Helen Burns's Death and Her Influence on Jane's Faith — Jane Eyre

Jane sneaks to Miss Temple's room late at night to see Helen Burns, who is dying of consumption. The two girls lie together in Helen's crib, where Helen calmly expresses her faith in God and her certainty of going to heaven, telling Jane she is happy and unafraid to die. Helen reassures Jane that they will meet again in the afterlife, saying 'I believe God is good; I can resign my immortal part to Him without any misgiving.' They exchange goodnight kisses and fall asleep together, and when Jane wakes in the morning, she is being carried back to the dormitory by the nurse—Helen has died during the night with Jane's arms around her neck.

Helen's peaceful death and unwavering Christian faith provide Jane with a spiritual model that contrasts sharply with Mr. Brocklehurst's harsh religious doctrine. Helen's serene acceptance of death and her confident belief in divine goodness plant seeds of faith in Jane that will influence her moral development throughout the novel. The intimate, tender scene of their final night together establishes the profound impact Helen will have on Jane's character, offering her a vision of forgiveness, patience, and spiritual certainty that Jane will draw upon in future crises.