How does John Proctor respond to the questions about why he has not been to church in The Crucible?

Proctor says that he does not like the methods of the preacher and that is why he does not go to church.

Proctor stands up for what he believes in, and is not afraid to speak his mind.  He does not approve of the witch trials and thinks the community has gone crazy.  When Putnam asks him why he does not go to church any more, he gives a reasonable explanation.

I have trouble enough...

Proctor says that he does not like the methods of the preacher and that is why he does not go to church.

Proctor stands up for what he believes in, and is not afraid to speak his mind.  He does not approve of the witch trials and thinks the community has gone crazy.  When Putnam asks him why he does not go to church any more, he gives a reasonable explanation.

I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. There are many others who stay away from church these days because he hardly ever mentions God any more. (Act 1)

Reverend Parris does seem to have a hold over the citizens of Salem, and he cares more about the devil and witchcraft than worshiping God.  Proctor prefers to avoid him at all costs, even if it means raising eyebrows for not going to church.

Parris defends himself and his preaching.

I am your third preacher in seven years. I do not wish to be put out like the cat, whenever some majority feels the whim. You people seem not to comprehend that a minister is the Lord‘s man in the parish; a minister is not to be so lightly crossed and contradicted… (Act 1)

Definitely more interested in defending his name, Parris agrees with the witch trials and supports them.  The trials used the excuse that they were defending God and eliminating people who were ungodly.  However, the methods they used were predatory.

Proctor never allied himself with the court, and it is no surprise that he ended up its target.  Proctor had a way of making enemies because he would not follow the party line.  Even when he was accused, he refused to sign his name to a confession because he was not going to lie.

Why does Gary D. Schmidt write in second person in Okay for Now?

When writing in second person, the author has the narrator refer to the protagonist by the second-person pronoun you. Doing so can make it seem that the narrator is scolding the protagonist or the protagonist is doing some self-reflecting. Second-person narration is actually the rarest point of view to find in stories because it's very difficult to use effectively. Ohio University gives us the following example of second-person narration:

You missed the bus again because you just couldn't convince yourself to get out of bed. The comforter made a cozy nest around you, and there was the cat, a warm ball of fur curled next to you. So you had to walk all the way to work. ("Point of View and Narrative Voice")

Gary Schmidt actually uses Doug Swieteck, the story's protagonist, as his first-person narrator throughout Okay for Now. In contrast to second person, first person is created when an author uses first-person pronouns such as I and me. We can tell the story is written in fist person from the perspective of the protagonist by looking at the very first few sentences of the story:

Joe Pepitone once gave me his New York Yankees baseball cap.
I'm not lying.
He gave it to me. To me, Doug Swieteck. To me. (p. 7)

However, what is fascinating is that, all the way through, Doug tells the story to his reader as if he was speaking to a listening audience. In doing so, he occasionally tells his audience he has chosen to withhold certain information, such as details of Principal Peatie's insults. Also, he occasionally invites the audience into the story by addressing the audience in second person in such a way that he makes the audience share his same feelings. One example is seen in the first chapter when Doug relays a snide remark made by his father in reply to a legitimate concern expressed by his mother about their moving to a different town:

My father looked up from his two fried eggs. "How are we going to let Lucas know where we've gone? The U.S. Postal Service," he said in that kind of voice that makes you feel like you are the dope of the world. (p. 11)

In reality, it's Doug and his mother who are being made to feel stupid; however, in using the second-person pronoun you, Doug is making his reader feel what he and his mother feel by inviting the reader into the story.

How do the opening chapters of The Book Thief foreshadow the difficulties of children in war?

Death introduces himself first of all in Zusak's The Book Thief. If the narrator himself can be taken as a foreshadowing, then one could obviously predict that there will be many people dying in the story because that is who he is. Even the first few lines of the book state, "Here is a small fact: You are going to die" (3). This creates a mood of doom and gloom from the very beginning. The reader also learns that Death likes to notice the colors of the sky at the moment he picks up a soul. The first soul he discusses is a child, a little boy, who dies under a white sky.  It is Liesel's little brother who dies on the train that night during a snowstorm. Her mother must do something with her little boy's body and the train guards are besides themselves wondering what to do or how to help. 

Next, Death describes a black sky during the time he takes a twenty-four year old pilot from a downed plane. "When it crashed, three deep gashes were made in the earth. Its wings were now sawn-off arms. No more flapping. Not for this metalic little bird" (9). A crowd comes upon the plane and a boy gives the pilot a teddy bear, but then Death takes the pilot's soul right at that moment and notices that the sky is "charcoal" (10).

The final section of the book right before part one begins is called "The Flag". It actually shows Liesel after the bombing of Molching when everyone she loves dies--but the reader doesn't know that yet. For Death, though, the sky is red on this day:

"The last time I saw her was red. . . There were black crumbs, and pepper, streaked across the redness" (12).

Death then puts the colors from these deadly events together: red, white and black. These are the colors on the Nazi flag--a flag that carries with it all the death and horror of a generation. And in each scene described above, there is a child witnessing, suffering, or dying, which is critical to the foreshadowing of more to come in the story. Therefore, this is only the beginning of more children to come in the story as they live, starve, survive and die during World War II in Germany.

In The Great Gatsby: On what page does Daisy Buchanan say, "I'm cynical about everything?"

Daisy makes this comment to Nick on page 16 of the novel, although the exact quote is: "I'm pretty cynical about everything."

Nick is at dinner at his cousin Daisy's home. He hasn't seen her for several years and now has become aware that her husband, Tom, is having an affair with another woman and that Daisy knows it. She tells him "I've had a very bad time, Nick," which is why she says she...

Daisy makes this comment to Nick on page 16 of the novel, although the exact quote is: "I'm pretty cynical about everything."

Nick is at dinner at his cousin Daisy's home. He hasn't seen her for several years and now has become aware that her husband, Tom, is having an affair with another woman and that Daisy knows it. She tells him "I've had a very bad time, Nick," which is why she says she is cynical.

But Nick is not sure whether or not Daisy is playing him as she states that she is hoping her daughter will end up to be a beautiful fool and then laughing with "sophisticated scorn" about how sophisticated she, Daisy, is. Nick suspects she is speaking insincerely, playing a role, trying to get a rise out of him, or as he more eloquently puts it "as though the whole evening had been a trick to ... exact a contributary emotion from me." 

Perhaps, as Nick's description of the evening suggests, Daisy is less unhappy than merely bored. 

What does Jonas notice about the books in the Receiver's dwelling in The Giver?

Jonas is shocked by the presence of so many books in the Receiver’s dwelling.

Jonas’s community has rule books and instruction books, and that is it.  There are no books of stories or history.  The community embraces Sameness, which seems to necessitate that no one knows what came before.  The only person who knows is the Receiver of Memory, because he holds the community’s memories going back generations.

When Jonas is selected to be the...

Jonas is shocked by the presence of so many books in the Receiver’s dwelling.

Jonas’s community has rule books and instruction books, and that is it.  There are no books of stories or history.  The community embraces Sameness, which seems to necessitate that no one knows what came before.  The only person who knows is the Receiver of Memory, because he holds the community’s memories going back generations.

When Jonas is selected to be the Receiver of Memory, he really has no idea what he is getting into.  He has no idea what to expect when he arrives at the Receiver of Memory’s dwelling. There is an attendant outside, and the dwelling itself is removed from the others.

Inside, Jonas notices that the furniture is different from most dwellings.  It is a little more luxurious.  He also notices that there are way more books than he has ever seen in one place.

But this room's walls were completely covered by bookcases, filled, which reached to the ceiling. There must have been hundreds--perhaps thousands--of books, their titles embossed in shiny letters. (Ch. 10)

Jonas can’t even imagine what is in all those books.  Everyone has a Book of Rules and Jonas has schoolbooks, but he doesn't think that all of these thousands of books contain instructions.  He is baffled by them, and they are his first window into the fact that the Receiver of Memory has special privileges in the community and knows much more than anyone else. The books are symbolic of that special knowledge.

Jonas later learns that the books contain “the knowledge of centuries.”  They are also forbidden to everyone but the Receiver of Memory.

Your living arrangements will have to be different from those of most family units, because the books are forbidden to citizens. You and I are the only ones with access to the books." (Ch. 13)

The Receiver of Memory keeps himself (or herself) apart from everyone else in the community.  It is almost impossible to have a regular family, because the Receiver’s work is private.  How could the Receiver share a dwelling when no one else can have access to books or memories?  The community respects the Receiver’s opinion and asks for it when wisdom and advice are needed, but most of the time the Receiver sticks to him or herself.

Receiver of Memory is a lonely job not just because of the living arrangements and other citizens' wariness.  The Receiver has an understanding that no one else in the community possesses.  As Jonas continues his training, he is often frustrated by this fact.  He alone knows about the past, experiences emotions, and thinks clearly.  It is a lonely position to be in.

Why did the British shift the emphasis of exploitation to the export of raw material and the import of finished goods?

It could be argued that Britain's policy of exploiting other lands and people for their labor and wealth didn't change much when they shifted to importing raw materials, then working those materials, and ultimately exporting those materials to the world.

Britain's centuries of colonization led it to explore, and often ruthlessly conquer and exploit, many of the far corners of the world. Britain looked to both the known world, for example India and Africa, and the...

It could be argued that Britain's policy of exploiting other lands and people for their labor and wealth didn't change much when they shifted to importing raw materials, then working those materials, and ultimately exporting those materials to the world.

