I differ with you Karen about the generosity of the people of the times. If the books that we ahve read are any indication of the people, we have had many giving people; ex. Mr. Brownlow (OT).
I think Jane was very childish and once again stupid. She left Thornfield because of her emotions and didn't use her head to have self-preservation. She was probably the most destitute that we have read about yet. Not a good plan. I think with all the opportunities she was given (Lowood teacher, Adele's governess, girl's school teacher) she wasn't really happy. What is going to make her happy. I have not seen her extremely happy except with the few days that she was accepted as Mr. Rochester's fiance. That was the first opportunity that we was her "happy" and even then she was reserved in her decisions. It all stemmed down to the class conscious behavior they were suppose to follow.
Miss Oliver is out of character for her class. Most of the women in our books showed us they were snobby people at heart. Miss Oliver was not. She wanted to be Jane's friend because she enjoyed the scene of the school and Jane's talents as an artist.