That Hideous Strength

Mark is the husband of Jane. He’s a Fellow of sociology at Bracton College and a member of the Progressive Element, an inner circle in the College that runs things. Mark wants more than anything to be in the inner circle and to be respected by others. This desire makes him the perfect candidate to be duped by the N.I.C.E. Mark is lured away from Bracton and begins working for the N.I.C.E., though most of the narrative deals with him trying to figure out his role in the Institute (he works as a journalist for the N.I.C.E.). Mark’s relationship with Jane is strained. He goes through the novel as a character with no backbone until he finally decides to choose right over wrong. In doing so, he chooses Jane and humanity over the N.I.C.E. and human genocide.

Jane is the wife of Mark Studdock. Jane feels stifled in marriage. She also doesn’t want children and it’s indicated that she doesn’t want to give herself to Mark in that way. Jane has dreams that she can’t explain, until it’s revealed that she is a seer. Jane is instrumental in helping the people at St. Anne’s, who are protecting humankind from annihilation.