Why does Beelzebub worry that his eternal life may be of no use to him in Milton's Paradise Lost?

Beezlebub is one of angels who joins forces with Satan in his rebellion against God and is subsequently cast into Hell. When the fallen angels convene to discuss their next plan of action, some of them suggest launching a second attack on Heaven. However, Beezlebub points out that they remain "in strictest bondage, though thus far removed" (321), meaning that although they now have eternal life in Hell, they are still inferior to God and...

Beezlebub is one of angels who joins forces with Satan in his rebellion against God and is subsequently cast into Hell. When the fallen angels convene to discuss their next plan of action, some of them suggest launching a second attack on Heaven. However, Beezlebub points out that they remain "in strictest bondage, though thus far removed" (321), meaning that although they now have eternal life in Hell, they are still inferior to God and they exist only because God allows it. Thus, they can never be victorious against Heaven. Beezlebub then presents an alternative: striking at God through His latest creation, humanity. Because humans are more vulnerable and easier to lead astray, they might be convinced to join forces with the devil against God. Beelzebub is actually suggesting a plan that Satan had all long; his support gives the illusion that the decision has been made democratically.

What was the incident that caused Miss Havisham to stop her clocks and become a recluse in Great Expectations? What part might this incident have...

Miss Havisham stopped the clocks when she was jilted on her wedding day, so she wanted to get revenge on men through Pip and Estella.

When Miss Havisham was younger, she was supposed to marry Compeyson.  However, he jilted her on her wedding day after colluding with her half-brother Arthur.  The experience so affected her that she let her house go to waste and became a recluse.  She tells Pip she has not seen the...

Miss Havisham stopped the clocks when she was jilted on her wedding day, so she wanted to get revenge on men through Pip and Estella.

When Miss Havisham was younger, she was supposed to marry Compeyson.  However, he jilted her on her wedding day after colluding with her half-brother Arthur.  The experience so affected her that she let her house go to waste and became a recluse.  She tells Pip she has not seen the sun since he was born.

It was when I stood before her, avoiding her eyes, that I took note of the surrounding objects in detail, and saw that her watch had stopped at twenty minutes to nine, and that a clock in the room had stopped at twenty minutes to nine. (Ch. 8)

Miss Havisham stopped all the clocks, and never took off her wedding dress.  She was getting ready when she got the news, so she remained with one shoe on and one off.  That was how Pip first saw her.  She later also showed him her bride-cake, moldering and insect infested.  It was all part of her retreat from life.

Miss Havisham developed a convoluted plan to get revenge on men, since one betrayed her.  She adopted Estella and carefully trained her to make a boy fall in love with her and then break his heart.  Pip was her practice, and it worked perfectly.

"Hear me, Pip! I adopted her, to be loved. I bred her and educated her, to be loved. I developed her into what she is, that she might be loved. Love her!"

She said the word often enough, and there could be no doubt that she meant to say it … (Ch. 29)

Pip fell completely in love with Estella.  She ruined him for any other woman.  He pined for her for years, imagining that Miss Havisham was his benefactor and preparing him for her.  As it turned out, that was just what she let him believe.  In the end, neither was capable of loving anyone.

What is the significance of Captain Beatty's quotes towards Montag in Fahrenheit 451?

Captain Beatty is a very clever man. He knows long before Montag knows himself that he will slide down the slippery slope to reading books. Captain Beatty knows because he was there once himself. So in a condescending way, Beatty drops little hints throughout the book that show he knows Montag has a stash of books, stole a book from the old woman's house, and has become engrossed in reading.

First, Beatty goes over to...

Captain Beatty is a very clever man. He knows long before Montag knows himself that he will slide down the slippery slope to reading books. Captain Beatty knows because he was there once himself. So in a condescending way, Beatty drops little hints throughout the book that show he knows Montag has a stash of books, stole a book from the old woman's house, and has become engrossed in reading.

First, Beatty goes over to Montag's house after the night the woman burns herself up with her books. Montag has taken a sick day to deal with how unfathomable the event was. Beatty even seems to care at this point because he tells Montag the whole history of how books declined in value and popularity, and then why their society outlawed them. At the end of his lecture, Beatty says the following:

"One last thing. . . At least once in his career, every fireman gets an itch. What do the books say, he wonders. Oh, to scratch that itch, eh? . . . if a fireman accidentally, really not intending anything, takes a book home with him. . . We let the fireman keep the book twenty-four hours. If he hasn't burned it by then, we simply come burn it for him" (62).

What Montag doesn't know is that Beatty already knows he has books because he's been slipping Montag's scent to the Mechanical Hound. Montag later hears the Hound outside his house a couple of times and doesn't think twice about it.

Near the end of the story, Montag returns to the firehouse and Beatty says he has had a dream where the two of them are quoting passages of books in a debate about whether books are useful or not. Beatty verbally fires quote after quote at Montag to confuse him and to show him who's the better man. Montag has his friend Faber in his ear on what they call the green bullet, and he tries to calm him down by saying, "Montag, hold on! . . . He's muddying the waters!" (107). It's a war of words. Beatty is trying to show Montag that all the words in the world, if used all at once, can cause confusion, frustration and unhappiness. That's the whole reason they burn books—so people can live without such confusion. 

Fortunately, Montag doesn't submit to Beatty's games; and even though Montag is eventually reported by his wife and forced to burn his own house down, he gets revenge and burns Beatty, too.

`2x + 6y = 16, 2x + 3y = 7` Use matricies to solve the system of equations. Use Gaussian elimination with back-substitution.

`2x+6y=16` 

`2x-3y=7`

Write the system of equations as an augmented matrix.

`[[2,6|16],[2,-3|7]]`

Multiply the second line by  -1.

`[[2,6|16],[-2,3|-7]]`

Eliminate the first column.

`[[2,6|16],[0,9|9]]`

`9y=9`

`y=1`

`2x+6y=16`

`2x+6(1)=16`

`2x=10`

`x=5`

The solution set is (5, 1).

`2x+6y=16` 

`2x-3y=7`

Write the system of equations as an augmented matrix.

`[[2,6|16],[2,-3|7]]`

Multiply the second line by  -1.

`[[2,6|16],[-2,3|-7]]`

Eliminate the first column.

`[[2,6|16],[0,9|9]]`

`9y=9`

`y=1`

`2x+6y=16`

`2x+6(1)=16`

`2x=10`

`x=5`

The solution set is (5, 1).

What role do adults play in the boys’ lives back at home? What do the boys do when they realize that there are no adults on the island?

Throughout the book the reader gets glimpses of the roles that adults played in the boys' lives back home. Piggy and Ralph are the ones who share most of these insights. In the first chapter, Piggy refers to his "auntie," whom he has lived with since the death of his parents. His auntie gave him candy, told him how to manage his asthma, and provided Piggy with an education, both formal and practical. Piggy has book knowledge and knowledge of how to blow the conch; a variety of experiences that adults introduced him to have helped him develop his mind. 

The boys have experience listening to and obeying adults who organize them and tell them what to do and how to behave. The boys respond to the conch because it reminds them of "the man with the megaphone" who instructed them during the evacuation. Jack's leading the choir boys in line and ordering them when to stop or take their "togs" off mimics what the boys have seen adults do. Ralph is convinced his father, a Navy commander, will find the boys and rescue them because his father has told him that "the Queen has a big room full of maps and all the islands in the world are drawn there." This shows the adults, at least in Ralph's life, instill knowledge as well as national pride in the boys.

Ralph and Piggy, as well as the littluns, seem to miss the adults the most. Several times the issue of who is watching or not watching the littluns comes up; the role of caring for young children was obviously performed by adults back home, and although Piggy tries to fill in, he is inadequate. Piggy laments multiple times, "What's grownups going to think?" This shows that the adults provide moral guidance and approval of proper behavior and disapproval of improper behavior. One of the most poignant discussions about grownups is this conversation between Piggy, Ralph, and Simon:

"Grownups know things," said Piggy. "They ain't afraid of the dark. They'd meet and have tea and discuss. Then things 'ud be all right—"

"They wouldn't set fire to the island. Or lose—"

"They'd build a ship—"

The three boys stood in the darkness, striving unsuccessfully to convey the majesty of adult life.

This shows that adults, in the boys' experience, have superior intellectual and social skills, allowing them to be effective problem solvers.

When the boys realize there are no adults on the island, they attempt to form a civilization, electing Ralph as chief. He starts out saying that they have two goals—to have fun and to be rescued. Although Ralph, Piggy, and Simon attempt to fill the roles of adults, the other boys don't, and that leads to the downfall of their civilization.

How do you start and write a short summary on a long chapter?

To write a chapter summary in a novel, begin by making a list of main events. For this list, you are looking for actions that move the plot line forward. You should pay most attention to the main characters and who they interact with. When considering main events, you have to learn to distinguish between the minor details and the significant occurrences. For example, descriptions of the setting or characters are not main events; pages...

