Samuel Clemens chose his pen name based on his love for river life. What was the river that he lived by as a young boy ?

Samuel Clemens was born in Missouri, and he grew up in the town of Hannibal on the Mississippi River. He got a job on one of the many steamboats that plied the river during the antebellum period, and his pen name, Mark Twain, a call that steamboat crews would use while taking depth soundings in the river. He moved West for a time, and many of his early works are set in the frontier, but his most enduring work, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, published after he had moved to the east, is set literally on the Mississippi River. While Twain never spent that much time on the river as a steamboat apprentice pilot (the Civil War essentially choked off steamboat traffic for a time) he memorably evokes the culture and the dialect of the people who lived on the river, including the many enslaved African-Americans who lived along its shores. 

Why did Chris McCandless from Into the Wild choose the Alaskan wilderness specifically to live in?

I will not be here in South Dakota very much longer. My friend, Wayne, wants me to stay working at the grain elevator through May and then go combining with him the entire summer, but I have my soul set entirely on my Alaskan Odyssey and hope to be on my way no later than April 15.

For years, Chris McCandless had his heart set on what he called his "Alaskan Odyssey."  Without being able to ask McCandless directly, it will probably never be known exactly why he was so obsessed with living off of the land in Alaska.  He could have attempted the feat in many other places in the United States.  For that matter, McCandless could have done it in plenty of other countries as well.

Krakauer spends an entire chapter telling readers about other men that tried, and failed, to live off the land in Alaska.  He uses those chapters to compare McCandless to other men who felt the "Call of the Wild" in Alaska.  McCandless isn't unique in thinking that Alaska represents one of the last truly untamed wildernesses out there, and I believe that he overly romanticized what Alaska would be like for him.  

Krakauer also believes that McCandless had an overly romantic idea of Alaska.  Krakauer contemplates that McCandless's feelings about Alaska stemmed from his infatuation with the author Jack London.   

McCandless had been infatuated with London since childhood. London’s fervent condemnation of capitalist society, his glorification of the primordial world, his championing of the great unwashed—all of it mirrored McCandless’s passions. Mesmerized by London’s turgid portrayal of life in Alaska and the Yukon, McCandless read and reread The Call of the Wild, White Fang, “To Build a Fire,” “An Odyssey of the North,” “The Wit of Porportuk.” He was so enthralled by these tales, . . . 

McCandless's lifelong hero was London, and London's muse and central setting for many stories was Alaska.  I think McCandless figured he would get the same experience in real life that he got from reading those works of fiction. 

When Tokchae and Songsam start taking a walk together, what does that show?

Tokchae and Songsam walk together through most of the story "Cranes." The two men are on different sides of a conflict, and Tokchae is Songsam's prisoner. Songsam agrees to escort Tokchae to Ch'ongdan. I think he volunteers because the two men used to be boyhood friends, and Songsam wants to know why Tokchae didn't flee the same way that he did.

Songsam had had to flee the previous June. At night he had broken the news privately to his father. But his father had said the same thing: "Where could a farmer go, leaving all the chores behind?" So Songsam had left alone.

During the walk, the men encounter items that are symbolic of the men's childhood together. The first item in the story that triggers a memory for Songsam is chestnuts. They remind him of when Tokchae willingly gave up his own stash of chestnuts for his friend. The second item that triggers a memory is a field filled with cranes.

When they reached the foot of the hill, Songsam gradually came to a halt. In the middle of a field he espied a group of cranes that resembled men in white, all bent over.

The cranes remind Songsam of the time when he and Tokchae caught a crane and thought they were going to get into big trouble because of it.  The two boys freed the crane and watched it majestically fly away. It's after remembering this event that Songsam asks Tokchae if he would like to go crane hunting. Songsam turns his back and begins looking deep into the underbrush. Tokchae finally realizes that his friend from long ago is giving him the chance to escape like the crane from their childhood.

“Hey, how come you are standing there like a dummy? Go flush a crane!”

Only then did Tokchae understand. He began crawling through the weeds.

I feel that the crane is symbolic of freedom and beauty. As for the walk itself, I believe that it shows that true friendship runs deep. Songsam remembers their friendship, and I think he wants to reconnect on some level. That's why he volunteers to be the escort. It's during the walk that all of the deep, meaningful memories are triggered. The walk is what triggers all of the memories for Songsam. Those memories give him the confidence and the desire to set his friend free.

Aylmer says to his wife, "Even Pygmalion when his sculptured women assumed life, felt not greater ecstasy than mine will be." How does this...

Pygmalion, from Greek mythology, is a sculptor and woman-hater who basically sculpts his perfect woman and then falls in love with her.  He is miserable and cries over her, and Aphrodite takes pity on him and brings his sculpture, Galatea, to life so that she and Pygmalion can be together.  When Aylmer compares himself to Pygmalion, it is really indicative of his incredible pride.  He did not "create" his wife, Georgiana, but he seems to feel that his victory in removing her birthmark (her one "flaw") will be even sweeter than Pygmalion's was when his perfect Galatea came to life.  This allusion, then, lets the reader know just how much hubris Aylmer has; his estimation of his own talents is so ludicrously high that he puts them on par with a goddess.  Further, it foreshadows that things are not going to go well with his experiment because things never go well for mortals in Greek mythology who think they are as powerful as the gods.

The allusion certainly is ironic given the fact that he cannot perfect his wife.  Pygmalion is humbled by his love for Galatea and is so grateful when he is given the chance to love her and be loved by her.  However, Aylmer is so proud that he cannot realize how lucky he is to have and be loved by Georgiana.  And so he throws away his chance to be with a woman that everyone else sees as perfect because he is too fixated on her imperfection and his own desire to bask in the victory of rendering perfect something that God could not. 

In the book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, what does "dilemma" refer to?

The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan, is about the evolution of food culture and how the history and biology of humans has come to shape the way we eat today. One of the main themes of the book is a focus on taste- Pollan describes humans as "generalists" when it comes to food. Some species of animals, including our closest primate relatives, are "specialists," eating only a limited number of foods. Humans, on the other hand, eat a wide variety of both plant and animal foods- even some things which can have negative effects on our bodies! For example, many people like to eat spicy food, even though it makes their mouth burn. The endorphin rush of eating spicy food creates a sense of pleasure, and some people may see eating spicy foods like chili peppers as a challenge to be overcome proudly. 

So, when humans consider such a wide variety of foods to be edible, how do we decide what to eat? This is the dilemma, or problem, Pollan is referring to. One way to answer this question is by the fact that many foods are eliminated from a person's diet by a lack of access. If a person lives in an area where certain foods cannot be grown or transported before spoiling, this food is not typically considered when it comes time to decide what to eat. Pollan argues that we primarily decide what to eat based on taste. Our taste buds are evolutionarily hardwired to prefer certain kinds of foods- namely sugar and fat. Sugars and fats are great sources of energy, and the pleasure of taste encourages us to eat more of these foods. 

Pollan talks about the human taste preference for sweet and fatty foods in relation to the global obesity epidemic. Many commercially produced food products, and especially fast foods, are "designed" to exploit the taste preferences humans have evolved through a long struggle between nature and nutrition. Such intentional creation of foods can create an addiction to these powerful sources of flavor, with some sacrifice of actual nutritional value. Whereas the human preference for sugar developed in response to eating fruits (which have a high vitamin content,) this taste preference is exploited by drinking soda-pop or other sugary beverages. Soda-pop offers a sweet taste and a rush of pleasure for the drinker, but very little nutritional content beyond calories. This presents the second dilemma: are humans really able to choose what to eat when many of the foods we love have been specifically designed to exploit our taste preferences?

What was Nazi Germany's reaction to the book All Quiet On the Western Front?

Erich Maria Remarque published All Quiet on the Western Front in 1928, several years before the Nazi Party became a political force in Germany. The novel, which depicted the horrors of trench warfare during World War I, immediately struck a chord in the postwar West. By 1930, the book had been translated into several languages and adapted into a movie in America.

The Nazi Party abhorred All Quiet on the Western Front. They claimed that Remarque had lied about the terrors of trench warfare to promote pacifism. They argued that Remarque's pacifist views were preventing Germany from achieving its true military potential. Thus, All Quiet on the Western Front was one of the first books the Nazis banned and burned following their ascension to power in 1933. The Nazis eventually revoked Remarque's German citizenship, so the author was forced to flee the country to the United States.

What is fascism?

Fascism is generally understood to be an extremist, authoritarian, and far-right political system. While fascist regimes have varied greatly in their symbolism, ideology, and international orientation, a number of common characteristics can be delineated.

Broadly speaking, fascism is authoritarian in that it is anti-democratic, or disdainful of the notion of political equality and participation. Thus, fascist states have tended to consolidate power in the hands of one charismatic leader, and, to a lesser extent, his party. Pertinent examples include Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy, and Francisco Franco in Spain. Fascist regimes are also authoritarian in that they seek to regulate economic structures and alter social relations. Indeed, fascist regimes often seek to restore a long-lost national identity, or a debased national pride. They exalt tradition, national and/or ethnic folklore, and nationalistic ideals. It is critical to note that they cast such projects as restorations of, or a return to, a mythical, idealized past. In Germany, Adolf Hitler deployed notions of a pure, idyllic, and heroic German past, as well as a wounded German pride (that is, after its defeat in World War I), to galvanize popular support. 

Other features of fascist regimes include an exaltation of masculinity, militarism, and youth. There may be a narrative emphasis on purging or cleansing the nation of internal and external enemies who, more often than not, are said to consist of oppressed minority groups. These groups are accused of conspiring with globalist or foreign forces—remember, fascism draws heavily upon nationalism—to injure the "true" nationals, and to deprive them of what is "rightfully" theirs. In Nazi Germany, the Jewish community was cast as such an enemy. 

