 What narrative role does Jean play in the story?
PEGGY FINDS THE THEATER I Dramatic Dialogue “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool. “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle. “You just finished saying yourself that I’ve been thinking about this and wanting it for years! She turned to her mother, her hazel eyes flashing under a mass of dark chestnut curls. Mrs. Lane smiled gently and placed her soft white hand on her daughter’s lean brown one. “Of course I understand, Margaret, and so does your father. We both want to do what’s best for you, not to stand in your way. The only question is whether the time is right, or if you should wait longer.” The theater is full of beginners a year and even two years younger than I am, and girls of my age have lots of acting credits already. Peggy’s father put down his coffee cup and leaned back in the kitchen chair until it tilted on two legs against the wall behind him. I think—judging from the plays I’ve seen you in at high school and college—that you have a real talent. But I thought that if you would go on with college for three more years and get your degree, you would gain so much worth-while knowledge that you’d use and enjoy for the rest of your life—” “But not acting knowledge!” “There’s history and literature and foreign languages and mathematics and sciences and music and art and philosophy and a lot more—all of them fascinating and all important.” “None of them is as fascinating as acting to me,” Peggy replied, “and none of them is nearly as important to my life.” 3 Mrs. Lane nodded. “I would have answered just the same way when I was your age, except that for me it was singing instead of acting.
 She serves as encouragement to Peggy and gives the reader more reason to believe that Peggy has good acting skills.
 She serves as encouragement to Peggy and gives the reader more reason to believe that Peggy has good acting skills.  She serves as a deterrent to keep Peggy in the area because Jean loves her so much.  Jean serves as proof that Peggy will likely succeed in life because Peggy has such a solid friendship with her and relationships are important to success.  She pushes Peggy to pursue her dreams, so that Peggy doesn't have to end up being a teacher like Jean.