Britain's centuries of colonization led it to explore, and often ruthlessly conquer and exploit, many of the far corners of the world. Britain looked to both the known world, for example India and Africa, and the New World, with its colonizing of North America, to look for new sources of raw materials (and often native populations to exploit, or to import slaves from Africa to work in the New World).

In India, for example, an ancient nation that had an established, exceedingly rich culture for centuries, Indians were often removed from land desirable to the British for the raising of crops like cotton, tea, and spices. British landlords often exploited Indian farmers by paying them little, while "allowing" them to farm lands the Indians may have owned within their families or communities for centuries, skimming off massive profits in the process as crops were shipped to markets in England and elsewhere.

As outright exploitation of foreign lands came to be seen as unjust, many powers like the British switched to the less exploitive system of importing raw materials from lands they had formerly extracted materials from with little compensation to the people of those lands. Often, however, the British still had the habit of leaving the populations of these lands without much to show in he exchange, often supporting native rulers who would ensure that the British gained the most from the transaction.

What are the themes of Swerve by Phillip Gwynne?

In Swerveby Phillip Gwynne, the main character, Hugh Twycross, makes a significant journey in the form of a road trip with his grandfather, Poppy. The two of them share interests, especially for muscle cars. There are several integral themes in this story. One is the importance of family. As Hugh travels with his grandfather, he realizes that his parents support him despite the way he feels they try to control him. As he matures,...

In Swerve by Phillip Gwynne, the main character, Hugh Twycross, makes a significant journey in the form of a road trip with his grandfather, Poppy. The two of them share interests, especially for muscle cars. There are several integral themes in this story. One is the importance of family. As Hugh travels with his grandfather, he realizes that his parents support him despite the way he feels they try to control him. As he matures, he will see this as parental love and not oppression. He also realizes that it’s vital to know about your family’s past.

Another theme that is connected to this one is the idea of coming of age. The journey motif is a good way for the reader to see how Hugh grows and changes on the road trip. The risks Hugh takes are necessary for his growth. Another theme is the significance of place. Although Hugh may not realize how strong of an effect the landscape can have on a person, he begins to get an idea on this trip. He is amazed at some of the things he sees out in the world beyond Sydney. These are some of the key themes in Swerve.

While Kino's environment is safe and pleasant, how does the picture of the ants and the roosters underscore the struggle for the survival in nature...

The struggle of the animals and insects is both foreshadowing and a metaphor for Kino’s existence.

Steinbeck describes the setting very carefully.  When Kino wakes up, we learn about the world around him as Kino observes it.  Although Kino seems content, with his wife and child by his side, there is something lurking below the surface.  The yard battles are a metaphor for the struggle of Kino’s everyday life, and they foreshadow trouble to come.

...

The struggle of the animals and insects is both foreshadowing and a metaphor for Kino’s existence.

Steinbeck describes the setting very carefully.  When Kino wakes up, we learn about the world around him as Kino observes it.  Although Kino seems content, with his wife and child by his side, there is something lurking below the surface.  The yard battles are a metaphor for the struggle of Kino’s everyday life, and they foreshadow trouble to come.

The ants were busy on the ground, big black ones with shiny bodies, and little dusty quick ants. Kino watched with the detachment of God while a dusty ant frantically tried to escape the sand trap an ant lion had dug for him. (Ch. 1)

Kino’s reaction to the ants is similar to the reaction the colonists like the doctor and the pearl sellers have toward him.  Kino is on top of the food chain here, and he can watch with godlike detachment.  It matters not to him what the ants go through.  However, in terms of people he is at the bottom.  He is just as insignificant as an ant to the doctor and pearl sellers.

The roosters posturing and the doves flying overhead are also symbolic.

Near the brush fence two roosters bowed and feinted at each other with squared wings and neck feathers ruffed out. It would be a clumsy fight. They were not game chickens. Kino watched them for a moment, and then his eyes went up to a flight of wild doves twinkling inland to the hills. (Ch. 1)

Like the roosters, Kino has to make himself more important than others to win.  He is not very good at fighting against the system, however.  Kino’s temper always gets the best of him, and he does not think or act rationally.

While things are simple and peaceful in this little domestic scene, there is plenty of hostility just under the surface.  Kino may be living a simple life now, but things are about to get much more complicated and dangerous for him and his family.

How can I compare Mr. Wickfield and Mr. Spenlow in David Copperfield?

Mr. Wickfield is Agnes’s father and David’s guardian during his time at school. He is kind and gentle, but unfortunately easily manipulated. He falls victim to Uriah Heep, as does Aunt Betsey Trotwood. He cares for David and Agnes throughout their childhood. He is well off financially, though not excessively wealthy. Unfortunately Uriah Heep is able to finagle much of his wealth from him.

Mr. Spenlow, Dora’s father, is not very kind. He refuses to allow David to court his daughter, viewing him as a mere clerk (and employee). His daughter is meant for better things, much more than David will be able to provide for her. His death is somewhat a release, enabling David to pursue Dora and eventually marry her.

Both of David’s fathers-in-law are influential in his life. However, it is Mr. Wickfield who provides him with a happy life as a child and a happy marriage with his daughter as an adult.

What did Aunt Alexandra tell Scout?

Aunt Alexandra has numerous conversations with Scout throughout the novel, and they are typically regarding Scout's attire or her 'tomboy' lifestyle.

In Chapter 9, Scout comments that Alexandra was fanatical regarding her attire. Scout says that Alexandra told her,

"I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants." (Lee...

Aunt Alexandra has numerous conversations with Scout throughout the novel, and they are typically regarding Scout's attire or her 'tomboy' lifestyle.

In Chapter 9, Scout comments that Alexandra was fanatical regarding her attire. Scout says that Alexandra told her,

"I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants." (Lee 108)

Aunt Alexandra is the quintessential Southern Bell and believes that a female should wear dresses, stay inside the house, and socialize with other women. She is austere and follows the strict gender roles of the Antebellum Period. Her views on femininity often clash with Scout's personality as she attempts to teach Scout how to become a "model young lady."

In Chapter 23, Scout wants to play with Walter Cunningham. Aunt Alexandra tells her that she cannot invite Walter over to the house. When Scout asks why she can't play with Walter, Alexandra says,

"Because---he---is---trash, that's why you can't play with him. I'll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what." (Lee 301)

Scout mentions that Aunt Alexandra is also obsessed with heredity. Alexandra comes from a wealthier family and believes that Scout should not play with people from lower social classes. Alexandra displays her prejudiced beliefs by forbidding Scout to play with her friend, Walter Cunningham. But Scout was raised to respect individuals regardless of their age, race, religion, gender, or social class.

What powers did the Declaration of Independence have in government?

The Declaration of Independence did not really have powers of government. It did not create a new government in the same way the Articles of Confederation or the United States Constitution did. What it did, however, was to declare the colonies separate from Great Britain. This paved the way for the formation of new state governments (indeed, this was one reason some of the revolutionaries thought it so urgent to declare independence in the first...

The Declaration of Independence did not really have powers of government. It did not create a new government in the same way the Articles of Confederation or the United States Constitution did. What it did, however, was to declare the colonies separate from Great Britain. This paved the way for the formation of new state governments (indeed, this was one reason some of the revolutionaries thought it so urgent to declare independence in the first place). Until independence was declared, state governments could not be legitimately established, and most states were controlled by revolutionary committees. After the Declaration, each state held conventions that established state governments. So in this sense, the Declaration had the power to make it possible for governments to be established. Some have argued that the Declaration provided a sort of statement of principles for a new national government, but in reality, much of the Declaration's core principles had already been stated by the states in their instructions to the delegates to the Second Continental Congress. As Jefferson himself said, the document was intended to be more of an "expression of the American mind" than a charter for a new government.

In The Great Gatsby, what is ironic about what Daisy says to Nick in reference to Jordan, "I think the home influence will be very good for her"?

Daisy's statement is ironic because the home she and Tom share is not one based on love or even convenience, but out of a duty to their upper social class. The type of irony being discussed here can easily be defined as "the opposite of what's expected." Daisy's comments that "a home influence" will be good for Jordan, it comes with the suggestion that the Buchanan household is a happy one (whatever that means) and...

Daisy's statement is ironic because the home she and Tom share is not one based on love or even convenience, but out of a duty to their upper social class. The type of irony being discussed here can easily be defined as "the opposite of what's expected." Daisy's comments that "a home influence" will be good for Jordan, it comes with the suggestion that the Buchanan household is a happy one (whatever that means) and will make Jordan a better person at the end. But the reader quickly learns the opposite is true. 

In Chapter 1, Jordan tells Nick of Tom's infidelities and how he's "got some woman in New York." Then, with Daisy seemingly unmasking her public persona, she reveals to Nick that she hopes her daughter will "be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

To really see the sickness of the Buchanan household, it's important to look at the home after all the tragedies in the novel take place. With both Daisy's and Tom's lovers dead, the two return to one another and leave on a vacation. They don't attempt to clean up the mess they made. Instead, "they retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness..." 

Jordan's decision on the night of Myrtle's death to go with the Buchanans instead of with Nick is a symbolic one. Unfortunately for her, the Buchanans' home life turned out to be such a bad influence on her that she basically became one of them. 

Congratulations! You have just been hired to organize and manage the 2018 Gubernatorial Campaign for Jane “Bitzi” Johnson Miller. She is...

