Character Relationship Map: Jassy

Characters

• Jassy Woodroofe (played by Margaret Lockwood) — protagonist

  The daughter of Tom Woodroofe and a gypsy mother, Jassy has the gift of second sight, which leads villagers to regard her as a witch. She becomes close to Barney, later manages Mordelaine for Nick, an...

• Dilys Helmar (played by Patricia Roc) — protagonist

  Nick Helmar's daughter, Dilys first appears in a romantic encounter with Barney. At finishing school she befriends Jassy, who covers for her and is dismissed. Dilys later resumes her romance with Barn...

• Christopher Hatton (played by Dennis Price) — supporting

  The owner of Mordelaine and Barney's father, Christopher loses the estate to Nick in a dice game. Nick allows him to continue gambling, but when Christopher is caught cheating, he kills himself. His d...

• Nick Helmar (played by Basil Sydney) — supporting

  Dilys's father, Nick wins Mordelaine from Christopher Hatton and becomes the estate's landlord. After accidentally shooting Tom, he later employs Jassy to run the house and proposes marriage to her in...

• Stephen Fennell (played by Grey Blake) — minor

  Stephen is involved with Dilys while she is also romantically connected to Barney. Jassy discovers Dilys and Stephen together, and after Nick horsewhips his daughter, Dilys runs to Stephen's carriage....

• Tom Woodroofe (played by John Laurie) — minor

  Jassy's father, Tom is a village man who comes to Lindy Wicks's rescue when Bob beats her. He later leads villagers in a protest demanding better pay and conditions from the Helmars. During a confront...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Dilys Helmar → Stephen Fennell (Romantic Lovers) — Stephen is Dilys's secret lover and eventual fiancé.

  Dilys is caught with Stephen, later leaves with him, and is found to be engaged to him.

• Jassy Woodroofe → Nick Helmar (Romantic Spouse) — Their marriage is contractual and emotionally hostile rather than intimate.

  Nick proposes marriage to Jassy, and they marry after she demands Mordelaine as a wedding gift.

• Nick Helmar → Dilys Helmar (Family Father) — Nick is Dilys's father, though their relationship becomes abusive and antagonistic.

  The plot identifies Dilys as Nick Helmar's daughter and shows them living together at Mordelaine.

• Tom Woodroofe → Jassy Woodroofe (Family Father) — Tom is Jassy's father and acts protectively toward her.

  The plot identifies Jassy as Tom Woodroofe's daughter.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jassy Woodroofe → Stephen Fennell (Conflict Legal Adversary) — Stephen's accusation places Jassy at the center of the murder trial.

  Stephen interprets Jassy's cry that Nick is dead as evidence that she murdered him and has her arrested.

• Tom Woodroofe → Nick Helmar (Conflict Class Opponent) — Tom represents the villagers in direct opposition to Nick's landlord authority.

  Tom leads villagers to demand better pay and conditions from Nick, their landlord, before Nick accidentally shoots him.

• Christopher Hatton → Nick Helmar (Conflict Gambling Rival) — Their gambling relationship causes the transfer of the estate and Christopher's ruin.

  Christopher loses Mordelaine to Nick in a game of dice, and Nick later permits Christopher to continue gambling.

• Jassy Woodroofe → Dilys Helmar (Social Friend) — Their friendship provides Jassy with social protection but is strained by romantic jealousy.

  Jassy becomes friends with Dilys at the finishing school, and Dilys later takes Jassy back to Mordelaine.

Story Analysis

A persecuted young woman rises through a rigid estate society while confronting class power, family violence, and a false murder accusation.

Plot Progression

1. The Estate and the Outsider — Christopher loses Mordelaine to Nick, forcing the Hatton household into reduced circumstances. Jassy is rescued from village violence and enters domestic service.
2. Landlord and Villagers — Nick consolidates control of Mordelaine while conflict grows between the estate and the villagers. Tom's protest ends with Nick accidentally shooting him.
3. Return to Mordelaine — Jassy leaves for finishing school, befriends Dilys, and returns under a false social identity. She confronts Nick with the truth about Tom's death and gains authority over the estate.
4. Marriage and Retaliation — Dilys's secret relationship is exposed, and Nick responds with violence. Jassy marries Nick for control of Mordelaine, but their household becomes increasingly hostile.
5. Trial and Recognition — Nick dies after drinking poisoned brandy, and Jassy is wrongly accused. A pressured confession clears her, while the final letter reveals her willingness to sacrifice Mordelaine.