Jane Eyre

The protagonist of the novel, Jane Eyre grows up feeling alienated and ostracized. Treated as an outcast by her cousins and Aunt Reed she, righteously, develops a desire to be out of their care. Her aunt, who wants to be rid of Jane, decides to send her off to school.

During an intense dispute with her Mrs. Reed, Jane states, “I am glad you are no relation of mine… You think I have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so.” (Chapter 4, pg 45) This reveals not only her need for love and equality, but also her sense of justice and perception of injustice. These characteristics are also evident throughout the remainder of the book, such as when she is looking for a relationship. Once she discovers Mr. Rochester’s previous marriage to Bertha Mason, Jane decides against marrying him. She reasons that instead of being his wife, she would be made his mistress, thus losing her self respect. Later, Jane refuses to marry St. John Rivers due to the lack of love that there would be in the relationship. In the end of the novel, she finds a perfect balance of love, freedom, and equality in Mr. Rochester, therefore choosing to marry him.

Mrs. Reed

Mrs. Reed’s undying hatred of Jane was caused by her deceased husband, who had cared for their niece more than their own children. When on his death bed, he made her swear to continue raising Jane. Although she keeps her promise, Mrs. Reed detests her niece, and treats her with hardly any respect whatsoever. Nine years after she sent Jane to school, Mrs. Reed’s health deteriorates. Jane returns to Gateshead and attempts to reconcile with her unloving aunt. Despite her requests for forgiveness, Mrs. Reed ignores Jane’s apologies, and continues resenting her niece until she perishes.

Mrs. Reed’s grudge towards Jane reveals her jealousy; this envy is merely a result of her niece receiving better treatment than her own children. She is selfish and unjust because she cares more about herself and her own jealous feelings than of her mistreatment of Jane. Finally, her ability to mistreat Jane without any cross feelings exposes her pitiless and unsympathetic nature.

Bessie Lee

As the maid at Gateshead, Bessie is frequently required to take care of Jane, and is her main source of enjoyment as a child. She is nicer to Jane more often than any other resident at the mansion. At times, Bessie sings to her and tells her stories of fairies, which Jane always finds pleasure in. Once, she even criticizes Mrs. Reed for being too harsh on Jane, which shows that she has sympathy towards the mistreated girl. Because of Bessie’s kindness, Jane appreciates her more than the other ruthless inhabitants of Gateshead.

Helen Burns- Helen Burns’s character contrasts with Jane’s right from the start. Although Jane is religious, Helen’s faith is undying until the day of her death. She continuously acts the way she feels God would want her to, and both accepts and forgives whatever unkindness comes her way. It is her belief that God will reward the good, and punish the evil. At first, Helen feels Jane is naïve when the latter would disagree with what she said, or say that she, herself, is unable to be as forgiving. Throughout their friendship at Lowood, Helen teaches Jane much about religion, God, and His ways. Soon, however, Helen becomes ill and passes away, with Jane in her arms, saying “I have faith; I am going to God.”

Edward Rochester

Soon after meeting him, Jane falls in love with Mr. Rochester, her master, despite his higher social and economical class. Regardless of the unconventionality of the couple, Mr. Rochester returns this love. It was neither her appearance that he finds attractive, nor her wealth. He is fascinated by her mind, and how interesting an individual she is. Deeply in love with Jane, Rochester provides her with the opportunity to have a relationship filled with affection, devotion, and passion towards each other. However, he holds a well kept secret, which he conceals even from Jane. Early in his life, he married a young woman from a rich family out of pure greed. Bertha Mason, his wife, “Caught the germ of insanity,” according to Mr. Rochester, soon after their marriage. She had to be pent up in a third story apartment within Thornfield Hall, a mansion of his, for the remainder of her existence. Once this is revealed to Jane, she is forced to make a decision. She feels she would lose her self esteem and pride if she’s made his mistress, so she chooses to leave him. After Bertha’s death, almost a year later, Jane visits Mr. Rochester, and rebuilds their relationship. In spite of his blindness and amputated hand, their love towards one another has not tapered. Even though in the eighteen hundreds, the common belief was that men are superior to women, Jane now considers herself his equal. With Bertha dead, and there being no hindrance to a marriage, they wed, and live together, forever blissful.

Mr. Rochester’s unorthodox love for Jane catches even her off guard. His love for a woman, who is physically plain, yet mentally deep, shows that he’s not shallow. Furthermore, Jane not only works for him and is of lower class, but is also poor; therefore, in loving her and proposing to her, he proves that he isn’t worried about what other people think of him. Moreover, Rochester is exceedingly caring of the ones he loves. One such example is when he discovers that Bertha had snuck into Jane’s room at night; he shudders at the thought of what could have happened to her. Finally, caring for Bertha, despite her insane state, exemplifies his humane personality.

Blanche Ingram

Greedy and superficial, Blanche is a wealthy member of the upper class, who scorns Jane for looking plain and for her “dependant” status. She seems to love Mr. Rochester, but in reality, it is only his money she seeks. When Rochester spreads a rumor that his fortune is only one third of what is supposed, Miss Ingram instantly ceases to like him, consequently proving that it was out of pure greed that she wanted to wed him. Mr. Rochester had only been feigning his desire to marry her in order to make Jane jealous. This fails to work, however, because Jane believes that she is superior to Blanche; therefore, she doesn’t see a reason to be jealous.

Bertha Mason

As a youth, Mr. Rochester’s father and brother suggest that he marry Bertha Mason due to the large fortune which he would acquire. They don’t tell him, though, that a history of insanity runs in her blood. Her mother, who Edward believes to be dead, is actually living in an insane asylum. Rochester and Bertha never become thoroughly familiar with each other before he makes the quick decision to marry her, mistaking the feelings he holds for her as true love. Bertha then turns mad soon after their wedding. Her insanity can be considered a consequence for his quick and greedy action of marrying her. He suffers the consequences for his greed, as his marriage is a terrible mistake; it affects not only his future happiness, but Jane’s thoughts of him as well. Although Jane and Rochester eventually marry, it is because of Bertha’s existence that Jane originally flees Thornfield Hall.

St. John Rivers

St John Rivers serves as a foil character to Edward Rochester. Mr. Rochester is emotional, and described as “fiery” by Jane, whereas St. John is distant, cold, ambitious, unemotional, and he doesn’t reveal his feelings openly. Exceptionally religious, he is highly dedicated to his career as a minister in Morton; however, he still intends to leave for India to be a missionary as soon as possible. Like Mr. Rochester, he also proposes to Jane, his cousin. A marriage between him and Jane would give her the opportunity to make a larger difference in the world than she could make otherwise. However, this benefit comes with a downside- to wed him would mean to abandon love and passion. Jane can’t give up this essential requirement of her heart, so she refuses his proposal.

Diana Rivers

 Diana’s kind and selfless disposition accounts for the care she gives Jane while Jane is ill. Similar to Jane, Diana Rivers holds a career as a governess as well. They both are also very knowledgeable and interested in learning. Diana is Jane’s cousin, but she additionally serves as Jane’s role model. She is handsome, a good leader, and independent. According to the novel, Jane contemplates, “If in our trio there was a superior and a leader, it was Diana.” (Chapter 30, pg 406)

Mary Rivers

 Also holding a career as a private governess, Mary Rivers has much in common with her sister, Diana, and her cousin, Jane. The many traits shared between those three relatives make them inseparable. Thinking about Mary and her sister, Jane reflects, “Our natures dovetailed, mutual affection of the strongest kind was the result.” (Chapter 30, pg 406) Jane admires her, too, for being an independent woman, who is able to provide for herself; this further proves that women are equal to men.