To write a chapter summary in a novel, begin by making a list of main events. For this list, you are looking for actions that move the plot line forward. You should pay most attention to the main characters and who they interact with. When considering main events, you have to learn to distinguish between the minor details and the significant occurrences. For example, descriptions of the setting or characters are not main events; pages of dialogue can often be summed up in just one sentence. Think in terms of what the author is trying to accomplish related to furthering the conflict--in this case, solving the mystery. In a book like The Hound of the Baskervilles that has chapter titles, you can use the title to give you hints as to what is important in the chapter. For example, chapter 5 is entitled "Three Broken Threads," so you would want to identify those threads in your summary. At the beginning of the chapter, Sir Henry loses another boot at the hotel, this time an old one. Holmes offers Watson's services to go down to Baskerville Hall with Sir Henry. They discuss the terms of Sir Henry's inheritance. Then they find out that the three clues or leads Holmes has been pursuing all come up as dead ends. To summarize the chapter, you would just write a sentence about each of those main events, including one sentence for each of the "broken threads." Thinking about main events will help you keep track of the plot of the story as it develops. 

What is the Emancipation Proclamation?

My Dungeon Shook, by James Baldwin, was a letter written to his nephew on the hundred-year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. In his letter, Baldwin criticizes the persistently poor treatment of Black Americans, even a century after their so-called liberation. 

The Emancipation Proclamation was a document written by Abraham Lincoln and issued on the first of January, 1863. The purpose of the document was to emancipate, or free, all enslaved people in the Confederate South....

My Dungeon Shook, by James Baldwin, was a letter written to his nephew on the hundred-year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. In his letter, Baldwin criticizes the persistently poor treatment of Black Americans, even a century after their so-called liberation. 

The Emancipation Proclamation was a document written by Abraham Lincoln and issued on the first of January, 1863. The purpose of the document was to emancipate, or free, all enslaved people in the Confederate South. The Proclamation strengthened the attitudes of the American people that the Civil War was one fought for the right to freedom-- alternately, a war fought for the "right" to own humans as property and a source of labor. Unfortunately, the Proclamation only liberated enslaved people in the Confederate states. Slaves in the border states or those southern states which had been captured by the north were not liberated by the Proclamation. Though the Emancipation Proclamation is a historic document and an important text for human rights scholars, it remains problematic for the fact that it did not liberate all enslaved Americans.

What is rule 118 in Bud, not Buddy, with evidence from text and connection?

You can find rule 118 in Chapter Two. Basically, rule 118 states that you have to rely on subterfuge to get what you really want. Subterfuge is any sort of deceit or trickery used to achieve one's goals. Here's rule 118 as stated by Bud:

You Have To Give The Adults Something That They Think They Can Use To Hurt You By Taking It Away. That Way They Might Not Take Something Away That You Really Do Want Unless They Are Crazy Or Real Stupid. They Won’t Take Everything Because If They Did They Wouldn’t Have Anything Left To Hold Over Your Head To Hurt You With Later.

In the story, Bud is staying with a foster family. The Amos family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Amos and their son, Todd. Todd is a bully, but he's good at hiding the evidence of his crimes. Somehow, he always manages to pin the blame on Bud, who is considerably smaller and younger than he is.

After one especially violent physical altercation, Todd once again manages to make it look like Bud is the instigator of the fight. Mrs. Owen is so angry that she proclaims that Bud can no longer stay in their home. Upon hearing this, Bud pretends to be upset at the thought of being sent back to the orphanage. In reality, he'd rather be back at the Home than live with the likes of Todd. So, he puts rule 118 to use.

Bud apologizes profusely to the whole family; as Mrs. Owen appears to be the one in charge, he reserves his most obsequious (excessively groveling) apologies for her. As a stroke of genius, he begs not to be sent back to the Home and to be given another chance. His aim is to draw attention away from the one thing which really means a lot to him: the suitcase that contains paraphernalia (articles or things) of sentimental value to him. As Mrs. Amos already knows how attached he is to his suitcase and the items in them, Bud doesn't want to give any further indication of the extent of his attachment.

By focusing Mrs. Amos' attention on his supposed desire NOT to return to the orphanage, he allows her to think that she has some power over him. He deludes her into thinking that his first concern is being allowed to stay. In line with rule 118, this leads Mrs. Amos to hold on to his suitcase instead of throwing it away. She thinks that she can use the suitcase later as a way to manipulate Bud. As the story continues, we read that Bud soon runs away from the Amos home, and as promised by rule 118, he has planned it just right. Bud does find the suitcase after escaping from the shed he is locked in. He manages to play one last prank on Todd before leaving with his beloved suitcase.

Describe the major conflict in "Everyday Use" and why it occurred.

The major conflict of "Everyday Use" is between Mama and her daughter, Dee (Wangero).  There seems always to have been an antagonism between Dee and Mama and her other daughter, Maggie.  Mama describes the young Dee as having "burned [them] with a lot of knowledge [they] didn't necessarily need to know."  She made them feel like "dimwits."  Mama says that, when Dee was a teenager, "[she often] fought off the temptation to shake her."  Mama...

The major conflict of "Everyday Use" is between Mama and her daughter, Dee (Wangero).  There seems always to have been an antagonism between Dee and Mama and her other daughter, Maggie.  Mama describes the young Dee as having "burned [them] with a lot of knowledge [they] didn't necessarily need to know."  She made them feel like "dimwits."  Mama says that, when Dee was a teenager, "[she often] fought off the temptation to shake her."  Mama has always felt and still feels somewhat at odds with Dee, and it seems that they've been somewhat estranged for a while because of Dee's embarrassment about her roots.  She wrote her mother a letter once saying that, "no matter where [they] 'choose' to live," she would visit but she'd never bring friends.  Mama has dreamed of being reunited on a talk show, a scenario where Dee confesses that she owes her success to her mother. 

Now, Dee has returned to her home, an adult, and she seems to have acquired a new appreciation for their things, but it is a shallow appreciation.  She wants the butter churn top and dasher -- items that her mother and sister still use -- because they were handmade, but she doesn't care that she's taking things they still use in order to do something "artistic" with them.  In the end, she becomes interested in some old quilts that she'd formerly rejected because they, too, are handmade.  But she doesn't want to use them; she wants to display them.  It's as though she's only interested in her roots now because she wants to show them off.  Mama offers her some newer quilts because these older ones have been promised to Maggie, but Dee becomes belligerent and possessive.  When Mama sees the way Maggie gives in to Dee, something happens to her.  She says,

When I looked at [Maggie] like that something hit me in the top of my head and ran down to the soles of my feet. Just like when I'm in church and the spirit of God touches me and I get happy and shout. I did something I never done before: hugged Maggie to me, then dragged her on into the room, snatched the quilts out of Miss Wangero's hands and dumped them into Maggie's lap.

It's as though she suddenly recognizes Dee's selfishness and shallow motives compared to Maggie's quiet devotion to family, and Mama refuses to allow Dee to continue to "burn" them any more.  The conflict comes to a head from the juxtaposition of the characters' motives for wanting various items: Mama and Maggie need these objects because they put them to "Everyday Use" and Dee in only interested in them so that she can show them off and put them on display.  Mama and Maggie honor their family and heritage in the way that feels most genuine and sincere; Dee is only interested in show. 

How does The Book Thief present German history and why does it do it in this way?

In an interview with Random House that can be found on YouTube, Markus Zusak says that both his mother and father lived in Germany during World War II. He grew up hearing stories from his mother about seeing a boy give an elderly Jew some bread and having been beaten for his efforts by a Nazi soldier. His father told him stories about people not wanting to fly the Nazi flag from their windows and doors, and how he also did not want to go to the Hitler youth camps. So, many anecdotes in The Book Thief are taken from historical events and stories told to Zusack by his parents and grandparents, who actually lived in Germany during that time. One can see this when Hans Hubermann gives bread to one of the Jews who are being marched through town. Hans is eventually caught and beaten for it in front of Liesel.

In Part Seven, in the section entitled "The Long Walk to Dachau," Liesel and Rudy are playing soccer when they think they hear cattle walking through the streets. This is exactly how Zusak's mother, who was six at the time, described the sound of Jews walking through town at the ends of Nazi guns.

"Papa reached into his paint cart and pulled something out. He made his way through the people, onto the road.

The Jew stood before him, expecting another handful of derision, but he watched with everyone else as Hans Hubermann held his hand out and presented a piece of bread, like magic.

When it changed hands, the Jew slid down. He fell to his knees and held Papa's shins. He buried his face between them and thanked him" (394).

The above passage is exactly as Zusak says his mother describes what she saw in Germany at the age of six. The parts where Rudy Steiner enrolls in the Hitler youth activities might be from stories that his father told him. So, The Book Thief incorporates first-hand experiences that give insight into German history.

