CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Diana Rivers

Diana is a pretty young woman. She is endowed with intelligence and strong will. Jane admits that Diana is more learned than herself. Happy to be Jane's teacher, Diana teaches her German. She thinks that Jane is right in rejecting St. John, who does not love her. She is affectionate, sympathetic and genuinely concerned for Jane's welfare.

Mary Rivers

Mary is as intelligent and pretty as her sister Diana, but she is a bit more reserved. She is also more docile and gentle than Diana. Like Diana and Jane, Mary is fond of books and entertainment. The trio shares "perfect congeniality of tastes, sentiments and principles" among themselves.

Mrs. Alice Fairfax

Mrs. Fairfax is the housekeeper of Thornfield Hall. She is noted for her kindness and peaceful temperament. She is a woman of average intelligence and sufficient education. She is faithful to Mr. Rochester, whom she serves to the best of her ability. She becomes upset by the news of Mr. Rochester's wedding to Jane. This demonstrates how she conforms to the conventions of the age, when a person's class influenced marriage to a great extent. She tries to warn Jane to be cautious with the master.

Blanche Ingram

The proud Blanche Ingram is a dark, tall and graceful lady. She is presented as a foil to Jane. She is known for her ability to make engaging conversation. She is also known for her musical talents. She does not love Mr. Rochester, but she has her eye on his wealth and social status. For these purely material reasons she wants to marry Mr. Rochester.

Miss Temple

Maria Temple is the superintendent of Lowood School. She is a pretty, learned and dignified woman, loved and respected by all her pupils. Like Jane, she too is subject to humiliation by Brocklehurst. Her friendship is a constant source of solace and encouragement to Jane. It is due to her intervention that Jane is saved from the false accusations of Mrs. Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst. Jane decides to leave Lowood as soon as Miss Temple gets married to Reverend Nasmyth.

Brocklehurst

Brocklehurst is a tall and thin clergyman with a harsh-looking face. He is the treasurer and occasional manager of Lowood. He is notorious for his narrow and rigid outlook, his cruelty and hypocrisy. He does not seem to understand the basic tenets of his own religion. His dialogue with Jane at Mrs. Reed's house clearly brings out some of the defective traits in his personality. He wrongly accuses Jane of being deceitful and does not give her a chance to defend herself. His miserliness is at the root of much of the misery at Lowood. He does not offer even the most basic amenities to his pupils. While professing a life of austerity, he allows his family to indulge themselves with luxuries.

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