How were Buck's feelings for Thornton different from his feelings for his previous masters?

Buck feels a strong connection with Thornton, his final master, and is deeply devoted to him. This is new for Buck: toward his previous masters, Buck had felt a kind of angry revulsion. If Buck obeyed his previous masters, it was because he had to. But Buck obeys Thornton out of a genuine wish to please him and protect him.

As Buck's first real masters after he was kidnapped from the Judge's house, Perrault and...

Buck feels a strong connection with Thornton, his final master, and is deeply devoted to him. This is new for Buck: toward his previous masters, Buck had felt a kind of angry revulsion. If Buck obeyed his previous masters, it was because he had to. But Buck obeys Thornton out of a genuine wish to please him and protect him.

As Buck's first real masters after he was kidnapped from the Judge's house, Perrault and Francois are reasonable with Buck. Still, they're the reason for Buck's harsh new lifestyle, and even if he holds a thin respect for these men, Buck certainly doesn't love or admire them.

Compared to Perrault and Francois, Hal and Charles are terrible masters: cruel and greedy, with unrealistic expectations of how far the dogs should run and how little they should eat. Toward these inexperienced and vile men, Buck feels only irritation and outrage. His entire experience with them leaves Buck more jaded and exhausted than ever:

Late next morning Buck led the long team up the street. There was nothing lively about it, no snap or go in him and his fellows. They were starting dead weary. Four times he had covered the distance between Salt Water and Dawson, and the knowledge that, jaded and tired, he was facing the same trail once more, made him bitter. His heart was not in the work, nor was the heart of any dog. The Outsiders were timid and frightened, the Insiders without confidence in their masters.

You can tell that things will be different with John Thornton when he steps in rescue Buck from the beatings that the cruel Hal and Charles are inflicting:

The last sensations of pain left him. He no longer felt anything, though very faintly he could hear the impact of the club upon his body. But it was no longer his body, it seemed so far away. And then, suddenly, without warning, uttering a cry that was inarticulate and more like the cry of an animal, John Thornton sprang upon the man who wielded the club.

Buck even licks John's hand on that day, a rare sign of affection. It doesn't take long for the bond between the dog and this man to grow into genuine love:

Love, genuine passionate love, was his for the first time. This he had never experienced at Judge Miller's down in the sun-kissed Santa Clara Valley. With the Judge's sons, hunting and tramping, it had been a working partnership; with the Judge's grandsons, a sort of pompous guardianship; and with the Judge himself, a stately and dignified friendship. But love that was feverish and burning, that was adoration, that was madness, it had taken John Thornton to arouse.

Are war and violence the only options to removing bad leaders?

It depends on the type of system in place and the circumstances between the people and their leader/s. War and violence are not the only options available to remove bad leaders, but sometimes such action is necessary.

In The Caucasian Chalk Circle, the Fat Prince staged a coup and murdered the governor. However, the coup was reversed, and the Grand Duke regained control. The story suggests that the governor was legitimately in authority, however,...

It depends on the type of system in place and the circumstances between the people and their leader/s. War and violence are not the only options available to remove bad leaders, but sometimes such action is necessary.

In The Caucasian Chalk Circle, the Fat Prince staged a coup and murdered the governor. However, the coup was reversed, and the Grand Duke regained control. The story suggests that the governor was legitimately in authority, however, the prince, yearned for power leading to the violent takeover.

In a monarchy system of governance, authority and power are inherited. In a democracy, the people participate in selecting their leader. Public participation in republics reduces chances of war and violence because there is due process outlined in universally binding agreements such as the constitution. The agreement would generally provide the people with an opportunity to exercise their preferences by selecting another leader through a free and fair election.

In monarchies or dictatorial regimes, such opportunities are not available to the people forcing them to rise up in arms when faced with bad leaders. An example of such scenarios would be the French, American and English Revolutions.

Why is Meimei annoyed by her mom at the end of her second tournament in "The Rules of the Game"?

Waverly is annoyed because her mother associates success with how many pieces she loses, regardless of whether she wins or not.

When the family got a used chess set for Christmas, Waverly had no idea that chess would become so important to her.  She learned how to play chess, and it turned out she had a knack for it.  Waverly was surprised when her mother let her participate in a tournament, but her mother was...

Waverly is annoyed because her mother associates success with how many pieces she loses, regardless of whether she wins or not.

When the family got a used chess set for Christmas, Waverly had no idea that chess would become so important to her.  She learned how to play chess, and it turned out she had a knack for it.  Waverly was surprised when her mother let her participate in a tournament, but her mother was focusing on how many pieces she lost.  She tried to explain to her mother that it wasn’t about pieces.

At the next tournament, I won again, but it was my mother who wore the triumphant grin. "Lost eight piece this time. Last time was eleven. What I tell you? Better off lose less!" I was annoyed, but I couldn't say anything.

Waverly is frustrated because no matter how successful she is, her mother wants more.  She can win, even in a tournament, and it is not enough for her mother.  Her mother wants her to win by losing fewer pieces.  Waverly also feels as if she knows more about chess than her mother, because she is the one who is playing, but her mother still insists on micromanaging.

Waverly feels the pressure of her success.  The neighborhood celebrates her and she is on magazine covers.  She feels that her mother is too focused on her winning.

But I found it difficult to concentrate at home. My mother had a habit of standing over me while I plotted out my games. I think she thought of herself as my protective ally. Her lips would be sealed tight, and after each move I made, a soft "Hmmmmph" would escape from her nose.

This is what leads to the fight between Waverly and her mother, when she yells at her mother in the street for showing her off.  Waverly loves chess.  She is very good at it.  However, the game is tainted by her mother’s controlling nature, and she doesn’t know how to tell her.

Why did Uncle Judah bring Rachel to Lyddie?

Uncle Judah brought Rachel to Lyddie because he wished to relinquish responsibility for Lyddie's little sister. He claimed that the responsibility of caring for Mrs. Worthen and Rachel was too heavy for his wife, Clarissa. As a result of their joint decision, Uncle Judah and Aunt Clarissa decided to commit Mrs. Worthen to a mental asylum in Brattleboro. To finance Mrs. Worthen's care, Lyddie's uncle put the Worthen family farm up for sale. Uncle Judah...

Uncle Judah brought Rachel to Lyddie because he wished to relinquish responsibility for Lyddie's little sister. He claimed that the responsibility of caring for Mrs. Worthen and Rachel was too heavy for his wife, Clarissa. As a result of their joint decision, Uncle Judah and Aunt Clarissa decided to commit Mrs. Worthen to a mental asylum in Brattleboro. To finance Mrs. Worthen's care, Lyddie's uncle put the Worthen family farm up for sale. Uncle Judah informed Lyddie of his intentions in Chapter 15.

Distressed at the news, Lyddie implored her brother, Charles, to do everything he could to prevent Uncle Judah from selling the family property. However, Charles (being only thirteen years old) was unable to prevent Uncle Judah from fulfilling his desires in the matter. Unexpectedly, Lyddie later received a letter from Quaker Stevens informing her that Charles had approached him to represent the Worthen family interest. Meanwhile, Lyddie suddenly found herself fully responsible for her sister's care and well-being. However, Mrs. Bedlow allowed Lyddie to keep Rachel at the boarding house for more than a fortnight, due to her own sense of compassion for the beleaguered sisters. Later, Mrs. Bedlow made arrangements for Rachel to work as a doffer at the factory.

In Chapter 18, we learn from Luke Stevens's letter that his father had purchased the farm from Lyddie's Uncle Judah. In the letter, Luke shyly asks Lyddie for her hand in marriage. In that same chapter, we also learn that Charles and Rachel were adopted by the Phinneys. So, despite Uncle Judah's actions, Lyddie and her siblings managed to overcome tragedy in their lives.

What are Freud's psychosexual stages and what are their implications for various age ranges?

Freud was well known for his theory of psychosexual stages. This theory is a model for human development. Freud was motivated to biologically explain the psychology of humans. The model consists of five stages: oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital. Each of these phases represents a stage in human development. This model is designed around the concept that humans are driven by the gratification of desire. Fixation, or "stuckness" in any one of these stages represents a stunting of normal development.

Stage One: Oral

The oral stage represents the age range from birth to two years old. In this phase, the mouth is the focal point of pleasure. Infants gnaw on things to interact with them, and breastfeed or drink from a bottle. Those who become fixated in this stage may experience nervous tics around chewing, such as gnawing on the end of a pencil. 

Stage Two: Anal

The anal stage represents the ages from two to four years old. In this phase, the anus is the focal point of gratification. During this phase of life, humans learn to control their bowels and their bladders. Fixation in this stage can result in anal retentiveness (Freud's model is the origin of this phrase). One who is anal retentive obsessively holds on to order, such as organization and neatness. 

Stage Three: Phallic

The phallic stage represents the ages from four to seven years old. In this phase, the penis or clitoris is the focal point for gratification. In this phase, humans begin to identify with their mother or father and become sexually motivated as individuals. The relationship to the parent of the opposite sex is central to this stage, and fixation in the phallic stage may lead to a fascination with one's mother or father in an Oedipal or Electra complex, respectively.

Stage Four: Latency

The latent stage represents ages seven through puberty. In this stage, individuals focus on repressing, or making latent their earlier desires. Individuals fixated in this phase may be sexually unfulfilled.

Stage Five: Genital

The genital stage represents the adulthood of the individual. In this stage, humans mature sexually and fulfill their desire to procreate. Individuals who are fixated in this stage may be unsuccessful sexually or frigid to sexual partners. 

