# John Jasper — The Mystery of Edwin Drood character guide > John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Jasper, Jasper, Friend John Jasper, the Choirmaster, Mister Jarsper, Mr. Jarsper, Jarsper **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-dawn ## Who they are Cloisterham's choirmaster, whose angelic music and tender devotion to his nephew Ned conceal an opium-fed hunger for his own sister's child. ## Relationships ### [Septimus Crisparkle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/septimus_crisparkle) _professional_ Jasper and Crisparkle interact as fellow professionals in the cathedral community, with Jasper's sinister nature hidden beneath civility. ### [Rosa Bud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/rosa_bud) _psychological_ Jasper obsesses over Rosa, using his position as her music teacher to manipulate and terrorize her with unwanted advances. ### [Durdles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/durdles) _professional_ Durdles, the stonemason, works for Jasper and is used by him for access to the crypt and knowledge of the cathedral's secrets. ### [Neville Landless](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/neville_landless) _rivalry_ Jasper despises Neville for his closeness to Rosa and frames him for Edwin's murder, creating a bitter enmity. ### [Jack Chinaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/jack_chinaman) _professional_ Jack Chinaman is a local opium dealer who supplies Jasper with drugs, enabling his addiction and dark fantasies. ### [Edwin Drood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/edwin_drood) _family_ Edwin is Jasper's nephew, and Jasper feigns affection while secretly plotting his murder out of jealousy over Rosa. ### [Helena Landless](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/helena_landless) _rivalry_ Helena sees through Jasper's facade and actively opposes him, defending Rosa and her brother from his machinations. ### [Thomas Sapsea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/thomas_sapsea) _social_ Jasper and Sapsea interact as prominent citizens of Cloisterham, with Sapsea's vanity being manipulated by Jasper. ### [Septimus Crisparkle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/septimus_crisparkle) _professional_ Jasper and Crisparkle interact as fellow professionals in the cathedral community, with Jasper's sinister nature hidden beneath civility. ### [Jack Chinaman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/jack_chinaman) _professional_ Jack Chinaman is a local opium dealer who supplies Jasper with drugs, enabling his addiction and dark fantasies. ### [Durdles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/durdles) _professional_ Durdles, the stonemason, works for Jasper and is used by him for access to the crypt and knowledge of the cathedral's secrets. ### [Edwin Drood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/edwin_drood) _family_ Edwin is Jasper's nephew, and Jasper feigns affection while secretly plotting his murder out of jealousy over Rosa. ## In the story ### [The Dawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/i-the-dawn) The waking man in the opium den, later seen at the Cathedral choir. ### [II: A Dean, and a Chapter Also](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/ii-a-dean-and-a-chapter-also) Shows intense, watchful affection for Edwin; secretly takes opium for pain; his room is somber with a portrait of Rosa. ### [Mr. Sapsea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/iv-mr-sapsea) Visits Sapsea for the first time, flattering him and engaging in conversation about the epitaph and Durdles. ### [Mr. Durdles and Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/v-mr-durdles-and-friend) Intervenes in Deputy's stone-throwing, walks Durdles home, expresses interest in Durdles's work, and later stands over his sleeping nephew with a pipe. ### [VII: More Confidences Than One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/vii-more-confidences-than-one) Though not present, his oppressive influence is central to Rosa's confession. ### [VIII: Daggers Drawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/viii-daggers-drawn) Acts as a peacemaker, overhearing the quarrel and guiding both young men to his rooms, while observing their conflict closely. ### [IX: Birds in the Bush](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/ix-birds-in-the-bush) Meets Mr. Grewgious in the Cathedral and learns about the conversation with Rosa. He appears agitated, with white lips, and agrees to the plan for Christmas. ### [X: Smoothing the Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/x-smoothing-the-way) Agrees to intercede with Edwin, but shows a perplexed and calculating expression; reveals his diary of fears. ### [A Night with Durdles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/xii-a-night-with-durdles) Orchestrates the night expedition with Durdles, plying him with drink. His reaction to Durdles's ghost story is fierce and abrupt. He later attacks Deputy with a violent fury, suggesting a hidden, volatile nature. ### [XIII: Both at Their Best](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/xiii-both-at-their-best) Edwin is afraid of Jasper's reaction to the news, and Rosa plans to withdraw from his music lessons. ### [When Shall These Three Meet Again?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/xiv-when-shall-these-three-meet-again) Sings beautifully at Vespers, appears composed, plans to burn his diary, and later frantically inquires about Edwin's whereabouts. ### [XV: Impeached](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/xv-impeached) Walks beside Neville, remains obstinately silent, and later declares his reliance on Mr. Sapsea's penetration; he is active in the search and is deeply affected by Mr. Grewgious's revelation. ### [XVI: Devoted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/xvi-devoted) Recovers from a fit and begins to cling to the hope that Edwin may have vanished voluntarily, showing a shift in his demeanor. ### [A Settler in Cloisterham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/xviii-a-settler-in-cloisterham) Present at Mrs. Tope's, vouching for her respectability; the uncle of the missing Edwin Drood, suspected of his murder. ### [XIX: Shadow on the Sundial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/xix-shadow-on-the-sundial) Declares his mad love to Rosa, threatens Neville, and attempts to manipulate her through fear. ### [XX: A Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/xx-a-flight) Though absent, his threatening presence and declaration of love are the catalyst for Rosa's flight. ### [XXIII: The Dawn Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/chapters/xxiii-the-dawn-again) Continues his obsessive pursuit of Neville Landless; travels to London and stays at a hybrid hotel; later leads the choir in Cloisterham, unaware of the opium woman's presence. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters/john_jasper - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_mystery_of_edwin_drood_se/characters