Jane Rochford Character Analysis in Wolf Hall

Jane Rochford is one of Anne Boleyn’s ladies-in-waiting and her sister-in-law, married to her brother George Boleyn. Jane and George share a loveless marriage that Jane is spiteful about. When Mary Boleyn is away from court, Jane volunteers to give Cromwell the court gossip that Mary used to provide him with. She tells him many shocking stories, like how Anne takes on lovers that George arranges for her and that Anne and George plan to poison their enemies. Cromwell thinks that Jane Rochford is lonely, and that her loneliness makes her vicious.

Jane Rochford Character Timeline in Wolf Hall

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

Power, Ambition, and Deception Theme Icon

Mary Boleyn accompanies Cromwell as he leaves, prompting Jane Rochford to say that she is “going to offer him her virtue again.” Mary tells Cromwell... (full context)

Children and Human Connection Theme Icon

...sons. Jane Seymour, the pale, quiet girl, says she would like a baby too, and Jane Rochford tells her to be careful because they would have her “bricked up alive” if her... (full context)

Dogmatism vs. Open-Mindedness Theme Icon

...while Jane Seymour is “indefinite and blurred” and “her eyes are the color of water.” Jane Rochford tells him the sisters are so different that it seems like their mother took on... (full context)

Jane Rochford is childless after seven years of marriage, and Cromwell wonders that the woman is always... (full context)

Jane Rochford says she knows that Cromwell is in love with Jane Seymour, and that her people... (full context)

...say he must not turn Mary out of her house in Essex. Cromwell says that George Boleyn, Lord Rochford needs that house, and that Mary will join her royal sister Elizabeth’s household at Hatfield.... (full context)

...dismisses Mark, who is hanging around, and goes into the room. Inside, Henry Norris and Jane Rochford are with the king and queen. Anne is livid and says that Mary wants to... (full context)

Jane Rochford follows Cromwell as he heads to Mary Boleyn’s rooms. Mary is packing up her things.... (full context)

Jane Rochford leaves the room, slamming the door on her way out, and Jane Seymour quietly tells... (full context)