Excerpts from How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis “Long ago it was said that ‘one half of the world does not know how the other half...

Riis views the extreme overcrowding and miserable filth of the New York tenements, not to mention the greed of the landlords, as the root causes of crime and alcoholism among the lower classes, most of whom were either recent immigrants or persons of color. Living in a horrible environment causes the poor to be "shiftless, destructive and stupid." He writes:

"By far the largest part--eighty per cent. at least--of crimes against property and against the person are perpetrated by individuals who have either lost connection with home life, or never had any, or whose homes had ceased to be sufficiently separate, decent, and desirable ... 

He also notes the alcoholism in tenement dwellers. This too he traces to the lack of decent housing:

"Forty per cent. of the distress among the poor, said a recent official report, is due to drunkenness. But the first legislative committee ever appointed to probe this sore went deeper down and uncovered its roots. The "conclusion forced itself upon it that certain conditions and associations of human life and habitation are the prolific parents of corresponding habits and morals," and it recommended "the prevention of drunkenness by providing for every man a clean and comfortable home."

The "other half" are chiefly immigrants: Germans, Jews, Chinese, Bohemians, Pole, Italians, as well as blacks. Latecomers, they have been shut out of the American dream.

Riis understands the poor, especially the deserving poor, who are primarily women and children, as in need of a much better chance in life, and as capable of becoming integrated into American life. He writes, "it is not an uncommon thing to find sweet and innocent girls, singularly untouched by the evil around them, true wives and faithful mothers, literally "like jewels in a swine's snout," in the worst of the infamous barracks."

On the other hand, the truly indolent and criminal, those who wouldn't work or were hardened so much they would not abandon crime, could not be assimilated into the American mainstream, he thought.

Most of the poor, he notes, work hard, and are not "vicious," but simply can't make enough to live on decently. Blacks too, deserve a better shake. (Riis is racist, but in sympathy with the way the deck has been stacked against the blacks.) He shows his sympathy, if stereotyping, in sentences like the following: "Cleanliness is the characteristic of the negro in his new surroundings, as it was his virtue in the old. In this respect he is immensely the superior of the lowest of the whites ..."

He blames capitalist greed for much of the problem. Landlords charge outrageous rents and evict people who don't pay in advance. Owners and even middlemen exploit the workers. He writes:

The sweater [sweatshop owner] knows well that the isolation of the workman in his helpless ignorance is his sure foundation, and he has done what he could--with merciless severity where he could--to smother every symptom of awakening intelligence in his slaves. In this effort to perpetuate his despotism he has had the effectual assistance of his own system and the sharp competition that keep the men on starvation wages; of their constitutional greed, that will not permit the sacrifice of temporary advantage, however slight, for permanent good, and above all, of the hungry hordes of immigrants to whom no argument appeals save the cry for bread.

The problem, to Riis, is the system, stacked against the poor.  Capitalism must be reformed, he said, with trade unions and laws to protect workers and provide them with decent housing. The rampant individualism and lack of social safety net that characterized 19th century America created the problems suffered by the lower classes. They were not themselves degenerate, but made so by circumstances. 

Riis is not anti-capitalist. He advocates for stronger laws, but the best remedy for the horrible tenements, he argues, lies in the hands of private enterprise, which can build new tenements and provide agents to deal fairly with renter complaints. Yet the problem must be dealt with:

The sea of a mighty population, held in galling fetters, heaves uneasily in the tenements. Once already our city, to which have come the duties and responsibilities of metropolitan greatness before it was able to fairly measure its task, has felt the swell of its resistless flood. If it rise once more, no human power may avail to check it. 

In To Kill A Mockingbird, what happened when Boo came to save the children?

After the pageant, Scout and Jem head home in the dark, but Jem thinks he hears someone following them. He pretends to think it's just Cecil and tells Scout to take off her ham costume so they can better get away. Before she can, though, a grown man runs at the from the darkness. Jem tells Scout to run, and she tries to, but falls in her costume. She hears fighting and Jem screaming, then silence. 

When she goes back to investigate, she sees a man's body, smelling of booze (Bob Ewell). She also sees another man (Boo Radley), in the distance under a streetlight, carrying Jem, whose arm is broken.

Boo carries Jem to Atticus' house, and Scout follows. Atticus and Aunt Alexandra get busy calling the doctor and sheriff and seeing to Jem and Scout's injuries. When Mr. Tate shows up, he reports that the body of Bob Ewell was found stabbed to death, next to Scout's dress and fabric from her costume. 

As Scout tells Atticus and Mr. Tate the story of the evening, they see that Bob Ewell was truly trying to hurt the kids; there is a slash in Scout's costume where he tried to cut her with a knife. Scout also realizes the identity of their rescuer, looking up at the shy, pale man in the corner and saying, "Hey, Boo." She acts as hostess to Boo, showing him around the house and making him comfortable, in what seems like a very surreal situation for her.

Atticus and Tate's conversation becomes legal here. Atticus thinks that Jem killed Ewell and begins talking about his court case. Tate suggests that Ewell probably fell on his own knife. Atticus can tell Tate is hiding something and it becomes clear, without anyone having said it aloud, that Boo killed Ewell. Tate won't put Boo through the publicity of a trial, though; as Scout says, it would be like killing a mockingbird.

When Scout walks Boo home, he returns to his house and she never sees him again. 

Why did he ignore the old man?

The man ignored the old-timer, because the man is stupid and overconfident.  

Well, here he was; he had had the accident; he was alone; and he had saved himself. Those old-timers were rather womanish, some of them, he thought. All a man had to do was to keep his head, and he was all right. Any man who was a man could travel alone.

Ignoring the advice of an older, wiser, and more experienced person is a standard American motif.  It's why most of our heroes are young.  It's why most of our pop stars are young.  American's have always valued youth over experience.  Just think of movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off. There isn't a single adult in that film that is portrayed in a positive light.  All of them are portrayed as dupes.  

That's the attitude that the man takes with the old-timer.  The man thinks that because he is younger and stronger that he will be fine.  He thinks that because he has traveled alone in other parts of the country that he will be fine this time. 

This fact did not worry the man. He was used to the lack of sun. It had been days since he had seen the sun, and he knew that a few more days must pass before that cheerful orb, due south, would just peep above the skyline and dip immediately from view.

The man is overconfident in his experiences, and believes that those experiences will transfer over to the Yukon environment without a problem.  The problem is that he is indeed new to the area and doesn't understand the importance of the little things that the environment is telling him. 

He was a newcomer in the land, aChechaquo, and this was his first winter. The trouble with him was that he was without imagination. He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the things, and not in their significances.

I believe another reason that the man ignores the old-timer is because the man is eager to join up with his mining buddies.  He knows that his colleagues are already on site, and he wants to get there quickly in order to help them mine.  

He was bound for the old claim on the left fork of Henderson Creek, where the boys were already. 

What moral reasons does Macbeth give for not assassinating Duncan in Macbeth?

Macbeth says that he should not kill Duncan because he is his guest and kinsman.

Macbeth has wanted to be king ever since he heard the witches’ prophecies.  He also wrote a letter to his wife telling her about the witches’ predictions that he would become king, so she is on board and ready to help him dispatch Duncan if he can’t become king by legal means.

Lady Macbeth fears that her husband is too full of “the milk of human kindness” to do what needs to be done and kill Duncan.  She may be right.  Almost as soon as Macbeth returns home he has second thoughts.  Macbeth goes down the list of reasons why he should not kill the king.  First he worries about the consequences and then he comes up with reasons not to do it.

Macbeth notes that Duncan trusts him, because they are related and because he is supposedly one of the king’s loyal subjects.  He should therefore be a good host, protecting the king rather than killing him.

He's here in double trust;
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. (Act 1, Scene 7)

Macbeth also notes that Duncan is a good king, and does not deserve to die.

Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking-off … (Act 1, Scene 7)

If Duncan were a tyrant or had mistreated Macbeth, then it might be easier to kill him.  Instead, Macbeth feels that it would be immoral to kill a virtuous king for no reason just because he wanted to be king himself.

In this speech, Macbeth makes a great change from his fiery aside when he found out Malcolm was Duncan’s heir and called Malcolm “a step/On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,/For in my way it lies” (Act 1, Scene 4).  At that point he seemed ready to do whatever it took to become king.  Once Duncan was actually in his house, however, he found betraying him more difficult.

Does McCandless find happiness in Into the Wild?

It is not possible to know if McCandless ever found true happiness or not.  We would have to ask him, and then hope that he told the truth.  Based solely on how he died, no, I don't think that he found happiness.  From Krakauer's account, it's clear that McCandless was panicking near the end of his life.  

S.O.S. I NEED YOUR HELP. I AM INJURED, NEAR DEATH, AND TOO WEAK TO HIKE OUT OF HERE I AM ALL ALONE, THIS IS NO JOKE. IN THE NAME OF GOD, PLEASE REMAIN TO SAVE ME. I AM OUT COLLECTING BERRIES CLOSE BY AND SHALL RETURN THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, CHRIS MCCANDLESS. AUGUST?

McCandless was starving to death and too hurt to do anything about it.  No, I don't think he was happy when he wrote that note.  

