What is a symbol in A Good Man is Hard to Find? How does it advance or reinforce the plot?

One salient symbol in "A Good Man is Hard to Find" is the shape of a cross into which the grandmother's legs contort after the Misfit shoots her.

This cross made by the grandmother symbolizes her redemption and moment of grace as she has looked at the Misfit and recognized him as one of her children. That is, she has come to know herself as a sinner through what is termed a "redemptive catastrophe." She...

One salient symbol in "A Good Man is Hard to Find" is the shape of a cross into which the grandmother's legs contort after the Misfit shoots her.

This cross made by the grandmother symbolizes her redemption and moment of grace as she has looked at the Misfit and recognized him as one of her children. That is, she has come to know herself as a sinner through what is termed a "redemptive catastrophe." She dies for her sins just as Christ died for the sins of man, and she is redeemed. O'Connor's approach here recalls the idea of the philosopher Martin Heidegger, who was a strong influence upon her. Heidegger, who held a concept called Dasein, or "being-there," felt that death represents the moment when a man's existence becomes complete.

Certainly, for the grandmother grace comes to her in her epiphany at the moment of her brutal death. This is why the Misfit says, "She would have been a good woman if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life." At the moment of her death, she is redeemed because she finally has enough humility to recognize that she, too, is a sinner--she is "there" with the Misfit--and she abandons her self-righteousness displayed in the car and at Red Sammy's, and thereby receives grace.

This redemptive death acts as the denouement to a plot in which her hypocrisy has been exemplified in her criticisms of others (e.g. her racial remarks when she has set herself up as honest and righteous woman). At the end, she finally recognizes that it is she who has been the greatest sinner and hypocrite.

Which character in The Great Gatsby could you argue kills the main three characters?

It is not really a single character who kills Myrtle, George, and the title character, Jay Gatsby. It is instead a certain trait: carelessness. If you have to blame a person or two for causing these deaths, you could argue that Tom and Daisy Buchanan embody carelessness. However, they are not the only characters who express it.

Earlier in the novel, Tom treats Myrtle abominably during his visit to the city, even resorting to physical...

It is not really a single character who kills Myrtle, George, and the title character, Jay Gatsby. It is instead a certain trait: carelessness. If you have to blame a person or two for causing these deaths, you could argue that Tom and Daisy Buchanan embody carelessness. However, they are not the only characters who express it.

Earlier in the novel, Tom treats Myrtle abominably during his visit to the city, even resorting to physical abuse. However, Myrtle also treats her husband, George, abominably. She inflicts Tom's cruelty and indifference toward her onto George -- a man so inept yet vulnerable that one cannot help but to pity him.  

Nick Carraway, the novel's narrator, sees Tom again after Gatsby's death, "walking ahead...along Fifth Avenue in his alert, aggressive way, his hands out a little from his body as if to fight off interference..." (178). This description of Tom's physical presence reinforces the novel's characterization of him as a man who not only believes he can control everything in his environment, but that he has a right to do so. 

During their brief encounter, Nick quietly assesses Tom and Daisy as follows:

I couldn't forgive him or like him, but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified. It was all very careless and confused. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy -- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made.... (179).

The final sentence ends with an ellipses to indicate both Carraway's uncertainty and bewilderment over this thought. Tom, to the very end, takes no responsibility for either Gatsby's or Myrtle's deaths. We never know whether or not his wife confesses to him that she was the one behind the wheel of the car that cut Myrtle in half but, it is possible, in the fictional contexts of their lives, to imagine that she would have. Daisy sent neither a message nor a flower to express her condolences for Gatsby's death, behaving as though he had never reappeared in her life and, therefore, did not matter.

In "The Cask of Amontillado" by Poe, why are catacombs located in most homes?

Catacombs were natural geographical features that had existed for millions of years. Some palazzi were evidently built over catacombs, but it would be a mistake to suppose that "catacombs were located in most homes." Because Venice is at sea level and keeps sinking, corpses cannot be buried underground. The graves would fill up with water. The same situation exists in New Orleans, Louisiana, where bodies are customarily cremated or entombed in mausoleums, crypts, and vaults...

Catacombs were natural geographical features that had existed for millions of years. Some palazzi were evidently built over catacombs, but it would be a mistake to suppose that "catacombs were located in most homes." Because Venice is at sea level and keeps sinking, corpses cannot be buried underground. The graves would fill up with water. The same situation exists in New Orleans, Louisiana, where bodies are customarily cremated or entombed in mausoleums, crypts, and vaults of various kinds above the ground. Some of the catacombs in Europe are filled with bones because bodies were not buried in the ground but left to decay in the catacombs.

Montresor's name suggests that his ancestors were relative newcomers to Venice and that most of the bones described in the story belonged to ancestors of the original owner. Montresor is a poor man and is probably only renting his palazzo to make an impression on men with whom he does business. His servants have no respect for him because he cannot always pay them. The short story "The Aspern Papers" by Henry James, published in 1880, only thirty-four years after Poe's story was published, gives a thorough picture of what the old decaying Venetian palazzi were like by that time. Here is an extract:

"If she didn't live in a big house how could it be a question of her having rooms to spare? If she were not amply lodged herself you would lack ground to approach her. Besides, a big house here, and especially in this quartier perdu, proves nothing at all: it is perfectly compatible with a state of penury. Dilapidated old palazzi, if you will go out of the way for them, are to be had for five shillings a year. And as for the people who live in them--no, until you have explored Venice socially as much as I have you can form no idea of their domestic desolation. They live on nothing, for they have nothing to live on."  

How do both the poem and the story itself compare with nature?

I remember the first time reading this story.  I thought it was so cool.  I didn't quite understand the poem, and I definitely didn't understand the poem as it compared with the story.  Then my English teacher started in on both, and I realized that the poem and the story have a lot in common.  The other thing that I noticed is that both items have bleak and depressing messages.  

The poem ends with...

I remember the first time reading this story.  I thought it was so cool.  I didn't quite understand the poem, and I definitely didn't understand the poem as it compared with the story.  Then my English teacher started in on both, and I realized that the poem and the story have a lot in common.  The other thing that I noticed is that both items have bleak and depressing messages.  

The poem ends with the following four lines.  

Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree,

if mankind perished utterly;

And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn

Would scarcely know that we were gone.

Basically, Teasedale is saying that nature itself could care less whether or not mankind walks the surface of Earth.  Nature will carry on its business.  It doesn't need humans and will barely even notice our complete absence.  That's sad.  When a reader compares that message to the full story, then a reader realizes that Bradbury's message is the same.  Mankind (at least in Allendale) has been wiped from the face of Earth.  The house goes about its business as if people were in it.  The house does ask the missing people questions, but the house eventually just makes its own decisions.  Ultimately, it doesn't need the people to operate.  As the story ends, the house is dying.  Nature is taking it back.  Nature will be taking back the entire city.  Given enough time, the processes of ecological succession will ensure that all traces of human habitation are erased.  Both the story and the poem point out the fact that the world is perfectly capable of going about its business without humanity in it. 

`f(x) = |x + 2|, [-2, oo)` Show that f is strictly monotonic on the given interval and therefore has an inverse function on that interval.

We are asked to show that `f(x)=|x+2|,[-2,oo) ` has an inverse by showing that the function is monotonic on the interval using the derivative:

By definition, ` f(x)=|x+2|={[x+2,x+2 >=0],[-x-2,x+2<0]}`

x+2>0 ==> x>-2 which is the interval we wish so on the interval f(x)=x+2.

f'(x)=1 which is positive for all x in the interval so the function is monotonic (strictly increasing) on the interval. Thus the function has an inverse.

The graph:

We are asked to show that `f(x)=|x+2|,[-2,oo) ` has an inverse by showing that the function is monotonic on the interval using the derivative:

By definition, ` f(x)=|x+2|={[x+2,x+2 >=0],[-x-2,x+2<0]}`

x+2>0 ==> x>-2 which is the interval we wish so on the interval f(x)=x+2.

f'(x)=1 which is positive for all x in the interval so the function is monotonic (strictly increasing) on the interval. Thus the function has an inverse.

The graph:

How did Amir's relationship with his father influence his treatment of Hassan?

When Amir was growing up, he struggled to gain his father's attention and often felt unloved. Although Baba cared for Amir, he was battling his own demons, in particular, the fact that he had an illegitimate Hazara son, Hassan. Baba also viewed Amir as weak and feminine because he enjoyed reading and writing instead of masculine activities. Amir was also not athletic which upset Baba who seemed ashamed of his son. Furthermore, Baba seemed to...

When Amir was growing up, he struggled to gain his father's attention and often felt unloved. Although Baba cared for Amir, he was battling his own demons, in particular, the fact that he had an illegitimate Hazara son, Hassan. Baba also viewed Amir as weak and feminine because he enjoyed reading and writing instead of masculine activities. Amir was also not athletic which upset Baba who seemed ashamed of his son. Furthermore, Baba seemed to favor Hassan more than his son and was always sure to include Hassan during activities with Amir. Amir's desire to gain his father's affection adversely affected his relationship with Hassan. Amir began to resent the fact that his father favored Hassan and began to take his anger out on Hassan. Since Hassan could not read, Amir fooled with him by telling Hassan that he was an imbecile and saying that it meant he was intelligent. Amir would often lie to Hassan and play tricks on him. Ultimately, Amir's desire for his father's approval was one of the reasons he neglected to help Hassan while he was being raped. Afterward, Amir could not live with the guilt and his decision to not help Hassan ruined their friendship.

Who are the new neighbors in the Philbrick's Freak the Mighty?

