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. 

In Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," what are some of the narrator's objectives?

Probably Robert Frost's most famous poem, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is famously ambiguous and hard to interpret. Though it's tough to discern whether or not the narrator has a definitive "objective," if you had to pick one, it's possible to argue that the narrator's main objective is to illustrate the conflict between the desire for rest and the need to fulfill one's commitments.

The most crucial stanza in the poem is the...

Probably Robert Frost's most famous poem, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is famously ambiguous and hard to interpret. Though it's tough to discern whether or not the narrator has a definitive "objective," if you had to pick one, it's possible to argue that the narrator's main objective is to illustrate the conflict between the desire for rest and the need to fulfill one's commitments.

The most crucial stanza in the poem is the last one, which reads as follows:

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. (13-16)

In this stanza, it's clear that the narrator is attracted to the woods, but also has commitments to fulfill before he can "sleep" or rest. Many scholars argue that the woods symbolize death and mortality, and that the narrator is struggling with the desire for rest in death and the need to continue living (hence the "miles to go"). This reading is persuasive and adds many layers of depth to the poem, but it is not the only possible interpretation. In any case, it's clear that the narrator is longing for some kind of rest, and whether that's the rest found in death, or merely the rest gained by pausing and enjoying a peaceful natural scene, is somewhat moot. Overall, the narrator's objective seems to be the illustration of the tension between the desire for rest and the responsibility to fulfill one's duty. This discussion could be expanded to the tension between the desire for death and the need to keep living, but that is only one possible interpretation of a short but highly suggestive poem. 

In the Linguistics field, I need help to understand the first chapter, which is "Synonymy and Morphological Analysis," of the book entitled The...

In the first chapter of The Foundations of Linguistics Theory(edited by Nigel Love), an attempt is made to reconcile conflicting ideas of synonymy and morphological analysis. [Morphological analysis relates to meaningful elements while synonymy is a semantic sub-division relevant to lexical relations.] Based on an expanded concept of synonymity and on the introduction of synonymity statements and synonymity hypothesis, new questions arise as to the need for semantic information in defining morphological units. In...

In the first chapter of The Foundations of Linguistics Theory (edited by Nigel Love), an attempt is made to reconcile conflicting ideas of synonymy and morphological analysis. [Morphological analysis relates to meaningful elements while synonymy is a semantic sub-division relevant to lexical relations.] Based on an expanded concept of synonymity and on the introduction of synonymity statements and synonymity hypothesis, new questions arise as to the need for semantic information in defining morphological units. In turn, questions of identifying synonymous units--critically dependent upon semantic information--are complicated by the question of the relevance of that semantic information. Two questions regarding the relationship between morphological analysis and synonymity that are brought to our attention because of these complicating considerations are, as stated in Foundations of Linguistics Theory:

1. ...is it possible to make good the claim, inherent in the procedures of non-semantically based morphology, that morphological analysis does not require a concept of synonymy?
2. ...supposing this claim to be false or irrelevant, what then is the function of a concept of synonymy in relation to morphological analysis?

This is complex material and depends upon orienting your attention to the idea that descriptive linguistics often addresses languages for which morphology and synonymity are not known. As a result, answering whether or not semantic meaning is relevant to morphology and to synonymity is fundamentally critical. A further orientation of attention required is to the idea that the study of synonyms--of units of expression that have equivalent meanings--has expanded from the consideration of single words (e.g., wrong and incorrect) to the consideration of "words, bound morphs, phrases, clauses, sentences, and sequences of sentences ... as examples of synonymous expressions" (Foundations of Linguistics Theory). Consequently, questions of the relevance of semantic meaning encompass a larger scope than under the previous concept of single word-set synonymity.

What are some of the universal truths shown in Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome?

One of the universal truths in Ethan Fromeis the veracity of the saying "be careful what you wish for." Ethan wishes to remain by the side of his wife's cousin, Mattie, who he has fallen in love with, forever. At first, it seems like his desire will be thwarted, as his wife, Zeena, plans to send Mattie away. She knows Mattie and Ethan care for each other. In the end, however, Mattie and Ethan...

One of the universal truths in Ethan Frome is the veracity of the saying "be careful what you wish for." Ethan wishes to remain by the side of his wife's cousin, Mattie, who he has fallen in love with, forever. At first, it seems like his desire will be thwarted, as his wife, Zeena, plans to send Mattie away. She knows Mattie and Ethan care for each other. In the end, however, Mattie and Ethan wind up spending their lives together, but there is an ironic twist of fate because Mattie is badly injured in a sledding accident. Mattie lives with Ethan and Zeena as an invalid, so Mattie and Ethan get their wish to live together forever, but not in the way they had imagined. 

Another universal truth expressed in this novel is the power of compassion. Ethan feels loyal and caring towards his sickly wife, so he feels conflicted about leaving her. He also feels compassionate towards Mattie, who has no visible means of support. In the end, Zeena is surprisingly compassionate towards Ethan and Mattie, as she cares for them after their sledding accident. In fact, it is her compassion for them that makes her well again after many years of being an invalid. Their mutual compassion is what keeps Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena alive and together, even after enduring tragedy.

Why is Roger unable to say what he wants to say to Mrs. Jones at the end of the story in "Thank you, M’am" by Langston Hughes?

Roger is overcome with emotion at the end of “Thank you, M’am” by Langston Hughes, which leaves him unable to say more than a simple “thank you.”

Roger is a young man who is the product of his Harlem environment. There is no evidence of family support in his young life. When he attempts to snatch the purse off the shoulder of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, he is in for the lesson of a...

Roger is overcome with emotion at the end of “Thank you, M’am” by Langston Hughes, which leaves him unable to say more than a simple “thank you.”

Roger is a young man who is the product of his Harlem environment. There is no evidence of family support in his young life. When he attempts to snatch the purse off the shoulder of Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, he is in for the lesson of a lifetime.

 Mrs. Jones does not report him to authorities, but instead takes him to her rooming house, where she shows him kindness and understanding. She has him wash up before they eat a meager dinner together. More importantly, she respects his circumstances and shares some of her background with him. While he is in her company, she allows him to learn how to be trustworthy.

When it is time for her to rest, she hands him the money he needs to buy the blue suede shoes that drove him to steal in the first place. Roger is unaccustomed to this type of treatment and he finds it so overwhelming that he is virtually speechless. Deep within, Roger realizes Mrs. Jones gave him much more than the money for those shoes.

What is Shelley's purpose in writing "Ozymandias"?

The purpose of a poem is to express a theme or create a mood.  In Shelley's "Ozymandias," the theme becomes clear with the last lines:

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: 

Look on my works, ye Mighty an despair!"

Nothing beside remains.  Round the deay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Ozymandias is probably a reference to the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, who built impressive...

The purpose of a poem is to express a theme or create a mood.  In Shelley's "Ozymandias," the theme becomes clear with the last lines:

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: 

Look on my works, ye Mighty an despair!"