In politics, a successful candidate is one who can use every aspect of his or her identity to cull voters. Let's go over what we know about "Bitzi": She is a wealthy white woman; she descends from a political legacy; she is divorced with two children; she is an entrepreneur; she is a conservative Republican, but one who resides in Dallas, which makes her rather cosmopolitan.

First, Ms. Miller must court donors. She should start in Dallas, not only because it is the state's wealthiest city, but also because she has business contacts there. To attract these donors, she will emphasize her commitment to tax cuts and insist that she will fight any federal pressure to get Texas to raise its minimum wage. She will position herself as a free-market capitalist who wants to make Texas safe for business and resistant to "big government" interference.

In her first TV ads, she will not only depict herself as a strong, individualistic, business-savvy candidate, but also as Governor "Big Daddy" Johnson's granddaughter. She will evoke her grandfather in her ads in order to remind her conservative voters -- particularly elderly ones -- that she wishes to "take Texas back" to "a simpler time" in which everyone who was willing to work hard had a fair shot. 

On the campaign trail, Ms. Miller will work especially hard to court white, middle-aged female voters. She will get personal. She will talk to them about the difficulties of her divorce and the demands of being a working mother. However, she will also stress that she does not support abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the mother's life. To ensure that she remains favorable to more moderate female voters, she will say that she does support access to contraceptives and STD screening. She will frame her views on abortion within her ideas about personal responsibility and self-sacrifice. 

She will take her family-values message to Latino voters in the Rio Grande Valley. She will tell them that she will work to improve the schools in their communities so that their children can have "a fair shot." She will also emphasize her support for a "pathway to citizenship," saying that law-abiding Latino immigrants, particularly those with family in Texas, should not be denied an opportunity to be naturalized. Moreover, families -- in keeping with her values -- should not be kept apart due to a broken immigration system. She will emphasize that the broken system is the fault of the federal government and not of Texas; but, once she becomes governor, she will do all she can at the state level. 

When speaking on the issue with white voters, she will briefly touch on her support for "a pathway to citizenship," but to this audience, she will focus more on guest-worker programs and efforts to increase border security. 

She will travel to West Texas and ensure ranchers that she will keep farm subsidies in the state budget. She will also repeat her messages of low taxes and minimal government interference. However, most of her stories will be personal. She will talk about growing up on a West Texas ranch. She will talk about her mother and, particularly, her father. She will recall memories of her grandfather, and her first trip to "the big city" (Austin) to visit his office. She may even say that it was then, during one of those visits, when she decided that she, too, would one day become governor. 

She will visit conservative colleges and universities, such as Southern Methodist University, and talk about her business career -- particularly her deal to sell her company to Dell. She will talk about the importance of taking risks in life, of not being afraid of failure. 

Ms. Miller will run as a business-savvy, individualistic, fiscal conservative. She will voice support for some socially conservative ideas (e.g., no to abortion), but she will not emphasize them on the campaign trail. She will work to connect with the Latino community, as she would rightly see them as the future of the state; but she would do so in a way that would not alienate her white base. Her ideas about government will be more Libertarian-leaning: free markets, minimal federal interference. If she can solidify her message, she can attract major endorsements from a diverse group of politicians, including current governor, Greg Abbott (we will assume he is ending his gubernatorial career, maybe focusing on a presidential run) and former Congressman, Ron Paul.

She will not make much effort to court black voters. Given her background, there is little that would make her attractive to Texas's black constituency. The only effort I see her making is, perhaps, participating in a church service at a notable black Baptist church in Dallas or Houston.

What are some quotes from Scout that are about Jem in Chapters 7 and 8?

Chapter 7 Quotes:

"Jem stayed moody and silent for a week. As Atticus had once advised me to do, I tried to climb into Jem's skin and walk around in it: if I had gone alone to the Radley Place at two in the morning, my funeral would have been held the next afternoon. So I left Jem alone and tried not to bother him." (Lee 77)

Scout's actions depict her taking into consideration her father's life lesson. By "climbing into Jem's skin" she is maturing and developing morally. Scout is beginning to view situations from other people's point of view, which is an important lesson Atticus teaches Scout following her rough first day of school.

"The sixth grade seemed to please him from the beginning: he went through a brief Egyptian Period that baffled me---he tried to walk flat a great deal, sticking one arm in front of him and one in back of him, putting one foot behind the other. He declared Egyptians walked that way." (Lee 79)

Scout's description of her brother misinterpreting Egyptian art portrays him as an innocent, naive child. Jem actually thinks that Egyptians walked stiff because of the way they were represented in hieroglyphs, which could not be further from the truth. The fact that Jem is excited to share what he learned depicts his affinity for school and education.

Chapter 8 Quotes:

"Jem scooped up some snow and began plastering it on. He permitted me to cover only the back, saving the public parts for himself." (Lee 89)

In typical Jem fashion, he takes the lead on building the snowman and lets Scout sparingly participate. Scout, being the younger sibling, is usually following Jem's lead and wants to partake in everything he does. The two children mix dirt and snow together to form a snowman which resembles their neighbor, Mr. Avery.

"Jem seemed to have lost his mind. He began pouring out our secrets right and left in total disregard for my safety if not for his own, omitting nothing, knot-hole, pants and all." (Lee 96)

After Atticus mentions that Boo Radley gave Scout a blanket to warm her while the children were outside watching Maudie's house fire, Jem begins confessing their various encounters regarding Boo Radley. Scout thinks that Atticus is going to punish them for bothering Boo, but Atticus simply laughs and thinks it's best to keep the blanket to themselves.

How did Ms. Emily change after her father's passing?

Emily Grierson’s father was a domineering man who controlled his daughter’s life. The narrator says, “We had long thought of them as a tableau, Miss Emily a slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled silhouette in the foreground, his back to her and clutching a horsewhip, the two of them framed by the back-flung front door.” Emily’s mother was dead and her father turned away any young men who wanted to...

Emily Grierson’s father was a domineering man who controlled his daughter’s life. The narrator says, “We had long thought of them as a tableau, Miss Emily a slender figure in white in the background, her father a spraddled silhouette in the foreground, his back to her and clutching a horsewhip, the two of them framed by the back-flung front door.” Emily’s mother was dead and her father turned away any young men who wanted to court Emily with the excuse they were not good enough. Emily remained fairly isolated in the house with her father.

When the townspeople somehow discerned that Emily’s father died, they went to offer their help and sympathy. They also indulged their avid curiosity about Emily and the life she lived behind those mysterious walls. However, Emily will not let go of her father:

“She told them that her father was not dead. She did that for three days… We did not say she was crazy then. We believed she had to do that. We remembered all the young men her father had driven away, and we knew that with nothing left, she would have to cling to that which had robbed her, as people will.”

Emily retreated into lonely isolation, rarely leaving the house. Nevertheless, she did go out enough to meet Homer Baron, the Northerner whom the town believed was too low class for Emily. When she bought a men’s toiletry set, they believed she and Homer would be married. But Homer disappeared and Emily withdrew into complete isolation. The narrator comments, “After her father's death she went out very little; after her sweetheart went away, people hardly saw her at all.” No one entered the house except Tobe, the servant who had been with her family for years.  The pattern she practiced of isolation and refusing to let go of those she loved, even when they died, continued until her own death.

Why didn't Tom's religious efforts aid him when it came time for the devil to come for him?

Toward the end of his life Tom Walker, the main character in Washington Irving's short story "The Devil and Tom Walker," becomes a terrible hypocrite. A hypocrite is someone who pretends to have certain moral or religious beliefs yet performs acts which go against these professed beliefs. 

Tom Walker becomes a devoted church goer only at the end of his life when he begins to worry about the after life. He hopes to cheat the...

Toward the end of his life Tom Walker, the main character in Washington Irving's short story "The Devil and Tom Walker," becomes a terrible hypocrite. A hypocrite is someone who pretends to have certain moral or religious beliefs yet performs acts which go against these professed beliefs. 

Tom Walker becomes a devoted church goer only at the end of his life when he begins to worry about the after life. He hopes to cheat the devil out of the bargain they made which made him a wealthy man. He thinks that going to church and reading the Bible will nullify his deal with "old scratch." 

We know he's a hypocrite, however, because at the same time he is professing to be a good Christian, he is still lending money at exorbitant rates to the economically unfortunate of Boston. Usury (lending money and charging interest) was prohibited by the church, but evidently Tom never sees the incongruity between his newfound faith and his usurious ways. In the final scene, just as he is foreclosing on a desperate man's mortgage, the devil comes to get him and the reader may assume that God saw him as the imposter he was and wouldn't save him from the "black woodsman." 

How did Paul actually lose his eyesight in Tangerine?

Paul Fisher is the main character and narrator in Edward Bloor's novel Tangerine. He is legally blind and wears very thick glasses. He has no peripheral vision. He believes that he was blinded by looking into an eclipse of the sun. The truth is that Erik spray painted him in the eyes when Paul was four or five years old. This is just one of many cruel things that Erik does to others. He is...

Paul Fisher is the main character and narrator in Edward Bloor's novel Tangerine. He is legally blind and wears very thick glasses. He has no peripheral vision. He believes that he was blinded by looking into an eclipse of the sun. The truth is that Erik spray painted him in the eyes when Paul was four or five years old. This is just one of many cruel things that Erik does to others. He is both physically and verbally abusive. 