Freud's theory of psychosexual stages is one of many models of human development. Like all models, it can attempt only to generally describe a pattern.

What is the reaction of the lover when he is rejected by his beloved in the poem "The Last Ride Together" by Browning?

The lover in "The Last Ride Together" knows that his relationship with his beloved is over, but his reaction is to ask for one last ride with her. He knows that he has failed to secure a future with her and says, "Since all, my life seem’d meant for, fails," (line 4) (in other words, everything he wants in life has met with failure), he wants the memory of one last ride with her.  As...

The lover in "The Last Ride Together" knows that his relationship with his beloved is over, but his reaction is to ask for one last ride with her. He knows that he has failed to secure a future with her and says, "Since all, my life seem’d meant for, fails," (line 4) (in other words, everything he wants in life has met with failure), he wants the memory of one last ride with her.  As he waits for her answer, he thinks that "life or death [was] in the balance" (line 16). His beloved relents and goes on a ride with the narrator.

The narrator's reaction to this ride is to live for the day, or carpe diem. He says, "So, one day more am I deified. Who knows but the world may end to-night?" (line 16). In other words, he decides to make the most of every moment because he does not know what the future holds. In several stanzas that follow, he decides that he is better able to live than a solider, a poet, a sculptor, or a musician because he lives in a world in which "the instant [is] made eternity" (line 108). The narrator is content to live in the perfection of the moment with his beloved.  

How would I write an essay on the Ecole Polytechnique Massacre?

An essay needs to be researched and present a thesis which is defended throughout the body of the work.  The internet provides a wealth of information concerning the tragedy which occurred in 1989.  Many of the news articles from the time period are available online.  Libraries often have older publications on microfilm or microfiche as well.  The research portion of the work (tracking down reputable sources) often takes the longest.  Sources such as Wikipedia or blogs should not be used as direct references, but can point towards additional leads of interest.

The Ecole Polytechnique Massacre, also known as the Montreal Massacre, occurred in December 1989.  Marc Lepine entered the engineering school and began killing women.  Lepine killed fourteen young women at the school because they dared to attend the school.  He ended the spree by killing himself.

The essay should introduce the incident and present the thesis of the work.  There are several arguments surrounding the event which mirror similar events that occur today.  You could argue Lepine created the blueprint for school mass shootings or address the similarities between that attack and those that still occur.  Why haven't more safety measures been put into place?

The body of the essay needs to provide additional details of the event.  A brief biography of Lepine can be included to help the reader understand his motives.  The body is where you support your thesis with facts.  A well-rounded essay will also present information contrary to the thesis in a paragraph with a counterargument.  Finally, the essay should be concluded with a paragraph summarizing the argument with a decisive statement.  The statement should be a confirmation of the thesis.

Some questions you may want to address in the essay include:

• Who was Marc Lepine?


• What were his motives?


• Compare/contrast the massacre with others (Columbine, Virginia Tech)


• How could it have been prevented?  Did law enforcement learn anything about school safety?


• What do survivors think about it?


• What failures led to the massacre?  Could it have been prevented?

What is the moral dilemma in Judith Ortiz Cofer's "American History"?

In Judith Ortiz Cofer's "American History," the protagonist, Elena, faces a moral dilemma on November 22, 1963. This is the day President John F. Kennedy is shot and when the country mourns the shocking loss of a beloved man. Elena and the other students from school are sent home out of respect for the country's loss. Elena notices on her way home that her apartment building is completely silent. This silence is unusual because there are...

In Judith Ortiz Cofer's "American History," the protagonist, Elena, faces a moral dilemma on November 22, 1963. This is the day President John F. Kennedy is shot and when the country mourns the shocking loss of a beloved man. Elena and the other students from school are sent home out of respect for the country's loss. Elena notices on her way home that her apartment building is completely silent. This silence is unusual because there are usually different types of music blasting from the windows and people socializing out front. On this day in history, however, Elena's building is silent to show respect for a time of mourning.

The moral dilemma occurs when Elena decides to go to Eugene's house for their study date rather than to church with her mother. Elena's mother attempts to change Elena's mind by saying the following:

"Hija, the president has been killed. We must show respect. He was a great man. Come to church with me tonight." 

Elena's mother believes her daughter should cancel studying to attend church with her to pray for President Kennedy, his loves ones, and the nation. Elena does not want to miss going into the house next door for her study date with Eugene. Elena's mother argues that her daughter is forgetting who she is and what she should be doing at a time like this. Also, she takes the time to inform Elena that she is headed for trouble if she continues to chase after Eugene and her dreams about his house. Again, the moral dilemma is whether Elena should exercise respect for the president's death or go to Eugene's house to study.

Ultimately, Elena exercises her freedom to make her own choices and decides to go over to Eugene's house against her mother's wishes. Elena is not able to enter the home, though. Eugene's mother, who has a prejudiced and intolerant attitude towards other races and social classes, refuses to give Elena permission to enter the home or be friends with Eugene.

Describe the relationship between Sebastian and Antonio in Twelfth Night.

Antonio looks after Sebastian.  He really cares about Sebastian, and wants to protect him.  This is why he stays in Illyria even though his legal history is such that he really should not be seen around there.

Antonio seems to think that since he rescued Sebastian from the shipwreck he should continue to look after him.

SEBASTIAN

O good Antonio, forgive me your trouble.

ANTONIO

If you will not murder me for my love, let...

Antonio looks after Sebastian.  He really cares about Sebastian, and wants to protect him.  This is why he stays in Illyria even though his legal history is such that he really should not be seen around there.

Antonio seems to think that since he rescued Sebastian from the shipwreck he should continue to look after him.

SEBASTIAN

O good Antonio, forgive me your trouble.

ANTONIO

If you will not murder me for my love, let me be
your servant.

SEBASTIAN

If you will not undo what you have done, that is,
kill him whom you have recovered, desire it not. … (Act 2, Scene 1)

Antonio gives Sebastian his purse to hold.  They agree to meet up later.  It is all fairly innocent except there is the one problem.  Antonio is a wanted man in Illyria. 

Sebastian ends up in the same place as his twin sister, by chance, having no idea that she is alive or that she is pretending to be a man.  When Cesario/Viola is dueling with Sir Andrew, Antonio steps in.  He feels that helping Sebastian is the right thing to do, since Sebastian is his friend.  Then he gets arrested for his past deeds.

Antonio asks Sebastian for his purse.  Cesario refuses.  Antonio is very upset.  He has been an excellent friend to Sebastian, and in his time of need, Sebastian turns on him and refuses to give him his own money!  Cesario/Viola is confused, offering to give what little money he/she has.

ANTONIO

I must entreat of you some of that money.

VIOLA

What money, sir?
...

ANTONIO

Will you deny me now?

Is't possible that my deserts to you
Can lack persuasion? … (Act 3, Scene 4)

In the end, they get it straightened out that these two are twins, and that Antonio actually gave his purse to one twin and asked for it back from the other.  However, he was still able to offer a valuable service to Viola when he intervened for her in the duel, thinking he was helping Sebastian.  Therefore, he was a friend to both twins.

What is the relationship between Hally and his mother in "MASTER HAROLD". . .and the boys?

In Fugard's "MASTER HAROLD". . .and the boys, the relationship between Hally and his mother is weak and seemingly distant. The audience never meets Hally's mother as a present character--she is only referenced in the telephone conversations that Hally has with her while she is at the hospital with Hally's father. But when she calls, she asks Hally to look after his father, which Hally does not want to do. Hally says that his mother...

In Fugard's "MASTER HAROLD". . .and the boys, the relationship between Hally and his mother is weak and seemingly distant. The audience never meets Hally's mother as a present character--she is only referenced in the telephone conversations that Hally has with her while she is at the hospital with Hally's father. But when she calls, she asks Hally to look after his father, which Hally does not want to do. Hally says that his mother allows his father to push her around, and he cannot understand why his mother does not stand up to his father. Both Hally and his mother seem to cower in the shadow of the father, and each wants the other to "solve" the problem. They do not seem to see each other as a support in dealing with the father. Hally wants his mother to be strong so that she can protect him from his father, but his mother does not appear to be in a position to do that for Hally.

What are some notable quotations in Zlata's Diary?

The most effective quotes from Zlata's Diary are ones where the terror of war can be seen through a child's eyes.  

Zlata's Diary enables us to see how a child sees war.  The result is war's inhumanity is displayed in a very poignant way. One example is when Zlata personalizes the war experience:

That’s my life! The life of an innocent eleven-year-old schoolgirl!! A schoolgirl without school, without the fun and excitement of school. A child without games, without friends, without the sun, without birds, without nature, without fruit, without chocolate or sweets, with just a little powdered milk. In short, a child without a childhood. A wartime child.

When talking about war, we get lost in how human beings are uprooted.  Borders and military objectives diminish when we see how war permanently alters people's lives. Zlata captures this reality when she talks about how her childhood has been robbed because of war.  She has lost innocence, "fun and excitement," and "the sun."  I find this quote meaningful because it brings a human account to war's political dimension.

Zlata's personalized view of war is enhanced when she sees what the conflict is doing to her parents.  Children look to their parents for guidance.  Despite what parents say, kids observe their parents' facial reactions to indicate the reality of a situation.  Upon doing this, Zlata writes about how war weakens the people who have to endure it: 

...I look over at Mommy and Daddy. ... Somehow they look even sadder to me in the light of the oil lamp. ... God, what is this war doing to my parents? They don’t look like my old Mommy and Daddy anymore. Will this ever stop? Will our suffering stop so that my parents can be what they used to be cheerful, smiling, nice-looking?

