Jane's marginal status as an orphan is partially offset by various parental figures who appear throughout the novel. For example, Bessie and Miss Temple play very maternal roles and take Jane under their wings when she is wrongly accused. However, while Miss Temple was extremely important to Jane during her time at Lowood, she becomes lost to Jane after her marriage to a clergyman. Only Bessie, Gateswood's housekeeper, manages to maintain an ongoing relationship with Jane. Despite her minor role in the novel, Bessie is all the more important because she was the first maternal figure to the beleaguered Jane. She is the only model of feminine kindness Jane saw as a child. Jane is extremely grateful for her attention – and the reader suspects that Jane's fate might be very different without her. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The reader first meets Bessie when she and her foil Miss Abbot are called to respond to Jane's outburst against John. The difference in language and tone between Miss Abbot and Bessie is immediately obvious. While Miss Abbot is quick to condemn Jane for being "a sneaky little thing" and reminds her to repent lest "something bad might come down the chimney" (10), Bessie is more impartial. At first, Bessie grants Jane's request not to be tied up in exchange for a promise to stay still. During this exchange, Bessie looks at Jane and tries to assess the situation realistically. Jane's awareness that Bessie is assessing the situation rather than blinding her by prejudging her is evidenced in her remark "and when she was satisfied that I was really calming down, she released her grip on me” (10). Although this assessment seems trivial, it is the very first time in the novel that anyone attempts to see Jane for who she is. Every other character in Jane's life seemed to automatically condemn her without seeing her for who she was. Unlike the other characters, Bessie acts on the basis of knowledge and compassion rather than prejudice. There is also a very distinct difference between the way Abbott and Bessie address Jane. As noted above, Abbot is not shy about criticizing Jane. His remarks are calculated to sting. In comparison, Bessie warns Jane that the hospice will be the logical outcome of her actions. Although Jane's situation may be extremely unfair, Bessie's remarks are calculated to protect Jane by reminding her of the harsh consequences of her behavior. It is important to note that Bessie does not criticize – she refrains from criticizing. Unlike Abbot, she uses "no harsh voice" and speaks in positive terms, reminding Jane to be "helpful and pleasant". Thus, without opposing the Reeds or the Abbot, Bessie establishes herself as Jane's protector in the house. Bessie's role as protector is firmly established after Jane's hysterical episode in the red room. Bessie responds as she has done before: by assessing the situation and asking questions. Unlike Abbot who harshly prejudges without any knowledge, Bessie asks, "Miss Eyre, are you ill?" This assessment continues later when Mr. Lloyd cares for Jane. Bessie asks repeatedly, “Do you feel like you should sleep?” » and “Would you like to drink or could you eat something?” The only people who give Jane the freedom to assert individual responses are Bessie and Mr. Lloyd. Bessie's kindness goes straight to Jane's heart. She notes that when she woke up in thenursery, she was aware that someone was "lifting me up and supporting me into a sitting position, and doing so with more tenderness than I had ever been lifted or supported before" (15). Bessie's kindness continued throughout her life. Jane's convalescence. Unlike Mrs. Reed who was almost completely out of place, Bessie brings Jane food from the kitchen in a specially painted plate that has captured Jane's imagination and softly sings songs about the plight of the "poor orphan child" ( 17-18 years old). ). Although relatively helpless, Bessie acts as a good mother would, taking every step possible to ensure that Jane is removed from Gateswood. The reader suspects that Bessie may have provided additional information to Mr. Lloyd about Jane's marginal status in the house when she invited him into the breakfast room with her before he chatted with Mrs. Reed of Jane's state. After initially encouraging Jane to be sent to school, it is Bessie who finds Jane and ensures that her face is washed and her dirty apron removed before her interview with Lowood's headmaster, Mr Brocklehurst. At every step of the way, the reader sees Bessie contributing to the process by which Jane ultimately leaves. It is important to note that Bessie's maternal actions are not limited to kindness. There are several instances in which Bessie scolds Jane – and in one of the few light-hearted moments of Jane's childhood, Jane teases Bessie for this scolding. However, each instance of such reprimands is marked by Bessie's knowledge of Jane's character and her situation in the world. Bessie hopes that Jane will learn to be more accommodating to the world – and in return be treated better. Unlike the harshness of Miss Abbot and Mrs. Reed, Bessie's scolding is motivated by a desire to help Jane. Bessie's final maternal act during Jane's stay in Gateshead is to prepare Jane to leave and say goodbye. Here, Bessie seems determined that Jane's final days will be marked by the affection that was so lacking. In a tender exchange, the day before Jane leaves, Bessie provides her final help by saying: “I will ask the cook to make you a little cake, and then you will help me look in your drawers; because I will soon pack your trunk. Missis intends for you to leave Gateshead in a day or two, and you will choose which toys you wish to take with you” (33). Bessie takes this opportunity to assure Jane that "I think I love you more than anyone else." (33). When Jane actually leaves the next day, Bessie comes to see Jane at 5:00 in the morning. Finding Jane already dressed and washed, Bessie prepares breakfast. The two leave Gateshead in the dark and cross the gravel road to the porter. After assuring Jane that she is first in his heart, like a good mother, she pushes Jane out into the world and into the hands of the coachman. In each of the aforementioned exchanges, Bessie was always the one to show kindness to Jane and attempt to improve her place in the world. It is this kindness that allows Jane to move forward in the world and under the wing of her next surrogate mother. Miss Temple. Bessie appears two more times in the novel. These appearances are worth examining because they coincide with major transitional periods in Jane's life and speak to the long-term relationship between Jane and Bessie. The first time Bessie reappears is just before Jane leaves Lowood. This also coincides with the permanent loss of Miss Temple, Jane's other mother figure. Without Miss Temple, Lowood became a hollow place in the world for Jane - who chose to venture beyond her limits and put herself to work.., 2001.