Quotes directly in my writing...?

Question

has caused me some trouble with verb tenses! I'm trying to do my essay in the present but if I try to integrate my quotes (which are past tense) directly into the writing, my essay seems to switch between tenses. Is there any way that I can change the verb tenses in the quotes while still quoting correctly?

Ex. In To Kill a Mockingbird Mayella “burst into tears” (Lee, 179) in order to get “the judge sorry for her” (Lee, 180).

I want it to be...

In to Kill a Mockingbird Mayella "bursts into tears" (Lee, 179) in order to get "the judge sorry for her" (Lee,180).

Answer 1

I can think of three possible solutions:

(1) Remove the quotes and use the present tense:

      In To Kill a Mockingbird Mayella bursts into tears (Lee, 179).....

(2) Add a clause in the present tense, but keep the past tense in the quotes:

      In To Kill a Mockingbird it is said that Mayella 'burst into tears' (Lee, 179).....

(3) Use square brackets to show that the 's' is not part of the actual quote:

      In To Kill a Mockingbird Mayella 'burst[s] into tears' (Lee, 179).....