As with any political ideology, fascism is colored by the specific context of the nation in which it takes root. In fascist Italy, Mussolini and his party used Catholic imagery and (idealized) history to amass support. Mussolini claimed that he and he alone could protect the Italian people, their culture, and their Catholic religion from the scourge of leftism. In Germany, Hitler drew upon centuries of European anti-Semitism to demonize the Jewish people.

However, it must be noted that there are some important disagreements among scholars as to the definition of fascism. Some do not believe that fascism is necessarily a far-right phenomenon, but is better classified as a form of collectivism. One proponent of this view is Friedrich von Hayek, who argues that fascism is more closely related to communism or authoritarian leftism than conventional "right wing" politics. Indeed, von Hayek claims that, at its core, fascism is based on centralized planning, and a disdain for individual liberty. He even goes so far as to claim that the roots of the Nazi ideology lie in socialism (The Road to Serfdom, 200). Thus, fascism is best thought of as opposed to classical liberalism, or systems in which individual liberty and limited government prevail.

Other prominent scholars who propose alternate definitions of fascism include John Lukacs and George Orwell. I would strongly recommend that you read such critiques, along with detailed accounts of fascism in various countries.

What do these lines mean: "And both that morning equally lay / In leaves no step had trodden black"?

These lines mean that, of the two roads the narrator is considering, neither one is more or less traveled than the other. At that moment, "that morning," when he is trying to decide which one to take, the roads have been "equally" traveled, and he can tell because no one has walked on the leaves to turn them dark with mud or dirt.

Each road symbolizes a choice; the narrator has two choices. The lines, "And both that morning equally lay / In leaves no step had trodden black," repeat the idea -- stated earlier in the poem -- that the roads, though they look a bit different from one another (one is grassier than the other), have been traveled the same number of times (by other people). The narrator has already said that the second road was "just as fair" as the first (6). Moreover, he says that "[...] the passing there / Had worn them really about the same" (9-10).  In other words, when he says, at the end of the poem, that he will later tell people that "[He] took the [road] less traveled [...]," he will be lying (19). There is no road less traveled; they are each traveled the same.

What are character descriptions of Montag, Clarisse, Mildred, Beatty and the mechanical hound as found in text details?

In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, the characters are not as fully developed as they often are in novels because it is the setting and plot which support better the theme of this novel. Nevertheless, there are distinct characteristics to the following personages of this novel:

• 
  Guy Montag - The most developed character of the novel and the protaganist, Montag is a third-generation fireman. He"grinned the fierce grin of all men singed and driven back by flame." (p.2) This smile comes into question later by Clarisse, who asks him why he smiles and laughs, accusing him of not stopping to think about what he does (p.6). This accusation plays out when he is at the house of the woman who owns so many books and he impetuously grabs a few that fly through the blaze, later hiding them around and in his house.
  Montag has difficulty acting independently. He cares for his wife Mildred, but does not know what to do to re-engage her in life after she overdoses. After he takes the books, he tries to read to Mildred (p.95) and her friends in order to demonstrate that there is something more to life than their "family" on the four walls. "He was not happy" (p.9).
  When Montag speaks to Clarisse, she tells him he "is not in love anymore." Truly, Montag does feel alienated after Mildred's near suicide because his attempts to engage her in reading have failed.
  After Mildred reports him for having books, Montag is accosted by Beatty, the fire chief, who informs him that his wife has made the call on his possessing books. Acting out his subconscious desire to rebel, Montag impulsively sets fire to Beatty (p.113).He has been in contact for some time with Faber, an English professor, whom he met earlier. This man tells him that he can join a group of people who are "living books." While the planes of war fly overhead, Montag joins the groups as he is the Book of Ecclesiastes.
  

• 
  Mildred Montag - The  wife of Guy Montag, Mildred fills her empty life with watching something like sit-coms on the parlor walls. She is a mere shell of a woman, driving at dangerous speeds and consuming many sleeping pills. She has become so dehumanized and numb that she does not remember even why she took the pills (p. 73).
  When Mildred realizes that her husband has books, she becomes fearful. She asks Montag, "See what you're doing? You'll ruin us! Who's more important, me or that Bible?" (p.72)
  Mildred calls the firemen and turns in Montag.


• 
  Captain Beatty - A brilliant and well-read man,for some reason Beatty chooses to reject them. He is sarcastic and shrewd in his observations of others, providing much of the history of the country and background of books. Ironically, he can quote from many works of literature, but he uses these passages in arguments against novels.He tells Montag that "fire's real beauty is that destroys responsibility and consequences" (p.108). Strangely, when Montag comes at him with the torch, it is almost as though Beatty wants to die. 


• 
  Clarisse - A beautiful seventeen-year old, who lives near Montag, Clarisse and her family are anachronisms. They talk with one another about the beauty in nature and human feelings. She asks Montag if he has ever read any of the books he burns (p.5), and wonders why he does not think about things she asks, or why he laughs when there is nothing funny. She makes quite an impression on Montag.
  Clarisse, however, suddenly disappears.


• The mechanical hound - A technical device that "sniffs" out people with sensors. When this dangerous robotic creature is put upon the scent of a person, the hound has a long needle that comes out and injects itself into the leg of the victim. This injection causes the person to lose all feeling in this leg. Thus hobbled, the police can easily apprehend the person.  

Is the Old Man in The Pardoner's Tale a Gothic character?

The Pardoner’s Tale is an exemplum, a story which tells a well-known lesson; in this case, that lesson is that the love of money is at the root of all evil. Since the Gothic fiction genre began in the latter half of the 18th century and continued into the 19th century and Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in the latter part of the 14th century, I am assuming you’re asking if the Old Man in the tale displays Gothic fiction conventions.

Gothic fiction typically contains a number of stereotypical characters--for example, the hero, the virginal maiden, an older, foolish woman, the villain, bandits or scoundrels, and clergy. The old man in the pardoner’s tale fits none of these mythological stereotypes, though others in the tale do. The three men at the beginning of the tale are drinking and carrying on and the pardoner condemns their actions using scripture. These men would be the ruffians/scoundrels of Gothic fiction. When they discover their friend has been killed by Death, they set out to avenge him.

As the three men set out, “an old and poor man met them, and greeted them meekly, and said, ‘Now, gentle people, God be with you!’”

The old man goes on to lament his age, saying “Alas, death will not take me! […]Alas, when shall my bones be at peace?” However, he also counsels that they “do no harm now to an old man, no more than you would like it to be done to you in your old age, if you remain so long.”

The men accuse him of being a spy for (personified) Death and demand the old man give up his location. The old man says:

If you are so glad to find Death, turn up this crooked path; for by my faith I left him in that grove under a tree, and there he will wait, and for all your boasting will he hide. Do you see that oak? There you shall find him. May God, Who redeemed mankind, save you and amend you!

Theories of who the Old Man represents include Death, Death’s messenger, old age itself, and the Wandering Jew (the mythical Jew who taunted Jesus on the way to the Crucifixion and was cursed to walk the Earth until the Second Coming). However, if he were Death or Death’s messenger, he would not be so desperately searching for Death.

As far as Gothic conventions, the old man doesn’t seem to fit any distinctly—he has no elements of fear, psychological disruption, or evil, nor does he fit any of the stereotypical characters. The one convention that might fit is the idea of being trapped, which is common in Gothic fiction—in this case he is trapped in life, advancing in age. He is also a religious old man, and religion does figure into some Gothic fiction.

How does Hale confuse Tituba? What is the significance of their conversation?

I think Tituba feels somewhat confused by Mr. Hale's treatment of her because he is so kind.  When she is first questioned by Hale, and she denies bewitching the children, Mr. Parris -- also a reverend, and her master -- orders her to confess or he will "take [her] out and whip [her] to her death [...]."  Then Mr. Putnam shouts, "This woman must be hanged!  She must be taken and hanged!"  As a slave, this is the kind of treatment to which Tituba is accustomed. 

She is used to being threatened and belittled, even by a minister, so the fact that Hale is a minister doesn't lead to her expect to be treated gently.  Hale treats her in so gentle a fashion that it shocks her.  As Hale questions her, the stage directions tell us that "He takes her hand.  She is surprised."  He touches her, treating her like a human being instead of an animal or possession.  She kisses his hand in gratitude, and he tells her, "we will bless you, Tituba."  She is "deeply relieved."  He goes on to explain to her that she is special, that she has been "chosen to help [them] cleanse [their] village."  Now, not only has he treated her kindly and saved her from the whipping and hanging promised by the other men, but he has made her feel as though God has given her a special purpose.

She wants to give Hale what he wants, and what Hale wants is numbers and names.  How many came with the Devil, and who were they?  She seems to see an opportunity to scare her master, help herself, and please Hale.  Tituba insists that the Devil bid her to kill Parris (as I'm sure she was very tempted to do many times), an idea that may make him think twice before he strikes her again, and she says that the Devil had "white people" working for him and that he used this as a means to convince her to join with him, exonerating her from some blame.  She says that Sarah Good and Sarah Osburn came with the Devil, and this sparks a frenzy in the girls.  Abigail picks up the thread of accusations, and it leads to nine other accusations by the end of Act 1.

It is this conversation between Hale and Tituba that ignites Salem.  Her confession and accusation of Good and Osburn make possible everything else that happens in the play.

In "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket," how does the description of Tom waiting for the yellow paper to move generate suspense?

The reader is well aware that Tom cannot commit himself to going out on the ledge after the yellow sheet until he knows what the yellow sheet itself is going to do. There are several possibilities. It could get stuck somewhere on or near the ledge. It could suddenly take off like a bird and go flying off into the sky above the tall buildings of Manhattan. Or it might do what he is hoping it will do.

He knelt at the window and stared at the yellow paper for a full minute or more, waiting for it to move, to slide off the ledge and fall, hoping he could follow its course to the street, and then hurry down in the elevator and retrieve it. 