But in the months preceding his death, yes, I think that McCandless had found happiness.  For McCandless being on the road, being accountable only to himself, and proving his self sufficiency was all that he wanted and needed.  He did that for months at a time.  He went where he wanted, and he went when he wanted.  He experienced a life out in the wilderness like his idol Jack London so frequently wrote about.  Additionally McCandless lived a sort of ascetic lifestyle like another one of his idols -- Tolstoy.  Yes, I think McCandless was happy.  And I think he was thrilled with his life for the few weeks that happened after Jim Gallien dropped him off in the Alaskan wilderness.  It was his dream to do, and he was finally going to live it. 

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.”

What kind of punishment would be expected if a minor committed the crime of breaking and entering with the aggravating circumstances of assault?

First, the details must be delineated. One needs to determine the elements involved. Breaking and entering or burglary is when a person enters or remains in or on premises not their own with the intent to commit a crime. The crime is most often theft. The premises can be a building, structure, fenced area and, in some jurisdictions, a vessel, or vehicle. This can involve physically defeating a locked access point or entering through an open, unlocked, or previously damaged location.

A distinction exists between breaking and entering (burglary) and robbery. Once a burglar uses force or the threat of force, the breaking and entering becomes a robbery. Though both are felony crimes, robbery brings with it a higher criminal penalty.

Minors are those persons under the age of majority but for most criminal purposes are under eighteen. Children under very young ages are presumed by law to be “unable” to commit crime due to a legal “inability” to determine an act is wrong. In other circumstances, minors can be charged as adults if the force used in the robbery is serious enough to cause serious injury or death.

Other factors to consider are the age of the minor, the degree of the force used, whether or not this is the minor’s first offense, and the general attitude of the juvenile justice system in a particular jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions (and some judges) are more lenient than others.

Once one considers these elements and factors, one can determine the likely outcome of a trial and a minor’s possible punishment. Let us assume the minor is a teenager. Let us also assume the robbery resulted in no or minimal injuries to the victim(s). Even a first offense involving robbery, a crime of violence, will likely result in, rather than probation, some time served in a juvenile detention center.

What is the basic concept of structuralism?

Structuralism is a method used by sociologists, anthropologists, literary theorists, and linguists. They employ this method to show how all aspects of culture are based upon some underlying structure. This underlying structure or structures are formed by interrelations. 

The origins of structuralism are linked to the work of the linguist Ferdinand de Saussure. He separated language into "parole" (actual uses of words and language in speech and writing) and "langue" (the abstract structure of language). Words do not get their meanings from themselves. The word "bear" signifies the idea of a bear and/or the actual bear in the world. But the Latin word "ursa" also means bear. There is no essential link between a word "bear" and the idea bear. Rather, the meaning comes from the abstract structure in which the concept of bear interrelates with other concepts. We know what a bear is by showing its relationships within an abstract structure. This is just a technical way of saying how we define what a bear is. A bear is a mammal who feeds on fish and berries, lives outdoors, etc. The meaning of the bear derives from his similarities, differences, and relations to all of these other things: fish, berries, outdoors, etc. 

Psychoanalysts use structuralism to discover the underlying structures of consciousness. In other words, they believe that the behaviors we exhibit arise from some underlying structure. With Freud, it was the division of consciousness into the Id, Ego, and Superego. With Lacan, it was the structural divisions of the Real, the Symbolic, and the Imaginary. 

Some Marxist theorists suggest that culture and ideology emerge from the economic conditions of life. Our ideas and the ways we think about the world are therefore based upon the way our economic lives (jobs, businesses, products) are structured. 

Anthropologists and sociologists also look for the underlying structures of human life. Claude Levi-Strauss was one of the most famous structural anthropologists. He argued that certain rituals, habits, and behaviors were based upon the familial roles and interactions of a culture. These underlying structures of family and kinship inform how the people interact locally and how they interact with other tribes, nations, etc. Consider how marriage rules, incest taboos, and name changes structure the way men and women interact. 

The basic idea behind structuralism is that individual and collective behaviors emerge from some underlying structure. With Saussure and the linguists, the structure is an abstract system of interrelated concepts. With the Marxists and anthropologists, the structures are daily, physical interactions and rules and codes, respectively. 

How many people are killed in "The Sniper" by Liam O'Flaherty?

The first person to die in the short story "The Sniper" is known as the man in the armored car.  He poked his head out of the top turret in order to speak to the old woman.  She is an informer that is telling the man where the sniper is located.  The man in the armored car was shot by the sniper and slumped over the turret. 

The sniper raised his rifle and fired. The head 35 fell heavily on the turret wall.

The second person to die is the old woman that was informing on the sniper's location.  She was shot and killed immediately after the man in the turret as she was running to escape. 

The woman darted towards the side street. The sniper fired again. The woman whirled round and fell with a sudden shriek into the gutter.

The last man to die is the enemy sniper that was located in the next building over.  The main character sniper shot him with a revolver.  As he was dying from the bullet wound, he fell over the edge of the building.  

Then the dying man on the roof crumpled up and fell forward. The body turned over and over in space and hit the ground with a dull thud. Then it lay still.

In all, three people died in the story.  

What does description of the apartment tell us about the economic situation of the couple in "The Gift of the Magi"?

O. Henry states specifically that the Youngs live in a cheap furnished flat and that the rent is eight dollars a week.

While the mistress of the home is gradually subsiding from the first stage to the second, take a look at the home. A furnished flat at $8 per week. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.

Then he goes on to describe a typical flat in that category. New York was full of tall old buildings that had once been the private residences of affluent families. They had been converted to flats, as in "The Gift of the Magi" or rooming houses, as in "The Furnished Room." O. Henry have enjoyed writing such descriptions. He picks out details in the Youngs' flat that tell a lot about the rest of the place and a lot about the economic situation of this couple. He does not use blocks of description but drops little details here and there, up to the point where Della audaciously decides to sell her hair and goes rushing out of doors in her old brown jacket and her old brown hat.

The first detail, or example, is "the shabby little couch" on which Della drops down to cry. Then there is the vestibule with "a letter-box into which no letter would go, and an electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring." Back in the flat we see the pier-glass, which is a long, narrow mirror.

Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat. A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection in a rapid sequence of longitudinal strips, obtain a fairly accurate conception of his looks.  

At least Della is still young. We can picture her mirthlessly dancing back and forth in front of that mirror.

The author even gives a glimpse of the outside.

She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard. 

And finally Della drops a tear or two on the "worn red carpet." These few select details give an overall impression of the depressive appearance and haunted aura of the building, the neighborhood, and the flat. We realize that Della and her husband are near the bottom of the economic ladder. This is essential to the story, because O. Henry's theme is that their love for each other makes everything else all right.

O. Henry not only sympathized with the little people who were struggling to survive in the big, cold city of New York, but they were his audience. They read his stories in the newspapers and magazines, which were about the only kind of literature they could afford. They understood him, and he understood them. He was a well-loved writer in his time. He was not a crusader for any political cause. He was a fellow-sufferer. 

The general shabbiness of the flat, without a single amenity, is intended to serve as a contrast to the two treasures this couple possesses. Both Della's beautiful hair and Jim's handsome gold watch are made to shine all the more brilliantly because of the dingy surroundings. Della's hair would arouse envy in the Queen of Sheba, and Jim's watch would do the same to King Solomon in these comically exaggerated comparisons. The enormous value of these two treasures makes us appreciate their sacrifice, their love, and their courage even more.

Why does Miss Maudie believe that appointing Atticus was no accident?

One day, Scout, Dill, and Jem are visiting with Miss Maudie, their neighbor.  Miss Maudie tells them that "there are some men in this world who were born to do... unpleasant jobs" (To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 22).  She notes that Atticus Finch is one of those men.  He has been appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman.  

Jem expresses his frustration regarding the Tom Robinson trial.  He questions who will help Tom Robinson.  Miss Maudie notes that many people are supportive of Tom.  She poses a question:

"Did it ever strike you that Judge Taylor naming Atticus to defend that boy was no accident?  That Judge Taylor might have had his reasons for naming him?"

Typically, if the court appoints an attorney for defense in Maycomb, a man named Maxwell Green is selected.  Scout and Jem had not previously thought of this fact.  Green is a new lawyer and has needed to take on more cases to gain experience.  

Miss Maudie knows that Atticus will not win this case.  However, she knows that "he's the only man in these parts who can keep a jury out so long in a case like that."  She knows that Atticus will try his best to give Tom a fair trial even though he is accused of a serious crime for a black man.  He will represent Tom well.  She thinks it is a step in the right direction in the fight against injustice.

What is the speaker trying to do in the poem "To the Doctor who Treated the Raped Baby and who Felt Such Despair"?

In Finuala Dowling's poem, "To the Doctor who Treated the Raped Baby and Who Felt Such Despair," the speaker attempts to reassure the doctor who is given the horrible task of treating an infant rape victim.  Of course the doctor is in a state of shock and agony at the evil he is having to fix, even to the point where he asks "Where is God?"

However, the speaker gives the doctor, and the reader, the calming knowledge that for every one evil example of man's inhumanity, other people in the world are putting themselves last in order to care for and nurture others.