When it is revealed that Erik is responsible for Paul's poor eyesight, Paul's parents explain that they didn't tell him the truth because they didn't want him to hate his brother. Paul's response to this is that instead of hating Erik, he ended up hating himself. He believed he had done something stupid and he was an example to others as a person who doesn't listen to the common sense warnings of childhood. Paul's eye injury causes him a lot of problems, including social isolation (he is called Mars) and not being allowed to play soccer at Lake Windsor Downs Middle School (his eyesight makes him an insurance liability). It is interesting to note that despite Paul's disability, he sees the truth about Erik that his parents do not. He says:

"But I can see. I can see everything. I see things that Mom and Dad can't. Or won't."

Define the term "opportunity cost."

   This term is used in business to define and include in a decision the value of the best alternative given up when making a choice among several investment opportunities. The most common use of the term is when a stock investor is trying to decide among several opportunities for his/her capital. “If I invest in a ‘safe blue-ribbon stock’ I am giving up the opportunity to invest in a high-risk stock with the possibility of a...

   This term is used in business to define and include in a decision the value of the best alternative given up when making a choice among several investment opportunities. The most common use of the term is when a stock investor is trying to decide among several opportunities for his/her capital. “If I invest in a ‘safe blue-ribbon stock’ I am giving up the opportunity to invest in a high-risk stock with the possibility of a high yield.” A non-business use of the term might be “If I spend four years in college, I am giving up the opportunity to travel, or to work for a salary,  or to raise a family in those four years.” When a business person is making a decision to move to new quarters, his/her decision must include the “opportunity cost” of staying right where the business is now, such as avoiding moving costs, customer familiarity with the current location, etc. It is a hidden cost seldom definable and quantifiable, and always present, even when the decision-maker does not take it into account.

What are the differences between the movie The Crucible and the play?

As with most film adaptations of literature, the movie version of The Crucible has many differences from the play, so I will focus on what I think are the most significant.

First, though the relationship between John Proctor and Abigail Williams is significant in the play, it is even more played up in the film. The movie depicts Abigail and John having a clandestine conversation in the woods, making it seem a bit more illicit...

As with most film adaptations of literature, the movie version of The Crucible has many differences from the play, so I will focus on what I think are the most significant.

First, though the relationship between John Proctor and Abigail Williams is significant in the play, it is even more played up in the film. The movie depicts Abigail and John having a clandestine conversation in the woods, making it seem a bit more illicit than the parallel conversation in the play that takes place at Reverend Parris's house. Additionally, the movie depicts Abigail visiting John Proctor in his jail cell before she leaves town, telling him that she never meant for things to be the way they were, and that she only started the events in Salem because she wanted him. This never happens in the actual play. Instead, audiences find out through Reverend Parris that she has left Salem.

Certain events are also depicted differently in the film, highlighting the various grudges in Salem more visually than is depicted in the play (one of the luxuries film affords). In the play, the author, Arthur Miller, tells audiences directly of various land disputes, especially between Thomas Putnam and other people in Salem. The film allows us to visualize how each grudge led to an accusation by presenting it as a sort of montage. 

Another way that the film shows viewers how the events are unfolding is when the camera cuts to the courts and shows the trials of Salem residents like Sarah Good and George Jacobs. The play, on the other hand, provides a second-hand account of these events through the conversation between Mary Warren and the Proctors.

Why is it important to "climb into a person's skin"?

"Climbing into a person's skin" is a metaphor for gaining perspective and viewing situations from another person's point of view. Throughout the novel, one of the important lessons in Scout's moral development deals with gaining perspective. Early in the novel, Atticus tells Scout that she never will fully understand a person until she considers things from their point of view. Scout is able to apply this lesson to understand her teacher Miss Caroline. When Jem...

"Climbing into a person's skin" is a metaphor for gaining perspective and viewing situations from another person's point of view. Throughout the novel, one of the important lessons in Scout's moral development deals with gaining perspective. Early in the novel, Atticus tells Scout that she never will fully understand a person until she considers things from their point of view. Scout is able to apply this lesson to understand her teacher Miss Caroline. When Jem is acting moody after he returns from the Radley yard with his pants, Scout tries to consider how he is feeling. She "climbs inside his skin and walks around," and decides that it is best to leave him alone. After the mob scene, Atticus explains to his children that Walter Cunningham was able to stand in his shoes for a minute, and that is why he decided to leave. At the end of the novel, Scout "climbs into Boo's skin" after she walks him home and is standing on his porch. She is finally able to view her neighborhood from Boo Radley's perspective. Scout is able to gain perspective and view situations from other people's points of view, which significantly impacts the way she views the world and her future relationships.

Explain the changing status of women in the U.S. from post WW2 to the present.

Prior to the mid-20th century, women were commonly treated as though they were an extension of or inferior to men. This message was directly contradicted during WWII when women were required to step in to perform the jobs of men who were drafted or enlisted to fight in the war. Although many had to give up these jobs when men began returning home after the war, their success in these positions was a turning point in the movement for equality.

Beginning in the late 1950s, many women began to question the roles into which they had been cast in American culture. While some women were and are happy to be wives, mothers, or homemakers, many others started to push for more economic, social, and political opportunities. This was inspired in part by the growing feminist movement that flourished in the 1960s and 70s.

During the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, women and other minority groups undertook massive campaigns for equal rights, achieving varying levels of success. The increasing role of women in the workplace (reinforced by independent women on television, films, magazines, and so on) normalized the once uncommon or objectionable idea of increased opportunity and equality for women. This increased presence has heavily influenced younger generations' opinions, making more in favor of gender equality.

Although women have come a long way in achieving better treatment, equality, and autonomy, the issue remains a contentious one in the present day. Women are commonly paid less than men, treated differently in corporate environments, and are routinely victimized and harassed, suggesting that there is still a ways to go before achieving true equality.

Give a brief note on Mr. Whymper from Animal Farm Chapter 6.

Mr. Whymper is the go-between for the animals.  His job is to communicate and trade with people so the animals do not have to.

The vision of Animal Farm is a place where animals have no contact.  Anything that walks on two legs is an enemy.  Anything that walks on four legs, or has wings, is a friend.  However, the reality is that the animals often want things they can’t produce on the farm, and...

Mr. Whymper is the go-between for the animals.  His job is to communicate and trade with people so the animals do not have to.

The vision of Animal Farm is a place where animals have no contact.  Anything that walks on two legs is an enemy.  Anything that walks on four legs, or has wings, is a friend.  However, the reality is that the animals often want things they can’t produce on the farm, and want to sell their surplus.

There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with human beings, which would clearly be most undesirable. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders. A Mr. Whymper, a solicitor living in Willingdon, had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world (Ch. 6)

There are a few things wrong with this.  First of all, the pigs are really taking advantage of the other animals. They use their labor, and then do not give them much in return.  The goods and services the pigs want from people are generally luxuries.  Napoleon wants alcohol, for example.

Not a pig appeared to be stirring. It was nearly nine o'clock when Squealer made his appearance, walking slowly and dejectedly, his eyes dull, his tail hanging limply behind him, and with every appearance of being seriously ill. (Ch. 8)

Squealer says that Napoleon is dying, but he is actually drunk!  The pigs get more and more focused on themselves and not the animals they are supposed to be protecting.  They even sell Boxer to the butcher when he hurts himself and can’t work.  By the end of the book, the pigs are playing cards with the people and regularly fraternizing with them.

Mr. Whymper represents that countries that remained neutral and helped the communists trade with and communicate with capitalist countries.  As with the animals, the communists could not completely keep to themselves, and eventually became corrupt.

How does setting affect character?

Setting can affect characters in literature in any number of ways. They can create conflict for the character, they can be said to form the character, and they can influence the character's actions. Let's look at a few examples.

In a setting of war, there are many examples of how conflict is created for the character. In The Kite Runner, while there is a great deal of conflict between the characters, the setting itself...

Setting can affect characters in literature in any number of ways. They can create conflict for the character, they can be said to form the character, and they can influence the character's actions. Let's look at a few examples.

In a setting of war, there are many examples of how conflict is created for the character. In The Kite Runner, while there is a great deal of conflict between the characters, the setting itself often creates conflict for them as well. Fairly early in the book, Amir and his father must flee Afghanistan. When Amir returns to Afghanistan, it is still in a state of war, creating conflict and danger for Amir and Sohrab. In Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, which takes place in Europe during World War II, the tension amongst the characters and the dangers to them are the result of this particular setting.

Some settings can be said to form characters, just as in real life our own characters are formed by our settings. In The Giver, with few exceptions, the characters of the community are formed by their setting, a time and place removed from the rest of the world, insulated from all influences other than the rulers of the community. Their setting has made them into a group of compliant, almost robotic beings. On the other hand, in another isolated setting, the characters in The Twenty-One Balloons become wonderfully inventive.

A setting can strongly influence the actions of a character.  In The Kite Runner, the difficulties that Baba has in the new world humble him. He was accustomed to being at the top of the heap in Afghanistan, and now he is an immigrant, at the bottom of the heap. This causes him to change in many ways, to work harder, to dirty his hands as he never would have dreamed of doing in Afghanistan, and he also seems to gain some empathy, allowing him to be a better father to Amir. Had he remained in his original setting, he is unlikely to have grown as a character.

It is interesting to speculate about how many writers begin with setting and how many begin with characters. Either way, setting and character must go hand in hand in a way that provides a conflict, a consistency, or a catalyst.

How did the Puritans justify the taking of Native American land?

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful andmultiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea,and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.  --Genesis I:28. 

The Puritans believed that God blessed them with the lands of the New World. Their main justification for taking Indian land was that the Native American populations...