Examine Helen's education in Radcliffe College as described in The Story of My Life.

Helen attended Radcliffe College in Massachusetts.  She "began [her] studies with eagerness" at Radcliffe.  She found that the "lecture-halls seemed filled with the spirit of the great and the wise."  Helen soon found that the college was not all that she expected it would be.  She found that there was not enough time to think and reflect because of all the required tasks and work.  Someone spelled all the lectures into Helen's hand, and she...

Helen attended Radcliffe College in Massachusetts.  She "began [her] studies with eagerness" at Radcliffe.  She found that the "lecture-halls seemed filled with the spirit of the great and the wise."  Helen soon found that the college was not all that she expected it would be.  She found that there was not enough time to think and reflect because of all the required tasks and work.  Someone spelled all the lectures into Helen's hand, and she used a typewriter to type up her assignments.  She took a mixture of classes that she enjoyed and classes that she was not as interested in during the first two years.  In her third year, she enjoyed her classes more.  Despite this, she found her mind to be "overtaxed" with information.  Helen dreaded final exams each time they came.

What are some quotes that show that Scout is different?

Scout is different because her mother died when she was two years-old and she learns about life from her unprejudiced and patient father, Atticus. She is also influenced by Calpurnia, their African American nanny who is like a mother to her, and by Miss Maudie who lives across the street. These three adults in her life love her for who she is, but they are also not afraid to teach her proper manners and respect for other people. Since Atticus isn't home during the day, though, the kids are left with Calpurnia. As a result, one thing that sets Scout apart from other girls her age is that she is allowed to play outside with the boys in trousers or overalls. Both Aunt Alexandra and the neighbor Mrs. Dubose find it necessary to point out the fact that proper girls do not wear pants. 

"Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants" (81).

Being the perfect little tomboy doesn't require a dress, though! Scout has a difficult time being converted to the ways of women at ages six and seven. Next is Mrs. Dubose's unfiltered comments, that point out Scout's differences from other girls as follows:

"'And you--' she pointed an arthritic finger at me-- 'what are you doing in those overalls? You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady! You'll grow up waiting on tables if somebody doesn't change your ways--a Finch waiting on tables at the O.K. Cafe--hah!'"(101).

One of the most important ways that Scout is different from either gender in her community is by her intellect. For example, she is a good reader before she enters 1st grade, which sets her apart from her classmates as well as her teacher, Miss Caroline. She also has a quick wit and she's not a follower; that is to say, she can think herself through someone dishing out garbage to her. For instance, when Miss Gates is teaching her third grade class about Hitler and discrimination against Jews, Scout's brain sees the hypocrisy between Miss Gates speaking against Hitler but also supporting it with African Americans in her own hometown. Scout verbalizes her concerns to Jem:

"Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was--she was goin' down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her--she was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home--"(247).

The above passage shows that Scout recognizes hypocrisy and she is learning how to articulate it. This is significantly different from the majority feeling of whites in her town. Earlier that day in class, all of the other students were blindly going along with Miss Gates who failed to point out the parallels between prejudice against Jews and their own prejudices against Blacks right there in Alabama. It seems as if Scout is the only child in that classroom who sees this contradiction and the others simply go along with what teachers and parents tell them. This is the biggest difference between Scout and many of the people and children in Maycomb county--she has a good heart and she's color-blind.

Why is it necessary for this community to have a Receiver in The Giver?

The community has a Receiver of Memory to advise them on policy that requires knowledge of history.

The community has embraced a concept called Sameness, which means that all decisions are made for the citizens by the community.  In most cases this means that the Book of Rules determines how people go about their lives, but sometimes a committee of Elders needs to make decisions about whether or not rules will change.  If the committee is not sure what to do, they call upon the Receiver of Memory for advice.

The Receiver of Memory is the most important job in the community.  It is a position of great prestige, although The Giver explains to Jonas that prestige is not the same thing as power.

"But sir," Jonas suggested, "since you have so much power--"

The man corrected him. "Honor," he said firmly. "I have great honor. So will you. But you will find that that is not the same as power. …” (Ch. 11)

The Giver’s point is that people in the community respect him and sometimes ask him for advice, but he does not really have any direct impact on policy or decisions.  When the community has a question about what would be the best way to do something, they can ask him because he and he alone has the wisdom of generations.

The Receiver of Memory has memories from every generation back and back and back to the founding of the community.  Some of the information he needs is also found in the thousands of books that line the walls of his dwelling.  No one else in the community is allowed to have books other than rule books and instruction books. 

Alone among all of the members of the community, The Receiver of Memory is the only one who knows how to feel.  Other community members have no idea that the Receiver has emotions, because they do not know what real emotions are.  They have a vague concept of feelings, but these feelings are easily dismissed in morning and nightly rituals for the Telling of Feelings and Dreams.

The Giver explains to Jonas that the committee rarely asks for his advice, so that he can use the wisdom of the memories to tell them what to do.

"But it very seldom happens. Sometimes I wish they'd ask for my wisdom more often--there are so many things I could tell them; things I wish they would change. But they don't want change. Life here is so orderly, so predictable--so painless. It's what they've chosen." (Ch. 13)

The Giver gave Jonas an example of when the committee considered adding more population.  As part of Sameness, population is completely controlled and all people are genetically engineered.  There is no natural birth in the community.  Citizens take pills to prevent puberty, which they call Stirrings.  Fifty babies are born each year to women called Birthmothers, who have three babies but never see them.  Babies are raised by Nurturers and then placed in Family Units.

The Giver advised them to leave the numbers as they were.  This is because he had memories of hunger and warfare to advise him.  He did not think it would be good to add more people just so that there would be more labor, because more people would also strain the community’s resources.

What does the check mean in A Raisin in the Sun?

At the beginning of the play, the characters keep referencing a check that is supposed to be arriving the next day.  The audience learns that this check is a life insurance check, and it's coming because Mama recently lost her husband, Walter Sr.  The check is worth $10,000, quite a large sum for this poor family that lives on Chicago's Southside.  

This check is the center and symbol for each of the family members'...

At the beginning of the play, the characters keep referencing a check that is supposed to be arriving the next day.  The audience learns that this check is a life insurance check, and it's coming because Mama recently lost her husband, Walter Sr.  The check is worth $10,000, quite a large sum for this poor family that lives on Chicago's Southside.  

This check is the center and symbol for each of the family members' dreams.  For Mama, she dreams of a house where her family can grow and flourish.  Currently, she, her daughter Beneatha, her son Walter, her daughter-in-law Ruth, and their son Travis all live together in a very small apartment.  Because of the cramped living conditions and because of their poverty, Mama and the audience see the deterioration of Walter and Ruth's marriage, and Mama wants more for them and for her grandson.

For Walter, the check represents a chance to be a man, the leader of the family.  Walter wants to use the money as a downpayment on a liquor store, which he thinks will make him big money.  For Walter, money means power and respect.  Currently, he is a chauffeur for a wealthy white family, and Walter idolizes that family because he thinks they "have it all."  So the money would mean the American Dream for Walter.

For Beneatha, the money would mean a college education and a chance to create an identity for herself.  Currently Beneatha is the only adult in the household who is not working to support the family.  She is trying to attend medical school, but really, that is just one step in trying to find out who she is supposed to be--her identity.  

For Ruth, that money would just mean happiness for her family that seems to be falling apart.  While Ruth does not have specific plans for the money like the other main characters, she thinks that the money can make the other three happy in their endeavors.  That dream is complicated, however, when the audience discovers in Act I, scene II, that Ruth is pregnant.  Because of the family's poverty, Ruth feels she must give up the baby in order to keep the family together.  That $10,000 could mean the opportunity to keep the baby.

What stylistic choices does Shakespeare use to portray Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream?

While critics such as Rene Girard understand Hermia/Helena and Lysander/Demetrius as interchangeable parts, Shakespeare does indeed differentiate between the two women, who happen to be friends. 

 Shakespeare uses contrast with Hermia as a stylistic technique to portray Helena. Though Helena says that "Through Athens I am thought as fair as she," and this may be true, she has a less assertive personality than her friend. She makes statements that the more dominant Hermia doesn't, such as calling herself Demetrius' "spaniel" and saying to him, "spurn me, strike me, neglect me ..." as he is trying to get away from her to pursue Hermia. 

When Lysander, having the love potion put in his eyes, falls in love with Helena and turns on Hermia, Hermia does not become abject like Helena. First, she says to Lysander: "Why are you grown so rude?," then she turns on Helena fiercely, calling her a "cankerblossom!" and a "thief of love" and threatening to claw her eyes out. 

We also learn that Helena is taller than Hermia through comparison, as Hermia surmises that Helena's height won Lysander's heart: "she hath urged her height ... her tall personage." Hermia calls herself a dwarf in comparison. 

