Final answer:
The central conflict in 'A White Heron' is Sylvia's internal struggle to choose between revealing the heron's location to the ornithologist or protecting the bird, representing a wider moral dilemma and featuring themes of early feminist realism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central conflict in "A White Heron" is Sylvia versus the young man, the ornithologist, and ultimately her struggle is an internal one. Sylvia faces the dilemma of whether to reveal the location of the white heron's nest to the charming ornithologist who seeks it for his collections or to protect the bird.
This moral and ethical quandary reflects her internal struggle between her connection with the natural world and her desire for human companionship and approval.
The story by Sarah Orne Jewett vividly portrays Sylvia's complex character and her journey towards making an adult decision, thus illustrating themes associated with early feminist realism.