Nothing beside remains.  Round the deay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Ozymandias is probably a reference to the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, who built impressive statues, pyramids, and kingdoms.  His proud boast, which is written on the ruins of a statue of him, is a vain and an empty one because nothing remains of his works.  With the exception of these broken ruins, all has disappeared into the sand.  Shelley shows us man's attempt to immortalize himself through his works.  But he shows that such attempts are futile.  Time and nature ("sand" symbolizing both) will eventually overcome all our works, no matter how great and impressive the works once were.  

Correlated with Ozymandias's attempts to make a permanent mark are the sculptor's attempts as well.  

 . . .its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed . . .

The sculptor also showed skill in his works, but little of that skill remains--a "shattered visage," "trunkless legs," and "a pedestal."  Just as a king's works do not remain, an artist's works are temporary.  Both the hand of the sculptor who fashioned the original sculpture and the heart of the pharaoh which inspired it are no more.  Men and their works are mortal.  

Shelley's purpose is to remind us of this cold hard fact, and perhaps instill humility in the minds of his readers.   

The  link below contains a thorough discussion of the poem, its themes and techniques.  

How has Canada defined itself in reaction against Americanizing in its politics?

Historically, much of Canadian political identity has been shaped by its relationship with the United States, beginning with the influx of "Loyalists" to Canada after the American Revolution. Similarly, in the War of 1812, the Canadian military developed its sense of identity in opposition to the invading American forces. While the United States had expected that many Canadians would be happy to throw off what the US considered the yoke of imperialist Britain, most Canadians...

Historically, much of Canadian political identity has been shaped by its relationship with the United States, beginning with the influx of "Loyalists" to Canada after the American Revolution. Similarly, in the War of 1812, the Canadian military developed its sense of identity in opposition to the invading American forces. While the United States had expected that many Canadians would be happy to throw off what the US considered the yoke of imperialist Britain, most Canadians saw themselves as British Loyalists and the United States as the foreign invader. 

In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, as the United States has become a world superpower in economic, military, and cultural terms, Canada has remained a vast nation with a relatively small population sharing many cultural elements and values with the United States, something that has given rise to a form of Canadian anti-Americanism manifested as a quest for identity.

First, Canada's ongoing ties with Britain serve as a form of anti-American political identity. Next, many progressive movements in Canadian politics, especially as represented by the Liberal and NDP parties, emphasize there own progressivism as overtly opposed to the "Americanizing" policies of the Conservatives. Many of the cultural policies of the government, from the funding of the CBC to the mandating of Canadian content, serve to preserve a distinct Canadian cultural identity. 

How could you find a longest rod placed in a box if the dimensions are 2×4×5?

To do this, the longest rod would be the diagonal of the box.  Now, this is different than the diagonal of one side of the box.  I am talking about the diagonal that would go through the middle of the box.  I attached an example.

To, figure this out, you would need to find the "projected diagonal" of one side.  Like in the example, how long would the diagonal be if projected to the bottom of the box, the green line?  Here, we would make a right triangle with the bottom of the box, sides of 5 and 4.  So, we could calculate the length of the green line using Pythagorean's Theorem, so the length of the green segment, g, is ` ` `g = sqrt(4^2 + 5^2) = sqrt(41)`

Then, you would do the Pythagorean Theorem again using that diagonal, the diagonal through the middle of the box, g,  and the back right side of the box.  We can find the length of the red diagonal, r, using Pythagorean's Theorem again using the green segment, g, and the side of length 2. So, `r = sqrt(g^2 + 2^2) = 3sqrt(5)`

Or, the easy way would be to use the Pythagorean Theorem for 3D, which is  `x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = d^2`  

We know x =2, y = 4, and z = 5, 2, 4, and 5.  So, plugging in those, `d = sqrt(45) = 3sqrt(5)`

I am trying to write a 500 word essay in response to this prompt:"Why has globalization meant greater dependence of Canada on the United States?...

First, you've made a good effort to get started on your paper. There are a few more research steps you need to take. One important one is to ignore Quora results. It's not a reliable site with answers edited and vetted by experts (answers there can be written by anyone--including people who might not know a lot about the topic). Both the US and Canadian governments publish data concerning volumes of trade. This is a good starting place to get reliable numbers. 

The US government has a webpage showing trade statistics between Canada and the US since 1985. An even more valuable source is Global Affairs Canada, which has pages focused on Canada's trade with all its major global trading partners. Currently, the US takes 76 percent of Canada's merchandise exports, while China accounts for under four percent and the Asia-Pacific region about 10 percent. In terms of imports, trade is more balanced, with the US being the source of approximately half of Canadian imports and China having a 12 percent share. 

For globalization, you might want to start with definition. In general, it is contrasted with national self-sufficiency. Trade between Canada and the US, and NAFTA as a regional trade deal, are both parts of globalization. Canadian exports to the US have risen dramatically since the passage of NAFTA.

This interdependence of Canada and the United States is problematic in that it ties Canada's fortunes to that of the US economy. If the US swings towards a protectionist trade policy or goes through a major recession, Canada would suffer economic consequences. 

There are really two ways Canada can protect itself. One is to ensure that crucial strategic industries thrive in Canada rather than depending on the US. The building of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, subsidies to Air Canada, and attempts to build oil pipelines to the east and west coast are part of such defensive strategies, as are efforts to prevent selling strategic industries to foreign investors. The second way Canada can reduce dependence on the US is to make increased efforts to export to other countries. 

F. Scott Fitzgerald claimed that The Great Gatsby was a moral tale. Do you agree with his assertion?

I certainly agree with F. Scott Fitzgerald's assertion that The Great Gatsby is a moral tale. For the most part, I see the novel as a moral tale because it illustrates how material wealth leads to immorality, while also deconstructing the American Dream.

The most obvious way Fitzgerald discusses the depravity of wealth is his examination of parties. Parties, and particularly Gatsby's parties, are an important part of Fitzgerald's novel. Through the extravagant celebrations regularly...

I certainly agree with F. Scott Fitzgerald's assertion that The Great Gatsby is a moral tale. For the most part, I see the novel as a moral tale because it illustrates how material wealth leads to immorality, while also deconstructing the American Dream.

The most obvious way Fitzgerald discusses the depravity of wealth is his examination of parties. Parties, and particularly Gatsby's parties, are an important part of Fitzgerald's novel. Through the extravagant celebrations regularly held at Gatsby's residence, we begin to understand the upper crust of society a little better, and the results are not pretty: By painting the social elite as carefree, alcohol guzzling, shallow individuals without a serious thought or genuine emotion in their bodies, Fitzgerald suggests that extreme wealth does not make one a better person. Rather, it leads to immoral habits, such as alcoholism, and a blatant disregard for others. Indeed, Fitzgerald suggests that wealth doesn't even bring happiness. Gatsby, for example, is one of the wealthiest men in the neighborhood, and yet he possesses no meaningful relationships and dies alone. 

Overall, Fitzgerald is deconstructing the American Dream and suggesting that the unbridled pursuit of wealth is not as important as we are taught to believe. As such, a potential moral of the story is that vast wealth does not make one happy, nor does it ensure that all our desires will be fulfilled. Thus, Fitzgerald's novel can be seen as a cautionary moral tale, one that suggests that the pursuit of wealth leads to immorality and an unfulfilled existence. 

