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Blanche Ingram (Foil to Jane (Beautiful - Blanche's obvious beauty…
Blanche Ingram
Foil to Jane
Beautiful - Blanche's obvious beauty (the beautiful Blanche) contrasts with Jane's lack of beauty (small and plain) and as such makes Rochester's interest in Jane and their relationship all the more significant - shows their relationship is not based on superficial qualities as neither Jane nor Rochester values these qualities
As a match for Rochester - Both Blanche and Jane are seen to vy for Rochester's love. However, Blanche is shown to be shallow and vain (I will suffer no competitor near the throne) and only interested in Rochester's money (she loves... his purse). Blanche's shallowness emphasises Jane's depth of character to the reader by comparison
when she failed, I saw how she might have succeeded - Jane compares their respective advances and feelings towards Rochester
Social Class - Blanche is shown to be of the same social class as Rochester; therefore more of a match than Jane would be considered - however their relationship still does not work out, and therefore Bronte suggests that social class alone does not necessarily merit a good relationship - it should not be forgotten that though Jane is in an inferior one initially (when their relationship does not work out), by the end she is in the same one due to the acquisition of her fortune. Therefore, Bronte does not necessarily suggest that relationships between different social classes will work out, but that social class alone is not enough
Maternal Instincts - Jane is clearly shown to be good with children, as she gets on well with Adele, however, Blanche is shown to be the complete opposite: a spiteful antipathy she had conceived against little Adele - another way in which Jane is actually shown to be superior and the faults in Blanche's character emphasise the qualities of Jane's
Name
Related to the colour white - connotations of pure, cold and innocent - slightly ironic, as perhaps we get a better first impression of her than she then seems to warrant
Contrast to Jane again - compared to Jane's rather plain and common name, Blanche is rather showy and therefore is yet another difference between them
Also, evokes images of blankness, showing that Blanche has no real personality
Role
Blanche is not a character that Bronte really chooses to develop - as such, her only role is to develop the plot
Really, it makes Jane and Rochester's relationship flourish and develop, as we see Jane begin to become more and more jealous (precisely what Rochester had wanted): when she failed, I saw how she might have succeeded
Seeing Rochester's relationship with Blanche is really what makes Jane discover her true feelings towards him - and therefore Rochester succeeds in his goal: I wished to render you as madly in love with me as I was with you, and I knew jealousy would be my best ally
Reed Family
Blanche and Lady Ingram's cruelty towards Jane reminds the reader of the suffering that Jane felt at the hands of the Reed family, and as such shows how Jane still suffers at the hands of her social superiors
Their obvious insulting of governesses in front of her: half of them detestable, the rest ridiculous and all incubi
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Beauty
She links to the theme of appearances in the novel, as she is a woman who is seen to be very beautiful but who is not a nice person - she is seen to be patronising towards Jane: if ever her dark and imperious eye fell on me by chance, would withdraw it instantly as from an object too mean to merit observation