and Ingram are to be married, but in reality, Rochester is only using Blanche Ingram to make Jane envious.
Bertha Mason- The first wife of Edward Rochester, described as enchantingly beautiful. The marriage was arranged without much interaction yet he thought he loved her. He soon found out that she was mentally insane and savage. He locked her in the attic for 10 years with Grace Poole, a hired nurse, who takes care of her but occasionally Bertha escapes. When she escapes she often performs violent acts such as starting a fire in Mr. Rochester’s room or at one point stabs her own brother. Close to the end of the story Bertha sets Thornfield on fire and she flings herself off the roof to her death.
John Eyre- Is Jane’s uncle, her father’s brother. John tries to adopt Jane when she is a child but Jane's aunt Mrs. Reed lies to John and tells him that Jane died while at Lowood. Jane later writes him back to tell him that she is indeed alive, to find out he has recently died and left Jane his entire fortune save a few pounds.
St. John Rivers -The clergyman is a long lost cousin of Jane’s. He is a reserved and cold man. When Jane runs away from Thornfield she comes across St. John and his two sisters, Mary and Diana. The trio takes care of Jane, as she is deathly ill when she arrives, then he secures her a teacher position after her full recovery. One day John asks Jane to go on a mission with him, she says yes but without the commitment of marriage for she loves him like a brother, but not like a husband.
Rosamond Oliver- Rosamond Oliver (daughter of the wealthy Mr. Oliver, who provides money for the village school where Jane teaches) is St. John’s love interest, but he refuses to marry her because he believes she wouldn’t make a good missionary wife. “While I love Rosamond Oliver so wildly – with all the intensity, indeed, of a first passion, the object of which is exquisitely beautiful, graceful, fascinating – I experience at the same time a calm, unwarped consciousness that she would not make me a good wife; that she is not the partner suited to me; that I should discover this within a year after marriage; and that to twelve months’ rapture would succeed a lifetime of regret. This I know." Although Rosamond loves St. John, she eventually gives up hope and marries a Mr. Granby.
Alternate Jane Eyre Weebly- http://janeeyre.weebly.com/characters.html
Quick notes on the characters of Jane Eyre- http://www.bookrags.com/notes/je/CHR.html