The most poignant part of this quote is how Zlata yearns for the "cheerful, smiling, nice-looking" parents she used to know.  There was a time when Zlata's family loved life, and drank from its cup without hesitation.  The war has robbed them of the joy they once knew.  Zlata's words illuminate the yearning and ache that comprise war's psychological footprint.

Finally, I think that one of the most random details in the diary is also one of Zlata's most effective piece of writing. She writes about the stray animals that have emerged because of the war:

There are lots of beautiful pedigree dogs roaming the streets. Their owners probably had to let them go because they couldn’t feed them anymore. Sad. Yesterday I watched a cocker spaniel cross the bridge, not knowing which way to go. He was lost.

For a child, the suffering of animals is one of the most painful elements.  When Zlata writes about how the cocker spaniel did not know which way to go, she is mourning. She mourns not just for the lost dog, but for herself.  She identifies herself with the dog. Like the dog, Zlata is also not "spared by the war" and does not know where to go or what to do.  Her identification with the dog's predicament is another quote that notably illuminates war's pain.

In N. Scott Momaday's book The Way to Rainy Mountain, what is an example of the way in which Momaday adapts history so that it makes sense in a...

In the Prologue, Momaday tells the story of the Kiowa's last Sun Dance in 1887. He tells this story through the eyes of his grandmother, who was then seven, to make it more accessible to the reader. He also relates the last time the Kiowa came together to commemorate the Sun Dance, even though they did not have a buffalo, as was their tradition. Instead, they hung a hide from a tree as a remembrance...

In the Prologue, Momaday tells the story of the Kiowa's last Sun Dance in 1887. He tells this story through the eyes of his grandmother, who was then seven, to make it more accessible to the reader. He also relates the last time the Kiowa came together to commemorate the Sun Dance, even though they did not have a buffalo, as was their tradition. Instead, they hung a hide from a tree as a remembrance of the buffalo, and soldiers came from Fort Sill to disrupt the Kiowas' ritual. Momaday writes:

"Forbidden without cause the essential act of their faith, having seen the wild herds slaughtered and left to rot upon the ground, the Kiowas backed away forever from the medicine tree...My grandmother was there. Without bitterness, and for as long as she lived, she bore a vision of deicide" (page 2).

In other words, the Kiowas at this ceremony witnessed the death of their gods, or "deicide," and they no longer could observe their rituals in the way they wanted to. The means by which they could find the sacred in life was gone forever. The way in which Momaday relates his grandmother's sadness about the destruction she and her people witnessed is to show her praying. He observes her praying when he is young. Though he does not understand Kiowa, he understands that "there was something inherently sad in the sound, some merest hesitation upon the syllables of sorrow" (page 2). By relating the images and sounds of his grandmother praying, he is able to relate how the history of the Kiowa affected her and to make the history of the tribe more accessible to the reader.

How did the Mexican Revolution end?

The Mexican Revolution did not end in a “clean” way; that is, there was no clear end to the revolution, like a final battle or the signing of a peace treaty. Instead, the revolution sort of sputtered to an end. Historians do not all agree as to when the revolution ended. Let us look at two answers they might give:

First, we could say that the revolution ended in 1920. It was at this point...

The Mexican Revolution did not end in a “clean” way; that is, there was no clear end to the revolution, like a final battle or the signing of a peace treaty. Instead, the revolution sort of sputtered to an end. Historians do not all agree as to when the revolution ended. Let us look at two answers they might give:

First, we could say that the revolution ended in 1920. It was at this point that the main violence of the revolution ended. 1920 was the year in which the last revolution-related assassination or execution of a president occurred. In 1920, Venustiano Carranza was president. He lost support and ended up being assassinated. He was eventually replaced by Alvaro Obregon, who served a full term as president. In a sense, you could say Carranza's and Obregon's election marked the end of the revolution.

We could also say the revolution did not end until 1934, when Lazaro Cardenas became president of Mexico. He was the first truly reformist president to come to power after the revolution. He instituted many of the reforms that the revolution was supposed to address. He was also, in a sense, a founder of the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) that ruled Mexico until the election of 2000. This can be seen as the end of the revolution, as there was no real organized violence after this year and because Cardenas’s rise to power marked the beginning of the time when the government was really working towards the revolution's goals.

We can say, then, that the revolution ended either with the death of Carranza or when Cardenas became president.

What characteristics does Walter Mitty wish he had in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"?

Walter Mitty would like to be assertive, commanding, courageous, brave, fearless, heroic, and unwavering.

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" is a darkly humorous tale of a man who is defeated by authority and audacity, and emasculated by an insensitive wife. Apparently consigned to conducting his domineering wife to town and running silly errands for her, Walter drives along pretending that he is the courageousCommander of a Navy hydroplane until reality interrupts. Then, he...

Walter Mitty would like to be assertive, commanding, courageous, brave, fearless, heroic, and unwavering.

"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" is a darkly humorous tale of a man who is defeated by authority and audacity, and emasculated by an insensitive wife. Apparently consigned to conducting his domineering wife to town and running silly errands for her, Walter drives along pretending that he is the courageous Commander of a Navy hydroplane until reality interrupts. Then, he is reduced to what has been called the "hen-pecked" husband as his wife scolds the meek Walter and reminds him to buy overshoes and wear his gloves.

Shortly after dropping off his wife at the salon, Mitty drifts into another wishful daydream in which he is again a leader. This time he is a famous surgeon, who assertively fixes a faulty piston so that an operation can continue. In sharp contrast to this heroism and commanding persona, Mitty is reduced again by reality as a lowly parking-lot attendant shouts at him, "Back it up, Mac!" Then, Mitty becomes so nervous that he cannot maneuver the car correctly. Embarrassed, Mitty almost forgets to hand the youth the key; then, the attendant backs up the car with insolent skill that demeans poor Mitty.

"They're so cocky," thought Walter Mitty, walking along Main Street; "they think they know everything."

Mitty recalls how he was mocked by a garage-man who had to come out to take off the winter chains from the car because in his attempts to do so, Mitty had the chains wound around the axle. "...next time...I'll wear my right arm in a sling...." This compensatory plan leads to another daydream in Mitty: This time he is himself and he is on trial for murder. However, his shooting arm was in a sling on the night of the murder. Boldly, nevertheless, Mitty asserts, "I could have killed Gregory Fitzhurst at three hundred feet with my left hand." Chaos breaks out in the courtroom and a beautiful girl hugs Mitty. When the District Attorney strikes her "savagely," the fearless Mitty punches him on the chin, saying, "You miserable cur!"

In reality, the submissive Walter Mitty walks down the street and he remembers the second errand, "Puppy biscuit." A woman laughs as she passes him, saying to her companion, "He said 'puppy biscuit' to himself. Later, Walter Mitty walks to the hotel where is supposed to wait for his wife. In the lobby he sits in a large leather chair that faces the window. After having picked up a copy of a political and general interest magazine of the time named Liberty, a new daydream comes to him. This time he is a captain in World War I and heroically he is going to blow up the ammunition dump of the Germans. Pouring another brandy and "tossing it off" with much machismo, Captain Mitty straps on his huge Webley-Vickers automatic and sets out to destroy the enemy's ammunition. "Cheerio," the heroic Mitty shouts bravely.

This dream is interrupted by his returning wife, who immediately scolds him for sitting where she cannot see him. When she asks him why he hides, Walter Mitty tells her, "I was thinking....Does it ever occur to you that I am sometimes thinking?"

She looked at him. "I'm going to take your temperature when I get you home," she said.

Mitty makes no comment to her demeaning response to him. But, the doors seem to make a derisive sound as they depart the hotel. "Wait a minute," his wife commands him. "She was more than a minute." Walter Mitty lights a cigarette as it begins to rain. He leans against a wall with his shoulders back. "'To hell with the handkerchief,' said Walter Mitty scornfully" as he imagines himself facing a firing squad. All his hope for bravery and assertiveness dashed, Mitty is yet unwavering in his escape.

What are the fundamental principles of leadership? What are the fundamental principles of human resource management applied by organisations...

There are a number of approaches to enumerating the fundamental principles of leadership. Some approaches enumerate eightor ten principles while others enumerate five principles. In general, though, there are two essential approaches, and there is a great deal of cross-over between all approaches. One essential approach focuses on ethical and respectful behavior, stressing that the person is never the problem; the situation external to the person is the problem; constructive relationships and leading by...

There are a number of approaches to enumerating the fundamental principles of leadership. Some approaches enumerate eight or ten principles while others enumerate five principles. In general, though, there are two essential approaches, and there is a great deal of cross-over between all approaches. One essential approach focuses on ethical and respectful behavior, stressing that the person is never the problem; the situation external to the person is the problem; constructive relationships and leading by example are necessary. The other essential approach focuses on qualifications for leadership, stressing such things as communication skills, decision-making proficiency, taking responsibility, providing information, delegating tasks, flexibility, passing on the vision, and enabling employees.

One five-step model for the fundamental principles of leadership developed by the Leadership Challenge relies heavily on the personal qualities of the leader. This five-step model advocates:

1. Modeling the way things will be, setting the standard for how people will be treated, and identifying small goals that lead to larger objectives.


2. Inspiring a shared vision of what the company will come to be by using "magnetism and quiet persuasion" to inspire partnership in the vision.


3. Challenge the status quo by being innovative, experimenting and taking risks.


4. Enabling employees to act independently by fostering collaboration and team projects, with behavior founded in "trust and human dignity."


