Final answer:
When upset or facing emotional challenges, Jessie and other characters displayed a range of coping mechanisms, such as crying, engaging in cleaning and tidying activities, or losing themselves in deep thought and introspection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the various excerpts provided, it becomes evident that Jessie and several other characters manage their emotional distress through a mix of internal reflection and physical action. When Jessie felt upset, angry, sad, or confused, she and the others demonstrated a variety of coping mechanisms. These range from tears and sobbing to engaging in tasks that re-establish a sense of control and normalcy. The acts of crying, physical rearrangement of spaces, introspection, and the search for solace in action reflect the broad spectrum of human responses to emotional turmoil.
For instance, when characters like Jessie and Louisa were overwhelmed by their emotions, tears were often their initial reaction. Others sought to regain their composure through mundane activities such as tidying up. Louisa epitomizes this approach as she straightened a rug and cleaned the carpet, reclaiming a sense of order amidst chaos.
In times of trouble, it is also common for characters to resort to introspection. They look inwardly or become momentarily lost in their thoughts, as seen when a character gazed "away off yonder". By highlighting these behaviors, these narratives show that coping mechanisms are diverse, just as the human experiences that necessitate them.