How does Jane Austen portray middle class people realistically in Pride and Prejudice?

This is a very important question because the notion of class is one of the most important themes in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Often, when people discuss the dynamic of class in the book, they reference Darcy's "upper class" mixing with Elizabeth Bennet's "middle class" status. However, while this comparison is neat and tidy, it's not really accurate. Mr. Bennet is actually an upper class gentleman and, although his fortunes seem to be declining...

This is a very important question because the notion of class is one of the most important themes in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Often, when people discuss the dynamic of class in the book, they reference Darcy's "upper class" mixing with Elizabeth Bennet's "middle class" status. However, while this comparison is neat and tidy, it's not really accurate. Mr. Bennet is actually an upper class gentleman and, although his fortunes seem to be declining somewhat, that would also make his daughters members of the upper class. That said, Mrs. Bennet does comes from a lower, more middle class background. This is not to say that her family is poor by any means; rather, it just means that Mrs. Bennet's relatives actually have to work for a living, while upper class gentlemen like Mr. Darcy enjoy inherited fortunes and lives of leisure. Even so, the Bennet family is actually upper class, although Mrs. Bennet's more middle class background complicates this status somewhat. 

In any case, one of the ways in which Jane Austen realistically portrays the middle class is by showing how anxious the middle class is to prove its worth to the upper classes. As we all know, Mrs. Bennet (who has married into the upper class, but has a more middle class background) is anxious that her daughters marry and make "good matches." A "good match" would involve marrying a man of considerable fortune and reputation (a man, in other words, from the upper class). By pushing her daughters to marry such men, Mrs. Bennet hopes not only to have her daughters provided for, but also that they will finally be fully accepted into the elite social circle which they are technically already part of, but still somewhat tenuously connected to. In this way, Austen is showing the ways in which people of middle class backgrounds are anxious to be accepted by the snobbish upper class. 

It's worth noting that, in representing this middle class anxiety, Austen's also trying to deconstruct the rigid notions of class in the first place. After all, the middle class characters in the novel are usually presented as financially stable, and even prosperous. However, because their wealth comes from work, rather than inheritance, the elite class persists in rejecting the "newly rich." By illustrating how frivolous this idea is, Austen creates a brilliant, satirical commentary on England's class structure. 

A jet takes off at an air velocity of 450 km/h with a direction of [E 12° N]. A 15-km/h wind is blowing from the east. Determine the resultant...

Hello!

The resultant ground velocity of a jet is a vector sum of the jet's air velocity and wind ground velocity. To find its magnitude and direction, we consider the projections on the N-S and W-E axes.

Please look at the attached diagram. The jet's air velocity is in green, the wind velocity is in red and the resultant velocity is in blue. The projections of the air velocity are

`450*cos(12^@) approx440.17 (km)/h`  and  `450*sin(12^@)...

Hello!

The resultant ground velocity of a jet is a vector sum of the jet's air velocity and wind ground velocity. To find its magnitude and direction, we consider the projections on the N-S and W-E axes.

Please look at the attached diagram. The jet's air velocity is in green, the wind velocity is in red and the resultant velocity is in blue. The projections of the air velocity are

`450*cos(12^@) approx440.17 (km)/h`  and  `450*sin(12^@) approx93.56 (km)/h.`

The projections of the wind velocity is more obvious, `-15 (km)/h` and `0.`

Hence the resultant velocity has the projections about `425.17 (km)/h` and `93.56 (km)/h.` The magnitude is equal to

`sqrt(425.17^2 +93.56^2) approx435.34 (km)/h.`

The direction is `tan^(-1)(93.56/425.17) approx 12.41^@.`

The answer: the resultant ground velocity is about `435.34 (km)/h` in the direction of about E `12.41^@` N.

If the wind velocity is actually `15 m/s,` than the idea is absolutely the same, but with the different value `(15 m/s =54 (km)/h).`

What is the significance of the ginger smell in Song of Solomon?

In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, the ginger smell is carried off the lake and drifts toward certain party of the city. It's described as, "[a]n odor like crystallized ginger, or sweet iced tea with a dark clove floating in it." This is a strange phenomenon since the lake was ruined by the dumping of mill refuse and chemical waste from a nearby plastics manufacturer. This makes in an inhospitable ecosystem for humans, flora, and fauna alike; "[c]arp floated belly up onto the beach," "the hair of the willows that stood near the shore was thin and pale," and "ear infections were a certainty for those who swam in those waters." 

Despite the disgusting makeup of the lake, it mysteriously emanate that "heavy spice-sweet smell" that makes those who encounter it think of the Far East. Nonetheless, many people in its vicinity have not noticed it due to the presence of air conditioning units in their homes; they no longer have to keep their windows open to keep cool at night.

In Southside, however, the smell is able to drift through the open windows, and the ginger odor seems to have a powerful impact on the waking and dreaming thoughts of those who dwell there. If someone asleep detects the ginger, he or she will believe that his or her deepest desires had already manifested, believing, "the things he hungered for were right at hand." Those who smelled the ginger waft while awake felt that their behaviors and thoughts were "both intimate and far away." When Milkman and Guitar smell the ginger while loitering on Darling Street, it makes them think of freedom, justice, luxury, and/or vengeance. The impact of this scent is that it seems to give everything a surreal, dream-like quality; reality is illusory when the ginger odor is present, and it brings out the hidden cravings and traits of those who encounter it.  

On a more symbolic level, ginger has an association with the presence of the dead in African cultures and folklore. Note that the ginger scent appears before Milkman breaks into Pilate's house to steal the bag of "gold" (which is actually just a bag of human bones); when he visits the almost impossibly old former slave and midwife, Circe; and when Pilate and Milkman are shot at by Guitar in the final scene of the book. This scent may, thus, foretell what is to come--some encounter with death or the nearly dead--or remind us of the thin veil between the living and the dead. It may also speak to Milkman's ties to his family (as complicated or unpleasant as they may be) and the long history of strange and wonderful powers that they possess as descendants of  Solomon, the slave who could fly. 

What happens in the opening scene of Hamlet? What methods does Shakespeare use to capture audience interest at the beginning of the play?

Elizabethan theaters had a reputation for being noisy and unruly. Shakespeare was not only a writer but an experienced showman. He frequently opens his plays with scenes that will capture the interest of his audience and get people to quiet down, especially those standing in the pit. A good example is the extremely short opening of Macbeth in which the Three Witches, who all have beards and appear to be half-crazy, talk a lot of gibberish and agree to meet again. They are also frequently called the weird sisters throughout the play, and "weird" is certainly a good word to describe them. They conclude by all reciting simultaneously:

Fair is foul, and foul is fair.
Hover through the fog and filthy air.

People today are still guessing what is meant by "Fair is foul, and foul is fair," but when Macbeth appears in Act 1, Scene 3, his first words are 

So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

This cues the audience at the performance of Macbeth to expect some answers to the questions the weird sisters raised in Act 1, Scene 1. Shakespeare has held his audience's attention through Act 1, Scene 2 while he presents a large amount of exposition via dialogue featuring King Duncan and a bloody officer who can tell the King all about the battle that just ended in victory.