Tom knows that if he is going to risk his life he ought to be risking it for a sensible purpose. He doesn't want to get out there on the ledge and suddenly see his precious paper take off and fly away. The author increases the suspense by keeping the reader wondering, not only what Tom is going to do, but what the paper is going to do. The paper seems to have a life of its own. It seemed so even while it was still inside the apartment. Tom didn't know whether it was going to remain plastered against the glass and wood of the window or whether it would decide to thwart him by flying outside. There are many occasions when it seems as if inanimate objects are deliberately teasing or tormenting us. Someone has called this "the perversity of inanimate objects."

Tom is not going out on that ledge as long as the yellow paper keeps scudding along it. He would be playing cat and mouse with it. He is not going out on the ledge if he sees it fly away, as it well could do. That would seem like the hand of Fate, telling him his project would not bring him the glory he hoped for but might bring ridicule and disgrace. Tom is not going out on the ledge, of course, if the paper falls to the street. He would be making a made rush down to the street, hoping against hope the paper would land on the sidewalk and not take off again and lead him on a mad chase up the middle of Lexington Avenue with horns honking and brakes shrieking. 

The reader is temporarily relieved when it appears that the paper has made up its mind to stay in one place and give Tom a chance to catch it.

...and then he saw that the paper was caught firmly between a projection of the convoluted corner ornament and the ledge. 

The suspense is temporarily lulled. Tom's alternatives are narrowed down to two. He can either go after the paper or try to forget about it. Then he yields to a sudden mad impulse and climbs out onto the ledge--and the real suspense begins!

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, what do Scout and Jem find in the knothole of the Radley tree?

Jem and Scout find a number of trinkets in the knothole of the Radley tree, but one day there are two rather significant gifts for the Finch children.

Shortly after school starts, Jem and Scout walk home, and as they pass by the Radley tree, they notice in the hole a ball of gray twine.

"Don't take it, Jem," I said. "This is somebody's hidin' place."
"I don't think so, Scout."

On second thought Jem thinks that perhaps it is a hiding spot. But, then, he considers that things only appear in it when school is in session. The next day the twine is still there, so the siblings consider what is placed in the knothole theirs from then on. They find chewing gum, a spelling bee medal, and an old pocket watch. But, before they discover these trinkets, Scout pulls out two figures carved from soap. One is a boy with a cowlick exactly in the place where Jem has his, and the other is a girl in a skirt who resembles Scout on schooldays.

Jem is noticeably moved by the talent and time involved in the creation of these figures. "Who do you know around here who whittles?" he asks his sister. When he arrives home, Jem puts the figures in his trunk.

Who is Coco in The Swiss Family Robinson?

Throughout the book the family tame numerous animal companions. The children form bonds with some of these, including the Jackal, Fangs. Over the course of the story, some of these animals have offspring that also become part of the family. Coco is one of the descendants of Fang. Jack names him Coco because he believes the name will be easy to call at a distance. All of this is shown in the following passage:

"My boys retained their old love for giving names to the animals... Jack had a descendant of his old favourite Fangs, the jackal, which he chose to call Coco..."

Like the rest of the book, this passage is narrated by the father, William. He describes Coco along with many of the other animal companions. 

What tools that we have now might have helped Charlotte?

Wouldn't it have been nice for Charlotte to have some of the conveniences we use today! She might never have become trapped on a pirate ship, or at least might have been able to get off much more quickly.

I imagine that if Charlotte had a cell phone (and was near enough to a signal tower) she would have been able to call her family and explain that the ship she had been sent on was unsafe. Better yet, if she had a smart phone with internet access, she could have sent an email or even used live video chat. 

In more specific circumstances of the story, Charlotte might have liked to have a flashlight for navigating the dark bowels of the ship as well as the nighttime deck. Depending on whether or not you consider medicine a tool, I am sure that some anti-nausea medication would have been most welcome when Charlotte was suffering from sea-sickness.

Imagine how different this story could have been if it took place today!

What are the similarities between the subplot and mainplot in the "King Lear"?

Both the subplot and the main plot are intended to illustrate Shakespeare's thesis that each generation blindly creates the generation which will take over all its possessions and leave it to die. Lear has daughters and Gloucester has sons. This is intended to show that the playwright is dealing with a universal truth and not with a specific instance. When Lear is living out in the open country scrabbling for whatever food he can find to eat, including a mouse, he rails on the folly of copulation, which seems so pleasant when it happens but leads to such sorry consequences.

Behold yond simpering dame,
Whose face between her forks presages snow;
That minces virtue, and does shake the head
To hear of pleasure's name;
The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to 't
With a more riotous appetite.
Down from the waist they are Centaurs,
Though women all above:
But to the girdle do the gods inherit,
Beneath is all the fiends';
There's hell, there's darkness, there's the sulphurous pit,
Burning, scalding, stench, consumption; fie, fie, fie! pah,
pah!

Lear sees how he has brought about his own destruction through his sexual appetite. Gloucester's case is worse. Lear at least conceived his hateful daughters "between lawful sheets," but Gloucester conceived Edmund through adultery and even brags about it to Kent in the opening scene because it shows what a lusty fellow he is. Edmund ends up with his father's property and title, while Gloucester ends up homeless and blind. Both old men are cold, filthy, and starving. Lear is eating mice! Gloucester is so disillusioned and embittered that he only wants to die. All of this is only symbolic of how one generation creates the generation which will supplant it and show no love or gratitude. It doesn't make sense for people to create people who are going to "tread them down," as Keats expresses it in "Ode to a Nightingale." But every generation does it. We are manipulated by programming of which we are unconscious.

Shakespeare expresses a very similar idea in his play Measure for Measure. Duke Vincentio disguised as a friar is visiting Claudio in his cell and gives him perhaps the most pessimistic assessment of human life to be found anywhere in Shakespeare, including the following:

Friend hast thou none;
For thine own bowels, which do call thee sire,
The mere effusion of thy proper loins,
Do curse the gout, serpigo, and the rheum,
For ending thee no sooner.    (3.1)

Shakespeare needed a subplot to keep the dramatic and visual action going. Lear is absent throughout much of the middle part of the play. He refuses to accept his daughters' terms and goes out into the open country where he wanders aimlessly about. The subplot in which Edmund betrays both his brother and his father takes over as the space in which exciting things are happening. Without the subplot there would be a sort of huge hole in the middle of the play. Lear won't submit to his daughters and they won't relent. That is a dead end. Lear living like an animal has reached the critical point that Gloucester has yet to come to. Then when they meet by chance in an open field they are both destitute and disillusioned old men getting ready to die. 

Only the man who attains old age acquires a complete and consistent mental picture of life; for he views it in its entirety and its natural course, yet in particular he sees it not merely from the point of entry, as do others, but also from that of departure. In this way, he fully perceives especially its utter vanity, whereas others are still always involved in the erroneous idea that everything may come right in the end.        --Schopenhauer

Compare the ideas of community as they are presented in Lord Of The Flies and The Merchant of Venice.

The word community has two distinct meanings. One refers to a group of people who live in a specific place or who share a common characteristic. The second pertains to a feeling of unity with others because they share common interests attitudes or aspirations.

In Lord of the Flies and The Merchant of Venice, the groups which are referred to, fit the first description since they share the same geographical location. The boys in Lord of the Flies are all on an island together and in The Merchant of Venice, Jews and Christians alike (as well as a mixture of other nationalities, cultures and religions) all live in Venice.  

In terms of the second definition, though, we are confronted with fragmented communities in both instances. The groups featured in both are at loggerheads with each other and seem to be in constant dispute. In Lord of the Flies, once Jack splits from the main group with his hunters, we have two distinct factions who are in conflict with each other. In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock and Antonio, who are both symbols their respective religious and cultural groups, are declared enemies. In both instances, therefore, the characters do not display unity since they do not share the same interests, attitudes or goals. There is, therefore, no community in this sense.

In Lord of the Flies, Jack, with his hunters, seek a savage lifestyle, free of rules and restrictions. They want to do as they please and refuse to be confined by the conventions of civilised society, order and discipline. This brings them into conflict with others such as Ralph, Piggy, Simon, Sam and Eric who wish to establish order to ensure their safety and make rescue possible. The two groups are therefore very distinct and, for their part, they  form two separate communities, each distinguished by a common interest, goal and attitude. One is ordered and rational, whilst the other is savage and instinctual.    

In The Merchant of Venice, our protagonist and antagonist represent two entirely different perspectives. The Christians have their own value system while Jews have another. They are in direct contrast with each other and it is this which creates conflict. Shylock, for example, states equivocally that he will not keep company with Christians. He will not eat, drink, or pray with them. He despises Antonio. Antonio, on the other hand, treated Shylock with contempt. He spat on him, called him a dog, kicked him and vehemently and publicly expressed criticism of Shylock's money-lending practices.  

As in Lord of the Flies, we here, too, have two opposing factions who are in direct contrast to one another. We thus have two markedly defined communities. 

It is obvious that although the groups mentioned above are communities in the literal sense of the word because they share a common geographical space, their differences are what sets them. As a result, each assumes a separate identity and, therefore, a separate community.     

Why is Charlie chosen for the experiment?

Charlie is chosen for the experiment because he is a hard worker who desperately wants to learn, despite the many setbacks and limitations he encounters. The researchers know this because Ms. Kinnian vouches for him.

As Ms. Kinnian says, and as Charlie writes down before his surgery, “dont be scared Charlie you done so much with so little I think you deserv it most of all."

One also has to wonder if Charlie is chosen for the surgery because he has no friends or family to object to the researchers’ incredibly unethical and morally dubious tactics. Since Charlie’s family abandoned him and he has no friends interested in his welfare, Charlie is an easy target for the researchers. Because of his mental limitations, Charlie cannot fully consent to the surgery, and therefore needs someone to guard him and guide him in this decision.