In chapter two of Philbrick's Freak the Mighty, it is the first day of July and Max is bored. He goes outside for a change of scenery from his basement bedroom and sees a local moving van. There's a duplex next to his grandparents' house, and he sees that the unit that has been vacant since last December is the one that new neighbors are moving into. Then he spies Gwen, whose name he...

In chapter two of Philbrick's Freak the Mighty, it is the first day of July and Max is bored. He goes outside for a change of scenery from his basement bedroom and sees a local moving van. There's a duplex next to his grandparents' house, and he sees that the unit that has been vacant since last December is the one that new neighbors are moving into. Then he spies Gwen, whose name he doesn't know at the time. He feels as though he recognizes her by thinking the following:

"I'm thinking, hey I know her, and then I'm thinking, no way, butthead, no way you'd know a female that beautiful" (7).

Max then notices Kevin crawling around and yelling at the moving men. He remembers him from their daycare days and assumes that this is where he would have seen his mother, too. Therefore, the new neighbors moving into the duplex next to Max's house are Gwen and Kevin (a.k.a Freak). If it weren't for them moving into the apartment next door, Max never would have developed a real friendship. This friendship benefits Max in so many ways because Kevin helps him to learn how to read, write, and to be confident. 

Should we as consumers think of buying "American made" first in our buying decisions?

The answer to this question is a matter of personal opinion.  Different people could legitimately have different views.  I will provide an argument on each side of the issue.

On the one hand, we can say that people should make it their first priority to “buy American.”  If we can buy a product that was made in America, we should do it even if there are better, cheaper products made in foreign countries.  There are...

The answer to this question is a matter of personal opinion.  Different people could legitimately have different views.  I will provide an argument on each side of the issue.

On the one hand, we can say that people should make it their first priority to “buy American.”  If we can buy a product that was made in America, we should do it even if there are better, cheaper products made in foreign countries.  There are two main arguments for this view.  First, we can say that we should do this for patriotic reasons.  We should want to support people in our own country, not foreigners.  We should want to make America our first priority rather than thinking of our own convenience.  Second, we could argue that buying American is good for us as well.  If we buy American, that will increase the demand for products that are made here.  When demand for these products rises, there will be more jobs for American workers.  This will boost our economy, which will presumably make it more likely that we and our children will get good jobs.

On the other hand, we can say that we should look first at price and quality when buying.  For one thing, this is the capitalist, non-socialist way of doing things.  If we just blindly buy American even if the goods are inferior, we are rewarding American companies who do a bad job, simply because they are American.  This is like homeschooling your child and giving them good grades because you love them even when they do bad work.  We do not want to reward people who do not deserve it.  Secondly, it is not at all clear that buying American is the best thing for our economy.  If we only buy American goods, we will put more Americans to work.  However, what happens when we drive out foreign competition, making the goods that we buy more expensive and of poorer quality?  Don’t we hurt our country just as much by reducing our standard of living in this way?  By buying the best products, regardless of where they are from, we keep prices low and quality high, allowing Americans to have the best possible products.

Which of these arguments makes more sense to you?

Electrons emerge from an electron gun with a speed of 2.0 x 10^6 m/s and then pass through a pair of thin parallel slits. Interference fringes with...

Electrons emerge from an electron gun with a speed of 2.0 x 10^6 m/s and then pass through a pair of thin parallel slits. Interference fringes with a spacing of 2.7 mm are detected on a screen far from the double slit and fairly close to the center of the pattern. The mass of electrons is 9.11 x 10^-31 kg and the mass of neutrons is 1.67 x 10^-27 kg. The fringe spacing has to be determined if the electrons are replaced by neutrons with the same speed.

The de Broglie wavelength of a particle with mass m is `L = h/p,` where h is the Planck's associated and equal to `6.6*10^-34` J*s and p is the momentum of the particle.

The fringe width `delX` is given by `delX = L*D/d,` where D is the distance from the screen and d is the slit separation.

`delX = (h/p)*(D/d)`

For electrons, `delX_e = (h/(m_e*v_e))*(D/d)`

For protons, `delX_p = (h/(m_p*v_p))*(D/d)`

The ratio of the two gives `(delX_e)/(delX_p) = ((h/(m_e*v_e)*(D/d)))/( (h/(m_p*v_p)*(D/d)))`

=> `(delX_e)/(delX_p) = (m_p*v_p)/(m_e*v_e)`

The value of `delX_e = 2.7 mm,` `m_e = 9.11*10^-31` kg, `m_p = 1.67*10^-27` kg

As the velocity of the electron and the proton emerging from the gun is the same `v_e = v_p,' this gives `delX_p = delX_e*(m_e/m_p)`

`delX_p = (2.7*10^-3)((9.11*10^-31)/(1.67*10^-27))`

`delX_p = 1.47*10^-6`

= `1.47 mum`

The fringe spacing when the neutrons are replaced by electrons is equal to '1.47 mum.'

What details are relevant to the outcome of the story "The Lady, or Tiger"?

Certain details about the nature of the king and his daughter are relevant to the outcome of the story "The Lady, or The Tiger?"

• In the opening paragraph the king is described as "semi-barbaric" and despotic as he agrees only with himself on matters. And, when everything goes smoothly, "his nature is bland and genial." However, when things do not go as he wants, he makes the "crooked straight," and he "crushes down uneven places."


• His daughter, the princess, is also semi-barbaric. She has the same passionate nature as that of her father, and she loves a young man with "enough of barbarism in it to make it exceedingly warm and strong." But, her lover is of a lowly station and not fit for a princess.


• The king learns that his daughter has this lover, who is of a lowly station.


• This semibarbaric king uses an "impartial and incorruptible" form of justice based solely upon Chance. When the accused is taken to an arena where there are two doors, he must choose one. If a ferocious tiger emerges, then he is torn to pieces as punishment for his guilt.

These details indicate that the king and his daughter both are capable of cruelty, and they are only partially civilized. So, even though the princess loves the young man, she is capable of cruelty, especially after she has seen her lover talking to another fair maiden.

How do the digestive, circulatory, respiratory and excretory systems provide the body with nutrients and energy?

Every cell in the body needs energy to perform its duties and stay alive. Cells use energy when they have the nutrients they need to perform.

The digestive system converts bulk foods like bread and meat into their components, and absorbs them into the bloodstream through the intestines. The circulatory system moves the nutrients from the intestines to the cells that need them.

The respiratory systemprovides the oxygen necessary for cells to metabolize, and...

Every cell in the body needs energy to perform its duties and stay alive. Cells use energy when they have the nutrients they need to perform.

The digestive system converts bulk foods like bread and meat into their components, and absorbs them into the bloodstream through the intestines. The circulatory system moves the nutrients from the intestines to the cells that need them.

The respiratory system provides the oxygen necessary for cells to metabolize, and the circulatory system moves the oxygen around the body and to the cells.

The excretory system and respiratory system both get rid of waste products. The excretory system disposes of all food not absorbed by the body, and any foods that the digestive system couldn't break down. The respiratory system removes carbon dioxide, a waste product of the cell, from the circulatory system.

Which lines in Act III, Scene 5 of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet foreshadow the play's tragic ending?

In this scene, Romeo and Juliet bid each other farewell after spending their first night together as husband and wife in Juliet's bedchamber. Romeo has been banished to Mantua for killing Tybalt, and the audience knows this scene will be the last time they see each other alive (of course, Juliet is technically alive when Romeo encounters her lifeless body in the Capulet crypt, but he doesn't know that). As they reluctantly part, Romeo reassures...

In this scene, Romeo and Juliet bid each other farewell after spending their first night together as husband and wife in Juliet's bedchamber. Romeo has been banished to Mantua for killing Tybalt, and the audience knows this scene will be the last time they see each other alive (of course, Juliet is technically alive when Romeo encounters her lifeless body in the Capulet crypt, but he doesn't know that). As they reluctantly part, Romeo reassures his wife that they will see each other again soon, but Juliet fears otherwise, and tells her husband of a chilling vision:

O God, I have an ill-divining soul!
Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.

This exchange, like several others in the play, foreshadows the tragic end that the audience has known since the Prologue is imminent. As it turns out, Juliet's vision is sadly prophetic; she does, in fact, eventually find Romeo dead in a tomb. When Romeo encounters her body, he believes she is dead, and kills himself out of grief. Juliet awakes to discover him dead and takes her own life.

Why is it important that the accused people come out underneath the place where the king and his party sit in the arena in the story "The Lady or...

The location of the king’s party is important because the princess is able to secretly signal her lover.

It is important that the king and the accused can see each other, because the king feels that fate is at play in his system of justice.  He is not the one condemning the accused or pardoning him.  That is done by fate.  The accused person chooses between two doors.  One kills him and the other sends...

The location of the king’s party is important because the princess is able to secretly signal her lover.

It is important that the king and the accused can see each other, because the king feels that fate is at play in his system of justice.  He is not the one condemning the accused or pardoning him.  That is done by fate.  The accused person chooses between two doors.  One kills him and the other sends him to his wedding to a beautiful maiden.

Directly opposite him, on the other side of the enclosed space, were two doors, exactly alike and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them. 

However, it probably never occurred to the king that someone in his party might find out what was behind each door and signal the accused.  When his daughter’s lover was sent into the arena, she took it upon herself to find out what was behind which door.  She used her position to signal him.

Her right arm lay on the cushioned parapet before her. She raised her hand, and made a slight, quick movement toward the right. No one but her lover saw her. Every eye but his was fixed on the man in the arena.

