The author doesn’t think the critics are correct. Most of the passage is devoted to showing why Jewett is different from the domestic novelists.

The author doesn’t think the critics make a “true claim” about Jewett. Most of the passage is devoted to showing why Jewett is different from the domestic novelists.

This is the best answer. The author acknowledges that there are some similarities between Jewett and the domestic novelists, which is why she would agree that the critics’ claim is based on reasonable evidence and is initially plausible. But the author would call the critics' claim ultimately mistaken, because Jewett is not aligned with the domestic novelists concerning their conceptions of fiction. This differing conception is something the author believes “should be given more weight” in assessing Jewett and her relationship to the domestic novelists.

The author doesn’t indicate what she views to be the “proper” goal of fiction. So it doesn’t make sense to say the author believes one conception of the goals of fiction is too narrow. Note that although the author describes Jewett’s view of fiction, this doesn’t mean the author has shared her own opinion of fiction.

The author wouldn’t say the critics’ claim is based on speculation, because she acknowledges that there are legitimate similarities between Jewett and the domestic novelists.