What event occurred before Germany's surrender in 1945?

As complex as World War II is, you could fill volumes and volumes of books with this answer. There were a lot of things going on in the war on a number of different fronts. The war was fought in the air, on the ground, and over the seas in most corners of the world. The question also infers that you are looking for one single event. That also complicates the answer.

There are many reasons that Germany lost World War II. Conventional wisdom suggests that the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944 was the moment that ensured the Allies would win the contest. In a last ditch effort to break the American and British lines in the Ardennes Forest, Hitler gambled on a counterattack that would stop the Allied advance. The plan worked early on as the Germans created a "bulge" in the enemy lines. The Allies were caught by surprise at the beginning of the battle but soon recovered to push the Germans back. That was the last time the Americans and British would be slowed in their march towards Germany. At the same time, the Soviets were advancing from the East and the end was near for Hitler and the Nazis.

Explain how Lessing makes his case for religious tolerance in Nathan the Wise through the characters of Saladin, the Templar, Nathan, and his...

The play Nathan the Wise, written by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, uses the encounters of the text's four primary characters--Saladin (a Sultan and descendant of a Saracen ruler), Nathan (a Jewish merchant), Recha (an orphan who Nathan has adopted), and Conrad von Stauffen (the Templar)--to make a strong case for religious tolerance.

After Conrad (a Christian who is actually Muslim in descent) rescues Recha (initially believed to be Christian, but ultimately revealed to be Muslim in descent), Nathan (a Jew) attempts to reward the man. Conrad rebukes any offer of reward, although he eventually does agree to allow Nathan to replace his burnt mantle. This act forges a friendship between the two seemingly dissimilar characters with opposing religious beliefs.

The Parable of the Rings, which Nathan the "Wise" (hence, the title!) recounts to Saladin, is also one of the best known arguments for this tolerance. Nathan describes a household of three sons who each receive a ring from their father after he passes away. Only one of the rings is the "true" ring; the other two are exact replicas. The brothers debate over who received the real ring, and a judge must eventually declare that each brother must treat his own ring as the true one. It is only in a higher court (a metaphor for the afterlife or unknown) that the veracity of the rings can be verified.

Eventually, Conrad decides that he would like to marry Recha. This does not occur without a controversy of its own: Recha is believed to be Christian, and Nathan raising her as a Jew is punishable by death. Conrad must ultimately find enough tolerance and mercy within his heart to rescue Nathan from this fate.

The play concludes with the revelation of both Recha and Conrad's true origins; both Recha (raised Jewish) and Conrad (raised Christian) are descended from Muslim parentage and directly related to Saladin. It becomes quickly apparent that it is their values and humanity that matter, not the traditions--now seeming more and more arbitrary--with which they were raised.

Overall, Lessing writes these characters as capable of relating to each other on a deeply human level--a level that transcends the rivalry of their religious values. Despite their conflicting faiths, they are bound together by the universality of their mortal experiences: love and loss. This love--not strict religious practices--is what is ultimately the most transformational.

In A Thousand Splendid Suns, what is ironic in what the judge says to Mariam about carrying out god's laws?

During Mariam's trial in A Thousand Splendid Suns, the judge says that God has made men and women differently and that they think with different brains.  Mariam has killed Rasheed in an act of saving Laila, but this act of defense is not categorized as "God's law" according to the legal system under the Taliban's control.  As a result, Mariam will receive the full penalty of the law.  However, if the tables were turned and Rasheed were to have killed Laila, he would likely have been protected by "God's laws."  Women have no protection under the law, and the patriarchal system is supported and upheld by the law.  So although Mariam behaved in an ethically just manner, her actions will not be supported by "God's laws" in this society.

From The Gift of the Jews by Thomas Cahill, explain the agreement ("Covenant") between Avraham (Abraham) and God (El) and its conditions.

According to Cahill, on Abraham's side of the covenant he will have a new name, changing from Avram to Avraham, which means Father of many nations. Sarai, his wife, will also receive a new name: Sara, which means Princess. Abraham will also receive a much more important gift: a child in a year's time. This is particularly important to the wheeling-dealing Abraham, because both he and Sara are very old, past the childbearing years, so both must rely on a supernatural intrusion to have any hope of conceiving.

On his side, God insists this covenant be sealed with blood through the circumcising of every male Israelite, whether the person is a slave or born an Israelite, from that time until eternity. As Cahill notes, this mark on the body of every male binds the Israelites very closely to God. Cahill writes:

"It is impossible for any man to forget his penis ... the children of Avram will be virtually unable to forget the god who never forgets them."

This personal, daily relationship turns El from the more distant "guardian angel aspect of the Sumerian patronal gods" to, quite simply, "God" with a capital G. 

What does Anne mean when she writes in her diary, "Paper is more patient than people?"

This quote from The Diary of Anne Frank implies that she finds it easier to be honest in writing (in her diary) than to speak openly with other people. It is true that a journal asks no questions, does not interrupt us, or offer feedback. A journal or diary is effectively a perfect listener and confidante. Anne struggled with a lot of feelings she was afraid to tell her family for one reason or another, so putting these thoughts to paper offered her some relief from them. Sometimes it is the act of writing or saying something to release it that is more valuable than the words actually being heard. 

Anne was sometimes criticized by her family for being too talkative, so it must have been nice for her to be able to express her thoughts and feelings in a way that was not subject to criticism. In the same passage where she shares the saying, "Paper is more patient than man," she admits to feeling like she doesn't have any real friends she can be honest with. While she loves her family and the friends she does have, she feels that these relationships are superficial and that she cannot be truly honest about her feelings.

Why does Aunt Alexandra say she has to come visit?

In chapter 13 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra unexpectedly arrives at the Finch house while Atticus is away.  Scout and Jem are surprised because their aunt rarely comes to visit.  Aunt Alexandra gives a reason for her arrival:

"Well, your father and I decided it was time I came to stay with you for a while."

This statement makes Jem and Scout nervous.  "A while" can mean any length of time.  They wonder how long their overbearing aunt will stay.  She gives them more details about her reasons for visiting:

"Jem's growing up now and you are too," she said to [Scout].  "We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence.  It won't be many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys—"

Scout does not like Aunt Alexandra's reasons for coming.  After all, she reasons, Cal is a feminine influence on her life.  Scout does not think she will ever have an interest in clothes.  She also thinks that it will be a long time before she is interested in boys.  Despite her unspoken protests, Scout does not dare contradict her aunt.

What lie does Bruno tell Maria when she finds him in the kitchen? Why do you think he lies?

In Chapter 13, Bruno is in the kitchen filling his pockets with bread and cheese when Maria comes in. Maria sees Bruno putting the food in his pockets and assumes that he has not been eating his food again. She knows Bruno already ate his lunch earlier that day, and cannot believe that he is still hungry. Bruno lies to Maria and tells her he is going for a walk, and that he might get "peckish" on the way. Maria shrugs her shoulders and continues to complete her work in the kitchen. Bruno lies to Maria because he does not want her finding out that he has been hanging out with his new friend, Shmuel. Bruno is cognizant of the fact that he will get into trouble if his parents ever find out that he is talking with a boy on the other side of the fence. He lies to Maria in order to protect his secret friendship with Shmuel. He does not want anyone finding out and telling his parents because he will lose the only friend he has at Out-With.

Literature admits conflicts between good and good, as well as good and evil. How do these conflicts appear in Wiesel's Night and why might both...

In Elie Wiesel’s memoir, Night, Elie attempts to keep his humanity while trying to survive within a series of ghettos and concentration camps. Elie’s struggle reflects that of every other prisoner. For prisoners, the conflict of good and evil comes down to resisting evil in a way that will not endanger their lives. For example, the Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz continue openly practicing their religion. 10,000 prisoners praying during the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, is a clear message to their Nazi guards that despite enduring inhumane treatment, they have not lost their humanity.

The conflicts between good and good in Night are subtler, but readily apparent to the observant reader. These conflicts arise due to the extreme conditions that camp prisoners live under. The most important example is the internal conflict that Elie has about his father. Elie is a good person, yet even his subconscious suggests that he cast his ailing father aside; supporting a dying man only lowers Elie’s chances of survival. Fortunately, Elie does not act on these urges.

Both types of conflicts are important because they show that the Holocaust was not a simple matter of good versus evil. In prisoner’s lives, conflicts were internal just as much as they were external.

Is reading in the dark actually bad for you?

The claim that reading in the dark is bad for you, and leads to permanent eye damage and vision loss, is a claim that has existed for many years. There is not, however, scientific evidence to support this claim.

Some circumstantial evidence has been proposed to support this idea. Studies have shown a correlation between greater levels of education, requiring more reading throughout the life span, and worsening of eyesight in individuals. Other studies in very young developing animals have suggested the possibility that strain on the developing eye, very early in life, can effect vision later.

Despite this evidence, the vast majority of ophthalmologists are in agreement that while reading in the dark may cause strain on your eyes that can lead to short term discomfort, or even a headache, no long-term damage is actually done, especially in the case of the mature and developed eye. Hope this helps!  

Who is the villain in the animated film Wall-E?

Wall-E is a dystopian film that depicts the dangers of the overuse of Earth’s resources. Many entities contribute to the Earth’s condition and get in the way of the protagonist, a robot named Wall-E, who tries to restore Earth to a livable state. Therefore, many characters and groups could be considered villains.

AUTO, the Artificial Intelligence that runs the spaceship on which humans live, is probably the most obvious villain. When Wall-E brings a live plant from Earth (evidence that Earth can sustain life again) to McCrea, the human captain of the spaceship, AUTO tries to prevent McCrea from returning the ship back to Earth. AUTO also tries to destroy the plant Wall-E brought onto the ship and severely damages Wall-E in the process. Ultimately, though, Wall-E, with the help of another robot, Eva, succeeds and returns to Earth.