5. Encouraging the heart--the spirit--of employees by recognizing contributions and hard work.

Brad Sugar of Action Coach advocates a different approach, one that is based in what the leader does rather than what the leader is. In his ten-step plan, he advocates:

1. Know your attributes and strengthen the weak areas.


2. "Be technically proficient," with a solid understanding of the jobs your employees do.


3. While striving for company growth, "seek responsibility" and accept responsibility for your errors.


4. Have the tools and methods for sound decisions.


5. Set a good example; employees trust what they see.


6. Care about and look out for the well-fare of your employees.


7. Communicate, and keep people up-to-date with information.


8. For success in responsibilities, develop a "sense of accountability, ownership and responsibility" in employees.


9. Tasks and roles for employee assignment need to be communicated so they are understood; then they need to be "supervised, and accomplished" so employees have success and self-esteem.


10. Unit your employees as a team to attain a united spirit and the fullest fulfillment of capabilities.

What makes Bluntschli say that "The officers send for their wives to keep discipline"?

The immediate cause is Major Petkoff's request that Catherine accompany him to talk to the men in Act III. Bluntschli had just told Sergius to take a strict, forceful tone with his soldiers:

Tell them that if they stop to drink or tell stories--if they're five minutes late, they'll have the skin taken off their backs.

Then, doubting Sergius's ability to follow through, Bluntschli urges the Major to go with him:

Just see that he...

The immediate cause is Major Petkoff's request that Catherine accompany him to talk to the men in Act III. Bluntschli had just told Sergius to take a strict, forceful tone with his soldiers:

Tell them that if they stop to drink or tell stories--if they're five minutes late, they'll have the skin taken off their backs.

Then, doubting Sergius's ability to follow through, Bluntschli urges the Major to go with him:

Just see that he talks to them properly, Major, will you?

Petkoff first makes a show of being ready to do so, but then seems to lose confidence and asks his wife to help with the task:

Quite right, Bluntschli, quite right. I'll see to it. [He goes to the door importantly, but hesitates on the threshold]. By the bye, Catherine, you may as well come too. They'll be far more frightened of you than of me.

And that sparks Bluntschli's comment. But we should keep the background in mind. Bluntschli is already well aware that Catherine exerts dominance over her husband in the domestic sphere. Bluntschli took cues from Catherine regarding the need to deceive Petkoff and Sergius about his prior visit to the house. He has observed Catherine directing Petkoff in the library:

CATHERINE [in a low warning tone] You can stop interrupting, Paul.

Bluntschli is also well aware that Petkoff isn't very competent at his job. Bluntschli had negotiated with him at the end of the war, an encounter in which Bluntschli "humbugged" Petkoff into "giving him fifty able bodied men for two hundred worn out chargers." And now, in the library, he was helping Petkoff sort out the logistics of sending the cavalry regiments to Philippopolis -- a problem that seems to be entirely beyond Petkoff's capabilities.

So when Bluntschli makes his comment about wives, it comes in the context of his being dismayed with Petkoff's apparent inability to handle anything on his own. More generally, this reaction is part of his dismay towards the unprofessional approach taken by Bulgarian military officers.

How does the sub-plot involving Jessica and Lorenzo support the main plot of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice structurally and thematically?

Structurally, Jessica's romance with Lorenzo helps drive Shylock over the edge.  

When the play opens, Shylock already feels hard-done-by. After Jessica runs away with Lorenzo, Shylock takes yet another hit, both in his pocketbook and in his self-respect. Jessica takes some money with her, which upsets Shylock. He also, of course, feels betrayed that his daughter left him, and her heritage, to marry a Christian. To make matters worse, everyone is laughing at his...

Structurally, Jessica's romance with Lorenzo helps drive Shylock over the edge.  

When the play opens, Shylock already feels hard-done-by. After Jessica runs away with Lorenzo, Shylock takes yet another hit, both in his pocketbook and in his self-respect. Jessica takes some money with her, which upsets Shylock. He also, of course, feels betrayed that his daughter left him, and her heritage, to marry a Christian. To make matters worse, everyone is laughing at his frustration. In Act 2, Scene 8 we see this exchange:

Solanio:

As the dog Jew did utter in the streets:

'My daughter! O my ducats [money]! O my daughter!

Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!

Justice! the law! my ducats and my daughter!'

Salerio:

Why, all the boys in Venice follow him,

Crying his stones, his daughter, and his ducats.

Shylock has become a laughingstock. In Act III, Scene 1, we see he blames Salerio, Solanio, and Antonio for this turn of events: "You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter's flight." A few lines later, Shylock gives his "Revenge" speech. If there was any question before about whether Shylock would really take his pound of flesh from Antonio, his resolve to do so is now hardened.

Thematically, at least three things are occurring. 

First, Jessica's subplot confirms Shylock is not a gracious person. He is not even kind to his own daughter. He treats her harshly. She sees nothing attractive in his lifestyle, and is only too eager to leave it.

This leads in to the second theme, that of the contrast between Shylock's bitter way of life and Antonio's gracious one. Unfortunately, in this play that is also painted as the contrast between life as a Jew and life as Christian. Of course, this is an exaggeration and a stereotype at best. The underlying point is that it is better to live a life of giving and receiving mercy than a life of giving and receiving only one's rights under the law. In the play, Jessica is a gracious young woman, so she shows her good character by preferring a merciful life.

Finally, Jessica, like Portia, is a funny, clever, and strong-minded young woman who dresses as a boy and sneaks out of her house to do some good. Her behavior echoes Portia's, but in a minor key. Jessica is not quite as brave as Portia (she is afraid to be seen in the pageboy's costume), nor quite as selfless (she is running away mostly for her own benefit, not to help another). Still, between these two remarkable young ladies, Shakespeare shows a smart and spunky girl can come from any walk of life. 

In "Araby" by James Joyce, what does Mangan's sister do to make a trip to the bazaar so important to the narrator?

Really, the only thing Mangan's sister does to make going to the bazaar so important to the narrator is to speak to him about it.  She had never actually spoken to the narrator before, and so, when "At last she spoke to [him]," he becomes confused and flustered.  She tells him that it will be a "splendid bazaar" and that "she would love to go"; however, she cannot because she'll be on a retreat with...

Really, the only thing Mangan's sister does to make going to the bazaar so important to the narrator is to speak to him about it.  She had never actually spoken to the narrator before, and so, when "At last she spoke to [him]," he becomes confused and flustered.  She tells him that it will be a "splendid bazaar" and that "she would love to go"; however, she cannot because she'll be on a retreat with her convent school.  This is enough.  Mangan's sister has spoken to the narrator, and upon this subject, expressing her desire to go to the Araby bazaar and her regret that she cannot.  He seems to imagine this as some kind of quest: he can go in her place and bring her something that will make her happy, and this will make him happy.  In the days between his vow and the bazaar, the narrator finds that he cannot even concentrate on "the serious work of life" because it now seems like "child's play" in comparison to the thing that he desires. 

What was "The Necklace" by Guy De Maupassant about?

"The Necklace" by Guy du Maupassant is the story of a just barely middle-class French couple, Monsieur and Madame Loisel. Madame Loisel is a pretty woman who believes her marriage to a mere clerk does not do her justice. She believes her face is her fortune and hopes to do much better. Her husband finally manages to get an invitation for them to a swanky affair, and after much fretting about what she has to...

"The Necklace" by Guy du Maupassant is the story of a just barely middle-class French couple, Monsieur and Madame Loisel. Madame Loisel is a pretty woman who believes her marriage to a mere clerk does not do her justice. She believes her face is her fortune and hopes to do much better. Her husband finally manages to get an invitation for them to a swanky affair, and after much fretting about what she has to wear to impress those at the ball, Monsieur Loisel sacrifices his savings for a new dress for his wife, and she visits a friend from whom she borrows what she believes to be a diamond necklace. After a successful night, Madame Loisel loses the necklace somewhere between the ball and home. The necklace is nowhere to be found. The couple must borrow money to replace the necklace and spend the rest of the story in debt and poverty. Madame Loisel loses even the smallest of amenities she enjoyed before. When she encounters her friend one day years later, she learns the necklace was a fake and not really made of diamonds at all. 

That, of course, is the plot of the story, which may or may not be what you mean by asking what the story is about. On a deeper level, the story is about the problems incurred if one is more concerned about appearances than character, the damage done by dishonesty, and the importance of appreciating what one has. If Madame Loisel had attended the ball as her beautiful and natural self, none of this would have happened. Had she chosen what she thought was a more modest piece of jewelry or wore flowers instead, as her husband had suggested, none of this would have happened. Had she told the truth about losing the necklace right after she lost it, she would have learned how little it would cost to replace. All of Madame Loisel's "suffering" is a product of her wanting a life she does not have and her failure to appreciate what she does have. As the story ends, perhaps she does have some appreciation for what is now gone, thanks to her own attitude and choices.

What takes place when Jack, Ralph, and Simon find a piglet caught in the bush in Lord of the Flies?

Because the boys have only recently arrived on the island, when Simon, Ralph, and Jack encounter the piglet, they fail at their attempts to kill it.

As the boys gather together in their response to the conch, Ralph, having been voted leader, chooses Jack and Simon to help him explore the area and determine whether they are actually on an island. After climbing for a time, they discover a pink coral mountain and see that...

Because the boys have only recently arrived on the island, when Simon, Ralph, and Jack encounter the piglet, they fail at their attempts to kill it.

