When I posted my guide to sorting Jane Austen characters into Hogwarts houses, there was a strong demand for a Jane Eyre sorting. I’m happy to oblige (especially since I’m currently doing my annual re-read of JE!), but be ye warned, this is a tricky one. The two main characters, Jane and Rochester are very difficult to sort!
Need a refresher on which house has which characteristics? Here goes:
A Gryffindor’s crowning trait is his/her bravery. While they may have other characteristics such as rashness and spunk, courage is their number one defining trait.
Hufflepuffs are loyal. They are deeply committed to their friendships, very hardworking, and can be quite selfless.
Ravenclaws are brainy and bookish. They highly value wit, wisdom, and learning.
Slytherins are ambitious. They’re often talented, can be manipulative, and have a very strong regard for ancestry.
Here’s my best attempt at playing Sorting Hat, but I’m depending on your feedback in the comments to be sure everyone’s in their proper place!
Helen Burns…Hufflepuff!
Let’s start with a straightforward one, shall we? Jane’s best mate at Lowood School of Hungry Children and Rampant Deadly Illnesses is a textbook Hufflepuff. Thoughtful and humble, a fierce and loyal friend.
Aunt Reed…Slytherin!
Not all Slytherins are awful, but Aunt Reed certainly is. Her disdain for the lower classes and her ability to hold a serious grudge has Slytherin written all over it. And she has a very Narcissa Malfoy-ish attitude toward her remarkably horrible son.
Jane…Gryffindor!
Jane is such a well-developed and complicated heroine that it’s very difficult to sort her into JUST ONE house. But while I was sorely tempted to sort her into my own house, Ravenclaw, I’m convinced that she’s truly a Hermione-style Gryffindor: clever as they come, but a true Gryffindor nonetheless. She is highly passionate and occasionally hot headed whether she’s dealing with her cruel relatives or speaking her mind to her mysterious brooding employer, Edward Rochester. While she excels at battles of wits, it’s her strength of conviction and bravery that make her a Gryffindor.
Edward Fairfax Rochester…Slytherin!
It simply must be. He’s extremely cunning—pretending to be in love with raven-haired beauty Blanche Ingram to make Jane jealous and disguising himself as an old gypsy woman to discover her secrets? Attempting to deceive her into a sham marriage she’d never agree to otherwise? C’mon now, Edward. And while he’s not ambitious for fame or fortune, the man wants what he wants and will stop at nothing to get it. Why should a homicidal wife in the attic stop him from marrying the governess he loves? So very Slytherin. And Thornfield Hall is totally the Malfoy Manor of this gothic novel.
Mrs. Fairfax…Hufflepuff!
She’ll untie your bonnet strings for you when your hands are cold, try to protect you from a romantic relationship with your sometimes terrifying employer, and be an ever faithful friend. She would probably help you with your herbology homework, too.
St. John Rivers…Slytherin!
The dishy parson’s emotional detachment first made me think Ravenclaw because of his mind over heart attitude toward life and relationships, but I think ambition is truly his defining characteristic. He admits it himself!
The Rivers Sisters…Ravenclaw!
Finally some Ravenclaws! With their foreign language study sessions galore, while they’re kind and generous like Hufflepuffs, I think the brains of these ladies merit a place in Ravenclaw House.
Blanche Ingram…Slytherin!
But not a noble Slytherin like St. John. Just a run of the mill Pansy Parkinson, really.
Richard Mason…
Is there a house for people who always show up at the worst possible moment? We should probably just send him to a warmer climate.
Bertha Mason….
We really can’t sort poor Bertha since it’s hard to know what her personality and character were before she became a homicidal pyromaniac. The best thing to do is have Grace Poole do side-along apparition to get the world’s most famous wife-in-the-attic to St. Mungo’s as quickly as possible!
So what do you think? Anything to add? Completely disagree? Let’s chat in the comments!
Images: Focus Films, BBC Films
I think you’ve done a really good job sorting everyone. I really like your blog!
Thanks, Rose!
What version of Jane Eyre did you take the photos from? I’m not familiar with it but Im keen to see Michael Fassbender play Edward Fairfax.
Hooray! So fun! Thanks, Haley!
Delightful.
For some insight into Bertha’s character, consider adding “Wide Sargasso Sea” to your reading list. A fantastic novel that I think C Bronte would approve of.
My first thought was to suggest this novel. It was such an interesting take on Bertha’s potential beginnings
Perfection.
Saw this post and thought of you
http://milkandcookiesblog.com/hogwarts-house-pajamas/
Requests for any future sortings you may wish to write (I thoroughly enjoy them!):
Anne of Green Gables
Victoria and company (as portrayed in the PBS series)
Lord of the Rings–which would be a lot of characters to go through, so no pressure on that one!
Always enjoy your posts. 🙂
Great article! Loved the Jane Austen and saints sorting houses too ^_^
Bonus: Sort the Brontë family into Houses! I sort of have an idea of who would go into where, but it’s be cool to hear what other people would think..
I’m also really happy I’m not the only one who goes around sorting everyone into Houses, even those from other fictional works!
Thank you, Claudi!