While AUTO might be the typical villain, it’s important to consider who created AUTO and the problems on Earth in the first place: humans. In theory, robots can only do what they have been programmed to do, so essentially, AUTO only stages a mutiny in order to uphold original directives given to it by humans. Therefore, humans are the cause for AUTO’s actions. Additionally, humans are the one whose overconsumption and overuse of resources led to the conditions of Earth. A major message of this film is the fact that if humans continue to consume resources carelessly and continue to create machines to do all of our work for us, we will end up in situations similar to those of the humans in Wall-E.

This film also seems to make a point about large corporations that fuel human greed, so another villain could be Buy ‘n’ Large, the company that seems to own everything, including the spaceship. On the ship, Buy ‘n’ Large advertising is everywhere, encouraging humans to consume more and move and think less. Humans might ultimately be responsible for consumerism and greed, but large corporations, represented by Buy ‘n’ Large in the film, make it more difficult for people to turn away from these vices.

In Shakespeare's The Tempest, how does Caliban act toward Prospero?

One of the most critically studied components of Shakespeare's The Tempest is the relationship between Caliban and Prospero. In general, Caliban's manner toward Prospero is hostile, and his actions toward the former Duke of Milan reflect this negative opinion.

Caliban has good reason to hate Prospero and criticize him. Prospero is the former Duke of Milan and lives in exile on the island after his throne was usurped by Antonio, his brother. The island was originally ruled by Sycorax, an "evil" witch overthrown by Prospero. Upon his ascendence to power, Prospero forced Sycorax's deformed and monstrous son, Caliban, into servitude. When the play opens, we see Caliban bitterly acting as Prospero's serving boy.

As one might expect, Caliban hates Prospero and makes no secret of his feelings. He curses Prospero in Act 1, Scene 2, saying, "all the charms/ Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you!" (339-40), and "you taught me language, and my profit on't/ Is, I know how to curse (363-4). Thus, in a nutshell, Caliban acts in a hostile manner toward Prospero and would love nothing more than to be rid of him.

Many scholars view this hostile relationship in postcolonial terms. Prospero, for instance, can be seen as the colonizer, who conquers the natives, teaches them according to Western traditions, but also forces them into slavery. Caliban, likewise, is the archetypal native who has lost his cultural sovereignty. In this context, Caliban's hostility can be seen as akin to the various rebellions against colonial powers in India, Ireland, and elsewhere. Thinking about Caliban and Prospero's relationship in these terms makes it easier to understand Caliban's reasons for showing hostility toward Prospero.  

In Fahrenheit 451, why is part II called "The Sieve and the Sand"?

When Montag was a child, he was at the beach and a cousin of his challenged him to fill a sieve with sand.  If he could do it, he would be given a dime. The faster he poured, the faster the sand fell through the sieve. He was so frustrated that he actually cried.

Later in life, Montag feels the same frustration concerning the knowledge gained by reading books. He knows that books contain knowledge, and that the society has determined that books should be burned.  In fact, he was one of the firemen who burned them. In Part II of the book, he is sitting in the subway with the Bible in his hands.  He knows that he will be expected to hand that book in to his boss, Beatty,  to be burned, so he tries as hard as he can to put as much knowledge into his head in a short period of time. 

“…..if you read fast and read all, maybe some of the sand will stay in the sieve.  But he read and the words fell through, and he thought, in a few hours, there will be Beatty, and here will be me handing this over, so no phrase must escape me, each line must be memorized.  I will myself to do it” (Bradbury 78).

The first part of the book is about the beliefs of society concerning books and why they burn books.  The second part is Montag’s attempt to save the knowledge contained in books. That is why the second part is about the sieve and sand.  He seems to be getting nowhere in the attempt to save that knowledge. The more he reads, the more he forgets.  

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, how do the children react to Mayella's testimony?

Scout pitied Mayella.  She found Mayella to be ignorant, and she knew that she was poor.  In fact, everyone in the Ewell family was poor.  Scout seemed to be the most moved out of the three children by Mayella's story.  Dill and Jem yawned when Mayella finished testifying.  They did not react otherwise.  

When Atticus began questioning Mayella, he treated her with politeness.  He addressed her as he would any lady.  Scout observed that Mayella may have never been treated in such a respectful way before.  Mayella was offended by the polite words Atticus used.  She thought he was making a mockery of her.  Scout knew her father well.  She knew that he treated everyone with respect.  Mayella was no different.  As she listened and watched, Scout "wondered if anybody had ever called her 'ma'am,' or 'Miss Mayella' in her life; probably not, as she took offense to routine courtesy" (To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 18).  When Mayella was finished speaking, Scout "discovered that [she] had been sitting on the edge of the long bench."  

Why is the village blacksmith admired?

The village blacksmith represents a key element of the Romantic period, the common man as hero. He's a common man who is all mankind:

The smith, a mighty man is he,

   With large and sinewy hands;

And the muscles of his brawny arms

   Are strong as iron bands.  (3-6)

The smith works an honest job, working from sun up to sun down, working at his own business and not owing a single man.

There is also a soft side to the smith; "He goes on Sunday to the church" (25), and he has a daughter who sings at church. And when he thinks of his mother who has died, "with his hard, rough hand he wipes / A tear out of his eyes" (35-36). Thus the smith shows it all--"Toiling,—rejoicing,—sorrowing"--and for that the speaker praises him (37). The speaker wants to emulate this hero who works all day at the fire, completing a job every day and rejoicing in that work. Thus, the speaker believes we should all live our lives as the blacksmith does.

What are good reasons to pardon Juliet from their deaths? We have to be able to make a speech of why she should not be punished, for example one of...

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In the book A Christmas Carol, what does the second ghost represent?

In A Christmas Carol, the second ghost that visits Ebenezer Scrooge represents the present, and is known as the Ghost of Christmas Present.  It is his job to show how others are celebrating Christmas that night.  On their tour, the ghost shows Scrooge several scenes, including miners and workers on a ship, both of whom manage to celebrate the holiday joyously despite being away from their respective families.  Closer to home, they view the family of Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's assistant.  While they do not have much money, the Cratchits manage to enjoy a loving and heartfelt holiday.  The ghost also helps Scrooge see Fred's party.  Fred, Scrooge's nephew, had invited Scrooge to the party, but Scrooge had declined.  In his "fly-over," Scrooge gets a first hand look at the fun he missed.  All in all, Scrooge sees multiple scenes of celebration as part of his tour with the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Why doesn't Captain Fleery and the other believers worry about the state of the city of Ember?

In Chapter 7, Lina is anxious to decipher the contents of the ancient document. She thinks that the parchment contains writing that originated from the Builders of Ember. However, Lina needs help to figure out what the original writing means, as her baby sister, Poppy, chewed on the paper, and pieces of the document are missing.

When she confides in Captain Fleery, the captain is skeptical about the value of the document. She says that it could be a very old recipe or even someone's old homework assignment. Captain Fleery advises Lina not to worry about the contents of the paper, as help is coming. She tells Lina that the Builders who built Ember will return to save the city. Currently, the city is in great danger: supplies are low, the corruption in the ranks of the leadership has reached troubling levels, and the lights seem to be failing. While Lina thinks that the document may contain some much needed help for the beleaguered city of Ember, Captain Fleery is less convinced.

She admits that her faith in the return of the Builders originates from a dream she has had; taking Lina into her confidence, Captain Fleery confesses that the rest of the Believers have also had this dream, and they are sure that it will come true. She invites Lina to a Believers meeting, but Lina is non-committal. She has no interest in waiting around for the Builders to show up; instead, she feels that she has to be a little more proactive in looking for a solution for Ember's future.

What vegetables did Europe have before voyaging to the New World?

While the introduction of new foods to Europe from the Americas is generally considered the most relevant aspect of the Columbian Exchange, a number of vegetables did make their way to the Americas from Europe.  The New World provided land and new opportunities to cultivate a number of European staples. It was common for turnips, olives, and onions to be transplanted to the New World from Europe.  Quite a few vegetables were available in Europe before the voyages of Columbus.  Asparagus, cabbage, cucumber, turnips, radish, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower are all native plants to Europe. In addition to the vegetables that were available in Europe, a variety of fruits benefited from the warm climates of the New World.  These fruits included bananas, oranges, grapes, and peaches.  

How long did people have eyesight and hearing after being decapitated by the guillotine?

The debate about consciousness following decapitation via the guillotine goes back to the guillotine's use during the French Revolution. A famous story concerns Charlotte Corday, who was executed in 1793 for the crime of assassinating the revolutionary Jean Paul-Marat. Marat was a well-known journalist who enjoyed a great deal of popular acclaim, and so his assassination was considered to be not only a crime but an outrage against public sentiment. When Corday was executed for the crime, therefore, the crowd wanted to see her humiliated. When she had been guillotined, the executioner picked up her head and slapped her. Witnesses reported that:

Corday's eyes turned to look at the man and her face changed to an expression of indignation.

Following this incident, actual experiments were conducted on recently guillotined individuals, in which they were spoken to, asked to blink, to try to speak, etc. It was reported many times that the eyes and lips of the decapitated heads appeared to move upon command.

Modern science, however, understands that these movements are likely only involuntary muscular reactions and contractions rather than consciously controlled movements. The loss of consciousness is probably not instantaneous, but most likely occurs within 2 to 3 seconds. The brain, separated from the spinal column, immediately begins to shut down and die. So, while it is not impossible for consciousness to continue momentarily after being guillotined, it also isn't very likely. And of course, there aren't any survivors to relate their experiences.

To what extent can our containment policy be considered a success?

Our containment policy can be considered a success when viewed in its entirety. While there were some areas where we failed to prevent communism from spreading, we were able to stop it from spreading in many places.

