Jane Eyre
The protagonist of the novel, Jane struggles and her journey ultimately reveal themes such as the dangers of repressing emotions, the confining nature of Victorian social classes, and the necessity of the balance when dealing with extremes. Jane is a poor girl who is sent to live with her wealthy Uncle, his wife, and her three cousins. Her childhood is troubled to say the least, for she suffers constant abuse from her Aunt and cousin John. After being sent to a preparatory school for many years by her Aunt, Jane finds work in the home of wealthy older man name Mr. Rochester as governess for his ward. During her stay she falls in love with Mr. Rochester and agrees to wed him only to discover- on her wedding day- that Rochester is in fact already married to a crazed woman named Bertha Mason. Upon acquiring this knowledge, Jane runs away from Thornfield and lives a life of poverty until, starving and tired, a kind family decides to take her in. Jane spends years with the Rivers family and grows to love them. Then, in a sudden turn of events, Jane’s long lost uncle leaves her an absurd amount of money after his death and leaves Jane a wealthy woman. It is through this estranged uncle John that Jane becomes aware that the Rivers are in fact her cousins and that she has a real family after all. After denying St. John’s Rivers marriage proposal, Jane flees back to Rochester who has been left blind and disabled after a fire cause by Bertha. With Bertha out of the picture and Jane at the same social status as Rochester, they marry and have a son and happy life together.
The protagonist of the novel, Jane struggles and her journey ultimately reveal themes such as the dangers of repressing emotions, the confining nature of Victorian social classes, and the necessity of the balance when dealing with extremes. Jane is a poor girl who is sent to live with her wealthy Uncle, his wife, and her three cousins. Her childhood is troubled to say the least, for she suffers constant abuse from her Aunt and cousin John. After being sent to a preparatory school for many years by her Aunt, Jane finds work in the home of wealthy older man name Mr. Rochester as governess for his ward. During her stay she falls in love with Mr. Rochester and agrees to wed him only to discover- on her wedding day- that Rochester is in fact already married to a crazed woman named Bertha Mason. Upon acquiring this knowledge, Jane runs away from Thornfield and lives a life of poverty until, starving and tired, a kind family decides to take her in. Jane spends years with the Rivers family and grows to love them. Then, in a sudden turn of events, Jane’s long lost uncle leaves her an absurd amount of money after his death and leaves Jane a wealthy woman. It is through this estranged uncle John that Jane becomes aware that the Rivers are in fact her cousins and that she has a real family after all. After denying St. John’s Rivers marriage proposal, Jane flees back to Rochester who has been left blind and disabled after a fire cause by Bertha. With Bertha out of the picture and Jane at the same social status as Rochester, they marry and have a son and happy life together.
Edward Rochester
Edward Rochester is Jane Eyre’s most profound love interest and eventual husband. Rochester's characterization allows Bronte to reveal the life of the rich in the Victorian era and highlight a lifestyle driven by self-indulgence. Rochester is all passion and he brings this passion out of Jane. The relationship between Rochester and Jane and all the criticism it receives serves to enlighten the reader of just how strict the lines between social classes were. With a complete disregard for morals Rochester decides to attempt to marry Jane while still married to Bertha, an event that drastically alters the course of the novel and a result the course that Jane takes a woman. Jane marries Rochester after he has been blinded and crippled by a fire caused by Bertha and after she has reached her autonomy at Moor House. Jane and Rochester have a son and live together very happily.
Edward Rochester is Jane Eyre’s most profound love interest and eventual husband. Rochester's characterization allows Bronte to reveal the life of the rich in the Victorian era and highlight a lifestyle driven by self-indulgence. Rochester is all passion and he brings this passion out of Jane. The relationship between Rochester and Jane and all the criticism it receives serves to enlighten the reader of just how strict the lines between social classes were. With a complete disregard for morals Rochester decides to attempt to marry Jane while still married to Bertha, an event that drastically alters the course of the novel and a result the course that Jane takes a woman. Jane marries Rochester after he has been blinded and crippled by a fire caused by Bertha and after she has reached her autonomy at Moor House. Jane and Rochester have a son and live together very happily.