In Hamlet, Shakespeare grabs audience attention by creating the strong impression that there is imminent danger of an invasion. He can do this by using only two characters, Francisco and Bernardo. The first words spoken show that both these men are suspicious and frightened.

BERNARDO
Who's there?

FRANCISCO
Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.

Francisco quickly leaves. He is glad to get away. But Bernardo shows he feels very uncomfortable being left alone on the castle-wall. He calls after him:

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

Why is he so frightened? The audience doesn't know what to expect, but it seems that something very bad could happen at any moment. The guards may be on watch for an enemy army, but there must be something more to fear than that--perhaps something even worse. Shakespeare's audience members are silenced by their curiosity and also by the apprehension which has been communicated to them by Francisco and Bernardo. They will remain silent when Horatio and Marcellus arrive, because they expect to learn what is going on.

It turns out that Marcellus and Bernardo have seen a ghost. They have told Horatio about it, and he has come to watch with them tonight, although he doesn't believe their story. The information that a ghost may appear tonight only adds to the fear, wonder, and curiosity of the audience, thereby ensuring that they will remain quiet.

Then the Ghost actually does appear. All three men are frightened now, and the audience is frightened along with them. Shakespeare has his audience in the palm of his hand. He no longer has to worry about keeping them quiet. And he has introduced so many questions that they will continue to pay close attention for the rest of the play. Will there be a war? Is this really a ghost? Is it the ghost of the dead King Hamlet? What does he want? Why is he wearing body armor and a helmet? Since the Ghost won't talk to the three men, they decide to tell Prince Hamlet about this uncanny event. Horatio suggests it:

Let us impart what we have seen to-night
Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. 

The Ghost will certainly speak to young Hamlet. That is why he has come to Elsinore. But since Shakespeare now feels sure he has the full attention of his audience, he introduces all the other important characters in the play before the fateful meeting between Hamlet and his dead father in Act 1, Scene 5.

First time car buyers often need to be assisted with the buying process. Identify another group of customers who might need special assistance...

One very important group of customers who may feel uncomfortable with the traditional car buying process is the group of customers with various disabilities. Especially with the aging of the population in the developed world, an increasing percentage of the car buying public will need cars that are increasingly adapted or accessible. There are several strategies you can use to make the car buying process more accessible to them.

First, you should be careful to...

One very important group of customers who may feel uncomfortable with the traditional car buying process is the group of customers with various disabilities. Especially with the aging of the population in the developed world, an increasing percentage of the car buying public will need cars that are increasingly adapted or accessible. There are several strategies you can use to make the car buying process more accessible to them.

First, you should be careful to make as much of your lot and show room as accessible as possible. Rather than limiting disabled customers to a single accessible entrance, make sure that every aspect of the interior of your building is conveniently accessible and that your outdoor lot has adequate room between cars for customers in wheelchairs.

Next, you should showcase and have available for test drives a wide range of accessible vehicles so that disabled customers have the same freedom to drop in and test drive cars as other customers. Your marketing materials should emphasize your support for people with disabilities. You might also hire a specialist in selling to people with disabilities (perhaps a person who uses a wheel chair or requires other adaptations) who can guide buyers through the process of car selection and adaptation and is thoroughly familiar with appropriate government regulations and subsidy programs. 

What is the area under an arch that is 2 m wide at the bottom and is 3 m high.

For this problem, we will need to imagine the arch as a parabola on a graph.  We will then need to find the equation of the parabola, and use an integral to find the area under it.  Although we can place the arch almost anywhere on the graph, the easiest place to put it is in the center of the axes as shown below.  The base of the arch is 2 meters wide (intersecting the...

For this problem, we will need to imagine the arch as a parabola on a graph.  We will then need to find the equation of the parabola, and use an integral to find the area under it.  Although we can place the arch almost anywhere on the graph, the easiest place to put it is in the center of the axes as shown below.  The base of the arch is 2 meters wide (intersecting the x-axis at -1 and +1), and it is 3 meters high (intersecting the y-axis at 3).

We now need an equation for this parabola so that we can integrate.  If you know (at least) 3 points on a parabola you can find the equation for that parabola.  The 3 points we have are:

`(0,3),(-1,0),(1,0)`

And using the standard form of quadratic function `ax^2+bx+c=y` 

we can substitute in our x- and y-values and find the coefficients a, b, and c.

First we have: 

`a(0)^2+b(0)+c=3`

`c=3`

` `

` `

` `

` `Then we have:

`a(-1)^2+b(-1)+c=0`

`a-b+3=0`

`a-b=-3`

And last we have:

`a(1)^2+b(1)+c=0`

`a+b+3=0`

`a+b=-3`

So now we solve this small system of equations for a and b:

`a-b=-3`  

`a+b=-3`

Solving gives you `a=-3 and b=0`

So now we have the following quadratic equation to represent our arch:

`y=-3x^2+3`

To find the area under a curve (here, an arch), we must take the integral of the function between the desired bounds (here, between -1 and 1).  Our integral looks like this:

`A=int_-1^1-3x^2+3 dx`

Integrate each term individually using the power rule:

`A=(-3x^3)/3+3x+C`

`A=-x^3+3x+C`

Evaluate from -1 to 1:

`A=[-(1)^3+3(1)]-[-(-1)^3+3(-1)]`

`A=2-(-2)`

`A=4 m^2`

` `

` `

Who are the credible characters in Arthur Conan Doyle's Hound of the Baskervilles?

As with most crime fiction, most of the characters withhold information or lie about it. What creates and resolves suspense in this sort of story is precisely the way readers are only gradually given the information needed to fully understand the events we witness. For characters:

Narrator: The third person narrator is reliable but is mainly restricted to the viewpoint of Watson and only knows or reveals information to us gradually.

Watson: He has an...

As with most crime fiction, most of the characters withhold information or lie about it. What creates and resolves suspense in this sort of story is precisely the way readers are only gradually given the information needed to fully understand the events we witness. For characters:

Narrator: The third person narrator is reliable but is mainly restricted to the viewpoint of Watson and only knows or reveals information to us gradually.

Watson: He has an open and honest character and tells the truth, but is not as intellectually acute as Holmes, and does not always understand what lies behind the events he observes and records.

Holmes: The consulting detective is brilliant and seeks and discovers the truth in all of the works featuring him. At times, he will lie or engage in other forms of deception to achieve his ultimate ends, but in the end he will reveal the truth.

Sir Henry Baskerville and Dr. Mortimer: Both honest but puzzled by events.

Barrymore and Mrs. Barrymore: Lie initially to help Selden but otherwise truthful. 

Mr. Stapleton: Not credible.

Why is Duncan so happy with Macbeth and so unhappy with Macdonwald?

To answer this question, take a look at what the Captain tells King Duncan in Act I, Scene II. According to his testimony, Macdonwald (described as "merciless") is a rebel who fought against the king. Supported by the treacherous Thane of Cawdor and the King of Norway, Macdonwald used soldiers from Ireland and the Scottish Hebrides to try and overthrow Duncan. This explains why Duncan is so unhappy with him.

In contrast, Duncan is happy...