The goal of the communists was to spread communism throughout the world. We believed we needed to prevent communism from spreading, leading to the development of the containment policy.

We successfully stopped the spread of communism in several places. With the European Recovery Program, we gave economic aid to Western European countries fighting the spread of communism. Turkey and Greece were two countries that benefited from this aid, and both countries didn’t become communist. When the Soviet Union tried to force the Allies out of West Berlin, we used the Berlin Airlift to fly supplies over the Berlin Blockade. The Soviet Union tried to cut off all land routes to West Berlin. The Berlin Airlift continued until the blockade was ended. We also helped South Korea stay noncommunist. When North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950, we got the United Nations to create a multinational military force to help South Korea fight North Korea. Led by the United States, this multinational military force kept South Korea free and noncommunist. We had more successes stopping the spread of the communism than failures in preventing its spread.

I need help finding a imagery quote that shows the loss of innocence for Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. For example, I have this one on Jem: "I...

A lot of Scout's development, which corresponds to her losing innocence and gaining knowledge, has to do with a growing awareness of others around her. In Chapter 12, Calpurnia takes the children to the African-American church. Scout gets a closer look at this other community that exists in Maycomb. She gets a better idea of the racial divide. She also considers, for the first time, that Cal has a life outside of their household: 

That Calpurnia led a modest double life never dawned on me. The idea that she had a separate existence outside our household was a novel one, to say nothing of her having command of two languages. 

This is like seeing a teacher outside of the classroom for the first time. It seems so out of context if we've never considered that people have lives all their own: lives which do not revolve around us. The difference here is that Cal truly leads a double life. The cultural divide between black and white in Maycomb is such that the communities even seem to speak in different languages. 

Another prime example of Scout's growing awareness occurs at the end of the novel. When she stands on Boo Radley's front porch, she literally sees the town from his perspective. This is one of Atticus's ongoing lessons. He teaches the children to consider the perspective of others. This applies to Boo, Bob Ewell, Mayella, Tom Robinson, and so on. When Scout ponders her encounters with Boo, she demonstrates wisdom and a loss of innocent or ignorant thinking: 

Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. But neighbors give in return. We never put back into the tree what we took out of it: we had given him nothing, and it made me sad. 

Which metals are more reactive: the alkali or the alkaline earth metals? Explain your answer by using concepts of atomic radius and ionization energy.

Alkali (or Group I) metals are more reactive than alkaline earth (or Group 2) metals. The reason is very simple, alkali metals have only 1 valence electron as compared to the 2 valence electrons in case of alkaline earth metals. It is relatively easier to lose or remove 1 electron as compared to 2 electrons. This makes alkali metals more reactive than alkaline earth metals. 

In terms of ionization energy, alkali metals have lower ionization energy than alkaline earth metals. Ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove the valence or most loosely bound electron. Because of lower ionization energy, alkali metals find it easier to lose an electron. In terms of atomic radius, alkali metals have a higher atomic radius than alkaline earth metals. However, alkali metals have to lose only 1 electrons, while alkaline earth metals will find it relatively harder to lose the second electron.

Hence alkali metals are more reactive than alkaline earth metals.

Hope this helps. 

Atticus says "I guess Tom was tired of white men's chances and preferred to take his own." Explain the significance of this quote from Chapter 24.

Atticus speaks these words in the presence of Calpurnia, Aunt Alexandra, Scout, and Miss Maudie.

By the time these words are spoken, Tom has already been shot dead. By all indications, Tom was caught trying to escape from prison. The guards had fired off a few warning shots, but Tom had ignored those. Eventually, Tom's body was pumped with seventeen bullets as he tried to make his way over the fence. The guards maintained that Tom would have managed to escape if he had had two good arms to propel him over the fence. Essentially, Tom decided that he would rather take a bold risk than rely on Atticus' promise of an appeal.

Atticus' words are significant in that he is expressing an ugly truth about the Jim Crow era: even if Tom receives a new trial, his chances of acquittal are little to none. The court of public opinion has already condemned him. No matter what he does, Tom's guilty verdict will haunt him for the rest of his life in Maycomb, and he will always be the subject of malicious gossip. His life and the lives of his family will also be at risk. The only conceivable way to survive would be for him to try to escape and to get his family out of Maycomb.

Atticus' words about Tom's distrust of "white men's chances" prove prescient. Immediately after Tom's death, the community gossips for two days about the events surrounding his failed escape. However, true to habit, the community soon moves on to other topics of interest. The general consensus is that "Tom's death was typical" and additionally, there is little remorse for his death.

Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw. Funny thing, Atticus Finch might’ve got him off scot free, but wait—? Hell no. You know how they are. Easy come, easy go. Just shows you, that Robinson boy was legally married, they say he kept himself clean, went to church and all that, but when it comes down to the line the veneer’s mighty thin. Nigger always comes out in ‘em.

Regardless of high petrol price, the demand for cars in Malaysia is still very high. Explain three factors that could cause this situation.

There are a number of factors that could contribute to high demand for cars in Malaysia. 

First, the most likely explanation is that there are no good substitutes for cars.  When there are no good substitutes for a thing, the demand for that thing is likely to be high, regardless of its price or the price of its complementary goods (petrol).  If, in Malaysia, public transportation is poor, or if people often have to travel long distances, cars would be necessary and demand for them would be high.

Second, it is possible that the demand for cars is high because of consumer tastes.  People often want a particular good simply because that is what they like.  A great example of this is how there can be a high demand for a certain type of clothing just because it is in style.  It may be that Malaysian consumers really like cars.  They might think that owning a car gives them status.  They might think that it gives them greater freedom.  Whatever the reason, there may be high demand for cars in Malaysia because of consumer tastes.

The most likely other factor that would cause demand for cars to be higher is consumer incomes.  It could be that consumer incomes in Malaysia are high or that they have been growing in recent years.  If this is the case, cars might be becoming more affordable to consumers in Malaysia.  As cars become more affordable, more people buy them.

These are three potential reasons why demand for cars is high in Malaysia.

What is the first torture in the "Pit and the Pendulum"?

The first torture could be any number of things, depending on whether you want to classify the torture as only physical or include psychological.  

If you include psychological torture, I would say that the first torture is the narrator's sentencing.  He begins to break down and swoon the moment he is pronounced guilty.  He's crazy with fear at that point, because he knows what's coming, and he essentially starts to hallucinate.  

I saw, too, for a few moments of delirious horror, the soft and nearly imperceptible waving of the sable draperies which enwrapped the walls of the apartment. And then my vision fell upon the seven tall candles upon the table. At first they wore the aspect of charity, and seemed white and slender angels who would save me...

After the narrator passes out due to his fear, he wakes up in his torture chamber.  Again, if I get to include psychological torture, I could pick this part.  He has no idea where he is.  He remembers everything with sudden intensity and knows what's coming.  He is practically frozen with fear.  He can't even bring himself to open his eyes.  

I longed, yet dared not to employ my vision. I dreaded the first glance at objects around me. It was not that I feared to look upon things horrible, but that I grew aghast lest there should be nothing to see.

He then opens his eyes and that's another instant torture.  Complete and utter darkness.  I'm talking about the kind of darkness where you can't see the hand in front of your face.  I'm not afraid of the dark, but that kind of blackness is scary and oppressive feeling.  And that's how the narrator feels.  

The blackness of eternal night encompassed me. I struggled for breath. The intensity of the darkness seemed to oppress and stifle me. The atmosphere was intolerably close.

After a bit, the narrator calms down and decides to explore his room.  After walking around the room, he decides to walk across it.  He trips and falls flat just before the pit.  That's probably the first torture that most people would list.  That makes sense, since it is part of the story's title.   

In "Lord of the Flies", what is the significance of "the darker smudge that had been the fire"?

This particular phrase is a bit of imagery meant to imply, before we are told, that the fire has gone out, perhaps as a way of sharing with us that momentary anxiety the boys must feel when they realize this. It can also be interpreted as something of a judgment of the quality of the fire and the boys' efforts.

At this part of the story, the twins, Sam and Eric ("Samneric") have been tasked with caring for the fire. Unfortunately they are so inseparable that they struggle to accomplish two individuals' worth of responsibilities; in fact, Piggy later chastises Ralph for always counting the twins as a single person when it came to the delegation of duties, rather than two people. Here, we are told that they could never accomplish anything if it required them to act as individuals, and so they simply didn't do their job; they both went to sleep, and allowed the fire to go out. 

The choice of the word "smudge" implies that the fire is small, meager and weak; that it barely left a mark behind indicating its existence. This suggests that the boys, despite being able to create fire, haven't truly mastered it. As it turns out, the fire is just hot enough that the twins are able to safely rekindle it, but Golding's choice of words and tone in this section are meant to imply that any self-satisfaction the boys feel is forced and fake; we, and they, should feel relieved that their mistake was correctable.

What are some examples of literary devices in Star Wars Battlefront: Twilight Company?

Literary devices can include figurative language and sensory details. Every book has some, but the amount will vary. For example, this sentence contains both of those literary devices to describe the rain on Haidoral Prime during a battle.

It smelled like vinegar, clung to the molded curves of the modular industrial buildings and to litter-strewn streets, and coated skin like a sheen of acrid sweat. (Ch. 2)

These literary devices are designed to set the scene, and describe what Twilight Company is facing. The first one, “smelled like vinegar,” is a sensory detail. It helps you picture the scene by telling you what the rain smells like, and comparing it to a smell you likely know. The second one, “coated skin like a sheen of acrid sweat,” is a simile. It compares the rain to sweat. It also describes the smell with the word "acrid." This is a simile because a simile compares one thing to another by describing it with the word “like” or “as.”

Another example of a literary device is a metaphor. The description of Hazram Namir thinking about how much he hates urban warfare is an example.