For example, "when the bleeding baby was admitted to your care faraway a Karoo shepherd crooned a ramkietjie lullaby in the veld" shows the reader that far away from the operating room, another baby was being cared for and sung to.  As the baby is being "stitched," in a safe bed in a safe home, another baby is being read "another chapter of a favourite story."

The poem is an appeal to the doctor not to give up hope.  Additionally, it supports the overall idea that humanity is generally kind and compassionate and that one horrible crime against a child is not indicative of the whole world.  

What are some reasons to like Juliet in Romeo and Juliet?

Juliet is wonderfully innocent and wide-eyed at the beginning of Romeo and Juliet. She is obviously a beautiful girl who knows little of life. She has lived in the insulated world of her wealthy family and the loving arms of her nurse. She is steadfastly loyal, first to her parents and later to Romeo. Loyalty may be her most redeeming quality. In this loyalty she also displays a good deal of maturity and develops into quite a dynamic character as she transforms from a naive little girl into a responsible woman who takes full responsibility for her actions.

In Act I, Scene 3 she is quite aware that she needs to be the dutiful daughter and, when asked about marrying Count Paris, offers a vague answer which she knows will please both her mother and the Nurse. Even if she really likes Paris she won't do anything without permission:

I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.

Once she meets Romeo her entire world changes. She is swept off her feet by the charming Montague, who compares himself to a pilgrim worshipping at a religious shrine when they first meet. She obviously feels a spiritual connection to Romeo and believes they must be soulmates. After their exchange of love vows in the balcony scene she is steadfastly committed to Romeo and nothing, not even the death of Tybalt and Romeo's banishment, can dissuade her from this loyalty. In Act IV, she carries out the ultimate sacrifice for Romeo by agreeing to Friar Laurence's plan to fake her death. Despite expressing numerous fears about taking the potion, she goes through with it in the hopes that it will bring her and Romeo back together again.

Juliet grows up right before the audience's eyes and one cannot but admire her transformation. In a play dominated by static characters who cannot break away from their personality defects (Mercutio, Tybalt), she is really the one dynamic character who displays growth over the course of the tragedy. She deserves better, but in the end, she is true to herself and Romeo.

How can we tell that Scout is maturing in the tea party scene of Kill a To Mockingbird?

The scene shows that Scout is maturing because she feels empathy for Aunt Alexandra and understands how the ladies are being hypocritical.

Scout’s father spent most of her childhood trying to teach her the subtle art of empathy.  Empathy is part of maturity, however, and it was something that took Scout time to learn.  We see that Scout has matured by her behavior during Aunt Alexandra’s missionary circle meeting.  Scout says the meeting is “part of her campaign to teach me to be a lady” (Ch. 24).  Scout is supposed to wear a nice dress, help serve, and behave herself.

The meeting is not without incident.  Some of the ladies tease Scout, asking her questions adults seem to always ask kids, like what they want to be when they grow up.  They laugh at her response and tease her for going to the courthouse.  Miss Maudie holds her hand in quiet support.

The first challenge in the meeting comes when the ladies begin describing squalor in Africa, the cause of the day, and the conversation switches to Helen Robinson.  This is dangerous territory because Atticus is defending Tom Robinson.  Miss Maudie finally can’t take the hypocrisy and makes a comment.  Scout notices Alexandra’s reaction.

Aunt Alexandra got up from the table and swiftly passed more refreshments, neatly engaging Mrs. Merriweather and Mrs. Gates in brisk conversation. … Aunt Alexandra stepped back.  She gave Miss Maudie a look of pure gratitude, and I wondered at the world of women. (Ch. 24)

Even though she is not really old enough to understand what is going on, Scout is mildly aware of the hypocrisy of claiming to care about starving people in African while ignoring and patronizing the blacks at home.  She also understands that Miss Maudie stuck up for Aunt Alexandra and Aunt Alexandra was grateful.

It is at this same party that Atticus tells them what happened to Tom Robinson.  He was shot while trying to escape.

“This is the last straw, Atticus,” Aunt Alexandra said.

“Depends on how you look at it,” he said. “What was one Negro, more or less, among two hundred of ‘em? He wasn’t Tom to them, he was an escaping prisoner.” (Ch. 24)

Again, Miss Maudie supports Alexandra.  She is deeply affected by Robinson’s death, thinking of how it affects her brother.  Scout watches Miss Maudie shore up Alexandra, and they all go back in and face the other ladies with their heads held high, like nothing happened.  They are three ladies putting up a brave front.

A kidnapping plan ought to do better in the country than in the city. Why did Sam and Bill think so?

In the opening paragraphs of the story, Sam describes the town they have chosen to attempt the kidnapping as such: 

There was a town down there, as flat as a flannel-cake, and called Summit, of course. It contained inhabitants of as undeleterious and self-satisfied a class of peasantry as ever clustered around a Maypole. 

First of all, the town is called "Summit" which suggests something high, like the top of a mountain. But the town is "as flat as a flannel-cake." Sam gets the impression that these people are so simple-minded that they don't even know the proper way to name their own town. The citizens are "undeleterious" and this means they are harmless. They are "self-satisfied" peasants. This suggests that they are comfortable with a simplistic, rural lifestyle. In other words, they are not cultured, probably not that smart, and they are okay with that. So, these rural people ought to be simpleminded and unlikely to challenge them in the kidnapping attempt. 

Philoprogenitiveness, says we, is strong in semi-rural communities; therefore, and for other reasons, a kidnapping project ought to do better there than in the radius of newspapers that send reporters out in plain clothes to stir up talk about such things. We knew that Summit couldn’t get after us with anything stronger than constables and, maybe, some lackadaisical bloodhounds and a diatribe or two in the Weekly Farmers’ Budget. So, it looked good. 

Sam and Bill concluded that, in rural communities, people must love their children (philoprogenitiveness), thus making it likely that the parents of the kidnapped child will be more than willing to provide a ransom. It also makes sense to choose a rural setting because there is less likelihood of major press getting involved. And they also suppose that the law enforcement in such a small town is probably not that extensive or even used to dealing with this sort of thing. 

These are all logical conclusions based upon their assumptions, but some of their assumptions turn out to be wrong. 

Why is the Circle Justice important in Touching Spirit Bear?

Circle Justice is an alternative to prison. It is meant to heal, not punish.

“Circle Justice is for those ready for healing.  It’s not an easy way out.  In fact, a healing path is often much harder“ (Mikaelsen 38).

Circle Justice in this book is an experimental program in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is based on a form of justice practiced by Native American cultures for thousands of years. However, it is not solely restricted to the American Indian culture.

“Anybody can love, forgive, and heal. Nobody has a corner on that market“ (Mikaelsen 10).

 The idea is that the society must take some responsibility for the fact that this person did this act. Their role now is to rehabilitate that person, not punish him, for the good of society. Everybody is a part of the process, including the victim. 

“...Cole isn’t the only problem here tonight. He is only a symptom of a family and a community that has somehow broken down.  If we can’t find solutions, we all fail, we all share the guilt, and we all pay a terrible price” (Mikaelsen 49).

The candidate must apply for Circle Justice and plead guilty to the crime. They can withdraw that guilty plea at any time and go to trial. However, if they go to trial, they cannot return to Circle Justice. The candidate is not automatically accepted. First, the Circle committee will interview the candidate, talk with the victim, interview the candidate’s family and others, and decide whether they think the candidate is serious about wanting to change. This process takes time, and during that time, Cole will remain at the detention center.

After Cole went through the interview process, Garvey reports,

“The Circle needs to know if you're committed to wanting change.  Some think you still have an attitude” (Mikaelsen 21).

After Cole was accepted into the program, the committee had preparation meetings called Circles of Understanding.  Each meeting was considered a Healing Circle, but they would have different names for them depending on their focus.

There were Talking circles, Peacemaking Circles, and Community Circles.  Eventually there would be Bail Circles and Sentencing Circles (Mikaelsen 34).

The victim and his family may also join the Circle if they feel that it gives them a voice in the process and that the victim could also heal.

“Our challenge is to return wellness, not only to Peter Driscal, but also to Cole Matthews and to our community" (Mikaelsen 39).

Cole also needs a sponsor. The committee requires a person to go through the change with the candidate. Cole chooses Garvey. However, Garvey tells him,

“I don’t invest time in losers.  Unless you’re one hundred and ten percent committed to this change, you’re wasting my time and everybody else’s ---- you’re better off in jail” (Mikaelsen 21).

Next, the Keepers, the organizers of the circles, call a Hearing Circle where everyone gets together to try and find a solution to the problem. This Healing Circle is open to everyone who wants to help. Garvey tells Cole,

“Might be your parents, the lawyers, the judge, myself, community members, maybe even your classmates at school  Anybody can be a part of the Circle if they want to help find a solution“ (Mikaelsen 33).

Cole’s behavior upsets the committee, and it is Garvey who eventually develops a plan for Cole’s rehabilitation.

“It is possible I could make arrangements to have Cole banished to a remote island on the Inland Passage. This is something First Nation people have done for hundreds of years.  Cole could undergo a vision quest of sorts, an extended time alone to face himself and to face the angry spirits inside of him”  (Mikaelsen 56).

