Mrs. Reed, John Reed, and Mr. Brockelhurst demonstrate to Jane the nature of hypocrisy in her early life. Mrs. Reed, who has promised to care for the child upon her father's death, is filled with resentment at having to do this, and takes every opportunity to belittle and criticize Jane while overlooking her own children's bad behavior. Her son John especially is allowed to bully Jane mercilessly. Mrs. Reed arranges to send Jane to a boarding school for orphans whose proprietor, Mr. Brockelhurst, is interested more in profit than the orphans' well-being, and starves the girls to save their souls. From these experiences, Jane learns to identify falseness, and develops an independent spirit.
Miss Temple and Helen are positive influences in Jane's life. As the superintendant of Lowood School, Miss Temple defies Mr. Brockelhurst's draconic rules and genuinely cares about the girls. She is a mentor to Jane, instrumental in her becoming a teacher at the school and eventually finding a position as a governess. Helen Burns, through her kind and patient nature, shows the more rebellious Jane the importance of these qualities.
St. John's influence on Jane is perhaps the most paradoxical. He is kind to her but detached, and the driving element in his life is duty. When she refuses to marry him, Jane realizes and affirms the importance of love and passion in her life.
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