The thought of sleep flashed into his mind and broke against a wall of stubbornness. (Ch. 2)

Thoughts do not break, and stubbornness is not a wall. This is a metaphor because it compares two unlike things by describing something as something else. His stubbornness is compared to a wall, like it is something physical. 

The book describes a civil war, so there will naturally be a lot of descriptions. Sensory details describe how the battlefield smells, sounds, looks, feels and even tastes.  These descriptions help the reader picture the battle and understand what the characters are going through. Figurative language is useful in science fiction because it can help the reader see something that does not exist in our world.

What are some of the important plot lines of both To Kill A Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men?

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men both concentrate on the treatment of disenfranchised parts of society, members of the community who have less power and respect than others. The plots of both books concentrate on the inhumane treatment of people who are weak or different and therefore largely misunderstood. 

For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem come to realize that Boo Radley, long thought to be scary in the community because he is a bit mentally disabled, is actually a decent, honest man who saves Jem's life at the end of the novel. As Atticus tells Scout and Jem in Chapter 10, "remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." A mockingbird is a symbol of a weak, defenseless creature because all the bird does is sing. One should not harm it, Atticus says, because it is defenseless. In addition, Tom Robinson, the African-American man who Atticus defends, is like a mockingbird because he too is innocent and defenseless but is facing great persecution and violence because of his race.

In Of Mice and Men, weak and defenseless characters such as Lennie are also treated with cruelty. Lennie is a developmentally disabled man who is often misunderstood because he combines innocence and mental slowness with great physical strength. In the end, his friend George shoots him out of mercy because a mob is after Lennie. Again, the plot of this novel is about how weak or defenseless people are targeted in society because they are misunderstood. Both authors emphasize the inhumanity of this type of treatment. 

What does the laughter symbolize in "The Masque of the Red Death"?

During Prince Prospero's feverish masquerade, the knights and dames dance wildly in gay company until the huge black clock tolls the hour.  Thus, each hour, the dancing stops and the musicians cease to play, and even the "giddiest grew pale" while they listened to its chimes.  Then, when the clock was finished, "a light laughter at once pervaded the assembly [...]."  They are aware that everyone outside the abbey is likely dead or soon will be from the Red Death, and the clock striking, knelling away the hours, reminds them of their own mortality, the possibility that they, too, will eventually succumb to death.  This is why their dread grows as the clock approaches midnight, the hour symbolic of the death of day and, thus, of life.  Their nervous laughter seems to be their attempt to shrug off their morbid concerns, for, as the narrator tells us, "security [was] within" the abbey, and these "hale and light-hearted" people are safe from the horrors outside.  Their laughter indicates that they know that they cannot remain so forever, that death can and will come for them when he decides, not when they do.

I need help writing an introduction paragraph for the book "Of mice and Men". The topic was, Discuss whether or not George's actions in the final...

In the novel Of Mice and Men, Steinbach presents a very hard dilemma, for George has to decide what to do with Lennie.  Maybe explain here, in this part of your introductory paragraph, what Lennie has done.  George is Lennie's interpreter of the world, and without George, Lennie would not understand and would be afraid all the time.  In my opinion, George, faced with only negative choices for his friend, reluctantly does the right thing for Lennie. 

Please use my introduction paragraph only as a suggestion and guideline as you will need to decide if YOU think George did the right thing and maybe use that as your thesis statement.  This second paragraph could be your discussion of whether George did the proper thing and WHY you believe that. 

I think that during the Great Depression, there were almost no choices for someone like Lennie.  He has been very lucky to have someone like George to guide him.  George knows that this time, Lennie will not escape from the ranch.  Lennie will either be caught and hanged by the group of men chasing them, or he will end up in jail where he will be bewildered by that world and alone in it with no friends at all. Discuss the alternatives YOU see for Lennie and maybe how they will affect him.

Take whichever ideas here you think express your OWN ideas and compare them to what actually did happen in the book in your third paragraph. Then write a conclusion paragraph to draw it all together.  Remember to look back at your revised introduction paragraph and thesis statement before you write your conclusion.

How does Heart of Darkness depict a journey from innocence to experience?

One way in which Heart of Darkness depicts a journey from innocence to experience can be seen in Marlow.

Prior to undertaking his mission, Marlow displays innocence.  Marlow shows innocence with his passion for maps, his love of exploration, and the desire to travel into the heart of Africa.  These are pure expressions.  In Marlow's mind, there is limitless hope and optimism in what lies ahead. Over time, though, Marlow begins to show the signs of experience. He becomes frustrated with the lack of access to proper equipment as well as the excessive materialism that guides so much of the Company's work in the Congo.  

Marlow's journey to experience is clearly evident in his perception of Kurtz. Marlow sees Kurtz as one who used to possess "the magnificent folds of eloquence," but now only holds "the barren darkness" within his heart. Marlow sees how temporary "images of wealth and fame" have become.  In Kurtz, Marlow recognizes how experience supplants innocence. 

The "heart of darkness" is a realm where Marlow understands the painful condition of experience.  Marlow's voyage haunts him, causing him to fully understand that within all hope lies the terror of reality.  It gnaws away at who we wish to be and replaces it with who we truly are.

In the explosion of a hydrogen filled balloon, .10 g of hydrogen reacted with .80 g of oxygen. How many grams of water vapor are formed? Water...

The equation for this reaction is:

`2H_2 + O_2 -gt 2 H_2O `

When given masses of the two reactants you must determine if one reactant is in excess of the amount needed.  If so, the limiting reactant determines how much product will form.

The mole ratio of H2 to O2, according to the equation, is 2:1. We can determine the limiting reactant by calculating the moles of each reactant and comparing them to this ratio.

 `(0.10g H_2)/1 x (1 mol)/(2g) = 0.050 mol H_2` 

`(0.80g O_2)/1 x (1mol)/(32g) = 0.025mol O_2`

We have the correct stoichiometric ratio of 2 moles H2 to 1 mole O2 so there isn't one limiting reactant. We can use the amount of either reactant to determine the mass of water vapor produced:

`(0.050mol H_2)/1 x (2 H_2O)/(2 H_2) x (18g)/(1 mol) = 0.90g H_2O`

Can you help me understand how to find the trigonometric form of -4?

Hello!

I'll try.

The trigonometric form of a complex number is

`r(cos(phi)+i*sin(phi)),`

where `r` is a positive number and `phi` is a number in` [0, 2pi).`

Here `r` is the absolute value of a complex number and `phi` is the argument. Any nonzero complex number has one and only one such representation.

If we plot a complex number on a coordinate plane and draw a directed segment from the origin to the number's point, then `r` will be the length of this segment and `phi` will be the angle between the positive half of the x-axis and the segment.

For the number `-4=-4+0i` the absolute value is obviously `4=sqrt((-4)^2+0^2).`

What about `phi`? The point `(-4, 0)` lies at the negative half of the x-axis and the angle from the positive half to the negative is obviously `pi` (a half of an entire circumference, which is `2pi`).

We can check this: `4(cos(pi)+i*sin(pi))=4*(-1+0*i)=-4` (true).

So the answer is `-4=4(cos(pi)+i*sin(pi)).`

In the novel, A Christmas Carol, what is Scrooge's external conflict?

External conflict in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol exists due to Scrooge’s love of money, which he places above personal relationships. These conflicts manifested throughout his personal life leaving him a bitter, lonely man. Scrooge treats people in his life with distain using his miserly ways as a shield for his feelings therefore the external conflict is between Scrooge and his fellow man.

Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, ``My dear Scrooge, how are you. When will you come to see me?”

One example is when his nephew stops to wish him a Merry Christmas; they have a confrontation instead of a conversation. Scrooge treats his employee, Bob Cratchit cruelly, he loses the love of his life, and lives a solitary life so that he does not have to interact with people including taking his meals alone in a tavern. When the gentlemen come to his counting house to ask for a contribution for the poor, Scrooge says,

It's not my business,'' Scrooge returned. "It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!"

Is "The Relic" an ode? What kind of ode is it? Could it be a Horatian ode?

An ode is defined as, "A lengthy lyric poem typically of a serious or meditative nature and having an elevated style and formal stanza structure."

An "ode" does not have a single, defined structure or style, as sonnets, limericks, and haiku all have.  Those styles have rigid definitions, but an "ode" is more open, more inclusive.  The only requirements are that it is "lyric," which means that it seems to have a natural rhythmic flow (many odes were meant to be sung), and that it is based on a serious or meditative theme.

The poem you name, "The Relic" by John Donne, seems to fit this definition.  Just looking at the poem on the page shows its length and "formal stanza structure."  A bit of quick analysis shows a somewhat irregular, intricate rhyme scheme pattern: AABBCDDCEEE.  This pattern is repeated in each of the three stanzas. 

The serious nature of the poem is evident right from the start: "When my grave is broke up again...."  (What could be more "serious" a topic than something that starts in the grave?)  This is, overall, a love poem, with the message that the speaker's love for his wife/girlfriend/partner will withstand death, and if their grave is ever opened, the viewers in the future will be able to see the strength of their love.  Donne also provides a comment on the eternal nature of the written word, trusting that his poem will outlive them and future generations will know of their love from the poem itself: 

And since at such time miracles are sought,

I would have that age by this paper taught

What miracles we harmless lovers wrought.

As for the definition of the style, I found a reference from the Academy of American Poets (cited below) which defines three styles of odes: Pindaric, Horatian, and Irregular.  The Pindaric was longer and more complex.  Horace followed with a shorter, more straightforward style.  The Irregular is just the name for odes that cannot be categorized by the first two names.  "The Relic," in my opinion, is more in the Pindaric than Horatian style.  However, the lines between the categories are not clearly defined, so arguments could be made either way. 

How would I describe the musical tone colour in the song "Pompeii," by Bastille?