To answer this question, take a look at what the Captain tells King Duncan in Act I, Scene II. According to his testimony, Macdonwald (described as "merciless") is a rebel who fought against the king. Supported by the treacherous Thane of Cawdor and the King of Norway, Macdonwald used soldiers from Ireland and the Scottish Hebrides to try and overthrow Duncan. This explains why Duncan is so unhappy with him.

In contrast, Duncan is happy with the Macbeth because, in the Captain's testimony, Macbeth is described as being a hero on the battlefield. Specifically, Macbeth single-handedly killed Macdonwald in battle by cutting him from the "nave to th' chops" (from his stomach to his neck) and then displayed his head on the walls of the castle.

This information prompts Duncan to call Macbeth a "valiant cousin" and a "worthy gentleman." Thus, he is extremely pleased with Macbeth and praises his loyalty and courage. 

In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, what causes Walter to change?

A Raisin in the Sun is the work for which Lorraine Hansberry is most well known. The play debuted in 1959, and the movie, starring Sidney Poitier, appeared in 1961.

Before answering your specific question, I'll summarize the plot up to the point with which we need to concern ourselves.

The story centers on a poor, urban black family who comes into some life insurance money when the head of the household dies. The money, $10,000, creates conflicts within the family, as Walter, now the oldest male in the family, wants to use the money to invest in a liquor store start-up with two other men. Walter's mother, Lena Younger (wife of the deceased man, referred to hereafter as Mama), wants some of the money to go toward Beneatha's (her daughter and Walter's sister) medical education. As the widow, the money belongs to Mama. However, she does not approve of Walter's plan to invest in the liquor business. After using $3500 as a down payment on a new house, she gives him the rest of the money, telling him to hold out what Beneatha needs for college and put the rest in a checking account under his name. It's up to him to manage the checking account as he sees fit.

At this point, Walter's spirits improve significantly. Shortly afterwards, a white man arrives at their apartment and offers to pay the family NOT to move into the white neighborhood. The family is insulted and sends him away. What the audience doesn't know yet is that Walter has taken the entire 6500 that Mama gave him and given it to a man named Wily, who is supposedly one of the liquor store investors. As the family is in the process of preparing to move, Walter learns that Wily has cheated him and run off with the money.

The family is devastated. Obviously they are particularly angry at Walter, who is suffering more than anyone else over the situation. Walter leaves the apartment, but the family doesn't know where he goes. When he returns he tells them that he has called the white man from the neighborhood and told him they will take his money.

Okay—now this is the key part of the story. Walter is about to change. At this point he is feeling victimized and is willing to shame himself and his family by being paid off to stay out of the white neighborhood. The rest of the family feels that this is even worse than the theft of the $6500. When Mama asks him how he will feel when he does this he goes into a long, dramatic monologue in which he pretends to speak to the white man:

And maybe—maybe I'll just get down on my black knees . . . (He does so, Ruth, Bennie and Mama watch him in frozen horror.) "Captain, Mistuh, — Bossman (groveling and grinning and wringing his hands in profoundly anguished imitation of the slow-witted movie stereotype.) A-hee-hee-hee! Oh, yassuh boss! Yasssssuh! Great white — (Voice breaking, he forces himself to go on.) — Father just gi' ussen de money fo' God's sake and we's—we's ain't gwine come out deh and dirty up yo' white folks neighborhood ..." (He breaks down completely.) And I'll feel fine! Fine! FINE! (He gets up and goes into the bedroom.)

At this point the rest of the family sits amid the packing crates feeling terribly low. Beneatha says that Walter is no brother of hers, and Mama chastises her for failing to feel sympathy for what he has been through. At this point Walter seems to have lost everything—his dream of owning his own business, the family's money, and now, at last, his self respect and the respect of his own family.

But it turns out that Walter's tirade has had a therapeutic effect. The audience doesn't know it yet, but as he sits silently his outlook begins to change. When the white man arrives to pay them off, Walter has changed his mind. With his young son Walter Jr. at his side, he tells the man that they are not going to take the money, that they are a proud people and that they will try to be good neighbors, but that they are going to move into the house.

Walter's change appears to be a result of hitting the bottom and then getting back up again. When he heard the words coming out of his mouth, it gave him a chance to really look at himself. He realized that after losing so much, the only thing he had left that mattered was his family and his dignity, so he responded with an act that satisfied both.

In Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, how has Bottom's absence affected his friends?

In Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck changes Bottom's head into that of a donkey's in Act 3, scene 1. When Bottom approaches his friends in the forest, they think that the monster has either murdered their friend or he has been "changed" for some haunted reason (III.i.102). Having been through a traumatizing event, Bottom's friends are wondering where he is the next morning after losing him to the mysterious monster or enchantment. The...

In Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck changes Bottom's head into that of a donkey's in Act 3, scene 1. When Bottom approaches his friends in the forest, they think that the monster has either murdered their friend or he has been "changed" for some haunted reason (III.i.102). Having been through a traumatizing event, Bottom's friends are wondering where he is the next morning after losing him to the mysterious monster or enchantment. The actors are found in Act 4, scene 2 deliberating about the previous night's experience. They check Bottom's house, but Starveling says that "He cannot be heard of. Out of doubt he is transported" (IV.ii.3-4). This means that Starveling thinks that Bottom has been transformed for good and that they will never see him again. Flute worries that Bottom has lost his chance to earn some money by performing for the Duke. All of Bottom's friends are bewildered and sad that they have lost him. When he finally arrives on scene, though, his friends are overjoyed and relieved to discover that he is found well and not in any weird form as seen the night before. 

How is the theme of love in the play Romeo and Juliet still relevant in today's society?

Romeo and Juliet seems intended to demonstrate it is only in youth that people are willing to give their hearts so completely to another. No doubt they are destined to be disillusioned, but perhaps the experience is worth the suffering that goes with it.

When I was one-and-twenty
      I heard a wise man say,
“Give crowns and pounds and guineas
      But not your heart away;
Give pearls away and rubies
      But keep your fancy free.”
But I was one-and-twenty,
      No use to talk to me.

When I was one-and-twenty
      I heard him say again,
“The heart out of the bosom
      Was never given in vain;
’Tis paid with sighs a plenty
      And sold for endless rue.”
And I am two-and-twenty,
      And oh, ’tis true, ’tis true.

      A. E. Housman, A Shropshire Lad

Later on in life people become more cautious about other people and commitments. They have learned by experience that everything changes, nothing lasts. King Claudius tells Laertes in Hamlet:

There lives within the very flame of love
A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it.  
                       Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 7

Claudius is a middle-aged man, and his and Gertrude's love for each other is a relatively tepid, middle-aged love. Romeo and Juliet's sudden love is "that first fine careless rapture" which is so strong they are willing to die for each other. That kind of love is not rare. Young people still experience it today. It is one of the main joys and sorrows of adolescence, and it is largely because of their youth and inexperience that they can indulge in it so unreservedly. Older people who read Romeo and Juliet or see it performed have two-dimensional feelings about it. They know Romeo and Juliet's love can't last. They know it is synonymous with youth. They know it is beautiful while it lasts, just as youth itself is beautiful while it lasts. 