Shakespeare also lets us learn about Helena through her soliloquies. After Hermia and Lysander exit the stage in Act 1, scene 1, Helena reveals her wisdom about love, saying love is unstable and more a figment of the imagination than anything else: Love looks not with the eye, but with the mind ... Love [is] said to be a child/Because in choice he is so oft beguiled." This explains her reasoning in thinking she can follow Demetrius into the forest and change his mind about loving Hermia. 

Later, weary from what she thinks are her three friends ganging up to make fun of her, Helena speaks of her sadness and desire to sleep in a short soliloquy, wishing the night would end, for "sleep sometimes shuts up sorrow's eye." From this, we an gain insight into how hurt she is by her friends' behavior. 

Shakespeare uses techiques that let his characters, including Helena, emerge though soliloquy and comparison.

In Maniac Magee, is Grayson from the West End or the East End?

Grayson is from the West End.

After Maniac runs away, he ends up in Two Mills.  When Maniac meets Amanda, she asks him where he is from.  She assumes he is from the West End, but he explains that he is from Bridgeport.

She stared at him, at the flap-soled sneakers. Back in those days the town was pretty much divided. The East End was blacks, the West End was whites. "I know you're not from the East End." (Ch. 3)

Race means nothing to Maniac, which is the reason he stayed with Amanda in the first place, since her family is black.  However, it means nothing to Maniac.  It is important in Two Mills, though, and Maniac has to leave the Beales to protect them.  He ends up in the buffalo pen at the zoo, where the groundskeeper, Grayson, takes him in.  Grayson is surprised that Maniac was living with a black family.

"And where you live."

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

"Did?"

"I guess I don't anymore."

The old man stared. "You said Sycamore?"

"Yep."

"Ain't that the East End?"

"Yep." (Ch. 22)

Grayson is white, so he is from the West End.  He is not judgmental of where Maniac was living, but is curious.  Maniac helps him understand that blacks and whites are pretty much the same, except for where they live in this case.

Maniac lives with Grayson until he dies.  Then he has nowhere to go again.  Since his parents died, he was happiest with Amanda’s family, the Beales.  He decides to go back to them, because their house has become his home.

Although most of the story is a lighthearted fantastical romp, there are some serious elements to it.  Racial segregation is an underlying theme in the story, and it helps remind us that while people are not always alike, that doesn’t mean that they won’t get along.

If man gave authority to the government to rule, why are people suffering from debts given out by the government? And who gave them right to print...

To answer this question, we must first examine your statement that people have debts that are “given out by the government.”  This is not true. People are generally in debt to other people, either individuals or companies.  Of course, the government does enforce debts so if you owe a person money, they can go to court and get the government to order you to pay. This is perfectly reasonable. One reason why people give consent...

To answer this question, we must first examine your statement that people have debts that are “given out by the government.”  This is not true. People are generally in debt to other people, either individuals or companies.  Of course, the government does enforce debts so if you owe a person money, they can go to court and get the government to order you to pay. This is perfectly reasonable. One reason why people give consent to be governed is so that the government will protect their property. If I loan you part of my property (money), and you refuse to pay me back, it makes sense that I would want the government to help me recover my property.  In other words, we should not say that the government has given us the debt and we should not be surprised if people want the government to help them collect debts that people owe them.

Now, there are times when you might owe the government money. This would occur if you failed to pay your taxes or other fees.  We tend to hate taxes, but most people would admit they are necessary so that the government can have money to fund things like the police and schools. If we want government, we must be willing to give some of our money to the government so it will be able to do the things we need it to do.  In this case, I suppose we could say that the government is “giving out” debt, but it is entirely understandable that we should be required to help pay for our government.

As far as printing money goes, this is something we want the government to do in order to protect our property. It is much easier for us to have a strong and wealthy economy if we have money (rather than a barter system). Therefore, we want to have money in our economy. It is better for us if the government (rather than private enterprises) prints the money because then we know it is backed by the government and we know it will keep its value.  In other words, almost everyone would want the government to be in charge of printing the money.

Can you help me write the conclusion for my essay on Romeo and Juliet? It is about how Romeo's and Juliet's tragic deaths have been blessings in...

In its essence, a conclusion to an essay is a summation of the main points of the thesis, so it should contain the main arguments that the student has made about how the deaths of Romeo and Juliet have served a positive result in Verona.

[Without knowing what the student has written, only generalized points can be made here.] First of all, the conclusion to any essay serves two purposes:

1. The conclusion reminds the reader...

In its essence, a conclusion to an essay is a summation of the main points of the thesis, so it should contain the main arguments that the student has made about how the deaths of Romeo and Juliet have served a positive result in Verona.

[Without knowing what the student has written, only generalized points can be made here.] 
First of all, the conclusion to any essay serves two purposes:

1. The conclusion reminds the reader of the main point of the essay. So, the student will want to restate the thesis (This can be done by rewording the thesis statement, but keeping the main point is essential.)


2. The conclusion gives the reader a sense of finality.

The part that gives this finality to the essay is sometimes called the "clincher." There are two types of clinchers: 

1. A reference to the "hook" or the "motivator" that is in the introduction


2. An interesting statement

Perhaps, then, the second type--an interesting statement or observation--may be what the student could write in the conclusion. For example, an observation could be made about the tragic irony of the parents' attempts to prevent their children's interaction, which has brought about their unification--"a glooming peace"--as they end their feud because the future generation is gone.

Did Chris McCandless commit suicide?

While we can never know about Chris McCandless's mindset and precise circumstances at the time of his death with certainty, little to no evidence would support the notion that he committed suicide. 

The evidence we do have includes his journals/marginalia, the impressions he left on those who knew him, and his autopsy. 

His writing and daily log do not suggest any suicidal thoughts or tendencies. In fact, on the contrary, he notes in his journal...

While we can never know about Chris McCandless's mindset and precise circumstances at the time of his death with certainty, little to no evidence would support the notion that he committed suicide. 

The evidence we do have includes his journals/marginalia, the impressions he left on those who knew him, and his autopsy. 

His writing and daily log do not suggest any suicidal thoughts or tendencies. In fact, on the contrary, he notes in his journal on Day 94, "Extremely weak. Fault of potato seeds. Much trouble just to stand up. Starving. Great Jeopardy." One can assume that he believed he was in "great jeopardy" of dying, and his wording suggests foreboding and apprehension about this, as opposed to excitement or relief.

On Day 100 he writes, "DAY 100! MADE IT! But in worse condition of life. Death looms as serious threat. Too weak to walk out, have literally become trapped in the wild -- No game." Again, his choice of words, "trapped," "serious threat," suggests that death was not his aim. 

Additionally, the hikers and locals who discovered McCandless's body saw a note he left on the abandoned bus in which he was staying that read,

"Attention Possible Visitors. S.O.S. I need your help. I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out of here. I am all alone. This is no joke. In the name of God, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return this evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless. August ?"

His journals also reveal that McCandless decided to head back to civilization but was thwarted by the fact that the trail was blocked by a then-swollen Teklanika River (which had been much lower in the spring when McCandless arrived). 

Turning to McCandless's relationships with others, he had made plans with various friends of his for the other side of his Alaskan adventure. Specifically, he expressed an intention to return and work at Wayne Westerberg's grain elevator in Carthage, South Dakota. 

Finally, McCandless's autopsy has led most to believe his cause of death was a combination of starvation and poisoning due to the long-term ingestion of a certain breed of toxic potato seed. The coroners determined that McCandless weighed only sixty-seven pounds at the time of his death, his body containing no subcutaneous fat, and chemists found that the potato seeds he'd been eating indeed contained a potentially lethal dose of a neurotoxin called beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha-beta diaminopropionic acid (ODAP).

What are the links between whether a country is developing or developed and their number of internet users?

In general, the more developed a country is, the larger the percentage of its population that uses the internet.  There are two ways in which these two variables are connected.

First, these two variables are connected because greater wealth and development allows more people to use the internet.  If a country is poor, not very many people will be able to afford computers.  If a country is poor, the infrastructure needed for accessing the internet...

In general, the more developed a country is, the larger the percentage of its population that uses the internet.  There are two ways in which these two variables are connected.

First, these two variables are connected because greater wealth and development allows more people to use the internet.  If a country is poor, not very many people will be able to afford computers.  If a country is poor, the infrastructure needed for accessing the internet will be inadequate.  There will be many places without the needed wiring or access to wi-fi.  For these reasons, a poor country is likely to have a lower percentage of its population able to access the internet.