Musical tone color, which is also known as timbre, is the quality of sound that is not frequency, amplitude or duration. At its simplest, musical tone color is the thing that allows listeners to identify a sound as being an instrument. For example, an oboe is going to sound different from a trumpet, even if they are playing at the same frequency, duration or amplitude. Consequently, an instrument has a musical tone color.

In the song "Pompeii," the band Bastille utilizes synthesizers and electronic equipment, but the driving musical tone color is the drums. The song is anthemic and driving, with vocals coming to the front, but the drum is the musical sound color that characterizes the song most heavily. A listener gets the feeling they are running either towards or away from something because of the deep, pulsing drums. 

What does Macbeth gain throughout the play?

Macbeth, in fact, does not gain anything. He loses more than he gains.

When he murders king Duncan, he finally takes the throne and is able to seize control and power. However, by taking the throne illegally, he throws his country into chaos. And, he throws himself into chaos as well. He no longer has inner peace and stability and cannot rely on other people's loyalty because many of them begin to sense what he has done.

Macbeth begins to hallucinate, and he is obsessed with protecting himself because he is insecure and believes that others will harm him. This insecurity stems from the fact that others may begin to understand that he was the one who killed their beloved king.

Macbeth also gradually loses his wife. Once he kills Duncan, she becomes less and less involved in his plotting. He neglects her and no longer confides in her.

Worst of all, Macbeth loses himself in the process of chasing his goals. He becomes an evil tyrant, whose life has become meaningless.

What is Cassius' opinion of Antony after Caesar's death?

After the conspirators kill Caesar in Julius Caesar, their focus is on showing the people of Rome that what they did was right and noble and done to protect the Republic, not out of a grudge towards Caesar. In promoting this goal, they also know the importance of having Caesar's friend and ally Antony on their side. So when Antony's servant approaches Brutus saying Antony is a friend who wants to approach the capital and to discuss Brutus' reasons for participating in the assassination of Caesar, the conspirators know this could be a good thing for their cause.

Still, Cassius, who is wary and suspicious of others, suspects Antony of dishonesty in his approach to Brutus. When Brutus says he knows Antony will be their friend, Cassius responds:

"I wish we may: but yet have I a mind
That fears him much; and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose" (Act III, scene ii)

Cassius would certainly know dishonesty, as he is a master manipulator himself, and nearly all the conversations we've seen him have include an ulterior motive. However, he isn't wrong. After making a great show of mourning over Caesar's corpse, Antony asks Brutus if he can speak at Caesar's funeral. Nothing about the conspirators, he assures Brutus, just how great Caesar was. Again Brutus agrees to this, Cassius isn't so sure, and the latter is right; Antony's funeral speech turns the people against the conspirators. 

Are there any "perfect societies" in our world?

First of all, it would be very difficult to answer this question objectively because people will often disagree on the definition of a perfect society.  One person might think a perfect society is one in which there is almost no government and the people have practically unlimited freedom.  Another might think a perfect society is one in which all people are equal.  A third might think that a perfect society would be one in which the rules of a specific religion are followed to the letter.  Of course, no one society would be perfect in the minds of all these people. Because of this, we would surely be unable to identify a society that everyone would think was perfect.

I would also argue, however, that no society can ever be perfect by any definition.  This is because human beings are fallible as well as stubborn and selfish. Because we humans are fallible, we could never write rules for a society that would be perfect. For example, when the US Constitution was written, it did not specify that women should have rights and it allowed slavery.  Even if we were to write perfect rules for our society, it would still not be perfect. Whenever we have a large number of people living together (as we would in a society), we will have people who will not want to follow the rules.  This means that even a society with perfect rules will be imperfect.

For these reasons, I do not believe that there is a perfect society anywhere in the world.  I do not believe any person would feel their society is perfect and, even if they did, many other people would disagree with them.  Thus, we cannot have a society that people will agree is perfect.

What are some positives and negatives about protists?

The Protista kingdom is extremely diverse. All the members are eukaryotic organisms (they have membrane bound organelles), but some are unicellular while others are multicellular. Some are photosynthetic, and some are not. Some are free-living in water or soil, while others live inside of other organisms.

The major negative about protists is that some cause diseases, both in humans and in other organisms. Examples are amoebic dysentery, meningo-encephalitis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, and African sleeping sickness. Some of these are transmitted by drinking contaminated water, while others go through an insect vector and are transmitted via insect bite. The second link I have attached has more in-depth information.

There are many positives about various protists. Plankton, mostly classified as protists, are at the base of many food chains in the ocean. Kelp (seaweed) is used as food by humans. Photosynthetic types of protists that live in the oceans produce quite a bit of the earth's free oxygen--perhaps as much as half. Some protists are decomposers, recycling dead organisms.

Explain Dexter's rise to material success.

Dexter Green, the main character in Fitzgerald's short story "Winter Dreams," does not come from a wealthy family, but isn't poor either. In the opening paragraph Fitzgerald tells us that Dexter's "father owned the second best grocery store in Black Bear." From the outset we also learn that the 14 year old Dexter is both industrious and well liked in his part time job as a caddy at the Sherry Island Golf Club. He is praised as the "best caddy I ever saw" who "never lost a ball."

By the time Dexter is twenty-seven he already owns "the largest string of laundries in his section of the country." He parlays his knowledge of golf into success by knowing exactly how the wealthy golfers like their stockings washed. Dexter eventually sells his laundries and moves to New York City where Fitzgerald suggests he increases his success. In section six we discover Dexter "had done well--so well that there were no barriers too high for him."

It's not surprising then that Fitzgerald gives his main character the sir name "Green" because Dexter is very good at making money. But, much like Jay Gatsby in Fitzgerald's famous novel, who is also capable of great earning power, Dexter is unable to secure the ideal love he seeks. 

How does Holmes compare and contrast with his antagonist, John Clay?

Sherlock Holmes and John Clay have some attributes in common, although they are on opposite sides of the law. We learn from Mr. Jones, the police agent, that John Clay is "at the head of his profession," that he is remarkable, and that "his brain is as cunning as his fingers." Ironically, the officer could have been describing Holmes with those words. Holmes is certainly at the head of his profession, having solved cases that have stymied Scotland Yard and having "contributed to the literature" on such things as tattoos. Holmes has remarkable observation and deductive reasoning skills, demonstrated not only by his evaluation of Jabez Wilson but also by his solving of the intended crime and capturing an elusive criminal. Certainly Holmes' brain is cunning, for he not only anticipates Clay's crime but also manages to catch him in a foolproof manner. As Watson says, "You reasoned it out beautifully." And Holmes' fingers are also cunning in that he is a skilled violinist.

Despite those similarities, Holmes and Clay are very different in their relationship with the law, their motivations, and their opinions of themselves. Clay is a criminal and is motivated by greed, with most of his crimes having to do with stealing money either by theft or fraud. Holmes is motivated by the challenge of catching those who break the law and helping clients who need assistance with interesting cases. Although Watson calls Holmes a "benefactor of the race," showing that Holmes is on the side of justice and right, Holmes only accepts that praise off-handedly. Holmes' true motivation in his work is to avoid "ennui," or boredom. Nevertheless, Holmes assumes a humble attitude at the end of the story, acknowledging that the work is everything and the man is nothing. John Clay, on the other hand, is arrogant and snobbish, reminding the policeman that he has "royal blood in my veins" and requiring Mr. Jones to address him as "sir."

One aspect of the case of the Red-Headed League that intrigued Holmes so much was that he was dealing with a man who was like himself in many ways. Thankfully for the people of London, Holmes was unlike Clay in his desire to use his talents for good rather than for personal gain.

How to discuss one of the "four Cs": cost, consumer, communication, and convenience?

The four "C's" that you have listed are the four C's to marketing: Cost, consumer, convenience, and communication.  They are not separate items, either.  They definitely interrelate with each other, so it is tough to single out just one item of the bunch, but "cost" may be the most comprehensive one of the four. 

When a marketer is trying to sell a consumer a product, the marketer has to take the cost to the consumer into account.  Cost is not only the price of the item being sold.  Cost assumes other variables as well.  

For example, if I want to go buy myself a hamburger for dinner, I will be weighing other factors besides the price of the burger.  

• How far away is the burger joint?  


• How much time will it take me to get there?  


• Is parking easy? Is it drive-through?


• Will I use a lot of gas?


• Are they quick with service?  


• Is it a sit-down restaurant where I have to tip?


• To use another "C," is it convenient?  

These are all things that cost the consumer both time and money.  That consumer is constantly weighing whether or not that particular product is worth the total cost. 

What does Hamlet suggest might happen after we go to "sleep" in Hamlet?

Hamlet fears the nightmares that might plague a person in the sleep of death. 

Hamlet is having a hard time processing his father’s death.  He even had a visit from his father from beyond the grave, where King Hamlet spoke to him as a ghost, explaining to him that he was murdered and that he wanted Hamlet to avenge his death by killing his murderer—the current King Claudius. 

Hamlet ponders life and death in his famous soliloquy, where he asks himself about the meaning of death.  Part of his conversation with himself is a comparison of death and sleep.  Hamlet says, if death is an eternal sleep, what would happen when we dream? 

To die: to sleep;

No more; and by a sleep to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come … (Act 3, Scene 1) 

When Hamlet says “there’s the rub,” he means that the problem with dying is that the afterlife may not be peaceful.  While living itself involves pain, death is a great unknown.  You do not know what will happen to you after you die, and it may not be the release you expect.  If you dream, will it be a constant parade of bad dreams? 

As Hamlet wrestles with the reality of his father’s death and his uncle’s part in it, he is depressed and worried.  His father’s death would certainly lead him to question his actions.  As difficult as life can be, death is the great unknown.  

… who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of? … (Act 3, Scene 1)

While is Hamlet playing crazy, this speech actually demonstrates that he is not.  He fully has his wits about him while he is surrounded by death.  Hamlet knows that he is risking his life with his enterprise, but it is worth it because he does it for his father.