Final answer:
Jane Withersteen is a complex character from a narrative where she experiences internal conflicts and transformative moments, balancing her conditioned faith with acts of independence and influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passages provided come from a narrative that shows the evolution of a character named Jane Withersteen. Jane is depicted as a complex character, subject to the influence of her religious beliefs and societal obligations, yet also showing moments of rebellion and independence.
Throughout the narrative, she grapples with the power dynamics within her community, the mystery surrounding Lassiter, and her own internal battles between adhering to her faith and addressing the darker aspects of that faith's implementation in her society.
Jane Withersteen demonstrates various transformative moments where she struggles with her fury, akin to her father's, which can be seen as a deviation from her normal composure. Further complicating her character, Jane weighs the potential of influencing Lassiter through womanly allurement, showing a pragmatic approach to survival within a patriarchal framework.
Moreover, when facing the harsh admonition from the Bishop about her potential heresy, Jane momentarily reverts to her conditioned, Mormon upbringing before once again gathering her resilience. This internal conflict, between dogma and self-assertion, marks her journey and exemplifies the struggle many characters face in such restrictive environments.