That is Cole’s sentence, and it will last for one year.

Should students be graded on the basis of their handwriting?

Grading students on the basis of their handwriting is ableist and alienates students from demonstrating the real knowledge they are supposed to have gained.

Students who have cognitive disabilities or information processing disorders like dyslexia, or who suffer from tremors, peripheral nerve degeneration, or hypersensitivity in the hands may have trouble writing to a standard that meets most teacher's expectations. Even a physically and mentally typical child may simply have poor handwriting, and though this can improve with practice, punishing children for poor penmanship breeds poor self esteem and hostility in the school environment.

Unless enrolled in a course that specifically grades for penmanship--like calligraphy or design--a student's penmanship should not influence their grades. Teachers should be grading for whether or not material has been understood and synthesized rather than whether it is presented in a visually-appealing form.

If conflict arises over a student's handwriting, the option to type and print out assignments may be an appropriate alternative. In the case of a physical or mental impairment, a special plan may be developed between the student's family and the school to ensure that they are not unfairly penalized for their condition. 

What situations exist within a country that drive its people to revolution?

Revolutions are very complex, and arise for a number of different reasons. Let us look at a few of them, with some examples.

One condition that often leads to revolution is the existence of a class of people that feels disfranchised or shut out from full political or social participation. A good example of this would be the bourgeoisie, the members of the Third Estate in pre-Revolutionary France. They were mostly comfortable, educated merchants and businessmen who felt that their social mobility was restrained by the old order in France, which retained certain privileges for the nobility and the clergy. Another example of this condition is the gens de couleur libre in Saint-Domingue. These people were mostly of mixed race, owning many slaves and controlling considerable wealth, but they were not allowed to vote or participate in the island's society in meaningful ways. They were the initial leaders of what would become the Haitian Revolution. Some people argue that the leaders of the American Revolution felt the same way about their place in the British Empire.

Another condition that leads to revolution is a nation's participation in a war. When things go bad, sometimes a revolution can ensue. The Russian Revolution is the classic example of this. Russian participation in World War I had been disastrous, leading to costly and humiliating defeats as well as severe shortages on the home front. This helped lead to the Russian Revolution, and the failure of the Provisional Government to remove the nation from the war after the first wave of the revolution helped lead to the Bolshevik Revolution, whose leaders promised the Russian people "peace, land, and bread."

Finally, nationalism can be a powerful force contributing to revolution. We can see it at work in the revolutions that spread throughout Europe in the early to mid nineteenth century. People came to feel nationalistic bonds with other peoples within their nation, and they resented being controlled by what they had come to see as foreign empires. Greek revolutionaries sought independence from the Ottoman Empire, Belgium from France, Hungary from Austria, and many others. Other revolutionaries, like in Italy and the German states, sought to unify their "nations," barely conceived of before then. 

All of these conditions can help contribute to revolutions, but there are many more. While comparing revolutions is a rich field of historical study, ultimately each revolution is unique. 

How many hydrogen/hydroxide ions are present in 25.0 cm^3 of 0.1 mol/dm^3 hydrochloric acid?

Hydrochloric acid (chemical formula: HCl) releases hydrogen ions (`H^+` ) when it is dissolved in water. Here we are given some concentration and volume of the acid. We can determine the number of moles of acid from the given information by multiplying the two. That is:

Moles of acid = concentration x volume

= `(0.1 mol)/(dm^3) xx 25 cm^3`

since 1 dm^3 = 1 liter = 1000 cm^3

moles of acid = `(0.1 mol)/(1000 cm^3) xx 25 cm^3`

= 0.0025 moles of acid

Each mole contains an Avogadro's number of ions or atoms or molecules, etc. Avogadro's number is equal to 6.023 x 10^23.

Thus the number of hydrogen ions in the given amount of acid

= 0.0025 moles x 6.023 x 10^23 = 1.51 x 10^21 hydrogen ions

Thus, the given amount of hydrochloric acid contains 1.51 x 10^21 hydrogen ions.

Hope this helps. 

Explain the concept of “absolutism” as practiced in 17th and 18th century Europe. How was it justified, what elements were necessary for its...

Absolutism was a political doctrine which meant a ruler had an unlimited power and authority in the state in which he ruled. Absolutism was based on the principle that  monarchs or dictators deserved absolute power, so their decisions and evaluations were not supposed to be challenged or disputed by anyone.

Absolutism was based on the premise that God granted monarchs earthly power to rule, so they wanted to be seen as the those promoting God's will. This meant rulers could justify their oppressive rule by calling themselves as the promoters of God's will and punishing all those who they labeled as the traitors of God.

Monarchs' authority could not be challenged by any system, whether it was religious, social or judicial. This meant rulers could abuse their power.

The most famous ruler who practiced absolutism was King Louis XIV who proclaimed: "I am the state" (http://www.britannica.com/topic/absolutism-political-system). Absolutism was prevalent in the 17th and 18th century in countries such as Austria, Prussia and Russia. 

Who were the people and groups involved in Hitler's control over Germany?

First and foremost, the Nazi Party was involved in elevating Adolf Hitler to a prominent place within their party. The National Socialist German Worker's Party (Nazi) was a relatively obscure group in the early 1920's that rallied against the Treaty of Versailles and communism. Adolf Hitler's oratory and organization skills quickly gained him favor with the other party members. As the Nazis became the dominant party in Germany, Hitler was appointed chancellor by president Paul von Hindenburg in early 1933. As chancellor, Hitler was aided by a number of groups in his quest for total authority in Germany.

A number of paramilitary secret police organizations allowed Hitler to destroy political opposition in Germany. The Sturmabteilung (SA) was the group primarily responsible for the rise of Hitler and the Nazis in Germany. The group harassed political groups and disrupted their operations throughout the 1920's. Heinrich Himmler and the Schutzstaffel (SS) provided security and surveillance for the Nazi Party and were the faction most responsible for the atrocities committed against the Jewish population. Another organization was the Gestapo, the official secret police force in Nazi Germany. This group was formed by Hermann Goring in 1933 and also targeted political dissent. These organizations were responsible for Hitler's totalitarian command of the German Reich before and during World War II.

What are some of the true facts in Sarah, Plain and Tall?

I am assuming that you mean true historical facts.  Sarah, Plain and Tall is a well-researched historical fiction novel.  It contains a wealth of accurate historical information about the period.  Anna and Caleb's mother died shortly after the latter was born.  With limited medical assistance, the mortality rate of mother's during and after birth was much higher during that time than it is now.  Sarah came to stay with the family after Anna and Caleb's Papa placed an ad in a newspaper. Because the western part of the United States was populated more by men than women at this time, "mail order brides" sometimes traveled from the east coast to marry.  Near the end of the story, a bad storm blew in.  The family, who lives on a farm, gathered their animals and put them in the barn for protection.  The lives of farmers could drastically change due to bad weather and they needed to protect their crops and livestock.

When all men go to the town and Lennie goes to visit his puppy, who does he visit in Of Mice and Men?

Lennie talks to Crooks while the men are in town.

George and the other men go into town to spend their paychecks, and Lennie stays behind.  He goes into the barn to visit the puppies.  There he finds Crooks, the black stable hand.

Lennie flapped his big hands helplessly. "Ever'body went into town," he said. "Slim an' George an' ever'body. George says I gotta stay here an' not get in no trouble. I seen your light." (Ch. 4)

Crooks is used to being alone.  Most of the ranch hands do not fraternize with him, because he is black.  This is why he lives alone in the tack room instead of in the bunk house with the other men.  Crooks is also something of a permanent resident at the ranch, where the other men are migrants and go from ranch to ranch following work.

Crooks tells Lennie he isn’t wanted.  He tells Lennie that he does not belong in the barn since he is not a skinner.  Lennie tells him he is there to see the puppy.  Soon, it is clear to Crooks that Lennie is not like the others.

Crooks scowled, but Lennie's disarming smile defeated him. "Come on in and set a while," Crooks said. "'Long as you won't get out and leave me alone, you might as well set down." His tone was a little more friendly. "All the boys gone into town, huh?" (Ch. 4)

Crooks and Lennie are both outcasts and they are lonely.  Lennie seeks comfort and companionship with the puppies, and Crooks finds it in Lennie.  He is able to let his guard down because Lennie sees him as a person and not a black man.

Unfortunately, Lennie soon kills the puppy and then accidentally kills Curley’s wife, so it is not a long friendship.  Lennie is childlike, does not know his strength, and seems unable to control himself. 

If your highest strengths are not used regularly in your work or school life, what changes could you make to remedy this situation?

If you’re brand new to this workplace or this school, then you should let a little time go by. Watch how the procedures work in this place, for at least a month or two. Write down places where you think your hidden talents could help the organization. If you have proof that you successfully used these talents somewhere else, be sure to collect examples of your previous work. Also get the contact information of a former boss or teacher who can vouch for your past contributions. If this is the first time you are publicly unveiling these abilities, then have some kind of samples of your craft -- a portfolio of artwork, an audio or video recording, a written outline, etc.