St. John Rivers
St. John stands in stark contrast to Edward Rochester. Jane’s other romantic interest in the novel reveals the more self-sacrificing side of Jane. St. John is a man of God, and as such he takes it upon himself to devote his life to the sole purpose of pleasing God. St. John denies himself the pleasure of pursuing women like Ms. Oliver as he wishes to move to India in order to help those less fortunate than himself in the name of God and asks Jane to accompany him as his wife and intellectual equal-- not lover. On the verge of accepting St. John’s offer, Jane hears Rochester’s voice in the night and runs back to him. St. John is the embodiment of sacrifice and is often described as cold and icy in contrast to Rochester’s flames. St. John is one side of the spectrum Jane desperately needs to find a middle ground in.
St. John stands in stark contrast to Edward Rochester. Jane’s other romantic interest in the novel reveals the more self-sacrificing side of Jane. St. John is a man of God, and as such he takes it upon himself to devote his life to the sole purpose of pleasing God. St. John denies himself the pleasure of pursuing women like Ms. Oliver as he wishes to move to India in order to help those less fortunate than himself in the name of God and asks Jane to accompany him as his wife and intellectual equal-- not lover. On the verge of accepting St. John’s offer, Jane hears Rochester’s voice in the night and runs back to him. St. John is the embodiment of sacrifice and is often described as cold and icy in contrast to Rochester’s flames. St. John is one side of the spectrum Jane desperately needs to find a middle ground in.
Helen Burns
Helen is the first real friend Jane makes. They meet while Jane attends Lowood. Thanks to her cruel Aunt Mrs. Reed, the school's Supervisor has a skewed perception of Jane and publicly announces her to be a liar in front of all her peers. It Helen who comforts Jane. Jane, currently fueled by her anger toward the Reed’s, listens to Helen preach of the importance of tolerance and forgiveness-- two feats that Jane is at first completely unable to comprehend. Helen looks to the afterlife to reward her for her sacrifices and compliance on earth while Jane seeks to find happiness in the physical, material world. Helen is Jane’s savior at Lowood and embodies all the strictly taught religious principles and devotion. And while Jane is in awe of Helen and worships her friendship like a religion, Jane does not fully identify with every aspect of Helen’s character. Jane knows she cannot live a life of utter self denial like Helen did.
Helen is the first real friend Jane makes. They meet while Jane attends Lowood. Thanks to her cruel Aunt Mrs. Reed, the school's Supervisor has a skewed perception of Jane and publicly announces her to be a liar in front of all her peers. It Helen who comforts Jane. Jane, currently fueled by her anger toward the Reed’s, listens to Helen preach of the importance of tolerance and forgiveness-- two feats that Jane is at first completely unable to comprehend. Helen looks to the afterlife to reward her for her sacrifices and compliance on earth while Jane seeks to find happiness in the physical, material world. Helen is Jane’s savior at Lowood and embodies all the strictly taught religious principles and devotion. And while Jane is in awe of Helen and worships her friendship like a religion, Jane does not fully identify with every aspect of Helen’s character. Jane knows she cannot live a life of utter self denial like Helen did.
Bertha Mason
Betha Mason is Mr. Rochester’s wild wife, whom he locks up in a room in his house. Bertha is all animalistic rage and stands as a the epitome of the dangers of repressing women. Bertha and Rochester, although he would deny it to his death, are two sides of the same coin. Both have reached points in their life where all their actions are driven by unrefined emotions. In one scene just before Jane’s wedding, Bertha sneaks into Jane’s room and puts on her veil. Jane witnesses Bertha in an animal-like stance before her with the veil given to her by Rochester. Once later events bring things to light, it is made clear that Bertha, in that moment, was a symbol of what Jane would have become should she have married Rochester while he was still married and she was still of much lower class. Bertha is not only the epitome of a repressed woman, but also of Jane’s own possible repression. Although Bertha directly impedes Jane’s happiness, she also indirectly causes Jane to be able to become truly happy.
Betha Mason is Mr. Rochester’s wild wife, whom he locks up in a room in his house. Bertha is all animalistic rage and stands as a the epitome of the dangers of repressing women. Bertha and Rochester, although he would deny it to his death, are two sides of the same coin. Both have reached points in their life where all their actions are driven by unrefined emotions. In one scene just before Jane’s wedding, Bertha sneaks into Jane’s room and puts on her veil. Jane witnesses Bertha in an animal-like stance before her with the veil given to her by Rochester. Once later events bring things to light, it is made clear that Bertha, in that moment, was a symbol of what Jane would have become should she have married Rochester while he was still married and she was still of much lower class. Bertha is not only the epitome of a repressed woman, but also of Jane’s own possible repression. Although Bertha directly impedes Jane’s happiness, she also indirectly causes Jane to be able to become truly happy.