iGCSE English Literature CCEA

Character Profiles

Character Profiles

Jane Eyre

• Jane Eyre is the protagonist and narrator of the novel.
• She is an orphan who is mistreated by her relatives, the Reeds.
• Jane's strength of character is established in her spirited response to her unfair treatment.
• As a student at Lowood School, Jane develops a sense of justice and a deep-seated belief in God.
• When she goes to work at Thornfield Hall, she falls in love with her employer, Mr. Rochester.
• Jane’s quest for love, independence, and a sense of self-worth shapes the novel.

Edward Rochester

• Edward Rochester is the master of Thornfield Hall.
• Before meeting Jane, he lived a life of excess and experienced disillusionment and regret.
• Rochester appreciates Jane's clarity, honesty, and strong moral character.
• His previous relationships are troubled, particularly his disastrous marriage to Bertha Mason, which was based on deception.
• Despite his faults, Rochester's capacity for change helps him to redeem himself in Jane's eyes.

St. John Rivers

• St. John Rivers is Jane's cousin and a clergyman with strong Christian ideals.
• He offers Jane proposal of marriage, but it's based on conventional duty not love.
• St. John is cold and detached, viewing emotions as distractions from his religious goals.
• He contrasts with Jane's other love interest, Mr. Rochester, who is characterized by passion and impulse.
• St. John serves as a foil to Rochester, highlighting the central theme of passion versus reason.

Bertha Mason

• Bertha Mason is Mr. Rochester’s first wife, whom he married under deceitful circumstances.
• She is mentally ill and kept hidden in the attic at Thornfield.
• Bertha's character embodies the Victorian beliefs about the 'madwoman' and the 'other'.
• She is a symbol of Rochester's past mistakes and his misguided approach to love and marriage.
• Bertha's existence reveals the darker side of Rochester’s character and the oppressive nature of Victorian marriage.

Helen Burns

• Helen Burns is Jane's friend at Lowood School.
• Helen displays deep religious faith and acceptance of her fate, influencing Jane's spiritual beliefs.
• She is based on Charlotte Bronte's sister Maria, who died of tuberculosis.
• Her death has a lasting impact on Jane, highlighting the novel's recurring theme of mortality.