He knew that she would find out, and he knew she would signal him.  The interesting thing about this story’s ambiguous ending is that we do not know what she signaled him.  She might have sent him to his death, because she did not want another woman to have him.  However, she might have also decided she could not live without him.  We do not know what the signal was, we only know that there was a signal, and he saw her signal.

What makes up a nation?

The answer to this depends on whether you are asking about the word “nation” in technical, social science, terms or in layman’s terms.   The way that social scientists use the word “nation” is much different than the way regular people use it in everyday life.

In everyday life, people tend to use the word “nation” to mean the same thing as “country.”  We call the US a nation just as we call Brazil a nation...

The answer to this depends on whether you are asking about the word “nation” in technical, social science, terms or in layman’s terms.   The way that social scientists use the word “nation” is much different than the way regular people use it in everyday life.

In everyday life, people tend to use the word “nation” to mean the same thing as “country.”  We call the US a nation just as we call Brazil a nation or Germany a nation.  In order to be a nation, a place needs to have defined borders that are recognized by other countries.  It has to have a government that is acknowledged to have the right to rule within those boundaries.  Thus, the US is a nation because essentially everyone agrees that we have specific boundaries and that our national government has the right to rule everything inside those boundaries.

In social science, the term “nation” has a very different meaning.  Here, it means something more like “ethnic group.”  A nation, in these terms, is a group of people who feel bound together by some common tie that they have.  This can be such things as their history, their language, their religion, their culture, or their appearance.  When we define nation in this way, it is easy to say what a nation needs to have, but harder to tell if a group qualifies as a nation.  For example, are all Americans part of one nation?  We are of many different ethnic groups, religions, and appearances.  Our cultures and history are somewhat different (because we come from different places) but somewhat similar (because we have mostly all become Americanized to a greater or lesser degree.  Are we a nation?  There is no official way to tell.  Similarly, groups like ISIS feel that all Muslims are bound by their religion and should be one nation, but not all Muslims feel this way.  Again, there is no official way to tell if they are a nation.

A “nation,” then, is made up of different things depending on how we are using the term.  In layman’s terms, a nation is made up of the landmass that lies within given boundaries and is ruled by a government.  In social science terms, a nation is made up of people who feel connected to one another because of some shared characteristic or characteristics.

What is current?

I am assuming that your question refers to electric current.

Electric current is motion of electric charges. The electric charges can move when placed in an electric field. That is, in the region of space where there will be electric force acting on the charges.

Electric charges that are free to move, if placed in an electric field, are found in certain materials called conductors. A metal wire is an example of a conductor. A...

I am assuming that your question refers to electric current.

Electric current is motion of electric charges. The electric charges can move when placed in an electric field. That is, in the region of space where there will be electric force acting on the charges.

Electric charges that are free to move, if placed in an electric field, are found in certain materials called conductors. A metal wire is an example of a conductor. A conductor is used to connect an element where current is needed (such as a light bulb) to a battery, a device that produces potential difference (commonly known as voltage, a measure of change of electric field) between its two terminals. Together, a light bulb, a conductor and a battery can be made into the simplest electrical circuit. The flow of the electric charge around the circuit is electric current.

Electric current is measured as the amount of charge that flows through the cross section of a conductor in a unit of time:

`I = (Delta q)/(Delta t)` . The unit of measurement of the current is Amperes, after the scientist who discovered that the current-carrying wires create magnetic field.

What is the theme of The Pearl by John Steinbeck?

John Steinbeck's novella The Pearl was published in 1947. It tells the story of a poor family, father Kino, mother Juana, and child Coyotito, who try to live with the consequences of Kino's discovery of a great pearl. The pearl should make them rich (at least in terms of the context in which they live), but its value leads to all manners of unexpected problems and one tremendous tragedy.

Students often have trouble determining themes to a work. There is frequently more than one theme to any work as long as a novel, or even a novella. To find a theme, the student should ask themselves: What is the main message that the writer wants to get across? If I could boil this work down to one or two sentences, and still maintain its spirit, what would those sentences be? Make sure that the theme you formulate is not a summary of the story, or an event from the story—it has got to be the writer's central, universal message, and it must be stated in your own words, not the words of the author. 

For a story like The Pearl, I think you have to take the ending into account when determining the theme. As the family tries to escape persecution (because of others' greed for the pearl), their infant son is killed. At that point, they give up their journey and return to their hometown. Strangely, however, they are not broken--they are surprisingly strong.

When they reach the shore, Kino takes out the giant pearl and looks at it:

Evil faces peered from it into his eyes, and he saw the light of burning . . . and the pearl was ugly; it was gray.

These lines signify how Kino has changed. Character change is often a strong clue to theme. Then he flings the pearl into the ocean, where it settles out of sight under the sand on the ocean floor.

So, with this in mind, what is Steinbeck's central message? He has shown us a young family that makes a great discovery that should lead to happiness and prosperity—but it leads only to trouble and the ultimate heartbreak. The pearl, a symbol of beauty throughout the world, has become ugly to him, and he chooses to cast it away.

It should be noted that, throughout the ordeal, the family has been able to stay together and support each other. Several other family members have stood by them without being consumed by the greed that has afflicted so many others in the story.

With all of this in mind, I would say the theme is something along lines of:

The pursuit of happiness or fulfillment cannot be tied to a material object or the search for wealth, because those things are subject to change and corruption—we must seek happiness in our relationships with the important people in our lives.  

What motivates people to join a SAS? How do you get them to work hard and maximize their efforts? Should you be egalitarian and pay everyone the...

SAS has been a very successful software firm since it started in the late 1960s. Due, in part, to its early incubation in an academic environment, it has historically been focused on the quality of its technology rather than creating elaborate bureaucracies. It tends to have a relatively flat corporate hierarchy and has consistently ranked among the best places to work in surveys by magazines such as Forbes. People are motivated to join it because of the opportunities to do cutting edge work in software and because of the quality of its working environment. Another factor is that it is headquartered in North Carolina rather than California, meaning that the cost of living is far more affordable. Thus, even someone who was offered a higher salary by Google or Facebook might want to stay at SAS because, in North Carolina, they could afford a nicer lifestyle. 

SAS was also a pioneer in offering features such as onsite healthcare and daycare. As well as having onsite recreation facilities, cafes, and other amenities, they encourage a 35-hour work week and work-life balance, making them an extremely attractive company for employees who want families. 

As one of the few companies almost untouched by the dot-com bust, SAS has a proven business model. It can focus on creating extremely popular business software products and having an admirable record of retaining very capable employees. There is no reason for it to change. Going public might force the company into a short-term mentality focused on quarterly earnings, rather than on maintaining its very successful corporate culture. Basically, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

What is the difference between theme and motif?

Theme and motif are not the same concepts, but they do work together to convey the writer's message. A theme is the central idea or main message that unifies the entire work. It is the main idea the author is trying to convey through his or her writing. The theme is what the author is trying to say. A work may have one or more themes. All other elements of the work contribute to solidify and communicate the overall theme(s).

Motifs are events, actions, symbols, and ideas that recur often throughout the work. They are images or elements that you will see or hear over and over again throughout the work. Motifs help to emphasize the main theme of the work.

For instance, one of the themes of Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White is friendship, or sacrificial friendship. A spider, Charlotte, attempts to save her pig friend, Wilbur, from certain death and is willing to sacrifice her own life to do so. That is the theme, the main idea or central message, of the book. That is main idea the author is trying to communicate. Motifs of the book include recurring elements that contribute to the theme. Spider webs are a recurring element in Charlotte’s Web and help to emphasize the sacrificial love Charlotte has for Wilbur. Charlotte is using her own means of life (the web, which is used for her sustenance) to preserve Wilbur’s life. Words are another motif of the book. Charlotte repeatedly uses words in her attempt to secure Wilbur’s salvation. So, while theme and motif are distinct concepts, motif works to emphasize the main themes of the work.

The density of water is 1000 kg/m3. What does this mean?

Hello!

Density is a quantitative physical characteristics of a substance or more or less stable mixture. When we take some piece or quantity of a substance, it has mass and volume. The mass divided by volume is called density, and it depends on substance only (remains the same for different pieces of the same substance).

Different substances have different density. The density of water is about `1000 (kg)/m^3,` or `1 g/(cm^3).` This means that every...

Hello!

Density is a quantitative physical characteristics of a substance or more or less stable mixture. When we take some piece or quantity of a substance, it has mass and volume. The mass divided by volume is called density, and it depends on substance only (remains the same for different pieces of the same substance).

Different substances have different density. The density of water is about `1000 (kg)/m^3,` or `1 g/(cm^3).` This means that every cubical meter of water weighs about `1000 kg,` every half of a cubical meter weighs `500 kg` and so on. So if we know what the substance is, we can compute its weight given a mass, and vice versa.

That said, density of a substance may change with temperature and pressure, sometimes significantly.

What types of food should you eat if you're trying to gain weight?

The types of foods you should eat to gain weight is really dependent upon your weight goals—are you more interested in building muscle or gaining more fat? Are you looking to gain weight to improve your health, and therefore would like to build both muscle and fat? Unfortunately, weight loss or weight gain isn't solely a matter of "calories in, calories out." You could eat 500 calories of lettuce or 500 calories of chicken and the resulting effect on your body will be quite different. In general, if you're looking to put on weight, eating calorie-dense foods is a good idea, but take into consideration the nutritional content of these foods and your current activity level.

Foods can be made up of three macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) and any number of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Any weight manipulation diet should try to find a healthy balance between the desired macronutrients and micronutrients. This body-building website has a helpful calculator that allows you to calculate the recommended proportions of macronutrients for someone with your activity level and weight goals. Bear in mind that if you are trying to gain weight in the form of body fat, you cannot calculate recommended macronutrients for that goal with this calculator.

