Who is Mr. Jarndyce from Bleak House and what is their importance?

Mr. Jarndyce is a generous and kind man, who abhors the legal case that destroys all involved in it, thus, he looks out for those who are affected and purposely keeps his distance from the proceeding. Jarndyce falls in love with Esther and proposes marriage. He later allows Esther to take back her promise, when he realizes that she is in love with Woodcourt.