Second, these two variables are connected because using the internet can help to create wealth.  In developed countries, the internet is used for all sorts of business-related purposes.  Companies use the internet to sell their goods to customers, thus making the firms wealthier and allowing the economy to grow.  Companies use the internet in the course of creating goods and services. Students at all levels of education can use the internet to increase their educational levels and thus prepare themselves for better jobs that do more to increase the country’s wealth.  A country that does not have good internet infrastructure will be handicapped as it tries to create wealth.

In these ways, we can see that the internet is both a measure of development and a factor that can help a country develop.  If a country has not developed yet, it is likely that it will have a smaller percentage of its population using the internet.

How are Cal and Zeebo different in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Zeebo is Cal's eldest son. He appears in Chapters 10 and 12. As a garbage collector in Maycomb, Zeebo fulfills his responsibilities when he picks up Tim Johnson's dead carcass in Chapter 10. Tim Johnson, of course, is the rabid dog which terrorizes the neighborhood until Atticus kills it with a shot from the sheriff's rifle.

In the novel, we learn that it was Cal who taught her son how to read from the Bible...

Zeebo is Cal's eldest son. He appears in Chapters 10 and 12. As a garbage collector in Maycomb, Zeebo fulfills his responsibilities when he picks up Tim Johnson's dead carcass in Chapter 10. Tim Johnson, of course, is the rabid dog which terrorizes the neighborhood until Atticus kills it with a shot from the sheriff's rifle.

In the novel, we learn that it was Cal who taught her son how to read from the Bible and Blackstone's Commentaries. While Cal is a housekeeper at the Finch residence, Zeebo is a garbage collector. Both lead modest lives; Cal does not let on to her neighbors that she is a literate black woman. However, the main difference between Zeebo and Cal is that Zeebo has a leadership position at the First Purchase African M.E. Church. In Chapter 12, he leads the largely illiterate congregation at First Purchase in the singing of hymns, using a method called 'lining.'  In the chapter, we are told that he lines Jubilee and On Jordan's Stormy Banks for his fellow parishioners. Hope this helps!

What evidence shows that Lyddie is a leader?

Lyddie takes charge with the bear, the coach, and the Irish factory girls.

Lyddie is a loner, to a certain extent.  This is not by choice though.   When Lyddie gets separated from her family, her sole focus becomes on getting them back.  This makes her a hard worker, but it also makes her fixated on money.

Lyddie demonstrates leadership early in the story when her family is visited by a bear.  Her mother is next...

Lyddie takes charge with the bear, the coach, and the Irish factory girls.

Lyddie is a loner, to a certain extent.  This is not by choice though.   When Lyddie gets separated from her family, her sole focus becomes on getting them back.  This makes her a hard worker, but it also makes her fixated on money.

Lyddie demonstrates leadership early in the story when her family is visited by a bear.  Her mother is next to useless, because she is in a state of delusional depression.  That leaves Lyddie in charge of the family, which consists of her younger brother and two younger sisters.  When the bear enters their cabin, Lyddie thinks quickly and takes charge.

"Don't nobody yell," she said softly. "Just back up slow and quiet to the ladder and climb up to the loft. Charlie, you get Agnes, and Mama, you take Rachel." She heard her mother whimper. "Shhh," she continued, her voice absolutely even. (Ch. 1)

Lyddie’s mother doesn’t know what to do, so Lyddie does what she has to in order to protect her family.  She gets them all into the loft and then follows them.  Lyddie shows leadership because she tells everyone, including her mother, what to do.  They all survive.

Lyddie demonstrates this same quick thinking and problem solving ability in the coach.  No one seems to know how to get the coach moving when it gets stuck, and the coachman just laughs.  Lyddie takes care of it!

She found a flat stone and put it under the mired wheel. Then she waded in, her narrow shoulders shoving two of the gaping men aside as she set her own strong right shoulder against the rear wheel, ordered the men to the rear boot, and called out; "One, two, three, heave!" (Ch. 7)

Lyddie also demonstrates leadership at the factory.  Lyddie does not like having trainees, because she is not very patient.  However, she is a role model.  She becomes a leader to Brigid and the others, even though she once resisted her.  Lyddie follows in Diana’s footsteps to help the new Irish girls that flood the factory.

No matter what challenge Lyddie faces, she takes it head-on.  She is determined, resourceful and a hard worker.  This is why she is so successful at the factory.  When she sees that something needs to be done, she does it.  Lyddie lets nothing stand in her way.  Everything Lyddie does, she does for her family.  Her dream is for them to be again again, and she will do anything to make that happen.

What effect does the mother's broken English and occasional Chinese expression create in the dialogue of "Two Kinds"?

The mother in Amy Tan's short story "Two Kinds" was born in China, and she speaks English the way an adult who immigrated from China to California would likely speak. For example, while she is watching Shirley Temple and urging her daughter to become an acting prodigy like Shirley Temple, the mother says, "'Ni kan,' my mother said, as Shirley's eyes flooded with tears. 'You already know how. Don't need talent for crying!'"...

The mother in Amy Tan's short story "Two Kinds" was born in China, and she speaks English the way an adult who immigrated from China to California would likely speak. For example, while she is watching Shirley Temple and urging her daughter to become an acting prodigy like Shirley Temple, the mother says, "'Ni kan,' my mother said, as Shirley's eyes flooded with tears. 'You already know how. Don't need talent for crying!'" ("Ni kan" means "you look" in Chinese.)

The mother's way of speaking has several effects in the story. First, it creates a realistic portrait of her in the reader's mind, so that the reader knows what her English is like. In addition, it shows that she doesn't always totally understand American culture and the new world where she finds herself after having left China. In addition, it shows the gaps between her and her daughter, who was born in the United States and who speaks English like a native. The mother's way of speaking is occasionally very funny, too, as she has a direct way of saying what's on her mind, even if her way of expressing herself is awkward at times. Even if she hasn't totally mastered the English language, the mother speaks anyway, showing that she is a person determined to get ahead in America.

Explain the final three stanzas of the poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen.

The first stanza of the poem describes the ongoing misery, deprivation, and physical pain of the soldiers fighting in the trenches during World War I. The second stanza, beginning with the line: "Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!" involves a shift of pace and focus from ongoing misery to the sudden panic ensuing from a mustard gas attack. From when the shells are spotted, the soldiers have very little time to equip their gas masks and avoid...

The first stanza of the poem describes the ongoing misery, deprivation, and physical pain of the soldiers fighting in the trenches during World War I. The second stanza, beginning with the line: "Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!" involves a shift of pace and focus from ongoing misery to the sudden panic ensuing from a mustard gas attack. From when the shells are spotted, the soldiers have very little time to equip their gas masks and avoid inhaling the mustard gas. In the poem, most of the soldiers manage to put on their masks in time, but one is too slow and ends up inhaling the gas. 

The third and fourth stanzas describe in excruciating detail the effect of the gas on that soldier. Although his comrades manage to get him in a wagon which will convey him to where he can be treated (although full recovery in cases of severe exposure is not likely), he meanwhile is suffering from agonizing burns of his face, eyes, and lungs. Owen describes him:

white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin; ...

the blood ... gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, 

This vision prompts Own to say that anyone who had the experience of watching this happen would not describe such injuries or deaths as "sweet and proper".

What is happening in the first four lines of the story? Describe the dramatic tension this opening creates.

In the first lines of "The Pit and the Pendulum," we are thrust into the middle of the dramatic story of the unnamed narrator. We learn that a death sentence had been passed on him, though we don't know why, and that he seems to have been granted a reprieve at the last moment. He is in a dizzy, dreamlike state, perhaps on the verge of fainting--"I felt my senses were leaving me," he writes....

In the first lines of "The Pit and the Pendulum," we are thrust into the middle of the dramatic story of the unnamed narrator. We learn that a death sentence had been passed on him, though we don't know why, and that he seems to have been granted a reprieve at the last moment. He is in a dizzy, dreamlike state, perhaps on the verge of fainting--"I felt my senses were leaving me," he writes. We learn too that he is in the hands of "inquisitorial voices," perhaps suggesting we are back in the days of the Spanish Inquisition, although "inquisitorial voices" can exist in any era. Finally, in his dizzy, dreamlike state, the narrator feels a sense of something revolving, such as mill wheel, a foreshadowing of what is to come. 

This beginning creates dramatic tension in several ways: By starting off in the middle of the action, or media res, at what appears to be a climax of the story, the reader is immediately hit with the emotional intensity of the scene and pulled into narrative, curious to know what has and will happen. Second this opening is in first person, which encourages us to identify with the narrator. We are witness to his emotions and his sense of disorientation. This heightens the drama, for we feel what he feels, see what he sees. Like him, we find ourselves groping for answers. Finally, with its talk of death and inquisitions and its uncanny, off-kilter quality of waking from a nightmare that may not be over, it creates an immediate sense of unease and foreboding. 

How have Jem and Scout's life changed since the fire at Miss Maudie's house?

