Final answer:
Eliza Reed is faced with anguish and desperation following her mother's death, as she pleads to keep her family together while facing the threat of punishment and the harsh realities of her situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
After her mother's death, the character Eliza Reed experiences profound distress and struggle, as depicted in the provided excerpts. Eliza is seen sobbing and pleading for her family's unity during a trade in which her child is being sold, showing her desperate desire to be with her children in the little time she has left. Her afflictive cries amidst threats of punishment underscore her profound despair and grief following her mother's passing. These narrative snippets reveal Eliza as a deeply affected mother facing the brutal realities of separation from her loved ones.