Now it will be time to make your move. Go to your new boss or teacher armed with your examples and references. Ask him/her for a few minutes to discuss something new. Then when you have his/her attention, outline the specific places in the procedures where your hidden talents would help out. It will be beneficial if you can predict that the addition of your action will somehow improve the operation. Otherwise, why would anyone want to change what presumably already works? If you’re an introvert and the thought of approaching your boss or teacher face to face is a scary and panicky thought, then make your pitch via e-mail. But if you do it this way, be sure to use standard language written out: no LOLs, BTWs, ROTFLs, u, 4, etc. Have a trusted friend or relative look over your message for clarity, good grammar and spelling before you send it.

Some folks may suggest that you jump right in and change the procedure on your own, without asking first, in order to prove that you have the better way. I would not recommend doing this. That plan could backfire. I like the casual approach – armed with vital information – instead. Good luck!

What plan does Romeo share with the Nurse in Scene 4?

In Act II, Scene IV, of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is out joking with his friends when Nurse comes to speak to him. Juliet has sent her with a message, but Nurse is protective of Juliet and wants to make sure that Romeo is true to her. She is relieved when he says that he has no intentions to make a fool of Juliet, and she promises to share this with Juliet. Essentially, Nurse is giving her blessing to their relationship. Romeo goes on to ask Nurse to send Juliet to confession with Friar Laurence that afternoon, where the two young lovers may be married. He also instructs Nurse to wait nearby so that Romeo's servant may give her a rope-ladder. The rope-ladder is for Juliet to hang out of her window so that, in the dark of night, Romeo can sneak into her room for the consummation of their marriage.

What information did Lord Canterville provide to Mr. Otis before handing over Canterville Chase?

In Chapter One of "The Canterville Ghost," Lord Canterville sells his ancestral home, Canterville Chase, to Mr Otis. On the day of the sale, Lord Canterville feels duty-bound to inform Mr Otis that the house is haunted and this is the reason why he and his family have moved out.

In fact, the ghost has been at Canterville Chase since 1584 and, during this time, has appeared on many occasions. Lord Canterville's grand-aunt, the Dowager Duchess of Bolton, was "frightened into a fit" after the ghost put his skeletal hands on her shoulders. His wife, Lady Canterville, was also bothered by the resident ghost: she got "very little sleep at night in consequence of the mysterious noises that came from the corridor and the library." After these incidents, many of Lord Canterville's servants refused to stay at Canterville Chase, forcing the family to depart and find a new home. 

Despite Lord Canterville's warning, Mr Otis is very sceptical about the presence of a ghost because he comes from a "modern country" and believes in the laws of nature, not the supernatural. This contrast between Lord Canterville and Mr Otis represents a clash between the old world and the new. It also sets the tone for the rest of the story, by preparing the reader for the inevitable conflict between the ghost and the Otis family. 

Can you please explain why Gandhi's "Quit India" speech was important?

Gandhi delivered his "Quit India" speech on August 8, 1942. In the speech, he emphasized his belief in ahimsa, a Sanskrit word meaning "not to injure," and dedicated himself to non-violence to achieve Indian independence from Great Britain. He said: 

"Ours is not a drive for power, but purely a nonviolent fight for India’s independence. In a violent struggle, a successful general has been often known to effect a military coup and to set up a dictatorship. But under the Congress scheme of things, essentially nonviolent as it is, there can be no room for dictatorship. A non-violent soldier of freedom will covet nothing for himself, he fights only for the freedom of his country."

This speech is important because the All-India Congress Committee had decided on a policy to end British rule in India immediately, and they recognized Gandhi as the leader in this campaign. He gave he gave two "Quit India" speeches, one in English and one in Hindi, to launch this non-violent campaign for Indian independence. These speeches mark the beginning of this campaign. However, the leaders of the movement were jailed less than 24 hours after he gave this speech.

What are the problems in Tuck Everlasting?

I think that your question is referring to the types of conflict that are present in Tuck Everlasting.  

Man vs. man is present in the novel.  The man in the yellow suit wants to know about the Tuck family and gain knowledge of the spring.  Once he has possession of the spring, he plans to basically bottle and sell the water to the highest bidder.  This of course is directly against what the Tuck family believes should be done with the spring.  The man in the yellow suit tries to use Winnie as leverage against her parents and against the Tucks, but Mae does not let that happen.  She hits the man in the yellow suit in the head with the butt of a shotgun, and he dies soon after.  

His death introduces a new type of conflict.  The conflict is man vs. society.  The constable witnessed Mae striking the stranger, and he put her in jail to await trial and punishment.  The Tuck family knows that Mae did wrong and should be held accountable by the law.  Of course if that were to happen, their secret would be out.  The Tuck family opts for a prison break.  

Which brings me to the final type of conflict -- man vs self.  Winnie struggles with her own emotions and decisions regarding two specific events.  She has an internal conflict with whether or not she should drink the spring water and become an immortal or not.  In the end, she chooses to pour the bottle over the toad.  Her other internal conflict is over whether or not she should help break Mae out of jail.  She wants to help the Tucks, but she knows that she could get into huge trouble.  Winnie does choose to help break Mae out and suffer the consequences.  

How did nationalism influence imperialism?

One way to think through the relationship between nationalism and imperialism is through the logic of political economy and racism. Imperialism can be understood as the extension of a nation's influence  over other sovereign territories. Historically, (informal) imperial relations came to replace what were crumbling colonial (or formal imperial) relations. Economically, imperialism is understood to be the highest stage of capitalism. We can link these conceptualizations through the role race and resources played as the world transformed from colonial relations of nations and colonies to imperial relations of core nations and peripheral nations. While the creation of the Nation-state system in Europe was through internal warfare, once formed, it perpetuated itself as sovereign through constant competition for capital, labour, markets, and territory. The subjugation of foreign populations to the competing interests of (European) sovereign nations were justified on the basis of the scientifically hegemonic (and notably racist) idea of social darwinism. However, it was the exact process of colonialism which led to the emergence of nationalist movements within the occupied territories (e.g. colonies). Notably, these nationalist movements were constituted (and gained prominence) on the basis of their critique of  imperialism. Despite formal decolonization, the newly formed nations continued to be under partial control of their former colonizers - these contemporary imperial relations are what facilitates the flow of raw materials from resource-rich countries in the global south to advanced industrial nations (primarily in the global north).

Is "Death Rains' by Mary Ndlovu written in blank verse or free verse?

Technically, this poem was originally part of Geoffrey Chaucer's Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer's style is usually iambic pentameter, meaning ten syllables or five metric "feet" of a stressed and an unstressed syllable in each line. He often uses rhyming schemes to create additional structure. In this prologue to his most famous work, he uses a series of rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter.

Mary Ndlovu's translated selection, called "Death Rains" and often used as a selection for declamation, speech, or forensic competitions, is re-written from Chaucer's original piece. The selection seems similar to blank verse, which is in iambic pentameter but does not rhyme. However, there are not ten syllables in each line, and her lines do not rhyme, therefore "Death Rains" is actually in free verse.

What is the purpose of using methylene blue solution in an experiment to identify which sample of water is more polluted? In the experiment, the...

Methylene blue is an indicator used in colorimetric testing of water. Methylene blue is an indirect indicator of presence of dissolved oxygen. In presence of oxygen, the indicator exhibits a blue color. However, in a reducing environment, it converts to a colorless leuco-compound. Thus, it can be used to figure out if there are oxygen-consuming compounds in the water sample. Generally, organic wastes consume dissolved oxygen from water and make it unfit for consumption or for aquatic life (which generally need at least 3-4 mg/l dissolved oxygen for survival). When introduced in a water sample, methylene blue will cause the sample to turn blue and the coloration will be lost depending on the concentration of oxygen-consuming substances. The more time it takes for discoloration to take place, lesser is the quantity of oxygen consuming contaminants and hence more pure the water is (that is, less polluted).

Hope this helps.  

In what ways does Walter Mitty's daydreaming benefit him, and in what ways does it cause problems for him in his relations with others in "The...

Walter Mitty's daydreams are acts of rebellion against his oppressive wife, imaginary displays of manliness that feed Mitty's wounded ego. However, he sometimes becomes embroiled in conflict because of his daydreams.

In one daydream, Walter Mitty imagines that he is the commander of a SN202, a Navy hydroplane that breaks through ice. As others say that the machine will not make it through, Commander Mitty barks orders and the crew say in awe, "The Old Man ain't afraid of Hell!" But Walter is interrupted by his wife's scolding,

"You're driving too fast!....I don't like to go more than forty. You were up to fifty-five."

Mitty drives on, but his daydream must be abandoned when Mrs. Mitty again interrupts,

"You're tensed up again....It's one of your days. I wish you'd let Dr. Renshaw look over you."

In another daydream, Mitty pretends that he is a surgeon who fixes a new anesthetizer by positioning a fountain pen in the place of a faulty piston. He is then asked to take over for Dr. Renshaw, who is a drunkard. But Mitty's daydream is interrupted by a parking-lot attendant: "Wrong lane, Mac." Afterward, Mitty meekly mutters, "Gee. Yeh" and tries to maneuver his car out of the Exit lane. Still, the attendant shouts at him, "Leave her sit there....I'll put her away," and he backs the car up with "insolent skill."