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and
multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.  --Genesis I:28. 

The Puritans believed that God blessed them with the lands of the New World. Their main justification for taking Indian land was that the Native American populations were not using the land effectively, so it was their divine right to take the lands that belonged to the Native Americans.  Since the Native Americans did not understand land ownership in the same way that the English did, it was not as difficult to take it from them.  The Indians did not build cities or towns and the land looked to be undeveloped in the eyes of the Puritans.  The colonists believed that the land was being under-utilized and that they were actually providing the Indians with a service by civilizing their culture.  In quoting scriptures from the Bible, like the one referenced above, the Puritans felt a sense of moral calm in taking the land from the Native Americans.  

What kingdom do unicellular organisms, that lack a nucleus, belongs to?

Unicellular organisms are also known as single-celled organisms, because they have only one cell. In comparison, multicellular organisms are those that contain a number of cells. Some common examples of unicellullar organisms are bacteria and archaea. The unicellular organisms that do not contain any nucleus are known as prokaryotes. All other organisms are classified as eukaryotes. 

Prokaryotes or unicellular organisms, without a nucleus, are categorized in two different kingdoms:  Eubacteria and Archaebacteriaor simply,...

Unicellular organisms are also known as single-celled organisms, because they have only one cell. In comparison, multicellular organisms are those that contain a number of cells. Some common examples of unicellullar organisms are bacteria and archaea. The unicellular organisms that do not contain any nucleus are known as prokaryotes. All other organisms are classified as eukaryotes. 

Prokaryotes or unicellular organisms, without a nucleus, are categorized in two different kingdoms:  Eubacteria and Archaebacteria or simply, bacteria and archaea, respectively. Sometimes these two kingdoms are also clubbed together as Monera.

Unicellular organisms with a nucleus are part of the kingdom Protista. Eukaryotes form three different kingdoms, namely, Fungi, Plantae (consists of all the plants) and Animalia (consists of all the animals that we know about).

Bacteria are most widely known unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus.

Hope this helps.  

What does Victor consider when he says,"I was tempted to plunge into the silent lake, that the waters might close over me and my calamities...

In Volume II, Chapter I, Victor has been mourning both the loss of his brother, William, as well as the execution of his family's friend, Justine, who was convicted of murdering William.  He says that he was often "tempted to plunge into the silent lake, that the waters might close over [him] and [his] calamities for ever."  His guilt and sorrow have thus prompted him to consider taking his own life by drowning himself in...

In Volume II, Chapter I, Victor has been mourning both the loss of his brother, William, as well as the execution of his family's friend, Justine, who was convicted of murdering William.  He says that he was often "tempted to plunge into the silent lake, that the waters might close over [him] and [his] calamities for ever."  His guilt and sorrow have thus prompted him to consider taking his own life by drowning himself in the lake.  

It is only when he considers "the heroic and suffering Elizabeth" that he resolves to continue living because he does love her and because they are meant to marry.  Further, he thought of his "father, and his surviving brother" who he would also leave behind if he died now, and "There was always scope for fear, so long as any thing I loved remained behind."  Victor knows that his loved ones are in danger because of his murderous, on-the-loose creature, and this helps to convince him to remain alive so that he can try to protect them.

What ruse does the “Republican” sniper use to shoot the other sniper?

In Liam O'Flaherty's short story, "The Sniper," a soldier is alone on a rooftop in the middle of a street battle during the Irish Civll War. The sniper is a "Republican," meaning he sides with the forces of those who were against the Anglo-Irish treaty. They wanted complete autonomy for Ireland. His opponents were "Free-Staters." They agreed to the treaty which kept Ireland as part of the British Commonwealth.

The Republican sniper is surrounded by...

In Liam O'Flaherty's short story, "The Sniper," a soldier is alone on a rooftop in the middle of a street battle during the Irish Civll War. The sniper is a "Republican," meaning he sides with the forces of those who were against the Anglo-Irish treaty. They wanted complete autonomy for Ireland. His opponents were "Free-Staters." They agreed to the treaty which kept Ireland as part of the British Commonwealth.

The Republican sniper is surrounded by his enemies. Simply lighting a cigarette is dangerous as it reveals his position to an opposing Free-State sniper who takes a shot at him. And, after killing a woman and an armored car commander, he is shot in the arm by the enemy sniper. He then devises a way (a "ruse") to get his opponent to reveal himself. He puts his cap over the muzzle of his rifle and raises it above the "parapet" of the roof. When the enemy takes a shot at the cap, the Republican sniper drops the rifle to the street below. Thinking he has killed his enemy, the Free-State sniper stands up on the opposite roof. He is promptly killed by the Republican. The story's surprise ending is quite sad as the sniper discovers the man he has killed was actually his brother. 

Compare and contrast Atticus and Uncle Jack's attitudes towards the children in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Atticus takes a more hands-off approach to child-rearing than Jack.

Uncle Jack has no children, and Atticus is raising his two children on his own.  Atticus is a somewhat absent parent.  He depends on Calpurnia, his housekeeper, to take care of his children and provide life lessons.  Although he threatens to spank his children often, he never actually does.

Jack takes a more direct approach. At Christmastime, he takes offense at Scout’s constant swearing.  Atticus...

Atticus takes a more hands-off approach to child-rearing than Jack.

Uncle Jack has no children, and Atticus is raising his two children on his own.  Atticus is a somewhat absent parent.  He depends on Calpurnia, his housekeeper, to take care of his children and provide life lessons.  Although he threatens to spank his children often, he never actually does.

Jack takes a more direct approach. At Christmastime, he takes offense at Scout’s constant swearing.  Atticus ignores it, believing that it is a stage all children go through.  Scout wants to convince Atticus that she picked up bad language at school.  Calpurnia apparently also ignores it.

Jack tells Scout he will punish her if he catches her swearing or fighting.

“Well I don’t,” said Uncle Jack, “not unless there’s extreme provocation connected with ‘em. I’ll be here a week, and I don’t want to hear any words like that while I’m here. Scout, you’ll get in trouble if you go around saying things like that. You want to grow up to be a lady, don’t you?” (Ch. 9)

When Jack hears Scout and Francis fighting, Francis tells him that Scout called him a “whore-lady” and jumped on him.  Jack spanks her, and she runs to Atticus.  Atticus tells her that she had it coming.  Later Jack tries to talk to Scout, and tells her that she had it coming and he is surprised she would hold it against him.

Scout tells him he does not understand children much, and then proceeds to educate him.

“Well, in the first place you never stopped to gimme a chance to tell you my side of it—you just lit right into me. When Jem an‘ I fuss Atticus doesn’t ever just listen to Jem’s side of it, he hears mine too, an’ in the second place you told me never to use words like that except in ex-extreme provocation, and Francis provocated me enough to knock his block off—” (Ch. 9)

She also asks him what a whore-lady is, and he gives her an evasive answer.  Later, Atticus tells him it is best to tell children the truth and be direct, because they can spot an evasion easier than an adult and evasive answers just confuse them.  Atticus gives Scout an evasive answer later when she asks him about rape, but he does have a tendency to use elaborate adult language and not dumb it down for his children.

The main thing Jack learns from the incident is that raising children is harder than he thought.  Atticus's indirect ways seem to get results, because his children have been raised to solve their own problems.  In fighting, Scout was doing that.  Jack told her not to fight or swear unless provoked, and she was provoked when Francis insulted her father.

What are some examples of when Maniac Magee is compassionate?

Maniac shows compassion when he saves Arnold from Finsterwald's, teaches Grayson to read, and shares his pizza with the little runaways.

Maniac may be weird, but he has a good heart. One example of when he baffled the town’s youth and showed kindness at the same time was when he rescued a boy who some big kids were harassing.

Finsterwald was one of those neighborhood boogeymen. No kid would go into his yard to retrieve...

Maniac shows compassion when he saves Arnold from Finsterwald's, teaches Grayson to read, and shares his pizza with the little runaways.

Maniac may be weird, but he has a good heart. One example of when he baffled the town’s youth and showed kindness at the same time was when he rescued a boy who some big kids were harassing.

Finsterwald was one of those neighborhood boogeymen. No kid would go into his yard to retrieve a ball or hang out in front of his house. The older kids were teasing Arnold by sticking him in Finsterwald’s backyard. Maniac helped him dispassionately and without question.

The phantom Samaritan stuck the book between his teeth, crouched down, hoisted Arnold Jones's limp carcass over his shoulder, and hauled him out of there like a sack of flour. Unfortunately, he chose to put Arnold down at the one spot in town as bad as Finsterwald's backyard—namely, Finsterwald's front steps. (Ch. 5)

This is part of how Maniac developed his legend status, with crazy stunts like this. All he knew was that the kid was in distress, and it never occurred to him to not help. He then sat on Finsterwald’s porch and read his book.

Another example of Maniac’s compassionate personality is when he teaches Grayson to read. Grayson is an old man who takes Maniac in when he finds him sleeping in the buffalo pen. Maniac never questions Grayson’s somewhat odd lifestyle. When he realizes that Grayson can’t read, he teaches him.

Then they went to the library book-sale racks and bought about twenty old picture books, such as The Story of Babar and Mike Mulligani Steam Shovel and The Little Engine That Could. 

Then they went to Woolworth's for a small portable blackboard and a piece of chalk. (Ch. 27)

Through Jeffrey’s patience, Grayson learns to read rather quickly. When Grayson dies, he is devastated. He has to go on the run once again and go back to being Maniac Magee.

