Jane Eyre
Blanche Ingram
The society beauty
A glamorous, haughty guest at Thornfield who looks down on governesses and flirts with Rochester for his fortune.
Blanche Ingram is a beautiful, accomplished and proud lady of the neighborhood, whom Mrs. Fairfax calls the most beautiful in the county. She arrives at Thornfield with a party of noble guests, and she expects to be admired.
She treats Jane as beneath her notice. In front of Jane she tells her mother not to mention governesses, saying the tribe has always been a nuisance. Jane notices that Rochester has not given her his heart and recognizes the match is a show.
“My dearest mama, don't mention governesses: the tribe has always been a nuisance!”
In the story
Contains spoilers.
Blanche is courted by Rochester during the house party, sings a duet with him and acts as his bride in the charades. Jane, watching from a corner of the drawing room, understands that Rochester has not given her his heart, and that Blanche has not truly given him hers either.
After Rochester reveals his feelings for Jane, Blanche drops out of the story. She is a rival who never knew she was one.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
