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Jane

A Bellmont daughter caught between her mother's plans and her own heart, Jane sits with Aunt Abby and quietly measures the distance between duty and desire.

supporting

Also known as Miss Jane

First appearance: III: A New Home for Me

See Jane in III: A New Home for Me Book page

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Jane moves through the Bellmont household as the softer sister, the one who sits with Aunt Abby and shows Frado a measure of ordinary kindness. When George Means's attentions expose how little she feels for the suitor her mother has chosen, her private dissatisfaction becomes a family storm she cannot control. Her struggle to answer a letter, and to answer for her own affections, gives the early household its clearest picture of how Mrs. Bellmont's will presses on everyone beneath her roof.

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See Jane in III: A New Home for Me

Character Web

14 connections

A slice of how Jane sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Family
Other

Character groups

Bellmont Household & Associates
Minor Local Characters

+9 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Frado’s potential l…

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Relationships

George Means
romantic · positive
Henry Reed
romantic · positive
Aunt Abby
family · positive
Aunt Abby
family · positive
George Means
romantic · positive
Henry Reed
romantic · positive
Aunt Abby
family · positive
Henry Reed
romantic · positive
George Means
romantic · positive

George Means
George Means is Jane's suitor, and their relationship represents a potential escape for Jane from her family.
Henry Reed
Henry Reed is Jane's eventual husband, offering her a loving marriage and escape from her family.
Aunt Abby
Aunt Abby is Jane's aunt, and she acts as a maternal figure and protector to Jane.
Aunt Abby
Aunt Abby is Jane's aunt, and she acts as a maternal figure and protector to Jane.
George Means
George Means is Jane's suitor, and their relationship represents a potential escape for Jane from her family.
Henry Reed
Henry Reed is Jane's eventual husband, offering her a loving marriage and escape from her family.
Aunt Abby
Aunt Abby is Jane's aunt, and she acts as a maternal figure and protector to Jane.
Henry Reed
Henry Reed is Jane's eventual husband, offering her a loving marriage and escape from her family.
George Means
George Means is Jane's suitor, and their relationship represents a potential escape for Jane from her family.

Relationship notes

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See Jane in III: A New Home for Me

In the story

Jane appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

III: A New Home for Me
Jane is an invalid daughter who remains largely uninterested in the family's discussion about Frado.
Departures
Torn between Henry Reed and George Means; breaks her engagement to Henry with her father's support and marries George, moving to Vermont.
X: Perplexities.—Another Death
Jane returns home with her family but soon leaves for the West with Jack, unable to endure her mother's oppression, abandoning Frado.
XII: The Winding Up of the Matter
Now has silver locks but retains Henry's love and has no regrets.

Chapter companion notes

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See Jane in III: A New Home for Me