Context for the location: Carthage is mentioned at the end of Chapter 20, on page 198, when Mr. Rochester describes his future wife (Miss Ingram, at the time) to Jane Eyre. Specifically, he notes that her hair is similar to that of the women in Carthage. Carthage was an ancient Phoenician, then Roman, city, located in present-day Tunis, Tunisia, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was a thriving seaport and trade center.
Carthage is significant to Jane Eyre because women in the ancient city had the privilege of choosing their suitors, calling on the idea of social classes, gender, and mobility. This information comes from a blog examining the role of Carthaginian women in ancient society. This location illustrates Blanche Ingram not only as a woman capable of personal agency but also as a woman of high social class. The blog notes that the women who could seek out their marriage options were usually from higher social classes.
Mapping this location on COVE reveals that Miss Ingram, like the women of Carthage, made repeated romantic advances toward Mr. Rochester. He likened these advances to personal agency. Furthermore, on page 169, Jane watches Mr. Rochester and Miss Ingram speak and notes the latter's "efforts at fascinating Mr. Rochester, to witness their repeated failure..." This emphasizes that Miss Ingram is actively trying to win his heart, much like the personal agency women of Carthage employ.
Research: Examining the Role of Carthaginian Women in Ancient Society - Mystiarch
Carthage | History, Location, & Facts | Britannica
Picture: Carthage | History, Location, & Facts | Britannica