The person01–03
01·Who they are
Who is Bessie?
Bessie is the nursemaid at Gateshead Hall. The novel describes her as "a slim young woman, with black hair, dark eyes, very nice features, and good, clear complexion," blessed with "a sweet voice" and a remarkable storytelling ability. Although she has "a capricious and hasty temper, and indifferent ideas of principle or justice," Jane sees her as "the best, prettiest, kindest being in the world" during her gentler moments, favoring Bessie over anyone else at Gateshead Hall. After leaving her position, she becomes Bessie Leaven, marrying the coachman Robert, and lives at the porter's lodge with her children, one of whom she names Jane.
02·Arc & motivation
What is Bessie's arc and motivation?
Bessie starts as a complex character — part oppressor, part protector. She helps drag Jane to the red-room, threatens to tie her down, and lectures her about her dependent situation; yet she also unlocks the door when Jane screams, stays with her during her illness, brings her treats, and sings her ballads. Her motivations seem less about malice and more about fitting into the household's hierarchy, mixed with genuine, albeit inconsistently shown, affection. By the time Jane is leaving for Lowood, Bessie openly expresses her fondness and shares kisses with her. In later chapters, her actions are purely driven by warmth: she visits Jane at Lowood without being asked, her husband brings Jane back to the dying Mrs. Reed at Bessie's request, and she welcomes Jane to the lodge as if they were old friends.
03·Key moments
What are Bessie's key moments?
In Chapter II, Bessie helps confine Jane in the red-room and tells her she is "under obligations to Mrs. Reed," but when Jane screams in fear, it's Bessie who rushes to the door and whose hand Jane clings to. Her comment to Sarah — "Missis was rather too hard" — hints at her private sympathy.
In Chapter III, Bessie cares for Jane after her fit with "unwonted kindness," brings her a tart on the cherished painted plate, fetches Gulliver's Travels, and sings the ballad about the "poor orphan child" — a moment of unintentional emotional cruelty that brings Jane to tears, though Bessie doesn't grasp why.
In Chapter IV, the farewell scene highlights Bessie's affection: she promises not to scold, admits she is "fonder of you than of all the others," and they embrace. That evening, Bessie shares "her most enchanting stories" and sings "her sweetest songs."
In Chapter V, Bessie wakes up before dawn to prepare Jane's breakfast, wraps biscuits for her journey, helps her get dressed, and walks her to the coach, from which Jane is "taken from Bessie's neck, to which I clung with kisses."
In Chapter X, Bessie visits Jane at Lowood on her own initiative, checks her skills on the piano, drawing, and French, and shares the news from Gateshead — including the visit of a Mr. Eyre — with genuine, affectionate curiosity.
In Chapter XXI, Bessie's husband Robert brings Jane back to the ailing Mrs. Reed; Bessie welcomes Jane with tea and a fuss typical of her, and accompanies her to the hall. Though she has her own family to care for and can only come occasionally, she is described as faithful to Mrs. Reed, while the hired nurse receives little attention and slips out of the room whenever she can.
The cast04–05
04·Relationships
What are Bessie's most important relationships?
Bessie's relationship with Jane is the emotional core of her role. It's marked by inconsistency: the same woman who delivers threats and moral lectures also kisses Jane goodnight and names a daughter after her. Jane's portrayal of Bessie is nuanced — she recounts both scoldings and songs without fully excusing or condemning either. The adult Bessie is warmer and more straightforwardly kind, and Jane responds with uncomplicated affection.
05·Connected characters
How is Bessie connected to the other characters?
Study06–07
06·Questions
Questions readers ask about Bessie
What is Bessie's full name by the time Jane is grown?
She married Robert Leaven, the coachman at Gateshead, and is now known as Mrs. Leaven or Bessie Leaven. In Chapter X, she tells Jane that they have been married for "nearly five years."
Does Bessie genuinely care for Jane, or is she simply a servant following orders?
The novel presents a complex relationship. Bessie helps confine Jane and lectures her about being dependent, yet she also confides in a fellow servant that "Missis was rather too hard." She tells Jane she is "fonder of you than of all the others," visits her at Lowood voluntarily, and even names her daughter Jane. These actions imply genuine affection, even if it's expressed inconsistently.
What role do Bessie's stories and songs play in the novel?
Bessie's nursery tales and ballads become integral to Jane's imagination. The story of the "Gytrash," a haunting spirit from Northern England, resurfaces in Chapter XII when Jane sees a horse and a large dog coming toward her in the dark before her encounter with Rochester. In Chapter III, her ballad about the "poor orphan child" poignantly reflects Jane's own circumstances.
What information does Bessie give Jane about her family in Chapter X?
Bessie mentions that a Mr. Eyre, whom she suspects is Jane's uncle, visited Gateshead a few years ago searching for Jane. However, he was informed that she was at school and couldn't stay because his ship was about to depart for a foreign country known for its wine production.
What is Bessie's role during Mrs. Reed's final illness?
Bessie is portrayed as "faithful" to Mrs. Reed's sickbed, even as the hired nurse neglects her duties. She is the first to realize that the dying Mrs. Reed is calling for Jane and encourages the family to fetch her. Upon Jane's arrival at the lodge, Bessie greets her warmly and guides her up to the hall.
07·Essay angles
Use this in your essay
Tool · Essay angles
Bessie as a study in ambivalence
Storytelling and imagination
The "orphan child" ballad in Chapter III
Minor characters as moral registers