As the boys gather together in their response to the conch, Ralph, having been voted leader, chooses Jack and Simon to help him explore the area and determine whether they are actually on an island. After climbing for a time, they discover a pink coral mountain and see that they are, indeed, on an island. Following their satisfying a temptation to roll boulders down the mountain, the boys see the tracks of an animal that they cannot yet identify. Ebullient as they descend the mountain, Ralph spreads his arms, crying out, "All ours."

As the threesome enter a thick forest, they hear squealing noises. Growing nearer, the boys hear the frenzy of a piglet caught in the "curtain of creepers." Jack draws his knife "with a flourish," but hesitates at this, his first attempt at killing: 

The pause was only long enough for them to understand what an enormity the downward stroke would be. (Ch.1)

In this short pause, the piglet manages to free itself and scurry into the undergrowth. The boys simply stare at each other; Jack's face is white beneath his freckles, the enormity of the act having overcome him. All three of the boys laugh nervously and "ashamedly." Then they climb back to the path.

This incident is the boys' first real experience of life in the wild. Because they are not yet adapted to this new environment, Ralph, Simon, and Jack pause as they stand between these two worlds. Resolved that "[N]ext time there would be no mercy," Jack shoves his knife into a tree trunk in a show of manliness as he dares the others to contradict him.

Many critics and readers claim Fahrenheit 451's cultural relevancy has only increased as time has passed. Do you agree or disagree? Support your...

I would agree that Fahrenheit 451's cultural relevancy has increased since its publication in 1953. Aspects of Bradbury's dystopian society are eerily familiar in modern America. Mildred's addiction to sleeping pills is relevant to America's prescription drug abuse problem that affects millions of citizens on a daily basis. Also, the dystopian society's obsession with television and violent entertainment mirror our modern society's fascination with HD TVs and sports. In today's society, corporations use religious...

I would agree that Fahrenheit 451's cultural relevancy has increased since its publication in 1953. Aspects of Bradbury's dystopian society are eerily familiar in modern America. Mildred's addiction to sleeping pills is relevant to America's prescription drug abuse problem that affects millions of citizens on a daily basis. Also, the dystopian society's obsession with television and violent entertainment mirror our modern society's fascination with HD TVs and sports. In today's society, corporations use religious holidays to advertise to the ever-increasing consumer culture to the point that everything sacred about the holiday is forgotten. In a discussion with Montag, Faber comments that he wonders if God would recognize His own Son.

Bradbury's portrayal of how the dystopian society is constantly at war also mimics modern America. With our ongoing War on Terror, it seems like our country will always be involved in some sort of conflict around the globe. Bradbury's critique of how the populace elects officials based on their looks instead of their policies is also relevant to American society. Politics in America have essentially turned into a popularity contest where the most entertaining or attractive politician gets the most votes.

In my opinion, the most relevant and significant criticism that Bradbury expresses throughout his novel is the individual's lack of motivation to read. With technology growing exponentially, Americans are able to view videos and play virtual games at the touch of a button. Similar to the novel, literature has gradually been replaced by television and the internet.

How does George Wilson treat women in The Great Gatsby? What quotes prove this?

The first time we see George Wilson, his wife seems to order him around a bit, and he allows it.  When Tom and Nick arrive at the garage, she says to George, "'Get some chairs, why don't you, so somebody can sit down.'  'Oh, sure,' agreed Wilson hurriedly, and went toward the little office [...]."  Later, the last time he talks to Tom, he says, "'I've been here too long.  I want to get away. ...

The first time we see George Wilson, his wife seems to order him around a bit, and he allows it.  When Tom and Nick arrive at the garage, she says to George, "'Get some chairs, why don't you, so somebody can sit down.'  'Oh, sure,' agreed Wilson hurriedly, and went toward the little office [...]."  Later, the last time he talks to Tom, he says, "'I've been here too long.  I want to get away.  My wife and I want to go West [....].  And now she's going whether she wants to or not.  I'm going to get her away.'"  At first, then, he seems to implicitly trust her, but once he finds out that she's been having an affair and cheating on him with someone else, he seems to believe that it is his prerogative to take away any other poor choices she might make.  He decides for them both that they are going to move away, and he doesn't really care if she still wants to go or not. 

To be fair, he seems to genuinely mourn Myrtle after she's died, and this implies that he really does love her.  However, he seems very traditional in thinking that, as her husband, he gets to limit her choices.  In order to prevent her from continuing her extramarital affair or engaging in any other questionable behavior, George believes it is his right, perhaps even responsibility as her husband, to remove her from any temptations.

Aside from Myrtle, we don't see George interacting with many other women.  Jordan is in the car when George discusses the move out west, but he's really only talking to Tom.  Perhaps this implies that George doesn't really look at any women other than his wife: while she has been unfaithful to him, he would never dream of being unfaithful to her.  It doesn't seem like something that would ever occur to him.

Why is chapter 10 in Gary Schmidt's Okay for Now called "The Arctic Tern"?

"The Arctic Tern" refers to the title of the very first plate drawn by John James Audubon that Doug looked at and admired his first time visiting the library. The plate depicts a bird called an Arctic tern that is actually very symbolic of Doug and the young woman who becomes his girlfriend, Lil. Since seeing the drawing of the bird for the first time, Doug has learned how to create his own drawings, and the lesson of drawing, as well as the Audubon plates, has changed his life. The title of the final chapter of the book reflects just how much Doug's life has been changed by The Arctic Tern and what the bird symbolizes.

As soon as Doug sees the plate of the bird, he thinks it's the most beautiful picture he has ever seen. He sees it as a picture of the bird being all by itself and falling without a "single thing in the world that cared at all" (p. 21). What strikes Doug most is bird's "round and terrified eye" (p. 14). He is so struck by the drawing that he visualizes himself as having made the drawing and uses his hand to mimic the motions the artist might have used. As soon as Mr. Powell, an employee of the library, sees his interest in drawing the bird, he begins teaching Doug how to draw. Through Mr. Powell's lessons, Doug learns how to use drawing to forget his troubled home life:

You know one thing that Mr. Powell taught me? He taught me that sometimes art can make you forget everything else around you. (p. 297)

Sadly, however, the city soon begins selling the Audubon plates to pay off the city's debts. Doug makes it a personal mission to restore the plates to the library. Doug sees who has bought the plates, and by performing services, doing favors, and making compromises, Doug convinces the owners to return each plate back to the library. As a result of all he does to restore the plates, Doug matures from a troubled, scared young boy to a brave young man who is now unafraid to tackle his future.

Not only does the bird's "terrified eye" in the drawing symbolize Doug's emotions at the beginning of the story, the bird itself is known for its brave and adventurous spirit. Scientists now know the Arctic tern follows the longest migratory route of any bird on record. By the end of the story, Doug and Lil are a bit terrified of their future because Lil is fighting cancer. However, Doug has confidence that they'll bravely, successfully take on the future together and likens the two of them to Arctic terns flying side by side, with Doug being the one ready to "show [her] the next spectacular thing that's going to come into [her] life" (p. 310).

What are the similarities between the poet Robert Frost and his poem "The Road Not Taken"?

At least three similarities are apparent between the poet Robert Frost and the speaker in "The Road Not Taken": (1) leaving Vermont to go to England in search of a publisher for his poetry (having left farming only because of his grief over the death of his daughter at his farm in Derry); (2) choosing between two things, farming and poetry, perceived at one time as equally common and at another as unequally so; (3) choosing poetry made all the difference for Frost, for poetry allowed him to tame his mind and emotions.

The poem starts with the line "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,...." Frost came to two roads diverging when, needing to make a living for his family and to leave his grief over Elinor's infant death behind him, he chose to seriously pursue a career as a poet, taking his family from rural woodland Vermont to England.

Stanza three ends with, "the passing there / Had worn them really about the same," (he says this despite the "undergrowth" at the bend of the path he did not choose). From his troubled circumstance in 1912, staying as a farmer or leaving as a poet may have presented equal perspectives to him; although "undergrowth" suggests a preference for the "grassy" way he did choose, which was England and an English publisher and audience. As an aside, one reason he opted for England was that he met with criticism from American academia because he wrote in traditional meter and rhyme instead of abandoning it for modernist poetic style.

The famous ending of this poem--published in 1916 in the collection Mountain Interval before Frost had won his first Pulitzer in 1924--says, "I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference." For Frost, his choice of taking the road of poetry did make all the difference because, as biographer Jay Parini said, his poetry, with its highly developed structure, allowed him to keep his demons of depression and self-doubt in check. It is at this point, the point of hindsight, that he confesses that the road he chose was indeed "one less traveled by."

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

What similes does Romeo use to convey Juliet's beauty?

A simile is a comparison of two unlike things using the words like or as. The comparison tends to enhance the qualities of one of those things. Immediately after seeing Juliet at Capulet's party in Act I, Scene 5, Romeo compares her beauty (it is definitely her looks he is speaking of here because he has yet to meet her) to a precious jewel:

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightAs a...

A simile is a comparison of two unlike things using the words like or as. The comparison tends to enhance the qualities of one of those things. Immediately after seeing Juliet at Capulet's party in Act I, Scene 5, Romeo compares her beauty (it is definitely her looks he is speaking of here because he has yet to meet her) to a precious jewel:

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear

This comparison needs a bit of explanation because one might not understand what Romeo is speaking of. It was probably common in Renaissance Italy for men from Ethiopia to act as traders and to visit Italian cities. Romeo may have seen just such a man, or maybe read about them. These Ethiopians were often wealthy and would have adorned themselves in elaborate jewelry such as diamonds, emeralds or rubies.

