Answer: Brocklehurst and Jane
Helen Burns is a character in <em>Jane Eyre</em>. She serves as a foil of both Mr. Brocklehurst and Jane herself. Helen is a religious person, but one who emphasizes the importance of tolerance, and acceptance. Her submissive and abnegated nature contrasts with Jane's strong character. However, her ascetic religious views also contrast with Mr. Brocklehurst's more selfish ones.
The correct answer is actually D), not A.
Although these are independent clauses indeed, the punctuation in A,B, and C is not correct.
Before 'however' there needs to be a semicolon (;). And after however, you have to put a comma. Therefore D is the correct answer.
After a comma there needs to be a pause in reading. Does A sound correct to you if you make a pause before 'however' and not after it? Of course not.