As a general rule, expect the amount you eat to increase with your activity level. If you are recovering from some sort of illness and have low energy (which inhibits physical activity) but would like to gain weight, you may not have to eat as much as someone who is very active. You may also find you have a lower protein requirement than someone who performs a lot of physical exercise. If you are a very active person seeking to build more muscle, your caloric and macronutrient needs will be much higher than someone who is more sedentary.

Let's consider the possibility that you are someone seeking to put on weight in the form of muscle. In this case, your diet should focus on proteins and carbohydrates for energy and muscle building. You don't have to cut out fat entirely, as this could be injurious to health, but decreasing the amount of fat you eat while replacing some of that caloric and nutritional value with proteins or carbohydrates can help you to maintain a balance. A meal of lean chicken breast, brown rice, and broccoli is full of essential micronutrients and is high in protein and carbohydrates. Again, try to be sure your diet matches your activity level.

If you're a vegetarian or vegan looking to build muscle mass, never fear! It is entirely possible to build healthy muscle on a plant-based diet by eating protein-rich foods like beans. Meat-eaters can reap the benefits of beans, too, as they are high in both protein and carbohydrates.

If you are more interested in building fat than muscle, you can make adjustments to your diet to achieve this goal. Increasing your intake of carbohydrates and fat offers high energy, and any leftover energy in your bloodstream will be converted into fat storage. My recommendation here is to eat healthy sources of fat like nuts, fish, and dairy, and healthy carbohydrates like fruit and whole grain bread. The adjustment made here should be to eat a little more fat and carbohydrates than is recommended for your activity level. Try to avoid unhealthy fats and carbohydrates like those found in chips, soda pop, and other "junk foods." These are more likely to clog your arteries than to put on subcutaneous fat!

If you are recovering from an illness and would like to gain both muscle and fat, eat a diet with the macronutrient proportions recommended for your activity level, but eat a little bit more at each meal. Try to eat calorie- and/ or nutrient- dense foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean meat. Avoid filling up on junk foods or even foods like iceberg lettuce, which seems healthy but lacks nutritional quality. You may find it helpful to eat snacks in between meals so you aren't forcing yourself to eat more at mealtime. 

Remember to drink plenty of water, get at least eight hours of sleep, and try not to stress too much about what you eat. If it is overwhelming to make big changes in your diet, take small steps until you reach your goal! 

How does Shakespeare use the word "honest" in Othello?

Well, for starters, Shakespeare used the word "honest" or some form of it a lot in Othello: over fifty times! So it's definitely worth our consideration.

First, the characters talk about who does or doesn't have an "honest face" or an "honest hand." In Act 2, Scene 3, Montano says it would be an "honest action" to tell Othello about how his second-in-command is an alcoholic. And there's a lot of talk about Desdemona...

Well, for starters, Shakespeare used the word "honest" or some form of it a lot in Othello: over fifty times! So it's definitely worth our consideration.

First, the characters talk about who does or doesn't have an "honest face" or an "honest hand." In Act 2, Scene 3, Montano says it would be an "honest action" to tell Othello about how his second-in-command is an alcoholic. And there's a lot of talk about Desdemona and other women being "honest" or not. You get the idea that Shakespeare's use of the word "honest" in this sense is a stand-in for all kinds of virtues: like openness, faithfulness, and chastity. This makes sense if you take a look at the entry for "honest" in the Oxford English Dictionary and note that, in addition to "truthful," it also used to mean "noble" and "respectable" as well as "virtuous" and even "chaste."

Second, characters in this play sometimes call each other an "honest knave" or an "honest fool." You'll also find the phrase "honest plainness" in the play. In phrases like this, Shakespeare is using "honest" to mean "sincere" or "genuine." Again, the Oxford English Dictionary reveals that these, too, are valid definitions of the word "honest."

Third, and most importantly, many of the characters including the villain Iago himself constantly refer to him as "Honest Iago." In this case, Shakespeare is using the word ironically. It's funny; it's meant to entertain us: by continually referring to this villain as an honest guy, the characters are calling attention to Iago's deeply twisted, manipulative personality. And yet in some situations, Iago does often tell the truth--which only makes him more dangerous, since Othello doesn't know when he can trust Iago and when he can't.

The issue of Iago and his honesty becomes especially important in Act 3, Scene 3, when Iago is trying to get Othello to believe that his wife is unfaithful--and Iago calls attention to his own "honesty." He calls himself a fool for always telling the truth, which is ironic considering how he's currently lying about Othello's wife:

O wretched fool

That lov’st to make thine honesty a vice!

O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,

To be direct and honest is not safe.

Iago is seriously taking advantage of his own reputation as someone "honest" here: an incredibly dishonest thing to do.

How does research and development help to improve efficiency of resource allocation?

Research and development departments have various goals depending on the organization.  However, there are two general goals of every R&D facility.  The first is to generate new products or improvements for the organization to sell in the marketplace.  This is generally deemed the development side.  The second goal is to determine what products are desired, how to meet customer demand and anticipating trends.  The second part is the research portion of the department.  Although there...

Research and development departments have various goals depending on the organization.  However, there are two general goals of every R&D facility.  The first is to generate new products or improvements for the organization to sell in the marketplace.  This is generally deemed the development side.  The second goal is to determine what products are desired, how to meet customer demand and anticipating trends.  The second part is the research portion of the department.  Although there appears to be two separate missions, the interaction between the two is seamless and should be seen as one unit.

R&D departments can greatly influence resource allocation efficiency through trend prediction and technology investment.  Trend prediction relies on R&D to understand upcoming changes to the marketplace which will affect the organizations bottom line.  For example, print newspapers have dwindled dramatically over the last few decades with the rise of the internet.  News organization that did not invest in an online edition simply failed to survive the consumer driven change in the marketplace.  Instead of allocating resources to beat reporters, it may have been more efficient to invest in an online presence.

Technology investment focuses resource allocation on the most efficient means of producing a new or improved product for the marketplace.  When there are multiple competing projects R&D should be able to analyze the cost benefit of each by calculating the production cost, time delay and launch projections.  This allows the company to focus resources on projects with an expected return versus the "long shot" project.

Which blood groups can donate to the O blood group and why?

The O blood group is known as the universal donor because the blood can be transfused successfully to blood groups O, A, B, and AB. However, the O blood group cannot receive blood from any other group except the O blood group. Blood groups are determined by the presence or absence of the A and B antigens. Blood group O does not have either the A or B antigens on red cells, but it contains...

The O blood group is known as the universal donor because the blood can be transfused successfully to blood groups O, A, B, and AB. However, the O blood group cannot receive blood from any other group except the O blood group. Blood groups are determined by the presence or absence of the A and B antigens. Blood group O does not have either the A or B antigens on red cells, but it contains both the A and B antibodies in the plasma. It should also be noted that not all blood group O’s are the same because of the Rh factor which determines whether the blood group is positive or negative. Thus, blood group O is further categorized into O positive and O negative with O negative being the true universal red cell donor.

The reason why blood group O can only receive from the same blood group is because the other blood groups contain antigens that are considered foreign by the recipient. The situation will force the O blood host to generate antibodies to fight the foreign antigen. The immune system effectively goes on attack mode and attacks the foreign blood which ultimately leads to organ failure and death.

In The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, what are some hardships that Corrie endured?

Corrie Ten Boom encountered hardships in her life even before she was imprisoned and sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp. As a woman, she had to struggle against misconceptions of her skill as a watchmaker. She persevered, however, and became the first woman watchmaker in Holland. Her ability made her a partner with her father in their shop.

Corrie also faced rejection from a man she loved, Karel. His family did not approve of her, wanting...

Corrie Ten Boom encountered hardships in her life even before she was imprisoned and sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp. As a woman, she had to struggle against misconceptions of her skill as a watchmaker. She persevered, however, and became the first woman watchmaker in Holland. Her ability made her a partner with her father in their shop.

Corrie also faced rejection from a man she loved, Karel. His family did not approve of her, wanting Karel to form a marriage connection with a wealthier family. Corrie quietly accepted this decision, though she never formed another relationship, remaining unmarried for her entire life. This loneliness she endured was relieved only by her faith in God and the love of her own family.

Her hardships reached unimaginable levels in Ravensbruck. She lost her beloved father, who died in prison not long after their arrest. Beyond the physical and psychological abuse from the camp guards, Corrie struggled with her faith in God. Her sister, Betsie, was firm in her faith, but after her death, Corrie fought feelings of bitterness and anger, overcoming these only after her release.

What is the masterpiece in "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry?

In "the Last Leaf," the masterpiece is essentially Behrman's final, grand artistic endeavor. In the text, we learn the old painter, despite being a failed artist, has always envisioned creating a piece of art that will distinguish him as a noted practitioner of his craft. He never quite succeeds in fulfilling his goal, however, and as time progresses, he becomes a distinctly cantankerous and ill-tempered fellow.

Behrman is not a man without heart, though. When...

In "the Last Leaf," the masterpiece is essentially Behrman's final, grand artistic endeavor. In the text, we learn the old painter, despite being a failed artist, has always envisioned creating a piece of art that will distinguish him as a noted practitioner of his craft. He never quite succeeds in fulfilling his goal, however, and as time progresses, he becomes a distinctly cantankerous and ill-tempered fellow.

Behrman is not a man without heart, though. When he learns his neighbor, Johnsy, is dying, Behrman sets out to paint his life's masterpiece. Johnsy is depressed and suffers from a deep malaise that is as physical as it is psychological. She believes she won't live out the remainder of her life and is content to die as soon as possible. Johnsy tells her companion, Sue, that when the last leaf on the ivy vine falls off, she'll be ready to die. Sue doesn't want Johnsy to continue in this morbid state of mind. She pulls down the blinds of the window in Johnsy's room, but knows this is only a temporary fix.