Later, in Act II, Scene 2, Romeo once again uses a simile to describe Juliet. Here he may also be speaking of her personality and not just her beauty because he has spoken to her briefly in the waning moments of Capulet's party. He compares her to an angel coming down from heaven as a messenger to bring happiness and light to Romeo's life (which, by his own admittance, had been darkened by his unrequited love for Rosaline):

O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As is a wingèd messenger of heaven

This comparison to a "bright angel" is very in much in keeping with Shakespeare's recurring motif of light and dark which pervades the tragedy.

What are the main motifs or themes in Coming Through Slaughter by Ondaatje? What was Ondaatje's purpose in writing from such confusing viewpoints?

Motifs and Themes

The main motifs and themes in Coming Through Slaughterby author Michael Ondaatje include the senses, creativity, sanity, and self-destruction. As an artist, Bolden sees the world in shades of color, in sounds and smells. The story's early setting is a pleasant sensory contrast to the horrors Bolden experiences in the underbelly of the New Orleans Red-Light District. Creativity is a theme that runs throughout Bolden's story as a musician and an...

Motifs and Themes

The main motifs and themes in Coming Through Slaughter by author Michael Ondaatje include the senses, creativity, sanity, and self-destruction. As an artist, Bolden sees the world in shades of color, in sounds and smells. The story's early setting is a pleasant sensory contrast to the horrors Bolden experiences in the underbelly of the New Orleans Red-Light District. Creativity is a theme that runs throughout Bolden's story as a musician and an artist, and it is creativity that leads him into madness.

When Bolden finally returns and joins a jazz band for one last performance, he reaches the peak of his musical career. In his mind, that performance is the culmination of all he has worked for and he will never get better than he is in that moment. He sees a strange girl who somehow anticipates his improvisations through her dance and Ondaatje suggests that this experience is what pushed him beyond the limits of his sanity. In this sense, creativity is both Bolden's reason for existing and the vehicle of his self-destruction.

Structure and Points of View

While confusing at times, the shifting points of view used throughout Coming Through Slaughter serve the purpose of introducing elements of the story through different perspectives. There are many events in the story after Bolden's disappearance that must be told through Webb's perspective. This enhances the suspense in the story, which is, at its core, a mystery. The early part of the story is told through Bolden's point of view in order to set up his character and introduce ideas and facts the reader can use to explain his disappearance through the detective's eyes. When Bolden finally returns, the reader is left to wonder what happened to him to cause such a significant behavioral change. Without the shifting perspectives, Bolden's story would lack such suspense and mystery.

The shifting viewpoints also mirror Bolden's descent into insanity. As the story progresses, his thoughts become more disorganized. Fragmented sentences such as "swimming toward the sound of madness" echo this theme on a smaller scale.

Compare Snowball and Napoleon's techniques for gathering support.

In Animal Farm, Snowball and Napoleon have very different ways of gathering support from the other animals and this is most evident in Chapter Five during the debates over the windmill. Snowball, for example, gathers support by appealing directly to the other animals. He makes rousing speeches in which he emphasises the potential benefits of having the windmill, particularly as a labour-saving device. We see this in Snowball's "passionate appeal" on the day of...

In Animal Farm, Snowball and Napoleon have very different ways of gathering support from the other animals and this is most evident in Chapter Five during the debates over the windmill. Snowball, for example, gathers support by appealing directly to the other animals. He makes rousing speeches in which he emphasises the potential benefits of having the windmill, particularly as a labour-saving device. We see this in Snowball's "passionate appeal" on the day of the vote:

In glowing sentences he painted a picture of Animal Farm as it might be when sordid labour was lifted from the animals’ backs. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers.

Napoleon, on the other hand, does not try to win over the other animals through public speeches or by appealing to their imagination. In contrast, Napoleon focuses his efforts on "canvassing support for himself" rather than arguing about the windmill. In fact, he seems "almost indifferent" on the day of the vote and he only acts (by setting his dogs on Snowball) when he realises that Snowball's speech has won over the animals. Napoleon, therefore, has no interest in gathering support because he knows that he can use violence to seize power.  

How has Martin Luther affected us today?

There are several ways in which Martin Luther affected religion and culture. Perhaps the most important is that Luther started the Protestant Reformation, a movement that ended the monolithic power of the Roman Catholic Church in the Latin West. All Protestant churches across the world owe a tremendous debt to Luther for their very existence.

There are some key theological points emphasized by Luther that have had significant cultural impact. The first is what is...

There are several ways in which Martin Luther affected religion and culture. Perhaps the most important is that Luther started the Protestant Reformation, a movement that ended the monolithic power of the Roman Catholic Church in the Latin West. All Protestant churches across the world owe a tremendous debt to Luther for their very existence.

There are some key theological points emphasized by Luther that have had significant cultural impact. The first is what is known as the "sola scriptura" doctrine, that Scripture alone is necessary for salvation. What this leads to is a reduction in power of the clergy. Although the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist remain important for Protestants, salvation in Luther's formula is through faith and by grace. Under this, the clergy become ministers, helping their flocks, rather than intermediaries between God and man. This reduces the power of the Church as an institution. Luther also rejected the notion of the Papacy as having unique authority throughout Christendom. 

The importance of Scripture for Luther meant making the Bible available to the laity in the vernacular. This was one significant factor in the rise of literacy rates in Protestant countries.

What are some of the products that come from crude oil?

Crude oil is composed of many different kinds of hydrocarbons, and can be broken down or refined to produce a wide spectrum of things. 

The main product of petroleum is gasoline. This is used to fuel engines, and is a volatile mixture of lighter petrochemicals.

The second most common product of crude oil is diesel. Diesel is similar to gasoline, but is heavier and less volatile than it's fuel cousin. Diesel is also used to...

Crude oil is composed of many different kinds of hydrocarbons, and can be broken down or refined to produce a wide spectrum of things. 

The main product of petroleum is gasoline. This is used to fuel engines, and is a volatile mixture of lighter petrochemicals.

The second most common product of crude oil is diesel. Diesel is similar to gasoline, but is heavier and less volatile than it's fuel cousin. Diesel is also used to run engines, but can only be used in special engines designed with the lower volatility in mind.

A significant portion of crude oil is used to make jet fuel, which is similar to diesel in composition but contains a different concentration of sulfur and has different lubrication properties. Neither diesel nor jet fuel will catch fire in the presence of an open flame, but both still contain lots of energy.

Some oil is used to make heating oils for lamps and burners, and is similar to diesel.

Crude oil can be used to make lubrication oils, which do not burn easily and can maintain lubrication at extremely high temperatures. These oils are used in engines, mechanized parts, windmills, and any other type of joint or hinge.

Gas products, such as propane and butane, are extremely volatile and burn easily. These are used in lighters, heaters, grills, and stoves.

Solvents are made with crude oil, and work very well on organic material like rubber and plastic.

Rubbers and plastics are made with crude oil or components of crude oil.

A vast portion of crude oil is used to generate electricity, particularly the liquid fuels and gasses like gasoline, diesel, and propane.

Would it be still appropriate, today, to call the the Republican Party the party of Lincoln, considering Lincoln's viewpoint on slavery and civil...

In my view, this question is less of a historical question and more of a political statement. When people ask if the GOP today is still the “party of Lincoln,” what they are really trying to do is to argue modern-day Republicans are anti-black, while Lincoln was pro-black. This is, in my view, unhistorical. 

The reason for this is that the issues facing Lincoln are nothing like the issues surrounding race today. In Lincoln’s day,...

In my view, this question is less of a historical question and more of a political statement. When people ask if the GOP today is still the “party of Lincoln,” what they are really trying to do is to argue modern-day Republicans are anti-black, while Lincoln was pro-black. This is, in my view, unhistorical. 

The reason for this is that the issues facing Lincoln are nothing like the issues surrounding race today. In Lincoln’s day, the main racial issue was slavery, not civil rights. Of course, Lincoln was strongly opposed to slavery. He was not a fan of what we would call civil rights today. He did not believe blacks and whites were equal, and he did not believe that they could live together as equals. As he said in one of his famous debates with Stephen Douglas,

I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.

Because Lincoln believed these things, it is really not historically correct to say Lincoln would have held the same beliefs on civil rights that Democrats do today. Lincoln’s own beliefs would be completely anathema to both Republicans and the Democrats today. Of course, if Lincoln were alive today, he might have different views, but we can only speculate on what those views would be.

The Republican Party today does not hold all the stances Abraham Lincoln did, just as the Democratic Party does not believe, for example, in everything Woodrow Wilson believed in. As issues change, parties change. That is natural. We cannot logically argue the Republican Party has abandoned Lincoln’s ideas on race because Lincoln did not have to have opinions on issues like affirmative action, welfare, or Black Lives Matter, topics at the heart of conversations about race today.

How did miscommunication/misunderstanding lead to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

Before we examine the miscommunication that leads to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, let's first consider the context that had made it possible. Romeo and Juliet are two lovers from rivaling families (the Montagues and Capulets, respectively) who have met and married in secret to preserve their forbidden love. After Romeo kills Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, in a duel that had also claimed the life of his dear friend, Mercutio, Romeo is banished from Verona...

Before we examine the miscommunication that leads to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, let's first consider the context that had made it possible. Romeo and Juliet are two lovers from rivaling families (the Montagues and Capulets, respectively) who have met and married in secret to preserve their forbidden love. After Romeo kills Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, in a duel that had also claimed the life of his dear friend, Mercutio, Romeo is banished from Verona by the Prince. To make matters worse, Juliet is ordered by her father, Lord Capulet, to marry another man: Paris, a kinsman of the Prince. In order to escape these unfortunate punishments, Juliet (with the help of Friar Laurence) creates a plan: Juliet will fake her death and be "laid to rest" in the Capulet crypt, where she will there await the return of Romeo. Romeo is to be informed of this plan through a letter sent by Friar Laurence.

