Jean Morrel Character Analysis

Jeanis George’s lover and later spouse, as well as the mother of Jeffrey and Jennifer, the first children to display symptoms of the coming of the Overmind. Jean has long had a fascination with paranormal events, to George’s irritation. That fascination abruptly ends, however, after she faints at Rupert’s party while they are playing with the Ouija board; Jean unwittingly channels the psychic power of her future children through the board, enabling it to reveal the location of the Overlords’ home and giving Rashaverak his first hint that Jean has some connection to the Overmind, though she is unaware of it. Jean moves to New Athens with George and her children and is a loyal mother and wife, though she is aggravated by George’s constant infidelities. When Jeffrey and Jennifer first begin showing symptoms of transcending to the Overmind while they are living in New Athens, Jean is disturbed by their strange behavior and paranormal abilities. She is also heartbroken, realizing that it means she and George are losing their children. Jean is so distraught by the eventual loss of her children that she decides to die with her husband and the rest of New Athens rather than attempt to escape the impending volcanic explosion. She and George die together, the tragedy having rekindled their love for each other.