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote a famous overture-fantasy about Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. There is a love theme in that music which seems to capture the mood Shakespeare was trying to convey in words. There are five notes which go higher and higher up the scale and in volume until it seems as if the love those notes represent will soar into the stratosphere. The music is beautiful. The play is beautiful. The human love is beautiful — while it lasts. It was inevitable that Romeo and Juliet's relationship would end, either by death or because their love grew cold. The tragic aspect of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is intertwined with — and just as essential to the story as — the love story.

Kidder points out that Farmer is dissatisfied with the current distribution of money and medicine in the world. What is your opinion of the...

Dr. Paul Farmer, physician and anthropologist, is the co-founder of Partners In Health, a non-profit organization that states that it has two major goals: 

... to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair ...

The essential argument of Farmer is that we have a moral obligation to alleviate suffering and thus that poverty should be no obstacle to medical care. 

...

Dr. Paul Farmer, physician and anthropologist, is the co-founder of Partners In Health, a non-profit organization that states that it has two major goals: 

... to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair ...

The essential argument of Farmer is that we have a moral obligation to alleviate suffering and thus that poverty should be no obstacle to medical care. 

I agree that income inequality and the ensuing level of inequality in medical care are morally problematic. Adequate food, shelter, safety, and medical care seem to me fundamental human rights, especially in a world that has more than sufficient wealth to distribute these universally.

In the case of infectious diseases, given the level of global travel and migration, it also seems in the self-interest of wealthier countries to aid poorer ones, as diseases know no borders. It is only by global programs of vaccination and care that we can eradicate diseases rather than leaving reservoirs permitting the diseases to recur. 

Do plants have blood?

Plants don't have blood, at least not in the same way that vertebrate animals do.

Blood is a specific element of the circulatory system, so it would probably be more informative to start with a more generalized question like "Do plants have a circulatory system?" If you consider a circulatory system to be something that allows the plant to move nutrients and wastes across a large portion of the organism, then, yes, you could consider...

Plants don't have blood, at least not in the same way that vertebrate animals do.

Blood is a specific element of the circulatory system, so it would probably be more informative to start with a more generalized question like "Do plants have a circulatory system?" If you consider a circulatory system to be something that allows the plant to move nutrients and wastes across a large portion of the organism, then, yes, you could consider vascular plants to have a sort of circulatory system. However, plants don't have specialized cells dedicated to transport in the same way that our blood does, and their circulatory systems are relatively low-pressure and powered more by solvent effects than by direct force like vessel constriction or a heart.

The primary purpose of our blood is to be able to move oxygen and carbon dioxide around our bodies efficiently. Plants don't need to do this because they absorb and release carbon dioxide almost directly from each individual photosynthesizing cell. Therefore we can say that plants have neither a literal nor an analogous version of blood, as we typically define it.

What have been the major changes from the thirteenth century to the present with respect to marriage and society?

Obviously, the answer would vary depending on the particular society in which you are interested. Since no region is specified, this answer will address western Europe.

In the past 700 or so years, western Europe has evolved from a feudal society run by nobles to a groups of monarchies gradually evolving into nation states that have espoused liberal democracy. It has grown from an impoverished and war torn region to a harmonious one, with some...

Obviously, the answer would vary depending on the particular society in which you are interested. Since no region is specified, this answer will address western Europe.

In the past 700 or so years, western Europe has evolved from a feudal society run by nobles to a groups of monarchies gradually evolving into nation states that have espoused liberal democracy. It has grown from an impoverished and war torn region to a harmonious one, with some degree of economic integration in the form of the European Union.

In the thirteenth century, the Roman Catholic Church dominated the religious landscape, with only a very small minority belonging to other religions. The religious landscape of Europe is very different now. Although Christians still form the majority among those who are religious, religious diversity is increasing and church attendance declining. Many different Christian denominations now exist. Religious institutions no longer dominate European thought or society. 

While gender inequality was common in the middle ages and it was considered extremely immoral to have a child outside of wedlock, such attitudes have become increasingly rare in Europe, where marriage rates have been declining, family size shrinking, and alternative living arrangements becoming more common. Gay marriage is legal in many countries and civil partnerships serve as an alternative to marriage. 

Vitamins are necessary, and are required to perform a variety of life-giving functions. It must be remembered that vitamins can only perform...

It really sounds like this question is asking for confirmation about the importance of vitamins.  Yes, vitamins are important for overall physical health.  The reasons that are stated above are correct, but I would like to clarify the second bullet a bit.  It is true that your body needs vitamins in small amounts, but there are two broad categories of vitamins that will affect a person's intake of certain vitamins.  Some vitamins are fat soluble...

It really sounds like this question is asking for confirmation about the importance of vitamins.  Yes, vitamins are important for overall physical health.  The reasons that are stated above are correct, but I would like to clarify the second bullet a bit.  It is true that your body needs vitamins in small amounts, but there are two broad categories of vitamins that will affect a person's intake of certain vitamins.  Some vitamins are fat soluble and some are water soluble.  In simple terms, if your body takes in more fat soluble vitamins than necessary, the body will store the excess vitamins in fat tissue.  Water soluble vitamins are not stored by the body.  They are used by the body.  Excess water soluble vitamins will be filtered out of the body.  There is a danger with consuming too much fat soluble vitamin content.  Because the body stores those vitamins, a massive build up can actually lead to toxicity within the body. So while vitamins are important to overall health, their intake needs to be balanced in the same way that a healthy diet is balanced.  

How is Romeo and Juliet similar to To Kill a Mockingbird in relation to theme, conflict, dynamic characters, etc.?

Romeo and Juliet is similar to To Kill a Mockingbirdbecause in both works, people who are different from each other learn to love and respect each other. Romeo and Juliet are from feuding families, the Capulets and Montagues, but they fall in love and realize that they are not really different. As Juliet says, "What’s in a name? that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet" (II.2.47-48)....

Romeo and Juliet is similar to To Kill a Mockingbird because in both works, people who are different from each other learn to love and respect each other. Romeo and Juliet are from feuding families, the Capulets and Montagues, but they fall in love and realize that they are not really different. As Juliet says, "What’s in a name? that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet" (II.2.47-48). In other words, she does not care if Romeo's last name is Montague (though her family--the Capulets--hates the Montagues), as she values him for himself, not for his name. 

Similarly, in To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout learns to love and appreciate Boo Radley, who is developmentally disabled, and to understand the injustice with which Tom Robinson is treated in a racist society. Atticus, her father, tells her,  "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Atticus means that a person can't understand another until they really try to empathize with that person and see what he or she is experiencing. Therefore, the themes of understanding and intolerance are similar in both works, as are conflicts surrounding misunderstanding based on superficial differences. In addition, there are dynamic characters, such as Scout, Romeo, and Juliet, who change in the works and become more empathetic towards people who are different than they are. 

Based on the quote below, what change has the protagonist of "Araby" by James Joyce undergone?"Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a...

The quote you reference is the final sentence in James Joyce's "Araby," and it is arguably the most important sentence in the whole story, as it illustrates the protagonist's disillusionment with both his childhood crush and the idealistic world of childhood in general.