Unfortunately, a terrible miscommunication occurs which is two-fold: 1) Lord Capulet, misinterpreting his daughter's compliance as eagerness, decides to bump up her wedding date to the next day rather than having it as planned later in the week, and 2) Friar Laurence's letter, which was given to Friar John, is never delivered to Romeo because Friar John is sequestered after an outbreak of infectious disease.

This results in Romeo hearing of Juliet's death from a friend... and believing her to be actually dead. Devastated by this news, Romeo buys poison and consumes it in the Capulet crypt. Juliet wakes from her deep slumber to discover that her husband has killed himself, and she too joins him in death by plunging his dagger into her chest. Had it not been for these feats of bad timing and poor communication, we can only assume that Romeo would have received the letter and Juliet's plan would have been carried out successfully. 

Are chemical changes easily reversed by altering the temperature of the system? Are they associated primarily with extensive properties? Are...

Chemical changes involve a change in the chemical composition of the material/s involved. Physical changes, on the other hand, do not include any change in the chemical composition of the material. A phase change is a common example of a physical change. A chemical reaction (say, oxidation, hydrolysis, etc.) is a common example of chemical change. 

Let us take a look at each statement, one by one.

A change in temperature causes phase change, which...

Chemical changes involve a change in the chemical composition of the material/s involved. Physical changes, on the other hand, do not include any change in the chemical composition of the material. A phase change is a common example of a physical change. A chemical reaction (say, oxidation, hydrolysis, etc.) is a common example of chemical change. 

Let us take a look at each statement, one by one.

A change in temperature causes phase change, which is a physical change. An increase in temperature causes a solid substance to melt and a liquid to vaporize. Since the chemical composition is the same, it is not a chemical change; statement A is not correct.

Extensive properties are those that are dependent on the size or quantity of the material. Examples of extensive properties are mass, volume, length, etc. Physical properties are independent of the extensive properties. 1 gm of water vaporizes at 100 degrees C, as does 1 l of water. Similarly, chemical changes can also be independent of extensive properties. Chemical reactions take place in stoichiometric ratios. Hence statements B and C are also not correct.

There are other ways of identifying a substance, such as by examining physical properties. Hence statement D is incorrect.

Thus, among the given options, all the statements are incorrect.

Some correct statements could be: physical changes may be reversed by changing the temperature. Chemical changes always produce substances different from the starting substances.

Hope this helps. 

"Kabuliwala" is a tale of human relationships and the effect of time on human emotions. Elaborate on this statement with close reference to the story.

While "Kabuliwala" shows how time can test relationships, the story also shows the enduring strength of human emotions.

The effect of time on relationships is best seen in the relationship between Mini and the Kabuliwala.  When she was a child, both Tagore's daughter and the old Kabuliwala were the best of friends.  They shared inside jokes, laughter, and a deep connection.  Eight years passes between them as Rahmun is imprisoned.  When he is released, he...

While "Kabuliwala" shows how time can test relationships, the story also shows the enduring strength of human emotions.

The effect of time on relationships is best seen in the relationship between Mini and the Kabuliwala.  When she was a child, both Tagore's daughter and the old Kabuliwala were the best of friends.  They shared inside jokes, laughter, and a deep connection.  Eight years passes between them as Rahmun is imprisoned.  When he is released, he returns to see his friend.  The little girl he once knew stands in front of him as a bride-to-be.  

Tagore details how time tests relationships when he writes how the Kabuliwala was unable "to revive their old friendship."  Whereas Mini laughed at his joke about visiting her "father-in-law" she no longer is able to do so. As he makes the same joke, Mini "now understood the meaning of the word 'father-in-law' and she could not reply to his as of old."  Tagore notes that time has forever altered their relationship:  "I remembered the day when the Kabuliwallah and my Mini had first met, and I felt sad."  Tagore also mourns the altering of his own relationship with Mini.  As a child, Mini would talk to Tagore incessantly, interrupting his writing with her constant stream of chatter.  As time has passed, Tagore notes that he and his daughter no longer speak to one another as they used to.  When Tagore feels sad over what he sees with his daughter and the Kabuliwallah, he is also mourning how time has altered his own relationship with Mini.

Time has a powerful effect on human relationships. However, Tagore suggests that this effect does not have to be entirely debilitating.  Human beings can use the passing of time to establish new emotional connections in their relationships.  When Mini leaves, Rahmun's thoughts go back to his own child.  Tagore notes that the Kabuliwala's connection his daughter motivated his friendship with Mini:  "This touch of his own little daughter had been always on his heart, as he had come year after year to Calcutta, to sell his wares in the streets."  When Rahmun "heaved a deep sight, and sat down on the floor," it is clear that he feels sad over time's passing and the gap between he and his own daughter.  However, Tagore suggests that time's effect is not insurmountable.  He says that Rahmun "would have to make friends with her anew." When Tagore gives him the money to go back to Afghanistan, it signals this chance for a new start.  It is an instant where a new emotional connection can offset time's debilitating touch.  It is for this reason that at the story's end Tagore is able to take solace that "in a distant land a long-lost father met again with his only child."

Time is shown to have a deteriorating effect on relationships in "Kabuliwala." It erodes the relationship that Rahmun has with his own daughter and with Mini.  It also permanently alters the relationship that Tagore has with his child.  On this level, it causes a sadness to see such human contact transformed through time.  However, Tagore also shows that human beings can positively respond to this reality.  While time alters what we once had, through Kabuliwala's example, human beings are able to new relationships. As a result, human emotion can withstand the pressures of time's touch.  

In The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, what are Shylock's positive traits?

It may be difficult to imagine the character of Shylock as having any positive traits, since his agreement with Antonio allows him to essentially murder him for failure to pay a debt. But most dramatic characters of any significance have positive as well as negative traits; without the ability to have some sort of empathy for an "evil" character, their evil seems two-dimensional. Shylock is a clever and successful man; these may be seen as...

It may be difficult to imagine the character of Shylock as having any positive traits, since his agreement with Antonio allows him to essentially murder him for failure to pay a debt. But most dramatic characters of any significance have positive as well as negative traits; without the ability to have some sort of empathy for an "evil" character, their evil seems two-dimensional. Shylock is a clever and successful man; these may be seen as positive traits, even as his success as a moneylender makes him greedy and somewhat difficult to deal with. Shylock is also a father who is devastated when his daughter Jessica elopes with Lorenzo. His emotional distress indicates that he does have some compassion and emotions worth sympathizing with. He is further devastated when Portia, posing as a doctor of law, finds him guilty in court of cheating a Venetian resident (Antonio) and claims he must surrender his fortune as punishment. Since he is a moneylender and values wealth, this is a fitting price to pay; however he is told he can keep half his fortune to give to his daughter if he renounces his Jewish faith and becomes a Christian. Shylock finds this horrifying, which demonstrates his loyalty to his religious faith; this can also be seen as a positive trait.

What is a poor conductor of electricity? Not an insulator, but still a conductor.

When you say a poor conductor but not an insulator, I assume you mean something on the border between insulator and conductor.

Even an insulator is considered a conductor if electricity can pass through it. The rubber coating on wire can conduct electricity if a high enough potential exists between the wire and an exterior object. This tends to happen if you are holding the wires of a piezo starter when you push the button,...

When you say a poor conductor but not an insulator, I assume you mean something on the border between insulator and conductor.

Even an insulator is considered a conductor if electricity can pass through it. The rubber coating on wire can conduct electricity if a high enough potential exists between the wire and an exterior object. This tends to happen if you are holding the wires of a piezo starter when you push the button, for example, and can be used to make shock pens.

Air is a conductor in high enough voltages, which is how lightning can travel all the way between the clouds and the ground, while passing through a massive insulator.

I would say that if you are looking for relatively poor conductors, though, a good bet would be something like a semiconductor like graphite or silicon, or perhaps a metal like lead or mercury with poor conductivity.

A 0.115 kg piece of iron with a temperature of 99.3 degrees Celsius is dropped into a calorimeter containing 0.120 kg of water. Over time, the...

Assuming no heat loss to the surroundings, the amount of heat lost by one material should be equal to the amount of heat gained by the other material. In this case, iron piece had an initial temperature of 99.3 degrees Celsius and a final temperature of 30.8 degrees Celsius. Thus, iron piece lost heat and an equivalent amount of heat is (ideally) gained by water.

The amount of heat lost or gained can be calculated...

Assuming no heat loss to the surroundings, the amount of heat lost by one material should be equal to the amount of heat gained by the other material. In this case, iron piece had an initial temperature of 99.3 degrees Celsius and a final temperature of 30.8 degrees Celsius. Thus, iron piece lost heat and an equivalent amount of heat is (ideally) gained by water.

The amount of heat lost or gained can be calculated as the product of mass of material, its specific heat capacity and the change in temperature. The specific heat capacity of iron is 0.45 J/g/degree C and that of water is 4.186 J/g/degree C. 

The amount of heat lost by iron = mass of iron piece x specific heat capacity of iron x change in temperature 

= 0.115 kg x 1000 g/kg x 0.45 J/g/degree C x (99.3 - 30.8) degrees C

= 3544.875 J

The same amount of heat is gained by water. Assuming the initial temperature of water to be T degrees Celsius,

0.12 kg x 1000 g/kg x 4.186 J/g/degrees C x (30.8 - T) degrees C = 3544.875 J

Solving this equation, we get: T = 23.7 degrees C.

