Which family member's death caused Mary Lincoln to become emotionally upset?

• A. Willie
• B. Robert
• C. Tad
• D. Edward

Answer: (A)

Mary Lincoln’s intense emotional upset centers on the death of her son Willie, who died at age eleven during the White House years. The narrative emphasizes her deep grief—she weeps, withdraws, and remains distressed for a long time after his death—showing how profoundly losing a child affected her during the presidency. The other family members listed either did not die in the story or their deaths did not produce the same described emotional impact (Edward died earlier in childhood, and Robert and Tad are portrayed as surviving). Willie’s death is the event that the text highlights as causing the most noticeable emotional response in Mary.