Jane Eyre
Miss Maria Temple
The Lowood superintendent
The kind, dignified superintendent of Lowood who protects Jane and sets her an example of how a woman can live.
Miss Temple is the one adult at Lowood who treats the girls with dignity. She is gracious, cultured and fair. She notices the burnt porridge and orders bread and cheese for lunch, and she makes a treat for Jane and Helen in her room.
She is brave in a quiet way. She takes the trouble to check Jane's story instead of taking Mr. Brocklehurst's word, and she clears Jane's name before everyone. For Jane she is the model of an educated, honorable woman.
“Come, my children. You shall have a treat by the fire tonight.”
In the story
Contains spoilers.
Miss Temple welcomes Jane to Lowood and, after Brocklehurst's public shaming of her, gives Jane tea and seed cake, listens to her real history and writes to Mr. Lloyd to confirm it. When the answer clears Jane, Miss Temple announces it before the school.
Jane teaches at Lowood for years afterward. When Miss Temple marries and leaves, she tells Jane that she has been her dearest companion. Jane then feels her own life at Lowood has ended and looks for a new post.
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