Finally, there are the two kids with the pizza. Maniac finds two kids, Russel and Piper, who have run away. He gives them his pizza and makes sure that they get home. Maniac later finds out why they ran away from home. He does his best to create order in the chaos.

Did big business support the creation of the Food and Drug Administration? Why would Progressives support its creation?

Progressives believed there were many problems in our society. They set out to correct many of these problems by bringing attention to them and then getting laws passed and policies created to deal with these issues.

Progressives believed they had a moral obligation to make sure businesses were doing the right things. When they realized how unsafe the conditions were in the meat industry, they knew they had to act. When they discovered that some...

Progressives believed there were many problems in our society. They set out to correct many of these problems by bringing attention to them and then getting laws passed and policies created to deal with these issues.

Progressives believed they had a moral obligation to make sure businesses were doing the right things. When they realized how unsafe the conditions were in the meat industry, they knew they had to act. When they discovered that some businesses were selling falsely labeled food and drugs, the progressives knew this had to stop. They believed they had a moral obligation correct these wrongs.

Progressives also knew a lot was at stake if they didn’t take action. People’s lives were at stake. People were getting sick and dying from eating tainted meat. People were paying more money for what they believed was higher quality foods and safe medicines when, in reality, that wasn’t always the case. Progressives believed it was wrong for businesses to knowingly do dishonest things and profit from doing these things. They knew people’s lives were being endangered.

Many businesses supported the creation of the Food and Drug Administration. In many ways, they had no choice. When people read Upton Sinclair’s book, The Jungle, the people demanded that changes be made. The same was true when the people discovered that businesses were selling falsely labeling food and medicine. The public outcry for change was so strong it would have been unwise for businesses to ignore that outcry. Additionally, businesses that were following the rules had no reason to fear regulation. They realized their industry would be in better shape if people had confidence in the food they were buying and in the medicines they were using. Regulation would add credibility to their industry. Only those businesses that were doing dishonest things had reason to fear regulation. Finally, President Roosevelt supported regulating these industries because he felt they were endangering the public’s safety with their actions in order to make more money. President Roosevelt was a strong political force and opposing him wasn’t a wise move politically.

Who won the battle of the Spanish Armada and why?

In 1588, a famous naval battle took place between the Spanish Armada and the English navy. Spain and England had been in conflict in the late 1500s. England was interfering with Spain’s trade and had supported people, such as the people of the Netherlands, fighting against Spain. Thus, the Spanish set out to fight and to defeat England.

The English used various tactics to defeat the Spanish Armada. The English navy relentlessly attacked the Spanish...

In 1588, a famous naval battle took place between the Spanish Armada and the English navy. Spain and England had been in conflict in the late 1500s. England was interfering with Spain’s trade and had supported people, such as the people of the Netherlands, fighting against Spain. Thus, the Spanish set out to fight and to defeat England.

The English used various tactics to defeat the Spanish Armada. The English navy relentlessly attacked the Spanish fleet as it tried to prepare to enter the English Channel. The British, whose ships were better equipped and faster than the Spanish fleet, also sent some unmanned ships, which were ablaze, toward the Spanish fleet. The Spanish panicked, broke their formation, and were then attacked by the British fleet. The British fleet defeated the Spanish Armada. The Spanish fleet decided to sail around the British Isles, going North around Scotland, back to Spain. However, bad weather and a shortage of necessary materials destroyed a good portion of the Spanish fleet.

In the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Spain lost over half of its fleet and many of its military personnel. This victory by Britain established Britain as a very powerful country.

In the novel Bud, not Buddy, what does Bud learn about friendship, himself, and other people?

Bud gains perspective throughout the novel and learns many important lessons about friendship and self-identity. Bud learns that friends are instrumental throughout life, and their support can assist and encourage a person during difficult times. Bud's best friend, Bugs, journeys with him to the Hooverville and provides moral support, Lefty Lewis graciously offers Bud a ride to Grand Rapids, and Steady Eddie makes Bud comfortable around the band and Herman Calloway. Bud learns that...

Bud gains perspective throughout the novel and learns many important lessons about friendship and self-identity. Bud learns that friends are instrumental throughout life, and their support can assist and encourage a person during difficult times. Bud's best friend, Bugs, journeys with him to the Hooverville and provides moral support, Lefty Lewis graciously offers Bud a ride to Grand Rapids, and Steady Eddie makes Bud comfortable around the band and Herman Calloway. Bud learns that friendship is essential in order to have a happy, fulfilled life.

Bud also learns that he is ultimately in control of his own fate, and that he has the ability to carry his mother's memory with him wherever he goes. He learns that things work out for the better for those who remain determined and keep a positive attitude. Bud also learns that he is actually Herman's grandson.

Throughout the novel, Bud lives by various "Rules," which are actually false generalizations about most people. He learns that each person is uniquely different and that he cannot make accurate generalizations about those around him without personally knowing them. Bud also learns that the majority of people are caring individuals who offer help selflessly.

When a group of men, led by Mr. Cunningham, shows up at the Maycomb jailhouse the night before the Tom Robinson's trial, what have they come to do?

In Chapter 15, Walter Cunningham Sr. and the rest of the Old Sarum bunch arrive at the Maycomb County jailhouse to lynch Tom Robinson before his trial.Fortunately, Atticus is waiting outside of Tom's cell when they arrive. Atticus tells them to turn around and go home, and says that Sheriff Tate is around here somewhere. They tell Atticus that they called him off on a snipe hunt, which would allow them time to take...

In Chapter 15, Walter Cunningham Sr. and the rest of the Old Sarum bunch arrive at the Maycomb County jailhouse to lynch Tom Robinson before his trial. Fortunately, Atticus is waiting outside of Tom's cell when they arrive. Atticus tells them to turn around and go home, and says that Sheriff Tate is around here somewhere. They tell Atticus that they called him off on a snipe hunt, which would allow them time to take Tom Robinson from the jail and lynch him. Seemingly out of nowhere, Scout runs out from behind Tyndal's Hardware store into the middle of the group of men. Jem and Dill follow Scout out of the shadows and Jem refuses to leave when Atticus tells him to go home. After numerous attempts to have a conversation with Walter Cunningham Sr., Scout successfully gains his attention. Walter Cunningham Sr. realizes Atticus' predicament and tells the men to head home. The Old Sarum bunch planned on lynching Tom Robinson that night but were unsuccessful.

What sentence in chapter 11 of Bud, Not Buddy has the word "resourceful" in it?

The word “resourceful” is spoken by Lefty Lewis to Bud in chapter 11 of Bud, Not Buddy because of Bud’s ability to run far away from home.  The exact sentence is as follows:

You did get pretty far, Bud, maybe he won’t be too hard on you when he sees how resourceful you were at running away.

Lefty Lewis refers to Bud's father as "he" in this statement.  Lefty Lewis goes on to say that...

The word “resourceful” is spoken by Lefty Lewis to Bud in chapter 11 of Bud, Not Buddy because of Bud’s ability to run far away from home.  The exact sentence is as follows:

You did get pretty far, Bud, maybe he won’t be too hard on you when he sees how resourceful you were at running away.

Lefty Lewis refers to Bud's father as "he" in this statement.  Lefty Lewis goes on to say that he would actually be very proud of any of his children who could make it far away from home.  Lefty Lewis adds (a bit jokingly) that he would actually offer his children money to give running away a good try.  Supposedly, they would never take the money. 

The reader must also keep in mind that Bud tells a lie to Lefty Lewis in order to get to Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Bud tells Lefty Lewis that Bud is running away from Grand Rapids.  The reason why Bud tells this lie is that he thinks this is the best way to get Lefty Lewis to take Bud to Grand Rapids to find his father.  In the statement about the word “resourceful,” Lefty Lewis thinks that Bud got “all the way to Flint” which, of course, is far from Grand Rapids.

What does Jack's hesitation to kill the piglet show in Lord of the Flies?

Through the character of Jack, a reader is able to witness the complete abandonment of morality.  Or you could say that Jack provides the reader with evidence as to how evil tendencies arise with no society to keep them in check.  However, in describing Jack, it's clear by the end of the story that he is no longer a sweet choir boy.  He's a sadistic, narcissistic, murdering dictator of a leader.  

He raised his...

Through the character of Jack, a reader is able to witness the complete abandonment of morality.  Or you could say that Jack provides the reader with evidence as to how evil tendencies arise with no society to keep them in check.  However, in describing Jack, it's clear by the end of the story that he is no longer a sweet choir boy.  He's a sadistic, narcissistic, murdering dictator of a leader.  

He raised his arm in the air. There came a pause, a hiatus, the pig continued to scream and the creepers to jerk, and the blade continued to flash at the end of a bony arm. The pause was only long enough for them to understand what an enormity the downward stroke would be.

Chapter one's pig sequence is important to the story and in terms of Jack's character development, because it does two things.  First, it shows that Jack is capable of restraint.  He understands that by bringing down the knife he will be taking a life.  Jack isn't ready to be that guy yet.  He hasn't fallen far enough away from societal norms and rules to make killing a reflex action . . . yet.  

The scene also serves as a way to foreshadow what Jack will become by the end of the book.  It's fairly obvious that Jack will get another chance to kill a pig, but just in case a reader might miss it, Golding drops a huge hint moments later.  

Next time there would be no mercy. He looked round fiercely, daring them to contradict.

The piglet sequence shows what Jack is, and it shows what he will become. 

How did the Protestant Reformation shape the course of European expansion in the Americas?