What had Holmes thought was the significance of Julia's last words in "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"? In what way could her words be...

Julia Stoner's last words involved a speckled band, which might lead people to think a gypsy did it.

Helen Stoner comes to hire Sherlock Holmes because her twin sister died in suspicious circumstances, and she is afraid she is next.  She shares the story of her wicked stepfather and his aggressive behavior, and tells Holmes about Helen’s last words.

At first I thought that she had not recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I shall never forget, ‘Oh, my God! Helen! It was the band! The speckled band!’ 

Holmes is more interested in the whistle and the metallic sound than the "band."  It is what makes him think that it was definitely murder.  The door was secured, so no one knows how anyone could have gotten in to murder her.

Holmes asks what killed Julia, asking Helen specifically about poisons.  Then he mentions the band in Julia’s last words.

“Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?”

“Yes, there are nearly always some there.”

“Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band—a speckled band?”

This is red herring.  At the time, we assume that the speckled band is the “band” of gypsies.  It turns out to be a snake.  The whistle was Dr. Roylott’s way of calling it.  When Julia told Helen about the “speckled band” with her last words, she was not talking about a group of people at all.  She was talking about a snake!

Holmes and Watson go to Stoke Moran and test Holmes’s theory.  They hear a whistle, and in comes a snake Holmes calls a swamp adder.  It is one of Dr. Roylott’s many exotic creatures, and also his murder weapon.  The snake turns on him, killing him as well.  Case solved!  No trial is needed for this one.

In Julie of the Wolves, what are some ways that Julie stays alive?

Julie/Miyax stays alive by cutting and drying caribou meat, curling up into her animal skins, creating a sod shelter, and using all of her innate Eskimo knowledge taught to her by her father, Kapugen; however, most importantly, Julie stays alive by learning the ways of the wolves, accepting their help when it is prudent, and actually becoming part of the wolf pack.

In regards to learning from the wolf pack and its leader, Amaroq, Julie adopts many different means of survival.  The first "way" Julie stays alive is by taking her father's advice:

Wolves are brotherly ... they love each other, and if you learn to speak to them, they will love you too.

Believing the wolves are her "gentle brothers," Julie learns the meanings behind their ear movements and mimics them with her hands.  Immediately following this, Julie learns more ways to show submission.  By running up to Amaroq and turning belly-up in submission (like a wolf-pup), Julie becomes part of the pack.  As one of the "pups," Julie is offered regurgitated food (which is their main source of nourishment).  As the pups get older, Julie is offered raw caribou meat that she dries in order to save for use when needed.

How does Ralph indicate his belief that Piggy is smarter than he is?

Chapter Five, Beast from the Water, finds Ralph walking by himself, alone with his thoughts. Ralph is far more cynical now about the island and he takes a moment to remember how enthusiastically he explored it when they first arrived. He knows that he needs to plan to hold another assembly, but he's trying to think it through first, in order to address the items that need to be addressed. He knows that the meeting needs to be a serious one and that is the part that bothers Ralph. 

Ralph continues walking up the beach as the tide comes in and he begins to be bothered by all of the little things that signify how long they've been on the island, such as the length of his hair, how stiff and sandy his clothes are, or how his clothes are beginning to chafe. He reaches the bathing pool, where the rest of the boys are gathered. As he loses himself in thought again, Ralph realizes: 

Ralph moved impatiently. The trouble was, if you were a chief you had to think, you had to be wise. And then the occasion slipped by so that you had to grab at a decision. This made you think; because thought was a valuable thing, that got results. Only, decided Ralph as he faced the chief’s seat, I can’t think. Not like Piggy. Piggy could think. He could go step by step inside that fat head of his, only Piggy was no chief. But Piggy, for all his ludicrous body, had brains. Ralph was a specialist in thought now, and could recognize thought in another. (Chapter 5, pg. 109) 

Ralph realizes that Piggy has an ability that he doesn't and that this is part of the problem with having Ralph as chief. He recognizes that Piggy's ability to think ahead and break things down is an asset, but he fails to recognize Jack's charisma as a threat. 

Why does Shakespeare have Macbeth display certain admirable traits at the end of The Tragedy of Macbeth?

In Macbeth, Macbeth develops and changes drastically throughout the course of the play. He begins as a noble warrior for Scotland and ends as a tyrant and murderer. At the end of the play, Macbeth knows that he will most likely die. He has seen Birnam Wood move to Dunsinane, and he knows that he is fighting Macduff, who is not born of a woman. The witches prophesied that he would be overtaken when these two things occurred. Therefore, at this point in the play, Macbeth knows he is going to die. However, in his death he does show bravery, courage, and honor. He knows that Macduff will most likely overtake him and kill him. Yet he does not back down. He says, "Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane, And thou opposed, being of no woman born, Yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff" (Act 5 Scene 8). He does not give up and surrender even though he knows he is going to die. Courage, honor, and bravery are positive characteristics that Macbeth showcases here at the end of his life. In his plays, Shakespeare showcases human nature. Many times we as humans want to end our lives on a positive note. For some people this might mean reconciling with another individual, or it could be donating money to a cause. Macbeth wants to end his life positively to try to "redeem" some of the bad choices he has made. Even though Macbeth deteriorated as a character throughout the play, he ends his life in an admirable way.

Why is Thomas Paine important to us now?

Thomas Paine is important in United States History. As our relationship began to deteriorate with Great Britain in the 1770s, there were voices that began to call for independence. Thomas Paine was of those people who believed we should become independent from Great Britain.

Thomas Paine wanted to convince people that independence from Great Britain was needed. He wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense that explained why we needed to break free from British rule. This pamphlet was widely read and was very influential in convincing people that breaking away from the rule of Great Britain was the proper and correct action to take. After this document was written, published, and read, our relationship with Great Britain deteriorated further eventually leading to the writing of and the issuing of the Declaration of Independence. What Thomas Paine had formally suggested in Common Sense was now fully realized when we declared independence from Great Britain in July 1776.

What are two examples of metaphors in Romeo and Juliet?

William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet is fraught with metaphors! A metaphor is a form of figurative language which applies non-literal descriptions in order to draw comparisons between two otherwise unrelated things. We see many metaphors in the first few acts of the play as Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love. One might argue that the use of this kind of language is more artful, more poetic, and heightens the emotional and dramatic stakes of the dialogue. 

In Act One, Scene Five, Romeo has crashed the Capulet family's celebration. It is here that he first sees the lovely Juliet and remarks:

...It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear..."

Romeo uses this metaphor to compare Juliet's appearance to that of beautiful jewelry, rendering her as exotic and mysterious with his reference to Africa.

When Romeo and Juliet finally do meet later in this same scene, Romeo proclaims:

If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle is this:

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

Again, Romeo uses metaphor to compare Juliet's hand to a holy place (implying that touching her is a spiritual experience) and to identify his lips a"pilgrims" (a word which refers to a person who travels to a sacred location).  The impression that this leaves us with is that Romeo and Juliet's connection is almost religious or a matter of destiny. 

When Nick states that Daisy "asserted her membership in a rather distinguished secret society to which she and Tom belonged," he infers to the...

The line with which this question is referring to is found in chapter 1 on page 17. Preceding this line, Nick and Daisy talk on the porch following dinner. It is during this talk that Daisy shares with Nick how unhappy she is with her life and marriage with Tom. In this exchange, Daisy reveals how unhappy she is with her daughter and that: "I think everything's terrible anyhow." She follows up by saying "Everybody thinks so-the most advanced people." She further goes on to say she knows this because she has been everywhere and done everything:

I’ve been everywhere and seen everything and done everything.” Her eyes flashed around her in a defiant way...

Her attitude is a by-product of the insincere, sarcastic, bitter cynicism she lives with that results from Tom's dalliances with other women (other women is why she "wept" upon hearing she had a daughter).

This leads the reader to infer that the "secret society" Daisy's smirk (an unpleasant smile indicating pleasure at someone else's misfortune or feelings of self-superiority) makes Nick think of relates to Tom's "woman," the bitterness Daisy finds in being "a girl," and the false value of being "sophisticated" in the company of the "most advanced people."

she laughed with thrilling scorn. “Sophisticated — God, I’m sophisticated!”

What are some differences and similarities between "Thank You M'am" and "Mother to Son"

Langston Hughes uses different literary forms to project the same message. “Thank You, M’am” is a short story while “Mother to Son” is a poem. In both examples there is a strong female figure encouraging a young man to step up and not give in to life’s circumstances. In addition, both females reveal difficulties in their own lives. In the poem, the mother reminds her son with these words, “Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.” In “Thank You, M’am,” Mrs. Jones tells Roger that she did things in her a past that she is not proud of but her actions show that she moved forward to a better way of life. Both women encourage the boys to keep trying. One with her words, one with her actions. The mother instills fortitude while Mrs. Jones instills trust.

The poem uses metaphor, informal language, and imagery while the short story is a narrative, which includes dialogue between the characters. Other than the difference in literary form, the relationship of the women to the boys is different. In the poem, a mother is speaking to her son which infers a long standing relationship. In the short story, Mrs. Jones and Roger meet by chance when he attempts to steal her purse. They do not have a background but she seems to understand his circumstances of being poor, unfed, and unwashed. She does not seem surprised when he tells her there is no one home at his house even though it is late in the evening.