Before Miss Maudie's house caught on fire, the children were terrified of their neighbor Boo Radley. Scout refers to him as the "malevolent phantom" who is responsible for all small crimes in Maycomb County. The children believe the negative rumors about Boo and let their imaginations run wild. While Scout and Jem are standing in the Radley yard watching the fire, Boo Radley quietly sneaks up behind Scout and puts a blanket over her shoulders to warm her. The next morning, the children are eating breakfast when Atticus notices the blanket wrapped around Scout. He asks them whether or not they stayed in the yard, and Scout and Jem swear they didn't leave. Atticus comments,

"Looks like all of Maycomb was out tonight, in one way or another." (Lee 95)

Jem understands that Atticus is suggesting that Boo Radley gave Scout the blanket and begins to tell him about their adventures and the gifts in the knothole. Atticus laughs and tells Jem that they should probably keep the blanket to themselves and maybe Scout can possibly thank him herself. Scout is confused, and Atticus says,

"Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn't know it when he put the blanket around you." (Lee 96)

Scout mentions that her stomach turns, and she almost throws up. Atticus tells Jem that he doesn't want him getting any more crazy ideas that involve Boo Radley, and Jem says, "I ain't gonna do anything to him." (Lee 96) Scout mentions that she saw the "spark of fresh adventure leave his eyes."

Following this event, Jem and Scout start to view Boo Radley in a different light. They used to fear Boo Radley, but after finding gifts in the knothole and Jem's pants mended, they begin to think differently about him. After they realize that he was acting in Scout's best interest by covering her up, they put all the pieces together. When Scout mentions that the "spark of fresh adventure" leaves Jem's eyes, she is conveying that Jem understands Boo is not a threat, and he is no longer interested in attempting to bother him. The children no longer fear Boo Radley, and later on in the novel Scout realizes that Boo is simply a caring, shy individual. After Maudie's house burns down, the children's attention shifts from Boo's mysterious nature, to their father's defense of Tom Robinson and the delicate race relations throughout Maycomb.

How can I get started on writing a paper for a history course on Mary, Queen of Scots?

I hope you can come to enjoy the study of history. It truly is fascinating.  And the fact is that no matter what your major is, the writing expectations are the same, to have a clear thesis that you can support with good arguments.  Let's talk about Mary, Queen of Scots, and then about how to write a paper like this.  Your writing center has not let you down, really. But they cannot help you if you don't even have an idea to work with. 

Mary lived through some of the most interesting periods in English and Scottish history.  If you do even cursory research on her life and times, you can see this.  She became a queen when she was six years old. There are plots and murders; there are  imprisonments and arranged marriages.  This is a period rich in the drama of history.

Since you have already done some research, you need to ask yourself what you find interesting about Mary.  You must ask yourself what more you would like to know about her.  You must ask yourself what you find admirable about her or what you find despicable about her.  You need to explore your ideas about the times she lived in.  She may have been a product of those times or have done something daring and modern in her day.  She is a female, trying to get along in a male-dominated world.  She is a devout Catholic, trying to get along in a Protestant world. She dies accused of attempting to assassinate Elizabeth. You might very well wonder if she was guilty.  You need to decide what strikes your fancy about Mary and her world. 

Out of all of this, an idea will emerge, and you will need to support that idea, first in a thesis statement, and then in the paper.  Let's take, for example, the idea that Mary might have been innocent of conspiring to kill Elizabeth.  If that is your thesis, you will have to support it.  Writing a paper for history can be like being a detective.  Mary might have had enemies who framed her.  The court may have relied on circumstantial evidence or no evidence at all, for that matter.  Elizabeth might have gained considerably by getting Mary out of the picture.  All of these would be the means of support for such a thesis.  The idea is to then state the thesis and the supporting points in one sentence, at the end of your introduction, saying essentially, "Thus and such is true because of A, B, and C."  That's all any thesis statement is, really.  Then your A, B, and C must each be developed into a section or body paragraph, with your evidence that shows that your thesis, your assertion, is true, or at least feasible.  You end with a conclusion, which is a review of your thesis and points. 

The study of history may or may not be for you, but a coherent and organized research paper is a normal expectation for most college classes.  The sooner you learn how to do this, the smoother your college experience is going to be.  There must have been something about history that appealed to you, that caused you to choose this major. Don't lose your interest the first time you hit a little bump in the road! 

What is To Kill a Mockingbird about?

To Kill a Mockingbird is the 1960 novel by Harper Lee that tells the story, through the first-person narration of Lee's young protagonist, Jean Louis "Scout" Finch, about growing up in the American South during the 1930s. Much of To Kill a Mockingbirdis about Scout, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill and their efforts at making contact with their mysterious, unseen neighbor, Boo Radley, a recluse whose parents are deceased but whose brother,...

To Kill a Mockingbird is the 1960 novel by Harper Lee that tells the story, through the first-person narration of Lee's young protagonist, Jean Louis "Scout" Finch, about growing up in the American South during the 1930s. Much of To Kill a Mockingbird is about Scout, her brother Jem, and their friend Dill and their efforts at making contact with their mysterious, unseen neighbor, Boo Radley, a recluse whose parents are deceased but whose brother, Nathan, is occasionally seen in the neighborhood. The challenge of seeing Boo provides the children with some of their summertime fun, but their efforts at maintaining contact with him is cut short when Nathan fills the hole in the tree in which Boo would surreptitiously hide small gifts for them.

The most important theme in Lee's novel involves the virulent racism endemic in the American South for much of this country's history. Scout's father, Atticus, is a lawyer who accepts the challenge of defending an African American man accused of raping a white girl. The plight of the defendant, Tom Robinson, provides most of the novel's drama. Atticus Finch is the rare citizen of Lee's fictitious town of Maycomb, Alabama, with liberal attitudes towards race relations. In fact, Atticus is portrayed as an especially wise and compassionate individual who understands the futility of his efforts at clearing an African American accused, even demonstrably falsely, of raping a white woman. Atticus's efforts allow for Scout's education on the humanity and inhumanity present in the world.

While Scout is the novel's narrator and central figure, it is Atticus who provides the story's moral compass as well as lessons on civility and manners, even under the most trying of circumstances. Indeed, the novel's title is derived from a lesson Atticus teaches his children about respecting the sanctity of life in the context of the children's learning how to operate firearms. Knowing that Jem and Scout will be tempted to shoot at birds, Atticus advises them,

Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a "coming-of-age" story told against the backdrop of the racism that tore at the moral fabric of the United States. Even the resolution of the mystery surrounding Boo Radley involved the racist attitudes of most of the town's people. It is also, however, the story of a young girl growing up and becoming aware of life's complexities.

How could World War 2 have been prevented?

One of the main reasons that is often cited as being a cause of the Second World War was the Treaty of Versailles that ended the First World War. On June 28th 1919 the Treaty of Versailles was signed, which effectively ended the five years of conflict between Germany and the Allied Powers. Since Germany was seen as one of the main aggressors in World War One and since they were on the losing side...

One of the main reasons that is often cited as being a cause of the Second World War was the Treaty of Versailles that ended the First World War. On June 28th 1919 the Treaty of Versailles was signed, which effectively ended the five years of conflict between Germany and the Allied Powers. Since Germany was seen as one of the main aggressors in World War One and since they were on the losing side of the war as well, the Allied powers wanted to include clauses in the Treaty of Versailles that worked to punish the nation of Germany. Not only did the Allied powers view the Germans and the other central powers as responsible for the war but they also felt that the German nation and military would be able to quickly recover and wage further war if steps were not taken to prevent that outcome.

Therefore articles were included within the Treaty of Versailles that demanded heavy war reparations from particularly the nation of Germany. The result of these clauses within the Treaty was exactly as intended. Germany was cast into extreme national debt due to the fact that they had to pay these reparations and that they were not able to pay. This made it so that in the years the come the Germans were cast into a deep depression and they needed to find a way to recover. War is one of the most profitable enterprises a nation can engage in. Therefore in order to aid in the economic recovery of the nation of Germany, World War Two was started. There are many other reasons as to why the Second World War began, but one of the major reasons was the Carthaginian peace that came out of the Treaty of Versailles.

For further reading follow the link below.

What is the volume in milliliters of 0.350 M KOH needed to completely neutralize 15.0 mL of a 0.250M H2S04 solution?

Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, produces two hydrogen ions per molecule. The second dissociation isn't complete since HSO4- is a weak acid, but OH- ions that are present in solution will remove the H+ from the HSO4- ions. 

Neutralization occurs when the moles of H+ and OH- are equal. Moles of H+ ion that will be neutralized is calculated as follows:

(15.0 ml H2SO4)(1 L/1000ml)(0.250 moles/L)(2 moles H+/mole H2SO4) = 0.0075 moles H+

The volume of 0.350...

Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, produces two hydrogen ions per molecule. The second dissociation isn't complete since HSO4- is a weak acid, but OH- ions that are present in solution will remove the H+ from the HSO4- ions. 

Neutralization occurs when the moles of H+ and OH- are equal. Moles of H+ ion that will be neutralized is calculated as follows:

(15.0 ml H2SO4)(1 L/1000ml)(0.250 moles/L)(2 moles H+/mole H2SO4) = 0.0075 moles H+

The volume of 0.350 M KOH needed to provide 0.0075 moles of OH- is:

(0.0075 moles)/(0.350 moles/L) x (1000 ml/1 L) = 21.4 ml KOH

Here's a shortcut of the above calculation:

Since moles acid = moles base, and moles = molarity x volume,

(molarity of acid)(volume of acid)(n) = (molarity of base)(volume of base)(n)

(Molarity of the solution must be multiplied by the number of H+ or OH- produced per molecule, which is represented by "n" in the equation.)

(0.250 M)(15.0 ml)(2) = (0.350)(x)(1) where x = volume of OH- = 21.4 ml

Volume doesn't need to be converted to liters, because you'll end up with milliliters if you start with volume in milliliters. The steps of converting from ml to L and then from L back to ml cancel each other out.

Explain why Mrs. Putnam was so concerned about the condition of her daughter in The Crucible.

Mrs Putnam has a history of problems regarding childbirth and the rearing of her young, as she herself emphatically declares:

Reverend Parris, I have laid seven babies un-baptized in the earth. Believe me, sir, you never saw more hearty babies born, And yet, each would wither in my arms the very night of their birth. I have spoke nothin', but my heart has clamored intimations. And now, this year, my Ruth, my only - I see her turning strange. A secret child she has become this year, and shrivels like a sucking mouth were pullin' on her life too.  And so I thought to send her to your Tituba - 

Her reference to 'intimations' suggests that she believed that there was a wicked force afoot which denied her the privilege of raising children in these instances since they were either stillborn or died during childbirth. It is also apparent that she was deeply concerned about Ruth's condition, for she was 'turning strange.' Ruth was the only child who had survived past childbirth and in her desperation, she turned to Reverend Parris's slave from Barbados, Tituba, to seek help. 

Her later statements emphasize the fact that she believed demonic forces had killed her children.

They were murdered, Mr. Parris! And mark this proof! Mark it! Last night my Ruth were ever so close to their little spirits; I know it, sir. For how else is she struck dumb now except some power of darkness would stop her mouth? It is a marvelous sign, Mr. Parris!

Mrs. Putnam's assertions clearly indicate her ignorance. She could not fathom that there may have been something wrong with her and grasped at whatever she thought was an explanation for her failures. It is patently ironic that she did not seek further divine guidance and help or consulted the doctor, but that she approached Tituba for assistance. The irony lies in the fact that she and her husband later become most vocal in accusing others of witchcraft, whilst she was the one who had sought supernatural assistance from Tituba, who was believed to possess the ability to conjure spirits. 

Since Mrs. Putnam refused to accept responsibility for her children's deaths, it became easy for her to blame others, thus turning attention away from her own guilt in seeking alternative remedies for her problem - an extremely un-Christianlike approach. She insists on blaming sinister forces for her children's deaths even after Rebecca Nurse suggests that she go to God for answers and that she should look to herself for blame.

But I must! You think it God's work you should never lose a child, nor grand-child either, and I bury all but one? There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires! 

Furthermore, she was indignant about the fact that others were more successful at giving birth and raising children than she had been. She turns against Rebecca Nurse who had successfully given birth to and raised, a number of children. Mrs. Putnam could not understand why her family's greatest opponent and enemy, could be so successful whilst she had been an abject failure. The two families had been involved in a long-standing feud about political power and property and she and her husband despised the Nurses for their success.

Added to that was also the fact that, despite the Putnams and Reverend Parris, the Nurses had no known enemies in the village and were highly respected by all and sundry. This increased the Putnam's animosity to the family and they were, therefore, out to get them and purposefully went about to destroy them. To this purpose, they later accused Rebecca Nurse of witchcraft and of sending out her spirit to prevent the birth of their babies or to stifle them soon after.  

It is therefore not surprising that later, the Putnams use their daughter who had been involved in illicit goings-on with other girls and Tituba in the woods, to point fingers at whoever they wanted to punish or get rid of, such as the unfortunate George Jacobs, who happened to be in dispute with them about land. They had found a method to get rid of their opposition and maliciously used it, claiming many innocent lives and destroying families in the process. 

Why were some Federalists opposed to the Louisiana Purchase?

It is important to realize what a major undertaking the Louisiana Purchase was.  It was far more than what is now the state of Louisiana.  The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the new country. A look at the map provided via the second link below shows this.  States were being added to the original 13 states, some territories were moving in that direction, and now this purchase would lead to more states becoming part...

It is important to realize what a major undertaking the Louisiana Purchase was.  It was far more than what is now the state of Louisiana.  The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the new country. A look at the map provided via the second link below shows this.  States were being added to the original 13 states, some territories were moving in that direction, and now this purchase would lead to more states becoming part of the nation.  This diluted the power of those who represented the present states, which they were not pleased about. Furthermore, Jefferson seemed to be exceeding his authority as the president with this purchase.  There is nothing in the United States Constitution that allows a president to purchase land on behalf of the country, and this outraged the Federalists, too.  But Jefferson framed this as a kind of treaty and was able to secure the consent of the Senate, in a vote of 26 to 6.  It is easy to look back and see what a good idea this was, but at the time, it could have been a constitutional crisis. 

In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, what are some of Arnold's personal growths throughout the book?

The over-arching change Arnold makes over the course of the book is his move from identifying as an outsider in many ways to seeing himself as an insider, or as part of many different tribes. Arnold knows he doesn't fit in in the tribe. People mock him and beat him up due to his disability and character quirks. He also doesn't fit in at Reardon, as demonstrated by the racism he's subjected to there. He struggles to fit in in both worlds throughout the novel, and it takes some time before he comes to the realization that it's okay to have many different aspects of his personality. He realizes that,

"sure, I was a Spokane Indian. I belonged to that tribe. But I also belonged to the tribe of American immigrants. And to the tribe of basketball players. And to the tribe of bookworms.

And to the tribe of cartoonists.

[...]

And the tribe of funeral goers.

And the tribe of beloved sons.

And the tribe of boys who really missed their best friends.

It was a huge realization.

And that's when I knew that I was going to be okay" (pg 190)

Though this change from exclusion to inclusion is the biggest that Arnold experiences, it isn't the only one. Another change he makes is from a lack of opportunities to having opportunities. Arnold knows that the rez is not a place where dreams come true. He talks about the dreams his parents and sister had, and who they would be if they weren't Indians living on a reservation, if they had opportunities. This situation is hit home to him when he gets his geometry textbook and sees that it's the same one his mother used when she was a student:

"And let me tell you, that old, old, old decrepit geometry book hit my heart with the force of a nuclear bomb. My hopes and dreams floated up in a mushroom cloud" (pg 34).

This event sparks Arnold's choice to go to Reardon High and sets him on a course to expand his opportunities in life. He sets himself up to graduate from a more prestigious high school, he makes the basketball team, he meets people from different walks of life. This is a personal growth that will continue to benefit Arnold. 

 

One final way Arnold grows is in his social-emotional intelligence. As a frequent victim of bullying, Arnold has seen the worst side of people. During the course of the novel, however, he comes to discover that most people have both good and bad, including himself. When he thinks about Penelope, he is way too caught up in her looks and her ideal white-ness, rather than how much they have in common. As both Rowdy and Gordy point out, this is superficial of him, and rather sexist. Still, in his speculations on Roger after Roger secretly gives him some cash to pay for dinner and a ride home is that Roger is "of kind heart and generous pocket and a little bit racist" (pg 119). Clearly, Arnold realizes that people can be more nuanced than he previously thought. 

In the poem "Dulce et Decorum Est," by Wilfred Owen, please explain the lines "If you could hear, at every jolt...innocent tongues [...]."

In World War I, the use of poison gas as a weapon was introduced.  The soldier who inhaled what was most likely, in this poem, chlorine gas, was "flung" into the back of a wagon to be carted away, and it is the sight of this man which the narrator describes in the lines you cite.  

The speaker describes the effects of chlorine gas inhalation on this man who didn't get his "clumsy helmet...

In World War I, the use of poison gas as a weapon was introduced.  The soldier who inhaled what was most likely, in this poem, chlorine gas, was "flung" into the back of a wagon to be carted away, and it is the sight of this man which the narrator describes in the lines you cite.  