During the Protestant Reformation in Europe, long held religious beliefs were challenged.  The Catholic Church had been strong and influential for many centuries.  The strength of the Catholic Church was challenged in the 16th century.

The Church of England was officially established in Britain in 1534.  In other parts of Europe, men such as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin became leaders in the Protestant Reformation.  Their messages helped spread this new form of Christianity.

...

During the Protestant Reformation in Europe, long held religious beliefs were challenged.  The Catholic Church had been strong and influential for many centuries.  The strength of the Catholic Church was challenged in the 16th century.

The Church of England was officially established in Britain in 1534.  In other parts of Europe, men such as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin became leaders in the Protestant Reformation.  Their messages helped spread this new form of Christianity.

The timeframe of these changes in European Christianity coincided with European exploration and settlement in North America.  A group of separatists called the Pilgrims established a colony in Massachusetts.  Soon other Christian groups, such as Quakers, Huguenots, and Anabaptists came to the New World.  The New World became a symbol of religious freedom to some.  It was a wilderness waiting to be molded and shaped.

Puritans in England began to have conflicts with the Church of England leadership.  They wanted to conduct their congregations in their own ways, which were different than the way of the Church of England.  Many Puritans decided to relocate to New England, where they would have more religious freedom.  New England became a Puritan stronghold for many years.

What attitude towards women is reflected in "The Kugelmass Episode"?

In “The Kugelmass Episode,” Woody Allen does not portray women in a very positive light. The main character, Kugelmass, speaks very disrespectfully of his wife. Within the story he says she has “let herself go and swell up like a beach ball” and calls her a troglodyte (a prehistoric cave dweller). He also speaks of staying married only to avoid a large divorce settlement and states that he stays with her because she “has a...

In “The Kugelmass Episode,” Woody Allen does not portray women in a very positive light. The main character, Kugelmass, speaks very disrespectfully of his wife. Within the story he says she has “let herself go and swell up like a beach ball” and calls her a troglodyte (a prehistoric cave dweller). He also speaks of staying married only to avoid a large divorce settlement and states that he stays with her because she “has a few bucks.” He never considers her feelings when contemplating his affair and only worries about getting caught because of the trouble it will bring him. Once he meets Emma Bovary, he is intrigued and respectful, but as soon as she becomes real and is removed from the fantasy world of her book, he reverts back to his boorish response to women. All of the female characters within this story are written as one-dimensional. Their only purpose within the story is to serve Kugelmass’s needs.

How did Magna Carta, the Hundred Years' War, and the Black Death change European society?

All three of the events in your question contributed to the downfall of the feudal social system of Europe.  Magna Carta was written to protect the rights of citizens from tyrannical  monarchs.  It checked the power of the king and gave more influence on government to the nobles.  This weakened the position of kings and emboldened the noble class.  The 100 Year's War introduced different technologies to warfare that undermined the importance of knights in...

All three of the events in your question contributed to the downfall of the feudal social system of Europe.  Magna Carta was written to protect the rights of citizens from tyrannical  monarchs.  It checked the power of the king and gave more influence on government to the nobles.  This weakened the position of kings and emboldened the noble class.  The 100 Year's War introduced different technologies to warfare that undermined the importance of knights in the feudal system.  The 100 Year's War also further weakened the power of the king as people started to look for parliaments to have more influence on government, especially in England.  The Bubonic Plague had a devastating effect on all classes in the feudal system.  Because death did not discriminate, many powerful manor lords died and their estates were increasingly left behind.  Additionally, the plague had depleted the population of serfs and created a labor shortage.  This gave the lower classes more bargaining power and better wages.  All three of these events greatly diminished the system of feudalism and led to more representative forms of government.  

What is a good thesis for the poem ''The convergence of the twain''?

I usually find that a good rule for creating thesis statements about poems is to fill in this sentence: In ["Poem's Title,"] [Author's Name] uses [literary device], [literary device], and [literary device] in order to convey the idea that [central purpose].  A well-developed thesis should include not only the poem's main message (or central purpose) but also the ways in which the poet produces and conveys that purpose (the literary devices employed to achieve it).  

A good thesis might look something like this: In "The Convergence of the Twain," Thomas Hardy employs metaphor, form, and a particularly descriptive title to convey the idea that the sinking of the Titanic was the inevitable result of humanity's pride.

The facts that it was "human vanity" that conceived of the Titanic and our "Pride" that planned the ship are referenced in the first stanza (lines 2-3).  Further, the comparison of the iceberg to a "mate" for or a partner of the Titanic helps to convey the idea that they are meant to come together (19).  The phrases "intimate welding" (27) and "twin halves" (30), as well as the word "consummation" (33) also emphasize the idea that the ship and iceberg amounted to two parts of one whole.  The idea of mates, of intimacy, and of consummation (a physical union, but also an ultimate end) all lead to the idea of the two seemingly "Alien," or unrelated, things actually being designed for one another (25).  

Further, the title uses the word "Convergence" which is not typically how we would think of the coming together of the Titanic and the iceberg.  We might call it a crash or a sinking or something that employs a more violent or tragic connotation, but "Convergence" actually just means moving to join together  -- again, the idea of the two things being destined to combine is clear.  Moreover, the word "Twain" means a pair or couple, and so this matches the meanings of "mates" and "twin halves" too.

Finally, each stanza of the poem employs end rhyme, where the last word of each of the three lines rhymes with the others.  This rhyme scheme makes it seem as though the three lines "belong" together.  Plus, the first and second lines of each stanza are significantly shorter than the third line, and this actually makes each stanza look like the shape of a ship or an iceberg above the water.  More importantly, though, is that the first line's length combined with the second line's length would equal the third line's length.  The first and second lines, when combined in length, come together to approximately equal the third line's length.  This also enhances our reading of the poem by repeating, again and again, a coming together of two things to equal something larger: just as the Titanic and iceberg converged to create "one august event" (30).

What is a summary of Chapters 21 & 22 of Pollyanna?

Chapter 21-

Pollyanna is leaving John Pendleton's house and runs into Nancy, who makes her feel guilty for worrying her aunt. Pollyanna worries that her aunt no longer wants her around, but Nancy admits that is not so. Pollyanna rushes back to John Pendleton's house and tells him she has decided to stay with Aunt Polly. Pendleton is upset and reminds Pollyanna that she will be poor and that he does not donate to "heathens."...

Chapter 21-

Pollyanna is leaving John Pendleton's house and runs into Nancy, who makes her feel guilty for worrying her aunt. Pollyanna worries that her aunt no longer wants her around, but Nancy admits that is not so. Pollyanna rushes back to John Pendleton's house and tells him she has decided to stay with Aunt Polly. Pendleton is upset and reminds Pollyanna that she will be poor and that he does not donate to "heathens." She is excited that his money will all go to "Jimmy Bean," who she says is the poor person the Ladies Aid speaks of.

Chapter 22-

Rev. Paul Ford is wandering through the Pendleton woods and worrying about the impending demise of his church. He wonders whether he should give a fiery sermon to his parishioners about hypocrisy. Pollyanna comes along and worries about his sad state. She reminds him of the Psalms and tells him of the Glad Game. The Reverend goes home and reads a magazine, which tells a story about a son filling a woodbox. He writes notes for a new sermon on being glad to do the Lord's work, and it is a great success.

In Lord of the Flies, what do the little kids really like about the conch?

The youngest children stranded on the island in Lord of the Fliesare called little 'uns. We first meet them when Ralph uses the conch to call an assembly. Ralph blows with all his might into the shell, and it makes a noise like a trumpet. The first little 'un who appears comes and squats directly in front of Ralph and begins to "look satisfied," that satisfaction coming from "the assurance of something purposeful being...

The youngest children stranded on the island in Lord of the Flies are called little 'uns. We first meet them when Ralph uses the conch to call an assembly. Ralph blows with all his might into the shell, and it makes a noise like a trumpet. The first little 'un who appears comes and squats directly in front of Ralph and begins to "look satisfied," that satisfaction coming from "the assurance of something purposeful being done." Similarly, other little 'uns find their way to the source of the trumpet sound and begin dutifully submitting to the roll call Piggy tries to take. Golding mentions that they obey in the same way they had obeyed the men with megaphones. Presumably when they had been put onto the ship that brought them to the island, men used megaphones to get the attention of the boys. The little 'uns associate the conch with the megaphones, and since Ralph is significantly older than they are (from their perspective), they regard him as an authority figure similar to the men on the boat. This gives structure to their behavior and someone to listen to, which is very reassuring to the children who suddenly and traumatically find themselves without any adult care or guidance.

What dilemma does Lyddie face in Lyddie?

Lyddie faces many dilemmas throughout the story. I will try to pick a couple that are pivotal decisions for Lyddie.

One dilemma that Lyddie faces is going to work in the mills in the first place. She is stepping way out of her comfort zone and heading toward a completely unknown situation. She is a small town farm girl. The very notion of a big city and factory work is completely foreign to her. Despite...

Lyddie faces many dilemmas throughout the story. I will try to pick a couple that are pivotal decisions for Lyddie.

One dilemma that Lyddie faces is going to work in the mills in the first place. She is stepping way out of her comfort zone and heading toward a completely unknown situation. She is a small town farm girl. The very notion of a big city and factory work is completely foreign to her. Despite the choice being scary, Lyddie chooses to go.  