Throughout the short story, Joyce's nameless narrator obsesses over one of the girls who lives on his street, another nameless character known only as Mangan's sister. The narrator's crush quickly grows to...

The quote you reference is the final sentence in James Joyce's "Araby," and it is arguably the most important sentence in the whole story, as it illustrates the protagonist's disillusionment with both his childhood crush and the idealistic world of childhood in general.

Throughout the short story, Joyce's nameless narrator obsesses over one of the girls who lives on his street, another nameless character known only as Mangan's sister. The narrator's crush quickly grows to idealistic proportions, and so, when he goes to Araby to buy the girl a present, he does so in the pompous belief that he's proving his love just like a dashing knight in shining armor. Indeed, the importance the narrator places on his "love" quickly proves itself to be blown out of proportion.

The narrator realizes this fact when he arrives at the bazaar and finds it to be far less exotic than he'd imagined. As a matter of fact, Araby proves to be a rather dreary place populated by disinterested adults. The quote you've listed here refers to the narrator's disillusionment with the bazaar and, by extension, his disillusionment with his childhood crush and fantasies. Thus, the quote shows that the narrator has changed by rejecting his childhood idealism and moving toward the more realistic (and perhaps more cynical) world of adults. 

Based on the following scenario, what stage of team performance would you consider this team to be currently in?You are part of an organizational...

I believe the question is asking about Bruce Tuckman's four stages of team development. He wrote about the four stages in his 1965 article titled "Developmental Sequence in Small Groups." What's great about Tuckman's four stages is that they are easy to remember because they rhyme. The four stages of team development are "forming," "storming," "norming," and "performing."  

Based on the question, it seems that the team has been in the performing stage for...

I believe the question is asking about Bruce Tuckman's four stages of team development. He wrote about the four stages in his 1965 article titled "Developmental Sequence in Small Groups." What's great about Tuckman's four stages is that they are easy to remember because they rhyme. The four stages of team development are "forming," "storming," "norming," and "performing."  

Based on the question, it seems that the team has been in the performing stage for the past three years. Everyone knew their roles, the leader was clearly identified, there was a common goal everybody worked toward, and there was very little (if any) friction among group members.  

Unfortunately, the addition of the new group member who doesn't learn quickly and can't do as much as the rest of the team members has knocked the team performance out of the performing stage. I wish I could say the team only moved back one stage to the norming stage. The norming stage is characterized by team members beginning to "gel" together and figure out where individual strengths are best applied. Team members in this stage usually get along with each other, but group performance isn't at peak levels yet. This is where the team in the question should be with the addition of a new member. One new member shouldn't be able to throw off all the group cohesion established over the previous three years; however, I think the new group member has pushed the team all the way back to the storming stage. 

The following is a brief summary of the storming stage:

Storming often starts where there is a conflict between team members' natural working styles. People may work in different ways for all sorts of reasons but, if differing working styles cause unforeseen problems, they may become frustrated. 

The above paragraph fits well with the scenario described in the question. There is conflict between team members about workloads, and it is causing frustration among existing group members.  It would be especially frustrating in your example because the previous, slightly smaller team can recognize the team no longer performs at peak levels.  

What is an analogy reference for rRNA, and the four nitrogen bases that would be common in a cookbook?

rRNA is an acronym for "ribosomal RNA," or the RNA that the ribosomes are partially composed of (in addition to some proteins). Ribosomes are the cell structures directly responsible for synthesizing proteins by aligning amino acids with the mRNA instructions "fed" to them, typically by the nucleus. In terms of something that could be analogous in a cookbook (or, by extension, a kitchen) we could say that the oven, or the person doing the cooking,...

rRNA is an acronym for "ribosomal RNA," or the RNA that the ribosomes are partially composed of (in addition to some proteins). Ribosomes are the cell structures directly responsible for synthesizing proteins by aligning amino acids with the mRNA instructions "fed" to them, typically by the nucleus. In terms of something that could be analogous in a cookbook (or, by extension, a kitchen) we could say that the oven, or the person doing the cooking, is the best analogy, because they're the things that assemble the ingredients according to the recipe and produce the final product.

The four nucleotide bases (actually five, if we're counting both RNA uracil and thymine in DNA) are a little more difficult to describe in terms of a cookbook, because they aren't actually part of the final product; they're a part of the recipe itself. Just as the cookbook is made of words and pages, the protein recipe is made of RNA, which is made of those nucleotide bases. So, properly speaking, the bases are most similar to the words and letters found in the cookbook, rather than any of its physical products. 

How does a toaster work?

Before the invention of the electric toaster, people had to use fire to make their toast. They did so by holding bread near a fire using a poker, putting bread under the fire-broiler of an oven, or trapping some bread in a little cage that was put close to the fire and rotated for even toasting on both sides.

Modern, electric toasters save us some time in making toast and help to minimize burning on...

Before the invention of the electric toaster, people had to use fire to make their toast. They did so by holding bread near a fire using a poker, putting bread under the fire-broiler of an oven, or trapping some bread in a little cage that was put close to the fire and rotated for even toasting on both sides.

Modern, electric toasters save us some time in making toast and help to minimize burning on both the bread and ourselves! What we've lost in the process is the ability to watch our bread transform as it is toasting. So what's really going on in there?

Inside of electric toasters, electric energy is converted into thermal energy. Coils of wire or plates of metal line the inside of the toaster. Special kinds of metal with high "resistance" are used because energy passes through these more slowly, causing the wire or plate metal to heat up. As heat radiates from the electrified metal, it begins to caramelize some of the sugars in the bread. As sugars in the bread caramelize, their flavor and color changes. Caramelization is responsible for most of the flavors we find pleasing in foods, even when there's no caramel involved!

In sum, we put bread into the toaster, where it is heated up and some of the sugars contained in the wheat become caramelized! 

In the poem "Barbara Frietchie," what happened before Barbara Frietchie "took up" the flag?

In the poem Barbara Frietchie, a brave elderly lady defies the odds to challenge a victorious army who have the nerve to ride triumphantly through her village. Just before we, as readers, join the action, a major event has happened as the soldiers are on their way from taking the federal garrison in West Virginia. Of course they are jubilant about their win at Harper's Ferry and are victoriously proceeding towards Barbara's village of Frederick.

...

In the poem Barbara Frietchie, a brave elderly lady defies the odds to challenge a victorious army who have the nerve to ride triumphantly through her village. Just before we, as readers, join the action, a major event has happened as the soldiers are on their way from taking the federal garrison in West Virginia. Of course they are jubilant about their win at Harper's Ferry and are victoriously proceeding towards Barbara's village of Frederick.

Whittier vividly paints the landscape for the reader showing the countryside around the village. It seems to be a beautiful morning on that September day in 1862. Even though there is a war going on not far away, we hear of fruit filled orchards and golden corn meadows as the Maryland countryside enters the season of early Fall. We see in our mind's eye the church spires in the coolness of the morning, and can see apple trees and peach trees. All this is a reminder of the precious things the townsfolk hold dear and which may be threatened by the war.