When Johnsy demands to have a look at the ivy vine, Sue has to humor her. When Sue pulls up the blinds, both are surprised to see the last leaf still hanging on the vine. In due time, the last leaf inspires Johnsy to snap out of her depression. She decides to live and to live as fully as she can. It is only later when Sue discovers the truth that both women realize what a true masterpiece Behrman had really painted. When the last leaf fell off the ivy vine, Behrman had braved the cold rain and snow to paint a replacement leaf on the vine. Because of his selfless action, Behrman contracts pneumonia, which eventually costs him his life. Yet, his very realistic portrayal of a leaf is responsible for saving a young woman's life.

Essentially, Behrman finally realizes his dream of creating a real masterpiece, and his final work is a testament to the greatness of his artistry.

What is the impact of the built environment on social relationships?

By "built environment," I am assuming that you are referring to all the ways in which man builds or otherwise imposes order on the natural world.  This impact is important, and far more powerful than most people realize.  I will go over this impact in the city and in the world of work.

I first became aware of how the built environment affected cities when I read The Death and Life of Great American Cities...

By "built environment," I am assuming that you are referring to all the ways in which man builds or otherwise imposes order on the natural world.  This impact is important, and far more powerful than most people realize.  I will go over this impact in the city and in the world of work.

I first became aware of how the built environment affected cities when I read The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs.  In this book, she discussed all the ways in which cities were configured that enhanced or discouraged human interaction.  For example, large blocks composed of very large buildings discourage people from lingering and talking to one another, while shorter blocks with many small storefronts make people more likely to be approachable and friendly.  This is why one can find more people chatting on the street in SoHo than in the Capital area of Washington, D.C.  Playgrounds are created to enhance the social relationships of children, encouraging them to do things together on the same equipment.  Two different children on the beach might build their sandcastles in isolation, but give them a sandbox, and they will be working together.  How we build our parks, our neighborhoods, and our cities really does have an effect on how we interact. 

In the world of work, the built environment fosters or breaks down hierarchies. The corner office is a prime example of this. It is isolating, and it is elevating, sending the message that this person is in a superior position in the organization. Contrast the corner office with cubicles.  People in cubicles will socialize at least to some degree, while people in corner offices usually have to invite others into their offices or go out and mingle.  In organizations that value creativity, the trend today is to design a work place in which people must all encounter one another in casual ways, so that they can generate ideas in ways that are not all that effective in isolation. 

Once you become aware of the influence of the built environment upon social relationships, it is easy to take note of this phenomenon.  You might want to consider how the house you live in affects the relationships with the people you live with or how a gym you work out in is laid out to encourage or discourage people from interacting. It is a very interesting area for study. 

Livestrong has a number of products that it has trademarked and copyrighted, including a line of “Livestrong” exercise bikes. Now that Lance...

The short answer is that Lance Armstrong could be sued by Livestrong for infringement or disparagement in connection with his false statements concerning his use of performance enhancing drugs and medical techniques, but neither cause of action would likely succeed. Under the U.S. legal system (other legal systems will vary), a lawsuit can be initiated by anyone or on behalf of anyone about anything. Whether a lawsuit will survive dismissal or will result in a favorable outcome are different questions. So, the better question here is whether Livestrong would prevail in a lawsuit alleging infringement and/or disparagement on the part of Lance Armstrong. To examine this, we need to break the response into two parts: the infringement issue and the disparagement issue.

Part 1: Infringement

Infringement is a claim that someone has made unauthorized use of the intellectual property of another. In the copyright context, infringement involves the unauthorized copying or use of all or part of a work protected by copyright. In the trademark context, infringement typically involves the passing off of goods or causing confusion as to the source of goods. Additionally, some state trademark laws, as well as federal trademark law, contain anti-dilution provisions designed to protect famous marks from activities that would impact the distinctiveness of that mark.

In the matter in question, Lance Armstrong’s admissions that he made false statements concerning his use of performance enhancing drugs and medical techniques do not appear on their face to implicate either copyright or trademark law. His admissions appear to neither copy/use protected works under copyright, nor do they attempt to pass off goods or cause confusion as to the source of goods under trademark. Further, while his admissions likely lessened the value of the intellectual property of Livestrong, the distinctiveness of Livestrong trademarks was likely not impacted; it may even be the case that any such trademarks of Livstrong are more distinctive than before due to increased notoriety. Thus, it is unlikely that either state or federal trademark anti-dilution provisions would apply.

Put more informally, Armstrong’s admissions of making false statements simply do not themselves implicate intellectual property law. Copyright and trademark law are intended to protect the value of intellectual property with respect to the unauthorized use of that property by another. They do not protect against acts that may devalue the goodwill of that intellectual property but that do not actually infringe on the intellectual property rights of the owners of the intellectual property in question.

Part 2: Disparagement

The tort of disparagement is a claim brought when someone has made a false statement or statements against a business and said false statement or statements  incur an economic injury for the business (it is not a claim made with respect to intellectual property, which the original question seems to contemplate). The typical context of a disparagement action is a person publishing (either orally or in writing) false information about a business and its products and/or practices. These false statements must have a negative impact on the economic status of the business. This contrasts with the tort of libel, which involves false statements that result in damage to the reputation of a person or business.

In the matter in question, Lance Armstrong’s admission concerning prior false statements about his athletic endeavors may have indeed had a negative impact on Livestrong’s economic interests, but the statements do not likely meet the definition of disparagement for two reasons. First, the statements admitting prior false statements were not statements about Livestrong or its operations and products/services. They were admissions that Lance Armstrong previously lied about his use of performance enhancing drugs and medical techniques during his professional cycling career. Thus, while Armstrong’s admissions may damage the value of Livestrong’s goodwill and may have a negative economic impact on Livestrong’s economic status, the admissions were not statements about Livestrong.

Second, Armstrong’s admissions are not false statements. They are true statements about his prior false statements. Even if Armstrong’s admissions could be found to be statements about the business and to have caused it economic harm, the truth of a statement is a complete defense to a disparagement claim.

Conclusion:

While it seems quite likely that Armstrong’s admissions regarding his prior false statements had some impact on Livestrong’s economic status and goodwill, such damages would not be compensable through an action for infringement of copyright or trademark or for the tort of disparagement.

Please note that the above analysis is in response to the parameters set forth in the question and merely constitutes information regarding the possible causes of actions proposed in the question. It is not a legal analysis of the situation in question, nor does it address the possibility of other causes of actions. It is intended for informational purposes only.

What theme is contributed to by the characters of Friar Lawrence and Count Paris?

In a world pervaded by violence and bitterness, the characters of Friar Laurence and Count Paris seem to represent a theme of optimism and hope amidst the tragedy of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. When he is first approached by Romeo about marrying Juliet, Friar Laurence is initially hesitant, but then comes to the realization that marrying the son of Montague and the daughter of Capulet will end the violent feud between the families. In Act III, Scene 3, the Friar says, "For this alliance may so happy prove/To turn your households' rancor to pure love."

Even after the deadly fight which opens Act III and Romeo is banished, the Friar remains optimistic about the future as he advises the distraught Romeo to "sojourn" in Mantua until some time passes and the Friar is able to "blaze" the marriage, gain a "pardon" from Prince Escalus, and bring Romeo home "With twenty hundred thousand times more joy." And again, after he convinces Juliet to fake her death with a potion, he believes that the young couple will regain happiness when Romeo recovers Juliet from the tomb and the two can go off to Mantua to live happily ever after. Although things turn out badly in the end, the Friar's optimism and hopeful attitude cannot be denied.

Likewise, Count Paris is optimistic and hopeful about the future. He seems to legitimately love Juliet and is eager to make her his wife. He believes that Juliet is a perfect match for him, obviously because the two families come from the same social class. The Nurse even refers to Paris as "valiant" and a "flower." Indeed, the Nurse believes that Juliet could be very happy with Paris, judging by her words in Act I, Scene 3, and later in Act III, Scene 5. When Juliet is supposedly dead in Act IV, Scene 5, Paris is devastated, calling her his "love" and his "life." In Act V, Scene 3, he further demonstrates this love for Juliet as he pays his respects at the Capulet tomb by spreading flowers and scented water. Only someone who had hope for a bright future would have shown so much grief over the loss of Juliet. 

In "Inchcape Rock," why and how did Sir Ralph's ship sink?

Sir Ralph's ship sank because it crashed onto the Inchcape Rock. As the ship filled with water, it sank.

Every ship floats because the buoyancy force (the force that pushes up the ship) is greater than the gravity force (the force that weighs the ship down). In Sir Ralph's case, as the ship filled up with water, the extra weight increased its gravity force relative to its buoyancy force. That's why it sank.

In the...

Sir Ralph's ship sank because it crashed onto the Inchcape Rock. As the ship filled with water, it sank.

Every ship floats because the buoyancy force (the force that pushes up the ship) is greater than the gravity force (the force that weighs the ship down). In Sir Ralph's case, as the ship filled up with water, the extra weight increased its gravity force relative to its buoyancy force. That's why it sank.

In the poem, the Abbot of Aberbrothok had put a bell on a buoy to warn sailors about the "perilous" Inchcape Rock. However, Sir Ralph had effectively "cut the bell from the Inchcape Float" so that "“The next who comes to the Rock,/ Won’t bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok.” Sir Ralph had been intent upon causing others harm, but he himself later fell prey to his own machinations.

