1Amelia stomped up the stairs, ensuring that everyone below would hear her heavy footfalls and realize just how aggravated she was with her older sister.

Question

2She couldn’t believe that Annette was being so cruel. Annette and her friends were seeing the latest installment in the Michael Sanders action series at the local theater without Amelia. Annette had invited Amelia earlier in the day, but she’d declined the offer. It was only after hours of boredom that Amelia had asked to join the group. Annette, however, said that it would be inconvenient to accommodate Amelia now after they had already purchased tickets. Unfortunately, their parents agreed with Annette.

3Amelia lay on her bed, feeling quite sorry for herself. In an attempt to raise her spirits, she started flipping through her favorite novel, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. The book tells the story of four sisters (Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March) growing up during the Civil War. Amelia couldn’t imagine having three sisters; she was having a hard enough time dealing with one!

4She had just found the part where older sisters Jo and Meg are going to see a play with their friend Laurie and won’t let younger sister Amy tag along.

5"You can't sit with us, for our seats are reserved, and you mustn't sit alone, so Laurie will give you his place, and that will spoil our pleasure. Or he'll get another seat for you, and that isn't proper when you weren't asked. You shan't stir a step, so you may just stay where you are," scolded Jo, crosser than ever, having just pricked her finger in her hurry.

6Sitting on the floor with one boot on, Amy began to cry and Meg to reason with her, when Laurie called from below, and the two girls hurried down, leaving their sister wailing. For now and then she forgot her grown-up ways and acted like a spoiled child. Just as the party was setting out, Amy called over the banisters in a threatening tone, "You'll be sorry for this, Jo March, see if you ain't."

7Amelia could certainly relate to Amy’s feelings in this part. She often felt left out when Annette and her friends went out without her. To be fair, Annette had invited her to the movie earlier in the day. Now, Amelia wondered if she was being as dramatic as Amy was in the story.

8Later in the novel, Amy gets revenge by destroying one of Jo’s stories. This seemed a little drastic to Amelia, who could never imagine damaging one of her sister’s beautiful paintings or sculptures over a silly fight. There had always been some sibling rivalry between Annette and Amelia, but they usually worked things out in the end. Amelia truly admired her sister, and she really didn’t want to fight.

9After realizing how childishly she had acted, Amelia apologized to Annette later that evening. Luckily, her older sister just smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it, kiddo.”Write a well-organized essay explanation of what causes Amelia to change her bad attitude toward her sister Annette and not being allowed to go the movies with her. Don't be too simplistic in your explanation. Use details from the text to explain very clearly how Amelia's attitude changed so drastically. You may want to begin your essay by identifying why Amelia has such a bad attitude when the story opens.

Answer 1

Amelia’s initial frustration and anger towards her older sister Annette stem from feeling excluded and hurt by what she perceives as unfair treatment. As the story opens, Amelia is stomping up the stairs, purposely making her footfalls loud enough for everyone below to hear her displeasure. This physical manifestation of her agitation illustrates her deep-seated irritation with Annette, who has chosen to go to the movies with her friends without accommodating her late request to join. The tension is exacerbated by Amelia’s belief that Annette’s decision to leave her behind, especially after extending an invitation earlier in the day, is cruel. With their parents siding with Annette, Amelia feels isolated and powerless, igniting her bad attitude.

However, this negative mindset begins to shift as Amelia seeks solace in her favorite novel, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. While reading about the March sisters, Amelia discovers parallels between her situation and that of the character Amy March, who experiences similar feelings of exclusion and anger when her sisters deny her a place in their plans. The situation resonates with Amelia, as she reflects on the way Amy responds with tears and threats. This moment of connection prompts Amelia to reevaluate her own behavior and emotions, recognizing that she is allowing her feelings of jealousy and disappointment to turn her into a dramatic version of Amy, thus realizing the immaturity of her reactions.

Further introspection leads Amelia to consider the consequences of her negative attitude. Unlike Amy, who seeks revenge by destroying Jo’s stories, Amelia recognizes that she does not want to engage in such destructive behavior toward Annette. This epiphany marks a critical point in her emotional journey, as she begins to appreciate the bond she shares with her sister and the fleeting nature of their conflicts. The admiration Amelia has for Annette, along with the acknowledgement of their sibling rivalry as a routine aspect of their relationship, shifts her perspective from one of resentment to one of understanding and acceptance.

By the end of the evening, Amelia decides to take a mature step by apologizing to Annette. This pivotal action reflects a significant turnaround in Amelia’s attitude. The transition from anger to reconciliation signifies her emotional growth, as she chooses to prioritize her relationship with her sister over the temporary sting of exclusion. Annette’s warm response, “Don’t worry about it, kiddo,” reinforces the idea that their bond is stronger than the petty squabbles that may occur between them.

In conclusion, Amelia’s transformation in attitude from frustration to understanding is primarily driven by her realization of the immature nature of her feelings, her connection with the characters in Little Women, and her admiration for her sister. This combination of self-reflection and literary influence enables her to bridge the gap created by jealousy, leading to a moment of reconciliation that reinforces familial bonds, reminding readers that growth often comes through understanding and forgiveness.