Jane Eyre:
Jane is the protagonist as well as the narrator of the novel. She is woman of indefinable courage and strength when faced with the hardships of life during the Victorian Era. An honest, plain, and intelligent young woman, Jane struggles to find what she truly wants, and wrestles with the decision of love and freedom.
The novel is centralizes around the development of Jane Eyre's character. Brought up as an orphan living through cruel family figures and harsh, inadequate educational systems, she learns to find herself and stand up for who she is. Jane's integrity is tested continually throughout the events of the story, and she is forced to learn how to stabilize conflicting personal aspects in order to find contentedness. She must choose between the freedom to liberate her passions and the freedom to act on her strongly held principles and morals.
Many people believe that the character of Jane Eyre was created by Charlotte Bronte to reflect aspects of her own life, and in doing so, come to terms with her own circumstances. Perhaps Bronte too struggled to find a balance between freedom and love and wished to express it through the stories she created. There are many parts of the book where Bronte's radical opinions are voiced through Jane Eyre.
Mr. Edward Rochester:
Mr. Rochester is the stern, not particularly handsome master of Thornfield Hall. Edward is the first person in Jane's life to offer her a real home and real love, and despite his rough anatomy, he wins her heart. During the Victorian Era, men were considered substantially superior to women. Though this novel took place during that era, Edward is to Jane, her intellectual equal, and later on in the novel is shown to be her inferior in morality. Through this, Jane is an example of equality between men and woman, a true feminist picture.
St. John Rivers:
St. John Rivers is Jane's discovered missionary cousin. He serves as a foil to Mr. Rochester. While Rochester is full of passion and emotion, unafraid to show his feelings or Jane, Rivers is a stiff, ambitious figure who's sole desire is to live out God's will for his life. He is a handsome, blonde haired, blue eyed figure with 'grecian' features, unlike the rough but strong figure of Mr. Rochester.
St. John offers Jane what Mr. Rochester cannot give her, the chance to act unreservedly on her principles. Though he offers her this, he is unable to supply her desire for love and passion. Jane's inner conflict is shown between the contrasting characters of Mr. Rochester and St. John Rivers.
Adele Varens:
Adele is Jane's pupil during her position as governess at Thornfield. She is an energetic, slightly spoiled girl from France who Mr. Rochester took in after her mother, Celine Varens, abandoned her. Celine Varens was Mr. Rochester's mistress once, but Edward does not believe that he is the father of Adele.
Alice Fairfax:
Alice Fairfax is a tender hearted old woman who shows kindness to Jane. She is the housekeeper of Thornfield, and is the very first person to tell Jane that the mysterious laughter she hears is that of Grace Poole, a lie that is often repeated by others as well.
Jane is the protagonist as well as the narrator of the novel. She is woman of indefinable courage and strength when faced with the hardships of life during the Victorian Era. An honest, plain, and intelligent young woman, Jane struggles to find what she truly wants, and wrestles with the decision of love and freedom.
The novel is centralizes around the development of Jane Eyre's character. Brought up as an orphan living through cruel family figures and harsh, inadequate educational systems, she learns to find herself and stand up for who she is. Jane's integrity is tested continually throughout the events of the story, and she is forced to learn how to stabilize conflicting personal aspects in order to find contentedness. She must choose between the freedom to liberate her passions and the freedom to act on her strongly held principles and morals.
Many people believe that the character of Jane Eyre was created by Charlotte Bronte to reflect aspects of her own life, and in doing so, come to terms with her own circumstances. Perhaps Bronte too struggled to find a balance between freedom and love and wished to express it through the stories she created. There are many parts of the book where Bronte's radical opinions are voiced through Jane Eyre.
Mr. Edward Rochester:
Mr. Rochester is the stern, not particularly handsome master of Thornfield Hall. Edward is the first person in Jane's life to offer her a real home and real love, and despite his rough anatomy, he wins her heart. During the Victorian Era, men were considered substantially superior to women. Though this novel took place during that era, Edward is to Jane, her intellectual equal, and later on in the novel is shown to be her inferior in morality. Through this, Jane is an example of equality between men and woman, a true feminist picture.
St. John Rivers:
St. John Rivers is Jane's discovered missionary cousin. He serves as a foil to Mr. Rochester. While Rochester is full of passion and emotion, unafraid to show his feelings or Jane, Rivers is a stiff, ambitious figure who's sole desire is to live out God's will for his life. He is a handsome, blonde haired, blue eyed figure with 'grecian' features, unlike the rough but strong figure of Mr. Rochester.
St. John offers Jane what Mr. Rochester cannot give her, the chance to act unreservedly on her principles. Though he offers her this, he is unable to supply her desire for love and passion. Jane's inner conflict is shown between the contrasting characters of Mr. Rochester and St. John Rivers.
Adele Varens:
Adele is Jane's pupil during her position as governess at Thornfield. She is an energetic, slightly spoiled girl from France who Mr. Rochester took in after her mother, Celine Varens, abandoned her. Celine Varens was Mr. Rochester's mistress once, but Edward does not believe that he is the father of Adele.
Alice Fairfax:
Alice Fairfax is a tender hearted old woman who shows kindness to Jane. She is the housekeeper of Thornfield, and is the very first person to tell Jane that the mysterious laughter she hears is that of Grace Poole, a lie that is often repeated by others as well.