Jane Wilson Character Analysis in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Mrs. Wilson’s daughter and friend to Rose Markham, Jane is, in Gilbert’s eyes, coldly ambitious. She is also a local beauty and, as the recipient of a boarding-school education, is much more elegant than many of her compatriots. Having rejected most of her suitors, she hopes very much to marry Frederick Lawrence, but ends her days a spinster.

Jane Wilson Character Timeline in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

The timeline below shows where the character Jane Wilson appears in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Gender, Sexism, and Double Standards Theme Icon

According to Rose, both her friend Jane and Jane’s mother, Mrs. Wilson, have visited the woman, but have had very little luck... (full context)

Gilbert then mentions Mrs. Wilson and her children Jane, Robert, and Richard. Mrs. Wilson, Gilbert says, is an empty-headed gossip. Jane, while beautiful and... (full context)

Everyone that Gilbert introduced Jack to in his first letter—Eliza, Mary, and the Reverend Milward; Jane, Richard, Robert, and Mrs. Wilson; and Mr. Lawrence—have come to the Markhams to join Gilbert,... (full context)

...they will marry. Gilbert is disenchanted with Eliza Millward, and Lawrence is obviously indifferent to Jane Wilson. They tease each other briefly about leaving the two women alone and then go... (full context)

...angry, she breaks down in tears and makes a great show of being deeply injured. Jane Wilson, self-satisfied and smug, steps in and informs the company that she has heard that... (full context)

While in the garden, Gilbert sees Jane Wilson and Mr. Lawrence having an intense conversation, which Gilbert assumes is about Helen and... (full context)

Gilbert finds not Robert but Jane Wilson and Eliza Millward. Eliza, still jealous, asks Gilbert if he has seen Helen Graham... (full context)

...do his friend a good turn by warning him against forming any serious designs on Jane. (full context)

...offended at first, both by Gilbert’s presumption and then by the charges Gilbert lays against Jane. Gilbert informs Frederick that Jane hates Helen, and that she and Eliza Millward worked together... (full context)

...has married a tradesman, who, Gilbert assumes, is too dumb to realize his misfortune, and Jane Wilson, having never received an offer of marriage she thought good enough for her, is... (full context)