You would not think someone so afflicted would or could be cheerful, not prone to melancholy or the miseries."
-- Narration (Untitled Introduction paragraph 1)

Importance: These words refer to Jane, the main character and protagonist of the novel. From the very beginning, the narration distinguishes Jane from any of the other characters in the book -- in this case, by showing how her attitude and emotional disposition is uncommonly steady and bright. Although Jane ultimately does not accomplish many tangible things in her life, it is this uncommon attitude that makes her an incredibly sympathetic character. Many of the conflicts in the novel pit Jane's optimistic attitude against the pessimistic attitudes of almost every other character around her.

We'll never see them again,' her mother said, dropping the card into the stove and clanking the lid back down. 'Got away when they could, didn't they?' Her father said nothing, as if he hadn't even...
-- Ida Chisolm (Weanings paragraph 4)