In "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," why should it matter that the man stopped was on his way to a wedding?

The mariner's story is not necessarily dramatic at first. He has to get someone involved in his experience before it becomes dramatic. Coleridge saw this and realized the need for drama to hook his reader (not the wedding guest). The only way to hook a reader is through drama. And the only way to provide drama is through conflict. Thus Coleridge invents a small dramatic conflict between the mariner and the wedding guest. The wedding guest wants to go to the wedding, where he is to play an important role and everybody is expecting him. The mariner wants him to stay and listen to his long story. The mariner actually is holding the wedding guest to prevent him from leaving. The wedding guest shows his impatience and annoyance:

He holds him with his skinny hand,
"There was a ship," quoth he.
"Hold off! unhand me, grey-beard loon!"
Eftsoons his hand dropt he.

This conflict is not particularly significant or important per se, but it adds a touch a drama and another dimension to the poem. The wedding guest will continue to protest from time to time, and the ancient mariner will continue to hold him in a spell. The mariner is the winner in the end, because he compels the young man to listen to his entire story and succeeds in creating the impression he wants to make on him. The very last stanza reminds us that the poem has been a story within a story and that there has been a conflict all along. This puts a sort of "frame" around the mariner's story, and there is of course a strong contrast between the two characters, one of whom is young and has his whole life ahead of him, and the other who is old and has his whole life behind him. Young people seldom want to listen to boring old men, but in this case the old man has left an indelible impression on the young one.

He went like one that hath been stunned,
And is of sense forlorn:
A sadder and a wiser man,
He rose the morrow morn.

A major theme in Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is fate vs free will. On one hand, Macbeth was told it was his fate to become Thane of Glamis and Cawdor,...

The question of fate and free will is one which has puzzled philosophers and theologians in the western traditions since Aristotle. In Shakespeare's time, one of the most widely accepted solutions to this conundrum was the one found in Boethius' popular and influential book The Consolation of Philosophy. The key point it makes is the distinction between our point of view and God's point of view.

God exists within eternity, or sacred time, meaning that he sees all things we would consider past and future in a single glance. In a sense, this means that for God, time does not exist as we think of it; there is no past or future, but everything that ever has happened or will happen is immediately present to him. Thus from God's point of view, everything is "fated" and nothing is contingent. God sees all of Macbeth's life and actions at once, just as I see my entire computer screen at a single glance. The witches, through their magic, have a small glimpse into that future, like a mosquito landing on my computer screen might see one or two letters of an entire webpage. 

In one sense, divine foreknowledge means that from God's point of view, everything is fated and unalterable. Macbeth isn't God, though, and cannot see the future. Macbeth sees himself as making moral choices and as having free will. It is those choices which make him good or evil and the nature of his character that causes him to make those choices. A mundane parallel that might make this easier to understand is ordering pizza. My friends all have foreknowledge that I would never order pizza with anchovies because I dislike the taste of anchovies. Thus my friends could say they have foreknowledge that I will not order anchovy-laden pizza or that I am fated to order anchovy-free pizza. This is not because I lack free will, but rather because I have the sort of character that does not like anchovies. In the same way, Macbeth is free to choose not to kill Duncan, but his character is such that he cannot avoid the path that leads to power. 

What is the classification of our sun?

The sun is what is known as a G-type main sequence star. Specifically, the sun is a G2V star, sometimes referred to more vaguely as a yellow dwarf. Let's break down what each of those three characters means.

The G is the spectral type of a given star, according to the Harvard spectral classification system (http://www.star.ucl.ac.uk/~pac/spectral_classification.html), derived from the emission spectra of a star as seen through a telescope. The emission spectra is dependent on the temperature of the surface of the star. The temperature is mostly, but not completely, dependent on the star's mass. The classifications of the Harvard system are O, B, A, F, G, K, and M, in descending order of temperature (and usually mass). These are often remembered by the phrase "Oh Be A Fine Girl/Guy, Kiss Me." Our sun has an emissions spectra that appears yellow, which correlates to about 5,800 degrees Kelvin, firmly in the G classification.

The "2" in the classification lets astronomers be more specific about the temperature. There are 10 sub-levels of temperature, 0 through 9, with 0 being hottest and 9 being coolest. This more granular classification system let's you make some additional inferences about a star. For instance, our sun is a G2, which is relatively hot for a star of its mass. That's likely because of its age, as middle aged stars like the sun burn hotter than they do in their youth. By contrast, 70 Virginis is a G4 star, cooler than the sun despite being more massive. That is likely because it is much older than the sun and has passed its prime, at least as far as temperature is concerned. It's begun to progress towards the next stage of its stellar evolution, cooling down but also growing in diameter.

Finally, the V is the luminosity class (http://www.spektros.de/lumi.html) of the star. While the spectral classification is dependent on the temperature of the star, the luminosity is dependent on the star's radius. Hence the luminosity class is defined by a Roman numeral with I being a "Supergiant" and VII being a "White Dwarf," a star with a volume comparable to the earth. The V class, including our sun, is "Dwarf," although the sun is not a particularly small star. The next class upwards is sub-giant, which the sun will become as it ages.

You can see from these descriptions how important age is for main-sequence stars like the sun, as their temperature and size changes based on their stage of life. Other important classifications include composition, degree of variability, and certain common spectral peculiarities. These identifiers help astronomers to assess a lot about the life of a star from just a few symbols in a database.

How does Meursault's lawyer twist his testimony?

Meursault's lawyer, upon meeting him, is a bit horrified at Meursault's apparent lack of emotion, insight and instinct for self-preservation. Meursault seems not to be aware, nor to care, that his dispassionate attitude and absence of self-analysis will be held against him during the trial, particularly in regards to his mother. While from a purely empirical perspective, Meursault is correct in arguing that his behavior regarding his mother's death has nothing to do with his murder of the Arab, he doesn't consider that the lack of affect in one area suggests his lack of morals in another.  

Naturally, Meursault's lawyer has no intention of allowing Meursault to casually argue himself into a conviction, so he does what he can to manipulate Meursault's statements, as well as those of the witnesses, in order to portray Meursault as a normal person to the extent that he can. Unfortunately the lawyer is portrayed as something of a fool, and a reactionary one at that. Rather than taking hold of the testimony or trial and steering it toward more defensible matters, such as returning the attention to the crime rather than Meursault's mother, or arguing for Meursault shooting the Arab in self-defense, instead the lawyer plays along with the prosecutor's line of attack, pleading extenuating circumstances on Meursault's behalf and proclaiming that he is suffering from "eternal regret". This is clearly not so because Meursault has told us in a variety of ways that not only does he not regret the murder, he hasn't even given it the consideration of a moral or emotional response. It simply occurred, it is now in the past, and he is more interested in "what comes next", as he always has been. 

In fact, the lawyer does very little to twist the actual testimony in any direction; rather, it is the prosecutor who does this, particular with Marie's testimony, driving her to tears for making it seem that Meursault was indulging in hedonism when he should have been mourning his mother. 

How does Okonkwo demonstrate his fondness for Ikemefuna?

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is very guarded about displaying his affection for Ikemefuna. Despite his best efforts, however, Okonkwo demonstrates his fondness for the young man in subtle ways. More specifically, Okonkwo allows Ikemefuna to partake in duties that are typically reserved for a son. Indeed, over the three years that Ikemefuna resides in Okonkwo's household, the two develop a father-son bond:

"Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy-- inwardly of course. Okonkwo never showed any emotion openly, unless it be the emotion of anger.... But there was no doubt that he liked the boy. Sometimes when he went to big village meetings or communal ancestral feasts he allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him, like a son, carrying his stool and his goat-skin bag" (28).

Oknonkwo attempts to veil his affection for Ikemefuna, but as their relationship progresses it becomes more and more obvious that the two share a bond. Indeed, in many ways, Ikemefuna is the son that Okonkwo wishes that Nwoye could be; Ikemefuna is well-regarded within the family, and he considers Okonkwo to be more of a father-figure than his own father.

The point in the novel in which it is most obvious that Okonkwo is emotionally attached to Ikemefuna comes after he has taken part in killing the young man. Okonkwo slays the boy in order to demonstrate his "manliness" to his peers, but is later deeply affected by his participation in the killing:

"He did not sleep at night. He tried not to think about Ikemefuna, but the more he tried the more he thought about him. Once, he got up from bed and walked about his compound. But he was so weak that his legs could hardly carry him" (63).

Even though Okonkwo attempts to maintain his staunch, authoritative facade, his fatherly bond with Ikemefuna is obvious at various points in the text.

Is it possible for Maniac to have another family in Maniac Magee?

Maniac realizes his true family is the Beales.

When Maniac Magee’s parents died, he was left to relatives that he couldn’t stand.  He ran away, and it wasn’t until he met Amanda Beale that he found a new family.  He felt welcomed to her family by the Beales, but the others in the neighborhood did not like a white boy being with a black family, so he decided to leave.