Why do we still study Shakespeare?

Shakespeare’s works are timeless.  After four hundred years, people still read, study, and perform his plays and poetry.  Almost anyone can quote from several of his works.  The reason that people know them is because they have been a part of our culture constantly since they were published.

It is important to study Shakespeare because it is a part of popular culture.  Popular culture refers to movies, television, and songs.  Have you heard Taylor Swift’s...

Shakespeare’s works are timeless.  After four hundred years, people still read, study, and perform his plays and poetry.  Almost anyone can quote from several of his works.  The reason that people know them is because they have been a part of our culture constantly since they were published.

It is important to study Shakespeare because it is a part of popular culture.  Popular culture refers to movies, television, and songs.  Have you heard Taylor Swift’s song “Love Story” on the radio, which references Romeo and Juliet?  Does your city have Shakespeare in the Park in the summer?  Did you know that the band in the Harry Potter series is called the Weird Sisters, after the characters in Macbeth?  I’ll bet you have heard comparisons of one’s love “to a summer’s day.”  Shakespeare is everywhere.  If you don’t study Shakespeare, you will miss these references.  You won’t enjoy them or appreciate them, and you won’t understand them.

The greatest reason to study Shakespeare is that there is a reason it is still popular.  The stories’ themes are timeless.   These are tales of young love, madness, family drama, aging, ambition, murder, and intrigue.  Shakespeare’s poetry is clever and beautiful.  His plays cover multiple genres.  When you read and study the plays, you have a greater appreciation for them.  There are so many works, and they have so much to offer.

What technique does Poe use in the second paragraph of The Premature Burial to build suspense?

Poe is using a characteristic (for him) rhetorical move in which he says how bad it would be to do a certain thing then goes on to do exactly that thing. In this story, he talks about horrible tragedies that “no romanticist” should discuss in fiction -- the black hole of Calcutta, the Plague of London, etc. -- then goes on to write a story about an even more horrible tragedy – being buried alive....

Poe is using a characteristic (for him) rhetorical move in which he says how bad it would be to do a certain thing then goes on to do exactly that thing. In this story, he talks about horrible tragedies that “no romanticist” should discuss in fiction -- the black hole of Calcutta, the Plague of London, etc. -- then goes on to write a story about an even more horrible tragedy – being buried alive. It is a kind of rhetorical foreshadowing.

In the second paragraph, Poe also makes another (for him) characteristic distinction between the kinds and degrees of horror certain events possess. Disasters in which many people are killed, he writes, are more diffuse in their terror than the singular even that happens to an individual. As he says, “I need not remind the reader that, from the long and weird catalogue of human miseries, I might have selected many individual instances more replete with essential suffering than any of these vast generalities of disaster.” Of course, this is exactly what he will do – the third paragraph introduces the idea of being buried alive. In each case, the effect is the same – to heighten expectations.

Prove that `2 + sec(x) cosec(x) = (sin x + cos x)^2 / (sin x cos x).`

`2+secxcscx=(sinx+cosx)^2/(sinxcosx)`

To prove, consider the left side of the equation.

`2+secxcscx`

Express the secant and cosecant in terms of cosine and sine, respectively.

`=2+1/cosx*1/sinx`

`=2+1/(sinxcosx)`

To add, express them as two fractions with same denominators.

`=2*(sinxcosx)/(sinxcosx)+1/(sinxcosx)`

`=(2sinxcosx)/(sinxcosx) + 1/(sinxcosx)`

`=(2sinxcosx + 1)/(sinxcosx)`

Apply the Pythagorean identity `sin^2x+cos^2x=1` .

`=(2sinxcosx+sin^2+cos^2x)/(sinxcosx)`

`=(sin^2x+2sinxcosx+cos^2x)/(sinxcosx)`

And, factor the numerator.

`= ((sinx +cosx)(sinx+cosx))/(sinxcosx)`

`=(sinx+cosx)^2/(sinxcosx)`

Notice that this is the same expression that the right side of the equation have. Thus, this...

`2+secxcscx=(sinx+cosx)^2/(sinxcosx)`

To prove, consider the left side of the equation.

`2+secxcscx`

Express the secant and cosecant in terms of cosine and sine, respectively.

`=2+1/cosx*1/sinx`

`=2+1/(sinxcosx)`

To add, express them as two fractions with same denominators.

`=2*(sinxcosx)/(sinxcosx)+1/(sinxcosx)`

`=(2sinxcosx)/(sinxcosx) + 1/(sinxcosx)`

`=(2sinxcosx + 1)/(sinxcosx)`

Apply the Pythagorean identity `sin^2x+cos^2x=1` .

`=(2sinxcosx+sin^2+cos^2x)/(sinxcosx)`

`=(sin^2x+2sinxcosx+cos^2x)/(sinxcosx)`

And, factor the numerator.

`= ((sinx +cosx)(sinx+cosx))/(sinxcosx)`

`=(sinx+cosx)^2/(sinxcosx)`

Notice that this is the same expression that the right side of the equation have. Thus, this proves that the  `2+secxcscx=(sinx+cosx)^2/(sinxcosx)`  is an identity.

Why does George speak for Lennie?

George speaks for Lennie when they are dealing with employers or potential employers because Lennie's limited intelligence would be revealed by his limited vocabulary, his monotone voice, and his general slowness in comprehending and formulating sentences. George knows that many potential employers would balk at hiring Lennie for fear that he could not understand instructions or might cause problems in other ways. Lennie is a good worker when he is told what to do. He has plenty of strength and stamina. But he can't express himself very well, and in any stressful situation he becomes hopelessly confused, as we see in several scenes in Of Mice and Men. George has been getting jobs for Lennie for as long as they have been together on the road. 

In the opening chapter, George warns Lennie not to say anything when they sign up for work at the ranch.

"Now. look--I'll give you the work tickets, but you ain't gonna say a word. You jus' stand there and don't say nothing. If he finds out what a crazy bastard you are, we won't get no job, but if he sees ya work before he hears ya talk, we're set. Ya got that?"

A little later in that same chapter, George tests Lennie.

"What you gonna say tomorrow when the boss asks you questions?"

Lennie stopped chewing and swallowed. "I . . . I ain't gonna . . . say a word."

It is obvious that Lennie would make a very poor impression on any boss if he tried to answer a few simple questions about his experience and related matters. When the two men actually do meet the boss the next day, George has to do a lot of fast thinking and fast talking to get those badly needed jobs. They ate their last three cans of beans the night before. If they don't get hired here, they will be back on the road broke, hungry, and desperate.

The boss asks Lennie:

"What can you do?"

And George quickly answers for his friend:

"He's a good skinner. He can rassle grain bags, drive a cultivator. He can do anything. Just give him a try."

Lennie creates problems for George just with the few words he says:

"Strong as a bull," he repeated.

By calling attention to himself, Lennie makes the boss suspicious and George is forced to do a lot of explaining. This scene illustrates why George has to speak for Lennie and why George is finding their relationship more and more stressful. It is hard enough for a lone bindlestiff to find a job in the middle of the Great Depression, but George is always forced to find two jobs wherever they go. George must also take a lot of abuse from employers, as he does from the boss in this scene. And this helps to explain why George, a proud, quick-tempered man, dreams of having a modest little farm of his own.

Was Stalin a true hero?

The answer to this question depends largely on your definition of what a hero is.  By my definition, Stalin is most definitely not a hero.

It would be possible to say that Stalin was a true hero if you define a hero simply as someone who accomplishes notable things.  Stalin certainly accomplished some important things.  He was the ruler/dictator of the Soviet Union for over 20 years.  During that time, he led the country through...

The answer to this question depends largely on your definition of what a hero is.  By my definition, Stalin is most definitely not a hero.

It would be possible to say that Stalin was a true hero if you define a hero simply as someone who accomplishes notable things.  Stalin certainly accomplished some important things.  He was the ruler/dictator of the Soviet Union for over 20 years.  During that time, he led the country through World War II, in which it did much of the work of defeating Nazi Germany.  He forced the country to industrialize, taking it from a backwards economy to one that could at least compete with the US in terms of military power.  Under his rule, the Soviet Union became one of the two most powerful countries in the world.  This is notable, so if you think that a person can become a hero just by doing notable things, Stalin was a true hero.

However, in my mind, a hero is not just someone who accomplishes notable things.  Instead, a hero has to be in some way noble and has to be morally admirable.  We have to be able to look at a hero and say “I would want to have those qualities.”  A hero also has to work for goals that we can applaud.  If we look at things in this way, it is hard to call Stalin a true hero.  It is true that he was driven and determined, and it is true that those are good qualities.  However he was also extremely vicious, ruthless, and selfish.  He killed or imprisoned millions of people simply for disagreeing with him or for being, in his mind, a threat to his power.  He implemented policies that caused millions more to die of starvation.  He had no compunctions about condemning people to death (either through execution or through overwork/starvation) in order to achieve the goals that he had set. 

A hero (in my view) has to be someone who has good moral qualities and who pursues worthy goals in good ways.  If we define a hero in this way, Stalin was not a hero.

What is the symbolic meaning of Giles Corey being pressed to death in Act IV of The Crucible by Arthur Miller?

The symbolic meaning of Giles Corey being pressed to death in Act IV of The Crucible reflects how he will not acquiesce to deceit.

Giles Corey is one of the most stubborn characters in The Crucible. Miller's physical description of Corey reflects many of the traits he shows throughout the drama:

Knotted with muscle, canny, inquisitive, and still powerful. . . He didn't give a hoot for public opinion, and only in his last years did he bother much with the church. He was a crank and a nuisance, but withal a deeply innocent and brave man.