Thus, water had an initial temperature of 23.7 degrees C and gained 7.1 degrees C.

Provide an analysis of The Phantom of the Opera.

The play version of the Phantom of the Opera is based on a French novel by Gaston Leroux, published in serial format from 1909-1910. The novel is in part based on true stories and myths about events that took place in the Paris Opera. 

Much of the analysis of Leroux's book and the play has been through a psychological lens. Christine, the main character, is asked to turn to the dark side in order to...

The play version of the Phantom of the Opera is based on a French novel by Gaston Leroux, published in serial format from 1909-1910. The novel is in part based on true stories and myths about events that took place in the Paris Opera. 

Much of the analysis of Leroux's book and the play has been through a psychological lens. Christine, the main character, is asked to turn to the dark side in order to achieve greatness as a singer. She must abandon her regular life and her boyfriend to go to a literal and metaphorical land of seduction and darkness. Christine, who is a Christ-like figure, must sacrifice herself to Erik, who is a devil-like creature who dwells in darkness, to achieve greatness as an artist.

This story is the classical choice between good and evil, and it can be analyzed through the writings of Jung, a psychoanalyst who studied good and evil. Jung believed that evil was one side of the devil and that evil was not separate from humans but something that dwelled within them. People often cast the idea of evil onto others through a process that Jung referred to as casting a shadow. In a Jungian analysis, Christine's association with Erik, the phantom, can be analyzed as her process of casting her own shadow onto Erik. In other words, Christine has both evil and good within her. Her sense of evil comes from her willingness to do anything to become a great singer, while her sense of goodness comes from her love for Raoul, her boyfriend. In the end, by recognizing Erik, the phantom, she becomes whole again and is no longer threatened by him. Instead, Erik lets her go, with a promise that she will return when he dies. The phantom can be seen as an extension of herself and of her own evil desires. 

How can we look at "The Necklace" from a feminist perspective? What does it say about women?

A feminist critique of "The Necklace" would argue that Madame Loisel is the victim of a patriarchal society. Because she is a woman, her life is controlled by men and she lacks the ability to do anything other than be the dutiful wife of a middle-class clerk. French society at the time was decidedly hierarchical, and women of Madame Loisel's background languished toward the bottom of that hierarchy. Because of her plight, she becomes bored and yearns for something else in her life. She dreams of being wealthy and living a life of luxury. For Madame Loisel, it is essential that she escape her mundane existence. Controlled by her husband, she is at the mercy of his decisions. To his credit, Monsieur Loisel is a caring husband who recognizes his wife's unhappiness, so he secures tickets to a fancy ball being held at the "Ministerial Mansion." Loisel hopes this night out will help ease his wife's melancholy.

In her groundbreaking contribution to feminist theory, The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan posits that women such as Madame Loisel (Friedan deals with American suburban housewives) suffer from what Friedan labeled "housewives syndrome." Women afflicted with this "syndrome" aspire to something more in their lives and feel stifled by the monotony of their current situations. Therefore, it could be argued that Madame Loisel viewed her attendance at the fancy ball as a turning point in her life. For once, she was dazzling and exciting. All the men wanted to dance with her. This one-time experience as the life of the party clashed with her otherwise ordinary life trapped in her comfortable home as a clerk's wife.

When the party is over and her husband brings her shabby coat to cover her shoulders, Madame Loisel recoils and flees the scene. This is when she loses the necklace. From a feminist point of view, it might be argued that Madame Loisel was purposefully careless with the necklace because she could not accept a return to the tedious normalcy of her previous life. Her loss of the necklace is an expensive rebellion against that life. Faced with her new situation, Madame Loisel actually rises to the occasion. She seems to experience an epiphany in her new life as a poverty-stricken woman striving to makes ends meet for her and her husband. De Maupassant writes,

Mme. Loisel experienced the horrible life the needy live. She played her part, however, with sudden heroism. The frightful debt had to be paid. She would pay it.

Ironically, it takes the loss of everything to bring out the best in Madame Loisel. In the end, she is proud of her accomplishments in paying back the debt, and this simple pride leads her to speak to Madame Forestier. That the necklace was fake seems only a whim of chance and ultimately only the vehicle which led Madame Loisel to discover a genuine existence in her struggles to meet the goal of paying back the debt.

In "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell, are the Burmese capable adults who can rule themselves or do they like having the British Empire take...

In "Shooting an Elephant," Orwell's experience of working in Burma suggests that the native people did not like being ruled by the British. We see this through their reaction to Orwell as he carried out his professional duty as a sub-divisional police officer. Buddhist priests jeered at him, for example, and football players tripped him up on the field. This is, arguably, a result of the nature of Britain's rule in Burma. As Orwell comments,...

In "Shooting an Elephant," Orwell's experience of working in Burma suggests that the native people did not like being ruled by the British. We see this through their reaction to Orwell as he carried out his professional duty as a sub-divisional police officer. Buddhist priests jeered at him, for example, and football players tripped him up on the field. This is, arguably, a result of the nature of Britain's rule in Burma. As Orwell comments, British rule was not consensual:

I thought of the British Raj as an unbreakable tyranny, as something clamped down…upon the will of prostrate peoples.

Moreover, this attitude of resentment among the Burmese suggests that they really did want to be independent but were afraid to break Britain's rules. We see this through Orwell's description of the Burmese prisoners in the "stinking cages of the lock-ups" in which prisoners were "bogged with bamboos."

It is, therefore, logical to suggest that the Burmese were more than capable of self-rule but were unable to achieve this because of the strength of British power. It was not until 1948, two decades after Orwell's service, that the British finally returned Burma to its native people. 

One of the most significant historical reforms used in dealing with the juvenile offender was the opening of the New York House of Refuge in 1825....

The New York House of Refuge was founded in 1825 as a way of dealing with juvenile offenders in a more humane manner. Previously, youths who committed crimes were sent to jails and other institutions where they had to serve time with adults. Sometimes, children were sent to jails or penitentiaries for noncriminal offenses because cities such as New York, plagued with high rates of poverty, had nowhere else to put them. Reformers John Griscom and Thomas Eddy started the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism in an effort to house juveniles in facilities where they would not be alongside criminal adults. Their efforts led to the founding of the New York House of Refuge, which was clearly a humane and important milestone in the juvenile justice movement. 

The New York House of Refuge was the first institution for juvenile offenders, and it led to similar institutions in many cities. The New York House of Refuge went on to house boys and girls and to employ them in making shoes and chairs as well as in tailoring. Children also received some educational instruction in subjects such as reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and music. They were also required to have morning and evening prayers. Over time, these institutions developed into educational facilities, called training and industrial schools. They resulted in a social changes in the ways in which juvenile offenders were treated, including an emphasis on education and preparation for adult life. 

The New York House of Refuge also led to new forms of judicial treatment for juvenile offenders, including probation and out-of-home placement. The juvenile court system was first established in 1899 in Cook County, Illinois. This court system was based on the legal idea of the state as parens patriae (the state as parent), which meant that the state could act on the behalf of children. Judges had wide latitude to decide what was best for children, acting in their interest.

The current juvenile justice movement has moved away from this system, as the Supreme Court instituted changes in the 1960s that gave juvenile offenders due process rights, including the right to an attorney. As a result, the system became more like the adult criminal justice system than like the earlier parens patriae system. Many juvenile facilities became more punitive in the 1980s, though there are some efforts in California and elsewhere to reform this system. Today's system is very different than earlier reform efforts such as the movement that established the New York House of Refuge, as it places less emphasis on humane treatment and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.  

How does Oscar Wilde satirize his audience in The Importance of Being Earnest, and what may he be trying to evoke from the audience?

In his satirical play The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde ridicules the superficiality of his Victorian society audience and their values and behavior. As his title suggests, Wilde satirizes the facade of earnestness, a virtue purportedly highly esteemed by Victorians, whose hypocritical behavior belies this sublime virtue.

By assigning the quality of being earnest to the name of a man, Wilde creates a subtle allusion to the words of Shakespeare's Juliet, who realizes...

In his satirical play The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde ridicules the superficiality of his Victorian society audience and their values and behavior. As his title suggests, Wilde satirizes the facade of earnestness, a virtue purportedly highly esteemed by Victorians, whose hypocritical behavior belies this sublime virtue.

By assigning the quality of being earnest to the name of a man, Wilde creates a subtle allusion to the words of Shakespeare's Juliet, who realizes a name does not determine character: 

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet (Act II, Scene 2, verses 1-2).

For certain characters in Wilde's play, having the specific name of Ernest, a homophone for the virtue earnestness, becomes essential. Jack must be named Ernest to win the love of Gwendolen. This condition points to the superficiality of the upper class, as a young woman prioritizes marrying a man by the name of Ernest over any other qualities he may possess. The name Ernest holds some sort of ideal for her. 

In Act I, Jack displays the duality that exists in Victorian society when he explains to his friend Algernon that he created the character of Ernest as his younger brother because he must behave in a certain way as the guardian of Cecily Cardew. With this false identity, he can give vent to his private interests, which are anything but true and worthy values. The irony of this is that Jack actually turns out to be named Ernest, as he was named after his natural father. Gwendolen is delighted that Ernest is his name. Employing his inimitable satire, Wilde has his character Jack ask, 

Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?

Wilde may have written these lines to induce members of his audience to search their own characters and discover that when they have acted in pretense, they may verily have been more true to their real character than when they have conducted themselves in polite society.