Moving Forward to New Opportunities (Chapters 10-11)
The typhus epidemic finally exposes Mr Brocklehurst's terrible management, and new leaders take over Lowood. Conditions improve dramatically, and Jane absolutely thrives academically for the next six years, eventually graduating and staying on as a teacher for two more years.
When Miss Temple gets married and leaves, Jane decides it's time for a change. She's ready to see the world beyond Lowood's walls and successfully applies for a position as a governess at a country estate called Thornfield Manor.
Before leaving, Jane gets a surprise visit from Bessie Lee, the Gateshead maid who actually cared about her. Bessie brings gossip about the Reed family, and it's all pretty dramatic - Georgiana tried to elope but was stopped by her tattletale sister Eliza, whilst John Reed has fallen into a life of gambling, drinking, and general debauchery.
Intriguing Detail: Jane's paternal uncle, John Eyre, had actually come looking for her seven years earlier but didn't have time to visit Lowood and instead went to Madeira to make his fortune.
After eight years at Lowood, Jane is now an educated, confident 18-year-old woman ready to make her own way in the world. Her journey from abused orphan to independent teacher shows incredible resilience, and her move to Thornfield promises new adventures and possibly the happiness she's always deserved.