Corey does not hesitate to speak his mind, as he does not "give a hoot for public opinion." Motivated by bravery and courage, Corey is passionate about truth. For example, he constantly challenges Putnam's motivations. Corey suggests Putnam's intentions are driven by greed for land more than spirituality. In his time in front of the court, Corey refuses to give into the pressure Danforth and Hathorne exert on him, acting as his own legal counsel. Corey is also pure of heart. He sincerely asks Hale questions about his wife's reading habits out of curiosity. He has no idea such questions could be manipulated into accusations against her. Throughout the drama, Corey actively avoids peer pressure. He will not be forced to do something unless he believes in it.

Corey's death symbolizes what he embodied throughout the play. Elizabeth's description of his death communicates how he represented his beliefs until the very end:  

He were not hanged. He would not answer aye or nay to his indictment; for if he denied the charge they’d hang him surely, and auction out his property. So he stand mute, and died Christian under the law. And so his sons will have his farm. It is the law, for he could not be con-demned a wizard without he answer the indictment, aye or nay. 

To compel Corey to talk, he was pressed to death. When he insists on "More weight," Corey challenges social pressure. Corey defiantly confronts authority's desire to get him to do something he refuses to do. By insisting on "more weight," Corey emphasizes that he will not lie or embrace deceit. His challenge for more stones emphasizes this refusal.

Corey was a devoutly Christian man. This is reflected in how Elizabeth says he wanted to die with his faith. In this way, Corey acts as a Christ-figure. His sacrifice shows the transgressions within the world around him. Corey's death symbolizes the injustice of the Salem Witch Trials and how resistance in the face of unrighteousness is the only appropriate response. By refusing to speak, Corey shows how goodness and one's word do not have to be sacrificed upon the altar of public pressure.

When was Flannery O'Connor's short story "Greenleaf" published?

Flannery O'Connor wrote Greenleaf in 1956 but didn't publish it until nine years later, in 1965, as part of her short story collection Everything That Rises Must Converge. As is typical of many of O'Connor's works, Greenleaf espouses a decidedly religious worldview as characters afflicted by obvious vice -- in this case, the proud and selfish Mrs. May -- experience divine retribution through chaos and violence. In Greenleaf, Mrs. Greenleaf prays that God...

Flannery O'Connor wrote Greenleaf in 1956 but didn't publish it until nine years later, in 1965, as part of her short story collection Everything That Rises Must Converge. As is typical of many of O'Connor's works, Greenleaf espouses a decidedly religious worldview as characters afflicted by obvious vice -- in this case, the proud and selfish Mrs. May -- experience divine retribution through chaos and violence. In Greenleaf, Mrs. Greenleaf prays that God "stab her [Mrs. May] in the heart," which transpires when the bull Mr. Greenleaf is trying to shoot, on Mrs. May's command, instead pierces her heart with its horn. In this epiphanous moment of violence and religious ecstasy, Mrs. May has "the look of a person whose sight has been suddenly restored but who finds the light unbearable." Arguably, the bull symbolizes Christ, offering redemption to a sinner through a moment of agony; for Mrs. May, being stabbed in the heart is a catalyst for enlightenment. 

What is the difference between ammonium and ammonia?

Ammonia and ammonium differ by one hydrogen ion (H+). Ammonia is the common name for the compound nitrogen trihydride, which has the formula `NH_3` . Ammonium is the name of the ion `NH_4^+` . An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net charge. 

Ammonia is a base, meaning it produces `OH^- ` in solution. When ammonia reacts with water, an H+ ion is transferred from water to ammonia, forming ammonium ion, according...

Ammonia and ammonium differ by one hydrogen ion (H+). Ammonia is the common name for the compound nitrogen trihydride, which has the formula `NH_3` . Ammonium is the name of the ion `NH_4^+` . An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net charge. 

Ammonia is a base, meaning it produces `OH^- ` in solution. When ammonia reacts with water, an H+ ion is transferred from water to ammonia, forming ammonium ion, according to this equation:

`NH_3 + H_2O -> NH_4^+ + OH^-` 

Ammonia and ammonium ion are a conjugate acid-base pair. Ammonium ion is the conjugate acid of ammonia because it forms when when the base ammonia `(NH_3)` accepts a proton (H+ ion), as seen in the equation above. When the `NH_4^+` ion donates a proton, its conjugate base `NH_3` is formed. This occurs in the reverse reaction:

`NH_4^+ + OH^(-) -> NH_3 + H_2O`

What are examples of figurative language used in Act III, Scene 2 of King Lear?

Act III, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's King Lear is absolutely central to the play, and it accordingly employs some of the story's most lyrical language. The most extensive example of figurative language in this scene is personification, as Lear personifies the storm and raging elements by giving them human qualities. 

The first example of personification comes in the first line of the scene, when Lear urges the storm to "crack your cheeks; rage, blow" (1)....

Act III, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's King Lear is absolutely central to the play, and it accordingly employs some of the story's most lyrical language. The most extensive example of figurative language in this scene is personification, as Lear personifies the storm and raging elements by giving them human qualities. 

The first example of personification comes in the first line of the scene, when Lear urges the storm to "crack your cheeks; rage, blow" (1). The stormy elements of nature do not actually have cheeks, nor do they literally "rage." As such, we can see Lear is giving the elements human qualities and thus heightening our ability to imagine the intensity of the storm. Later in the scene, Lear advances his personification of the storm by calling the elements "servile ministers" (21), and so he directly imagines the storm having a human profession. 

It's also worth mentioning that this scene employs an apostrophe. In terms of figurative language, an apostrophe is an address to an absent character, or to a thing or abstract idea. In this scene, Lear very clearly addresses the storm as if it were a thinking being, saying "I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness" (16). Since the weather is not a thinking being or an actual character, Lear's direct address of the storm as "you" is an apostrophe.  

"History is an ongoing process of recording the past." Please comment on this thought.

There is some accuracy to the statement you have made about the role of history. There is more to history than just this thought, but it is an accurate description of part of the role that history plays.

There is no question that history records what has happened in the past. It records the people, the events, the conditions that existed, and the results of the events. History allows us to know what had happened,...

There is some accuracy to the statement you have made about the role of history. There is more to history than just this thought, but it is an accurate description of part of the role that history plays.

There is no question that history records what has happened in the past. It records the people, the events, the conditions that existed, and the results of the events. History allows us to know what had happened, and why it happened. History will continue to do this.

History also teaches us lessons. It is very important to learn from history so we don’t make the same mistakes over and over. This is something we haven’t done very well as many events have repeated themselves because we haven’t learned from the past. World War I and World War II are examples of this. Some of the causes of World War II were similar to some of the causes of World War I. History can guide us now and in the future by looking at what happened in the past and understanding why these events happened the way that they did. History is a great teacher if it is used properly.

In the lab, a relativistic proton has a momentum of 1.00 x 10^-19 kg • m/s and a rest energy of 0.150 nanojoules (nJ). What is the speed of the...

To derive our formula, we will start with the generic formula for relativistic momentum,

`p=gammamv`

where gamma is `gamma=1/sqrt(1-(v^2/c^2))` , p is momentum, m is the rest mass of the particle, and v is the velocity. I will substitute G for p/m.

Then, I will solve for v.

`gammav=G`

I square both sides to get rid of the nasty square root in the gamma. From there, most of the simplification is straightforward.

`gamma^2v^2=G^2`

`(1/(1-(v^2/c^2)))v^2=G^2`

`v^2=G^2(1-v^2/c^2)`

...

To derive our formula, we will start with the generic formula for relativistic momentum,

`p=gammamv`

where gamma is `gamma=1/sqrt(1-(v^2/c^2))` , p is momentum, m is the rest mass of the particle, and v is the velocity. I will substitute G for p/m.

Then, I will solve for v.

`gammav=G`

I square both sides to get rid of the nasty square root in the gamma. From there, most of the simplification is straightforward.

`gamma^2v^2=G^2`

`(1/(1-(v^2/c^2)))v^2=G^2`

`v^2=G^2(1-v^2/c^2)`

`v^2=G^2-v^2G^2/c^2`

`v^2+v^2G^2/c^2=G^2`

`v^2(1+G^2/c^2)=G^2`

Finally, 

`v^2=G^2/(1+G^2/c^2)`

or with the G expanded,

`v^2=(p/m)^2/(1+(p/m)^2/c^2)`

Don't forget the square on the v. Now, we can substitute our numbers into the formula above to calculate the relative speed of the proton.

`v^2=((1*10^-19)/(1.67*10^-27))^2/(1+((1*10^-19)/(1.67*10^-27))^2/(3*10^8)^2)`

This gives v=5.87209*10^7 m/s, or .1957c.

Particles at this velocity do not behave the same as normal particles, so the Newtonian p=mv formula does not hold here.

Why does James Hurst set "The Scarlet Ibis" during the war?

James Hurst's "The Scarlet Ibis" is the story of two brothers growing up in coastal North Carolina in the early part of the 20th century. The mention of war at a midway point in the story is symbolic of the war which is going on between the brothers. During the story, Hurst makes reference to the battles of World War I and the boys' mother prays for a fallen soldier who was a neighbor. The...