Maniac didn't answer. Amanda didn't understand that most of the hurt he felt was not for himself but for her and the rest of the family. She stomped her foot. "You gotta stay?" (Ch. 18)

When Amanda’s book is targeted and her house grafittied, Maniac does not want any more harm to come to the Beales because of him.  Amanda does not want him to go.  She thinks he will starve.  Maniac leaves anyway, to protect them.  He feels he can take care of himself.

Maniac Magee goes to the zoo, where an old man finds him sleeping in the buffalo pen.  When he asks him where he lives and Maniac tells him, he checks to make sure Maniac actually is white.  

"Well, I did live on Sycamore Street. Seven twenty- eight. "

"Did?"

"I guess I don't anymore."

The old man stared. "You said Sycamore?"

"Yep."

"Ain't that the East End?"

"Yep." (Ch. 22)

Although he is a little baffled by the white kid living on the East End, the old man lets it go.  Grayson takes Maniac in, and for a short time he has a family again.  Unfortunately, Grayson dies and leaves Maniac alone.  His only hope for a real family is to go back to the Beales. 

He decides that it does not matter if they are black and he is white.  They are the people who took him in when he had no one.  He considers them family.  Maniac returns to the Beales, and there he remains.

Describe in detail all of the changes in Lyddie's daily life.

When the story begins, Lyddie's daily life is surrounded by family members. She lives with her mother and her siblings on a farm in the country. She works hard, but all of her work is geared toward seeing the success of her family and their property. Once Lyddie is sold into indentured servitude at the tavern, Lyddie is no longer surrounded by her family. She is completely on her own. Additionally, all of her hard work benefits somebody other than her family. The tavern gets more business and looks good, but Lyddie doesn't see any additional benefits. She has nothing to show for her efforts. That changes a little bit when Lyddie goes to work in the textile mills. She is still separated from her family, and she is still working to pay off her family's debt, but the harder she works, the more money she can make. That's why Lyddie is proud to be able to work five looms at one time.  

Other changes happen to Lyddie's daily life as the story progresses as well. She matures and sees the value in having friends her own age. She learns the value of reading. She comes to understand the importance of bettering her education, and she becomes less fixated on financial gains.

How was the South affected in the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act affected the South. This law created two new territories. They were the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. In these territories, people would vote to determine if slavery would or wouldn’t exist. This concept was known as popular sovereignty. These territories were North of the 36°30’ line. The Missouri Compromise banned slavery, except in Missouri, in any area that was North of this line. Now, with the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, it was possible for slavery to exist North of this line. This opened up more areas to where slavery could potentially spread. If the people voted to have slavery, slavery would be allowed to spread to these areas.

The South was affected by the Kansas-Nebraska Act in another way. After the law was passed, the Republican Party formed. This was a northern political party that was against the spread of slavery. By 1860, the Republican Party would win the presidency with the election of Abraham Lincoln. The election of Abraham Lincoln led to the secession of the southern states, which led to the start of the Civil War.

`9, -6, 4, -8/3` Determine whether the sequence is geometric. If so, find the common ratio.

A geometric sequence is defined by a sequence whose terms have a common ratio r.

Given the sequence 9,-6,4,-8/3,... we find the ratio between terms to be r=-2/3.

(-6/9=-2/3, 4/-6=-2/3, (-8/3)/4=-2/3) so the sequence is geometric with a common ratio r=-2/3.

** It is important to note that there are an infinite number of sequences beginning with 9,-6,4,-8/3,..., only one of which is geometric.**

How does Meimei trick her mother into letting her play in her first tournament?

Meimei, otherwise known as Waverly, tricks her mother into letting her play in a chess tournament by appealing to her mother's sense of family honor as well as to her sense of competition.

Let's take a look at that part in the story:

A man who watched me play in the park suggested that my mother allow me to play in local chess tournaments. My mother smiled graciously, an answer that meant nothing. I desperately wanted to go, but I bit back my tongue. I knew she would not let me play among strangers. So as we walked home I said in a small voice that I didn’t want to play in the local tournament. They would have American rules. If I lost, I would bring shame on my family.

 “Is shame you fall down nobody push you,” said my mother.

During my first tournament, my mother sat with me in the front row as I waited for my turn.

As you can see, Waverly really wants to play in a tournament, but she knows that her mom probably won't be okay with Waverly playing with strangers. She could just ask, "Ma, can I play in a tournament? I really want to." But she understands that this approach wouldn't work with her strict mother.

Though she's not quite eight years old, Waverly pulls off some serious manipulation of her mom on the way home: she uses reverse psychology, acting like she doesn't want to play because any losses might shame the family. Waverly's mom doesn't like to see her daughter so easily defeated--shame and success are serious, prominent issues in Waverly's mom's mind-- and the next thing readers find out is that both Waverly and her mom are at the tournament!

You might wonder why Waverly brought up the idea of "American rules" when she mentioned the tournament to her mother. Remember that earlier in the story, Waverly's mom had read through the booklet of chess rules and announced to her children that the rules for the game were much like the rules for living successfully in American society. Waverly's mom, then, prides herself on determining what the "rules" are and in using them to achieve social success for her own family. Waverly remembers this, and in the passage above, when she's walking home with her mom, Waverly is basically saying, "We can't follow American rules or succeed at life in America, so I shouldn't play in the tournament," and Waverly's mom is basically responding with "Oh yes we can! Let's sign you up for the tournament!"

So, Waverly was able to appeal to her mom's sense of pride, and to her eagerness to "win" at the game of life in American society.

Is y = negative x squared a function?

Hello!

Yes, it is a function. I'm not sure you mean `y=-x^2` or `y=(-x)^2,` but both of them are functions. Now I'll explain why.

Let's speak about number single-valued functions only. A function is a rule which takes a number called argument and gives a unique result (also a number). This rule must work for all or some numbers.

In our case, for every number the rule is to multiply it by itself and then by -1. This rule gives definite and unique result for any number, so this is a function defined on a whole number line.

The different question whether this function gives different results for different numbers. If yes, such a function has an inverse function. The answer for this question is no, because for x and -x these functions give the same results.

What is the difference between symbolic interactionism and macro perspectives (functionalist and conflict) ?

The major difference between symbolic interactionism and the two  macro-level perspectives in sociology is that the macro-level perspectives look at large chunks of society or at society as  a whole while symbolic interactionism looks at individual people and their internal lives.  In short, symbolic interactionism is a micro-level perspective while the others are, as you say, macro-level.

The two macro-level perspectives are not terribly interested in what individual people do.  Instead, they are interested in what large groups do.  For example, a functionalist might try to understand why women tend not to advance as far in the workplace as men do.  A conflict theorist might attempt to explain why non-whites are generally less wealthy than whites.  These questions look at large groups in society, not at the way that individuals think.

By contrast, symbolic interactionism does look at what individuals think. This perspective says that society is created by the ways in which people interact with the world around them. Individuals in society have to look at all the things that go on around them and assign meaning to those things. They have to essentially treat things like other people’s actions and words as symbols.  They do the same to other things like flags, crosses, pictures of Santa Claus and anything else you might think of.  People see those things and give them meaning. They then interact with those meanings, letting the meanings that they assign to those things influence their lives.  Symbolic interactionism is interested in this process of thinking about the world that goes on inside people’s heads.  This makes it very different from the other two perspectives.

Find the critical z (alpha divided by two) values if the confidence level is 99%

We are asked to find the critical value(s) for a 99% confidence level:

Since we are using z we may be testing a claim about the population mean (with the population standard deviation known) or testing a claim about a population proportion among other possible tests.

Assuming that the test is two-tailed (e.g. we are interested in whether the sample mean differs from the population mean as opposed to is less than the population mean), there are two critical values.

To compute the values we take 1 minus the confidence level -- thus 1-.99=.01. Since there are two critical regions, equal in area by symmetry, we divide the answer by 2 to get .005.

Now we look in a standard normal table for the z-score that corresponds to an area of .005 (or to an area of 1-.005=.995 as the z-value will be the same with opposite sign) to find `z~~ pm 2.58 ` . Note that a graphing calculator or statistics package can give a more precise answer such as ` z~~ pm 2.575829303 ` which could also be calculated using calculus.)

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The critical values are approximately z=-2.58 and z=2.58

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These critical values define critical regions -- if a test statistic falls in the critical region we would reject the null hypothesis.

What is the formula for finding pressure and what is the SI unit used?

The pressure, by definition, is the amount of force per unit area. So the formula for pressure is

`p = F/A` , where F is the magnitude of the force and A is the area of the surface to which the force is applied. Note that while the force is a vector quantity (that is, it has a direction), the pressure is a scalar quantity. The force is assumed to be acting perpencicular to the surface.

The SI unit for measuring pressure is Pascal. Using the formula above, we can express 1 Pascal in the fundamental SI units:

`[p] = ([F])/([A]) = N/m^2`

Newton, the unit of measurement of force, is `N = (kg*m^2)/s^2`

Combining these, we see that 1 Pascal equals `(kg)/s^2` .

The pressure in liquids is usually calculated using a different formula, which is

`p = rho*g*h` , where `rho` is the density of the liquid, g is the gravity acceleration and h is the depth at which the pressure is being determined. One can see by considering the units of measurement of density, acceleration and length that the unit for pressure still comes out to equal 1 Pascal, or kg/s^2.