The poet then swings readers into the reality of the war by quickly showing the rebel soldiers heading into Frederick. After taking the federal garrison at Harper's Ferry they are on their way to rejoin General Lee near Sharpsburg to help with the master plan to bring the war North. As the rebels march through Barbara's village they drag down every Union flag.

The second section of the poem is much longer and the poet sets out the main action. Firstly Barbara's courageous and defiant flag waving and then Jackson's reaction. As the 'famished rebel hordes' move towards her house, the frail old lady arranges her flag outside the top window. The soldiers are shooting down all the other flags and Jackson orders the soldiers to fire on Barbara's flag too. The volley 'rent the banner with seam and sash.' Barbara daringly stretches herself out over the window sill to catch it and stop it from falling down into the hands of the rebels. Then she waves her flag heartily “with royal will.” Barbara even suggests that the soldiers fire at her instead of the flag and this stops the action momentarily as Jackson thinks better of his actions. His better self wins out and he orders his men not to touch Barbara or her flag. The flag, although a bit tattered, flies high above the rebel army and continues to flutter safely in the September air for the rest of the day, 

In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, how does Finny deceive himself after his return to Devon? How does deceiving himself also deceive Gene?

Before his leg breaks in chapter 4, Phineas talks as if he knows everything there is to know about the war. He does this because he is excited to enlist. After recovering from a broken leg at home for awhile, Phineas returns to Devon speaking as if the war doesn't exist. For example, Phineas tells Mr. Ludsbury in chapter 8 that he is training Gene for the 1944 Olympics. Finny's goal is crazy because, at...

Before his leg breaks in chapter 4, Phineas talks as if he knows everything there is to know about the war. He does this because he is excited to enlist. After recovering from a broken leg at home for awhile, Phineas returns to Devon speaking as if the war doesn't exist. For example, Phineas tells Mr. Ludsbury in chapter 8 that he is training Gene for the 1944 Olympics. Finny's goal is crazy because, at this point in the story, World War II rages on without an end in sight. Mr. Ludsbury tells the boys that all exercises are aimed at training boys for war. Finny replies with a solid "No" because he supposedly believes there is no war and that the 1944 Olympics are a reality. Gene is dumbfounded, but permits himself to be drawn into Finny's charade by saying the following:

This was my first but not my last lapse into Finny's vision of peace. For hours, and sometimes for days, I fell without realizing it into the private explanation of the world. Not that I ever believed that the whole production of World War II was a trick of the eye manipulated by a bunch of calculating fat old men. . . What deceived me was my own happiness; for peace is indivisible, and the surrounding world confusion found no reflection inside me. So I ceased to have any real sense of it (123).

This passage points out that Gene feels peace and happiness by accepting Finny's world without a war. By accepting Finny's reality, Gene can forget about his impending enlistment at the end of his senior year for a while and be happy. Once Finny's leg breaks a second time, however, he finally admits to Gene why he pretended the war wasn't on:

I'll hate it everywhere if I'm not in this war! Why do you think I kept saying there wasn't any war all winter? I was going to keep on saying it until two seconds after I got a letter from Ottawa or Chungking or some place saying, 'Yes, you can enlist with us' (190).

For two high school seniors who face a war at the end of graduation, life seems stressful and unpredictable. Therefore, by deceiving themselves about reality, Phineas and Gene find a separate peace away from the war. As a result, they are able to be boys for a little while before having to face the truth.

In The Catcher in the Rye, are there are a lot of details without unifying and general ideas? Does this weaken the novel? Does it seem to teach a...

The Catcher in the Rye seems — and is — episodic. Author J.D. Salinger seems to have been worried about that himself. The Catcher in the Rye does not seem to have a lot of unconnected or meaningless details, though. What holds the novel together is that Holden, the protagonist, is searching for something. He keeps going from place to place in Manhattan looking for whatever it is he is searching for. He appears to be very lonely, and he must be searching for something like companionship, friendship, love, or some other kind of relief from his loneliness. Countless young people love this novel because they feel the same way. For many, that feeling of existential angst is like a prelude to adulthood with marriage and family.

A novel is a work of art. A work of art does not have to teach a lesson. It is intended to communicate a feeling, or feelings. The Catcher in the Rye does not seem to teach a lesson. I believe it is a mistake to look for "lessons" in short stories and novels. The writer is typically trying to relieve himself of feelings by communicating them to others.

Although The Catcher in the Rye is episodic, it is like a big impressionistic mural of Manhattan. The pictures are all held together by the fact that they are all in the mind of a single individual, Holden Caulfield. I do not believe there are a lot of details without unifying and general ideas. Therefore, I do not feel the novel is weakened. In almost every episode, Holden is looking for human contact. He is usually disappointed. When Holden is in contact with Sunny and Maurice, he is extremely disappointed, but that episode seems illustrative of most of the others in the book. There used to be a saying among New Yorkers which went something like this:

"You want friendship? Buy a dog!"

It is ironic that Holden is staying in Manhattan, the largest city in America and one of the largest in the world, but can't find human companionship. There is an old Latin saying that describes this phenomenon:

Magna civitas, magna solitudo.

This has been translated in various ways. One is: A great city is a great desert. Another is: The bigger the city, the greater the loneliness. Salinger's technique is a way of trying to capture a whole dizzying, dazzling city in one mural or montage. There are few novels that present so many characters so incisively. The novel was first published in 1951. If it were "weak" or only "entertainment," it could not have lasted so long or have meant so much to so many people.

How can I write a two-page essay on Euthyphro addressing the following questions:1) On what basis does Euthyphro determine what he should and...

You might begin your paper by pointing out the similarities between Socrates and Euthyphro. Both men are on the verge of attending trials and have acted in ways that are strikingly unusual for society in their period. Both men also feel justified in part by their intense, personal intuitive connection with the divine. In a sense, Plato's central task in the dialogue is to try to show us that Socrates, despite apparent similarities, differs in...

You might begin your paper by pointing out the similarities between Socrates and Euthyphro. Both men are on the verge of attending trials and have acted in ways that are strikingly unusual for society in their period. Both men also feel justified in part by their intense, personal intuitive connection with the divine. In a sense, Plato's central task in the dialogue is to try to show us that Socrates, despite apparent similarities, differs in some way from Euthyphro. 

In the first main section of your paper, you should analyze Euthyphro's claims to expertise and exact knowledge and the way Socrates refutes them. It would also be worth pointing out that this is how Plato most strongly attempts to distinguish Socrates not only from Euthyphro but from his accusers, in having Socrates claim ignorance rather than knowledge. 

The second section of your paper will need to look at a series of different claims made by Euthyphro. Although Euthyphro says he has exact knowledge of what is pious and impious, he does not really discuss the grounds for his knowledge beyond citing a parallel in the poets of his own actions. When Socrates presses Euthyphro to define the essence ("ousia") of piety, Euthyphro first offers an example and then the possibility that what is good is beloved by all the gods, an answer that proves unsatisfactory in light of the ways the gods disagree.

The third section of your essay should discuss the danger of not having general criteria for goodness before making judgments about whether specific cases are or are not good. Without such general principles, no one opinion is any better than any other.