Another dilemma that Lyddie has is to whether or not she should sign the petition for better working conditions. On the one hand, Lyddie knows that the girls are being worked ridiculously hard. Signing the petition might bring positive changes for the working girls. On the other hand, by signing the petition Lyddie risks being blacklisted from the mills completely. That means she won't be able to find work. No work, no paycheck; therefore, she won't attain the financial independence she so desperately craves.

What are some adjectives that describe Dolphus Raymond in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

A social pariah in Maycomb, Mr. Dolphus Raymond is non-compliant with the social mores of the white community, free-thinking, unbiased, somewhat misanthropic,gentle-natured, kind, observant, sympathetic, and thoughtful.

• non-compliant with society and free-thinking

Breaking unwritten social laws, Mr. Dolphus lives by the county line with "a colored woman and all sorts of mixed chillun," Jem tells Scout.

In Chapter 20, after Jem and Scout walk an emotionally disquieted Dill outside the courthouse, Mr. Dolphus...

A social pariah in Maycomb, Mr. Dolphus Raymond is non-compliant with the social mores of the white community, free-thinking, unbiased, somewhat misanthropic, gentle-natured, kind, observant, sympathetic, and thoughtful.

• non-compliant with society and free-thinking

Breaking unwritten social laws, Mr. Dolphus lives by the county line with "a colored woman and all sorts of mixed chillun," Jem tells Scout.

In Chapter 20, after Jem and Scout walk an emotionally disquieted Dill outside the courthouse, Mr. Dolphus Raymond approaches the children and offers Dill a sip of his bottle hidden in a paper sack. As he does so, he jokingly asks them not to reveal his secretive drinking of only a Coca-Cola, rather than liquor, as the community believes. He explains that he only pretends to be a drunkard since the community's belief that he is an alcoholic gives them reason to tolerate his living the way he does. 

When I come to town, if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond's in the clutches of whiskey--that's why he won't change his ways. He can't help himself....

Mr. Raymond does not believe as many other whites do that the blacks are inferior and there should be no association between the races. He rejects the conventional wisdom and lives his life without bias, staying on the "wrong side of the tracks" and fathering mixed children.

• misanthropic

Mr. Raymond is fairly disgusted with human nature. He tells Dill,

Cry about the simple hell people give other people--without even thinking. Cry about the hell white people give colored folks, without even stopping to think that they're people, too."

Then, he addresses Scout, informing her that Atticus is not a "run-of-the-mill man," and in a few years she will understand what his remark means. Further, he tells the children to return to the courthouse and they will learn about Maycomb.

• gentle-natured and kind

Certainly, Mr. Raymond's treatment of Dill and the children demonstrates his kind heart. While he mentions the town, he does not specifically censure any one person or other persons.

Quickly, Mr. Raymond observes Dill's discomfiture, and he rushes to aid him by offering his Coca-Cola. In addition, his judgments of the townspeople indicate his powers of observation.

• sympathetic and thoughtful

Mr. Raymond acts with compassion for Dill, consoling him and offering his Coca-cola to the boy. Further, he remarks that Dill will become more accustomed to the cruelty of men for others, and he will not, then, cry as he does this day: "Let him get a little older and he won't get sick and cry."

How did Federalists and Republicans agree and differ in dealing with foreign policy?

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans differed on many things. This included their views on foreign policy. However, there also were some foreign policy ideas on which they agreed.

One area of difference in foreign policy was in regarding to the country each side supported. The Federalists were friendlier with Great Britain and wanted us to side with the British. The Democratic-Republicans were friendlier with France and wanted us to work more closely with France. For example, in...

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans differed on many things. This included their views on foreign policy. However, there also were some foreign policy ideas on which they agreed.

One area of difference in foreign policy was in regarding to the country each side supported. The Federalists were friendlier with Great Britain and wanted us to side with the British. The Democratic-Republicans were friendlier with France and wanted us to work more closely with France. For example, in the war of 1812, the Federalists were against the war, which was fought against the British. They referred to the war as "Mr. Madison’s War." The Democratic-Republicans supported the war.

There were a few situations where both parties agreed on foreign policy. In the XYZ Affair with France, both sides were outraged that the French demanded a bribe from us in order to meet with them to discuss to the issues we had with France. Americans were willing to spend millions to defend ourselves, but not willing to spend a penny paying a bribe.

When the countries on the North African coast were supportive of the actions of pirates in demanding that we pay a bribe so they wouldn’t attack our ships, Americans were very supportive of our government when we went to war to fight against these pirates. Americans felt we shouldn’t have to pay a bribe to any country in order for us to trade.

While Federalists and Democratic-Republicans disagreed on many things, including foreign policy issues, there were some foreign policy ideas on which they agreed.

What is the theme of "Identity" by Julio Noboa Polanco?

The theme of Julio Noboa Polanco's extended metaphor poem "Identity" is freedom through individuality. Throughout the poem, Noboa Polanco contrasts individuality and conformity by juxtaposing two kinds of plants: weeds and flowers. These two images serve as metaphors for two kinds of lives. 

The potted flowers represent conformity within a group of people. The potted plants are more secure: they are "always watered, fed, guarded, admired." However, being a beautiful potted plant comes at the...

The theme of Julio Noboa Polanco's extended metaphor poem "Identity" is freedom through individuality. Throughout the poem, Noboa Polanco contrasts individuality and conformity by juxtaposing two kinds of plants: weeds and flowers. These two images serve as metaphors for two kinds of lives. 

The potted flowers represent conformity within a group of people. The potted plants are more secure: they are "always watered, fed, guarded, admired." However, being a beautiful potted plant comes at the cost of being "harnessed to a pot of dirt." In this way Noboa Polanco draws the conclusion that though it may be easier to conform to what a group of people deems beautiful, it comes with costly restrictions.

The ugly weed represents individuality. The ugly weed clings "on cliffs, like an eagle / wind-wavering above high, jagged rocks." Though not as beautiful, the weed is free, and unlike the multitude of potted flowers, there is only one ugly weed. Noboa Polanco claims that even though it may be more difficult and less classically beautiful to have a unique identity, it is inherently better.

Noboa Polanco concludes the poem, 

If I could stand alone, strong and free, 

I'd rather be a tall, ugly weed.

While using this extended metaphor format, Noboa Polanco describes the uniform flowers as boring and helpless to the forces around them, while the weed is strong and free. In this way, the author enforces his theme that people who live without identity live a lesser life, and those who live on their own terms live the better life. 

When Pahóm receives news of a new commune, what plan forms in his mind?

When Pahom hears of a new commune beyond the Volga, he plans to sell his present homestead and to begin afresh at the new settlement. Pahom's decision is based on the fact that he has recently quarreled with his neighbors.

Because of a need for more pasture, Pahom's neighbors continue to let their cows and horses wander onto Pahom's land. On one occasion, someone even cut down five of his lime trees for bark. Even...

When Pahom hears of a new commune beyond the Volga, he plans to sell his present homestead and to begin afresh at the new settlement. Pahom's decision is based on the fact that he has recently quarreled with his neighbors.

Because of a need for more pasture, Pahom's neighbors continue to let their cows and horses wander onto Pahom's land. On one occasion, someone even cut down five of his lime trees for bark. Even though Pahom thinks that Simon is the culprit, the judge and jury decide that there is not enough evidence against Simon to convict Simon for the crime. This greatly upsets Pahom; therefore, when the peasant tells Pahom that a man will be given twenty-five acres at the new commune, he jumps at the opportunity.

First, Pahom decides to venture to the new commune to ascertain matters for himself. What he sees there greatly pleases him. Aside from the twenty-five acres he will get at the new commune, Pahom discovers that he can purchase free-hold land for fifty cents an acre.

When he returns home, Pahom begins selling off his belongings. He is able to sell his land for a profit and to withdraw his membership from the present commune. After selling off his homestead and his cattle, Pahom moves his family to the new settlement in the spring.

In what way can Juliet's deceitfulness be justified? How can her deceitfulness be viewed as negative? Provide textual evidence for support.

I think it's possible to justify Juliet's deceitfulness because she has relatively little control over her own life.  Her parents make most of her decisions for her, including who she should like or, later, marry.  When Juliet refuses their choice, her mother washes her hands of her, saying, "Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word./ Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee" (3.5.214-215), and her father calls her a...

I think it's possible to justify Juliet's deceitfulness because she has relatively little control over her own life.  Her parents make most of her decisions for her, including who she should like or, later, marry.  When Juliet refuses their choice, her mother washes her hands of her, saying, "Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word./ Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee" (3.5.214-215), and her father calls her a number of terrible names and tell her that if she disobeys him, she can "hang, beg, starve, die in the streets" (3.5.204).  They are both incredibly harsh and seem to expect obedience rather than independent thought.  They would obviously frown on Juliet's choice, and so she feels that she must deceive them in order to be happy.

Further, her parents are insulting to her; do they even deserve her honesty?  Her mother tells her that she's crying too much over Tybalt's death, saying, "much of grief shows still some want of wit" (3.5.76).  It's true the Juliet is really crying over Romeo's banishment as well, but her mother doesn't know that and tells her that she looks like an idiot for crying so much.  Pretty insensitive: these are not parents that a kid can just open up to.

On the other hand, it is Juliet's deceitfulness that sets into motion the events that lead to her own and Romeo's suicides.  Friar Lawrence tries to speak with her about the dangers of drinking the vial he prepares for her, but she cries, "Give me, give me!  O, tell me not of fear!" (4.1.123).  She is quite willing to deceive her parents, the whole community in fact, and this deception fails when the Friar's letter doesn't make it to Romeo.