James Hurst's "The Scarlet Ibis" is the story of two brothers growing up in coastal North Carolina in the early part of the 20th century. The mention of war at a midway point in the story is symbolic of the war which is going on between the brothers. During the story, Hurst makes reference to the battles of World War I and the boys' mother prays for a fallen soldier who was a neighbor. The allusion comes at a point in the story when the brothers are at a crossroads in their lives. The older brother wants Doodle to become physically vigorous and has designed a regiment of activity which he hopes will make Doodle the equal of the other boys at school. Above all, the brother doesn't want Doodle to embarrass him. Their relationship during this time is antagonistic and stormy (the weather is also a symbol of this struggle). Doodle questions why he needs to be as physically strong as his brother. His inclination is to be more sensitive and to simply appreciate the wonders of nature. The brother, however, is not to be dissuaded and he eventually pushes Doodle too far. His pride and stubbornness in remaking Doodle ends in tragic circumstances as Doodle dies of internal bleeding by exhausting himself after chasing his brother during a rainstorm.

What are the main themes of The Devil and Mr. Casement by Jordan Goodman?

This book is about Roger Casement, the Irish-born member of the British Foreign office who investigated King Leopold II of Belgium's horrific actions in the Congo. Casement traveled about the Congo and interviewed people, which led to the release of the Casement Report. The Casement Report revealed Leopold had enslaved or killed millions of local people. His report led Leopold to give up the Congo as his personal domain. The Devil and Mr. Casementis...

This book is about Roger Casement, the Irish-born member of the British Foreign office who investigated King Leopold II of Belgium's horrific actions in the Congo. Casement traveled about the Congo and interviewed people, which led to the release of the Casement Report. The Casement Report revealed Leopold had enslaved or killed millions of local people. His report led Leopold to give up the Congo as his personal domain. The Devil and Mr. Casement is about Casement's attempts to reveal the horrors Peruvian Julio César Arana committed in the Putumayo region of the Amazon against the local Indians, as Arana killed hundreds of thousands of locals in an attempt to extract rubber. The British Parliament investigated Arana's Peruvian Amazon Company, based in London, but Arana was left unpunished and continued to conduct abuses in the Amazon. 

One of the themes of The Devil and Mr. Casement is the difficulty of cracking down on abuses, even abuses as serious and extensive as those in the Putumayo region. While Casement arrives in the region with optimism that his investigation will end the abuses, "Casement's confidence soon dissolved into frustration and despair" (164). His attempts to arrest the perpetrators of the abuse in the region are unsuccessful because the political authorities in the region back Arana.

Another theme in this book is the flawed nature of justice. Arana, the perpetrator of great abuse, goes unpunished, while Casement, the humanitarian (who was also knighted), is soon afterward executed by Britain for helping Germany attempt to foment Irish independence from the British. The ways in which these two men are treated by the British justice system reveals the unfairness present in the British justice system at the time. 

How can I write a compare and contrast research paper on Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband and Lady Windermere's Fan (10 sources, 10 pages)?

It is not easy to dig into a unified whole and find the parts that comprise it, especially to compare that to another whole and especially when both are created by a master. But this type of analysis will serve you well. First, to ignite your analysis and your brainstorming, your ten sourceswill inform you--many sources wait for you in your school reference library in the literary criticism section (others in the book stacks)--about...

It is not easy to dig into a unified whole and find the parts that comprise it, especially to compare that to another whole and especially when both are created by a master. But this type of analysis will serve you well. First, to ignite your analysis and your brainstorming, your ten sources will inform you--many sources wait for you in your school reference library in the literary criticism section (others in the book stacks)--about different opinions and perspectives, through different eras, on these plays. Your critical assessment of the opinions you read can relate to your own analysis of the plays. Such an analysis requires that you know the plays well, having read them closely. From the research you do of others' opinions, your ten sources will emerge.

Second, there are some key points of comparison and contrast that can add to the fire of your brainstorming. You can examine:

• theme


• the roles of fans


• settings


• aspects of satire


• name symbolism


• Wild's biographical elements related to places and names (e.g., Goring-on-Thames appearing as Lord Goring)


• actions of character types common to both plays (e.g., a wife leaves in each)


• unexpected appearances and mistaken identities


• characterization of husbands and wives

To illustrate a couple of these for you, let's consider some points that compare. In each play a wife leaves: Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband (IH) and Lady Windermere in Lady Windermere's Fan (LW). In each play there is an advocate for mercy and forgiveness: Lord Goring in IH and Mrs. Erlynne in LW. There are mistaken identities in each: Mrs. Erlynne is really Lady Windermere's mother; the woman at Lord Goring's door is really Mrs. Cheveley, not Lady Chiltern.

There are points of contrast as well. The use of fans in each has contrasts in effect and importance. The characterization of the husbands contrast: IH has a financially criminal husband; LW has a philandering husband. Themes have contrast; for example, the theme of modesty in LW contrasts with that of hypocrisy in IH. Settings have different dynamics in each play; for example, the Act I, Scene i setting of a private meeting between Lady Windermere and Lord Goring contrasts with the Act I, Scene i setting of a party gathering in IH. These ideas ought to get your brainstorming fired up, especially when you add fuel from your research reading.

What is the importance of the contrasts between Octavius Caesar and Antony in Antony and Cleopatra?

Originally, Antony and Octavius Caesar were sharing power, with Lepidus.  When Lepidus was expelled for supposedly being disloyal, that left Antony and Caesar.  Caesar was cunning, farsighted, and manipulative.  Antony was passionate and open to manipulation.  Because of Antony’s personality, Caesar was able to defeat him.

In matters of the flesh, Antony exercised poor judgement.  His portion of the Roman holdings included Egypt, and he fell under Cleopatra’s spell.  This was difficult, because he was...

Originally, Antony and Octavius Caesar were sharing power, with Lepidus.  When Lepidus was expelled for supposedly being disloyal, that left Antony and Caesar.  Caesar was cunning, farsighted, and manipulative.  Antony was passionate and open to manipulation.  Because of Antony’s personality, Caesar was able to defeat him.

In matters of the flesh, Antony exercised poor judgement.  His portion of the Roman holdings included Egypt, and he fell under Cleopatra’s spell.  This was difficult, because he was already married.  Then, at Caesar’s behest, he married again—to Caesar’s sister.  Both marriages caused trouble for Antony. His first wife (in the course of the play), Fulvia, tried to act against Caesar.  His second wife was Caesar’s sister, so by betraying her he was betraying Caesar.  This was not a good move.

In a conversation between Antony’s man Enobarbus and Caesar’s man Maecenas, Shakespeare addresses the problems Antony’s relationship with Cleopatra is causing.

MECAENAS

Now Antony must leave her utterly.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

Never; he will not:
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry
Where most she satisfies; for vilest things
Become themselves in her: that the holy priests
Bless her when she is riggish. (Act 2, Scene 2) 

The implication is that Antony is under the spell of a woman, which makes him weak in the eyes of the Romans.  Caesar uses this to discredit Antony, famously reading Antony’s will and telling the people about the Donations, a ceremony in Egypt where Antony bequeathed land to children he had with Cleopatra.  This outraged the Romans.

During the battle between Antony and Caesar, Antony was beaten soundly.  He had few men, and more deserting every day due to his erratic behavior.  Caesar had Agrippa to run his battles.  Antony was outstrategized and outnumbered. 

Antony showed his volatility when he had Caesar’s messenger whipped.  This was an egregious violation of protocol, but it also showed that he was losing control.  He even challenged Caesar to a duel.  Neither got the reaction Antony hoped.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power
To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger
He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,
Caesar to Antony: let the old ruffian know
I have many other ways to die; meantime
Laugh at his challenge. (Act 4, Scene 1)

Maecenas tells Caesar to pay no mind to Antony’s challenge.  They will just use his state of mind against him.  Caesar will never accept it.  He has the advantage, and everyone knows it.

Antony commits suicide because he knows that Caesar has won.  He is ruthless, and Antony is afraid of what will happen if he is captured.  He has to take the only noble act left open to him, and take his own life.  Cleopatra goads him to this, making him think that she has killed herself so that he will do it.  Later, Cleopatra kills herself after talking with Caesar and realizing she cannot seduce him like she did his (adopted) father. 

How would you summarize the book Playing for Keeps by Warren Goldstein?

Playing for Keeps: A History of Early Baseballwas published by Cornell University Press in 1989. An expanded twentieth anniversary edition includes additional material uncovered in the intervening twenty years. The book is especially notable for its extensive use of archival sources. Its author, Warren Goldstein, PhD is (as of 2016) Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at the University of Hartford. He is a prolific author of popular books and magazine articles...

Playing for Keeps: A History of Early Baseball was published by Cornell University Press in 1989. An expanded twentieth anniversary edition includes additional material uncovered in the intervening twenty years. The book is especially notable for its extensive use of archival sources. Its author, Warren Goldstein, PhD is (as of 2016) Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at the University of Hartford. He is a prolific author of popular books and magazine articles on topics pertaining to life in the nineteenth- and twentieth-century United States as well as articles on sports, especially baseball.

The book is organized into a prologue, eight major chapters, and an epilogue. It traces the history of baseball from its development into an organized sport in 1857, with the founding of the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP), through its increasing professionalization in 1870, marked by the formation of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. He sees baseball in the 1850s as being based in amateur clubs that were part of the male social fabric of local communities; by the 1870s, baseball was a business for both athletes and managers. 

In many ways, this is a cultural history, showing how fandom worked in tandem with economic opportunism to professionalize what had been a club sport played by amateurs who were often skilled workers. In this initial phase, the fraternal clubs sponsored baseball as one of several different wholesome recreational activities. The combination of fan enthusiasm and commercialization of ticket sales shifted the emphasis from recreation and players enjoying themselves to winning in order to please audiences and thereby increase ticket sales and profits. This in turn led to increased professionalization of players. 

The book's approach is distinguished by an emphasis on the sociological and economic underpinnings of the sport rather than simply focusing on player biographies.