# Bessie Lee — Jane Eyre character guide

> Bessie Lee in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Bessie, Bessie Lee, Leah, Bessie Leaven, Leaven

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Who they are

Kind nursemaid at Gateshead who shows Jane affection.

## Relationships

### [Jane Eyre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/characters/jane_eyre)

_friendship_

Kind nursemaid who shows Jane occasional warmth and comfort during her childhood at Gateshead.

### [Mrs. Reed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/characters/mrs_reed)

_professional_

Servant-employer relationship, with Bessie loyal but often caught between Mrs. Reed's harshness and Jane's plight.

### [Jane Eyre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/characters/jane_eyre)

_friendship_

Kind nursemaid who shows Jane occasional warmth and comfort during her childhood at Gateshead.

### [Mrs. Reed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/characters/mrs_reed)

_professional_

Servant-employer relationship, with Bessie loyal but often caught between Mrs. Reed's harshness and Jane's plight.

### [Mrs. Reed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/characters/mrs_reed)

_professional_

Servant-employer relationship, with Bessie loyal but often caught between Mrs. Reed's harshness and Jane's plight.

### [Jane Eyre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/characters/jane_eyre)

_friendship_

Kind nursemaid who shows Jane occasional warmth and comfort during her childhood at Gateshead.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/chapters/i)

The nurse who sometimes tells Jane stories but also scolds her; she assists in taking Jane to the red-room.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/chapters/ii)

Bessie helps restrain Jane and scolds her, reminding her of her dependence on Mrs. Reed.

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/chapters/iii)

Bessie tries to comfort Jane with kindness, a tart, and songs, but she cannot understand the depth of Jane's suffering and later discusses Jane's situation with Abbot.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/chapters/iv)

Scolds Jane after the confrontation with Mrs. Reed, delivering a long homily.

### [A New Servitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/chapters/x)

Bessie, now married to Robert Leaven, visits Jane at Lowood and shares news about the Reed family.

### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/chapters/xxi)

Welcomes Jane warmly at the lodge, shares news of the family, and accompanies her to the hall.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/characters/bessie_lee
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jane_eyre_se/characters