The speaker describes the effects of chlorine gas inhalation on this man who didn't get his "clumsy helmet [on] in time": It has burned his lungs, and so they've filled up with blood.  This is why his lungs are described as "froth-corrupted," and the fluid "gargl[es]" from his mouth as he draws his last breaths.  I imagine this fluid would be a pretty bitter mixture of gas and blood that comes up into the mouth; symbolically, it would be very bitter as well because it is the taste of his certain death.  Then, as the inhalation of the gas would cause blisters and sores on the inside of the mouth and tongue, this is what the speaker refers to as the "vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues."  The tongues are "innocent" because these young men were innocent.  They likely came to war with dreams of glory and heroism, only to realize (as the narrator hopes we will) that it is not, in fact, sweet and becoming to die for one's country.

In The Merchant Of Venice, is Antonio's ship really wrecked?

The first we hear of one of Antonio's ships having been wrecked is in Act 3, scene 1 when Salarino reports the rumour going around the Rialto to Salanio upon his enquiry. He tells Salanio in part:

Why, yet it lives there uncheck'd that Antonio hath
a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas;
the Goodwins, I think they call the place;...

It is clear that Shylock had also heard the rumour for he calls Antonio 'bankrupt,' 'prodigal' and a 'beggar.' He furthermore states that Antonio should look to his bond because it is time for the loan to be repaid and he, Shylock, will claim forfeit and demand a pound of the merchant's flesh.

Tubal later confirms that Antonio had indeed lost a ship. Tubal tells Shylock that he had spoken to some of the sailors who had escaped the wreck. The Jew is happy at the news and sees it as beneficial to him for he can then exact his revenge.

We again read of Antonio's misfortune when Bassanio, who is at Belmont, receives an urgent letter from Antonio informing him about the situation. This time, however, it appears as if Antonio has lost more than just one ship, for Bassanio asks Salarino, the messenger:

But is it true, Salerio?
Have all his ventures fail'd? What, not one hit?
From Tripolis, from Mexico and England,
From Lisbon, Barbary and India?
And not one vessel 'scape the dreadful touch
Of merchant-marring rocks?

Salarino replies:

Not one, my lord.

It seems that Antonio has lost everything. Salarino then explains his friend's terrible dilemma. Shylock has claimed forfeiture since Antonio has missed the due date for the settlement of the bond. The money lender has stubbornly refused to accept any compensation afterwards, insisting on justice. It becomes apparent later, though, that Antonio has accepted his fate and has put himself at the mercy of the court, which is presided over by the duke.

After the trial, in which the decision goes against Shylock due to Portia's intelligent intervention, the parties return to Belmont where all are happy. At one point, Antonio makes the following remark when he addresses Portia:

Sweet lady, you have given me life and living;
For here I read for certain that my ships
Are safely come to road.

The reference to his ships is metaphorical. He is essentially thanking Portia for having saved his life and, therefore, restoring him to full health. It does not mean that his ships have returned safely. Portia has provided him with a lifeline and he can rebuild and restore his mercantile ventures.

Explain the concept of price elasticity of demand. Choose two goods and explain why they might have different price elasticity of demand.

Price elasticity of demand is a very important concept for people who run businesses.  It has to do with how much the quantity demanded of a product will change when its price changes.  Therefore, it helps a person set prices in such a way as to maximize their revenues.

The law of demand tells us that, ceteris paribus, people are willing and able to buy more of a good as its price declines and less...

Price elasticity of demand is a very important concept for people who run businesses.  It has to do with how much the quantity demanded of a product will change when its price changes.  Therefore, it helps a person set prices in such a way as to maximize their revenues.

The law of demand tells us that, ceteris paribus, people are willing and able to buy more of a good as its price declines and less of a good when its price increases.  However, the law does not tell us that rate of change in quantity demanded.  It does not tell us how much the quantity demanded will drop when the price increases or increase when the price drops.  Price elasticity of demand is useful because it gives us this information.

There are many reasons why different products might have different levels of elasticity.  Perhaps the most important is whether there are substitutes for that product.  Think about the difference between gasoline and oranges.  There are very few substitutes for gasoline, particularly in a short period of time.  If the price of gas goes up, you cannot switch to running your car on something else.  You might drive less, but you cannot really replace gas.  By contrast, there are lots of substitutes for oranges.  If their price goes up, you might buy apples, grapes, kiwi, strawberries, or any number of other fruits instead.  There is no need to keep buying oranges as their price rises.  For these reasons, the demand for oranges will be much more elastic than the demand for gasoline.

Please follow the link below for a longer discussion of price elasticity of demand and the factors that affect it.

Can a physical change reverse a chemical change?

A physical change can't reverse a chemical change. This is because a chemical change results in a new substance being formed. Chemical bonds are broken and and new bonds are formed between different atoms. Another chemical change would be needed to break the new bonds and reform the original bonds.

When a physical change occurs the chemical composition of the substance doesn't change. Some examples of physical changes are melting, freezing, vaporization, and condensation. Physical...

A physical change can't reverse a chemical change. This is because a chemical change results in a new substance being formed. Chemical bonds are broken and and new bonds are formed between different atoms. Another chemical change would be needed to break the new bonds and reform the original bonds.

When a physical change occurs the chemical composition of the substance doesn't change. Some examples of physical changes are melting, freezing, vaporization, and condensation. Physical changes can be reversed, usually by heating or cooling the substance, without any chemical bonds being broken or formed. 

Here are examples of both a chemical and a physical change involving water:

When hydrogen gas reacts with oxgen gas, water vapor is formed:

`2H_2 + O_2 -> 2H_2O`

The water formed in this reaction can't be turned back into hydrogen and oxygen gases unless enough energy is provided to break the chemical bonds, which would change the chemical formula.

Here's a description of ice melting:

`H_2O_((solid)) + heat -> H_2O_((liquid))`

This is a physical reaction. There was no change in the chemical formula of the substance. The liquid water can be changed back to solid by cooling it, and in doing so the chemical formula still doesn't change.

If you go up a perfect 5th from D, what note do you land on?

Let’s take a visual approach to answering this question. If you look at a piano keyboard, you’ll see a repeating pattern of white keys and black keys—in this pattern, you’ll notice that there are twelve distinct notes, each with a unique position on the keyboard, and each with its own letter name. To find any interval, count the number of keys you must travel, including both black and white keys, between your starting and ending...

Let’s take a visual approach to answering this question. If you look at a piano keyboard, you’ll see a repeating pattern of white keys and black keys—in this pattern, you’ll notice that there are twelve distinct notes, each with a unique position on the keyboard, and each with its own letter name. To find any interval, count the number of keys you must travel, including both black and white keys, between your starting and ending note. Every interval consists of a certain number of half steps, the shortest distance between two notes. For example, a perfect fifth consists of seven half-steps—starting on the note D, this will lead you to the note A.

Another good trick to remember is that for every white key except “B,” a perfect fifth is five white keys away if you include the starting note. For example, D is a perfect fifth up from G, E is a perfect fifth up from A, and, in response to your question, D is one perfect fifth up from A!

How does Prospero use magic to exact his revenge?

In The Tempest by William Shakespeare, we encounter Prospero living on an island with his daughter Miranda and two quasi-supernatural creatures, Caliban and Ariel. Prospero explains that he is actually the rightful Duke of Milan, but that his dukedom was usurped by his brother Antonio with the help of Alonso, King of Naples. Not only does Prospero have knowledge of magic, but he has compelled Ariel to be his servant.

Alonso and Antonio are voyaging together...

In The Tempest by William Shakespeare, we encounter Prospero living on an island with his daughter Miranda and two quasi-supernatural creatures, Caliban and Ariel. Prospero explains that he is actually the rightful Duke of Milan, but that his dukedom was usurped by his brother Antonio with the help of Alonso, King of Naples. Not only does Prospero have knowledge of magic, but he has compelled Ariel to be his servant.

Alonso and Antonio are voyaging together with Alonso's son Ferdinand and members of their court near the island where Prospero was shipwrecked. Prospero instructs Ariel to conjure up a giant storm to bring the ship to the island, preserving the ship and mariners intact, but casting the others into the sea and dispersing them around the island. When Prospero has his enemies in his power, he uses illusions to play upon their emotions, but eventually relents, agrees to the marriage of Ferdinand and Miranda, claims his dukedom, and renounces his magic. 

How did Adam Smith's philosophy of government non-intervention in business impact the United States?

Adam Smith’s ideas, or at least the general idea that government should not interfere in the private economic sector, had a strong impact in the United States.  While many conservatives in the US believe that the government regulates things too much, the US has a system in which the government is much less involved in the economy than governments typically are in, for example, most European countries.

Adam Smith came up with the idea that...

Adam Smith’s ideas, or at least the general idea that government should not interfere in the private economic sector, had a strong impact in the United States.  While many conservatives in the US believe that the government regulates things too much, the US has a system in which the government is much less involved in the economy than governments typically are in, for example, most European countries.

Adam Smith came up with the idea that an economy should be run by the “invisible hand.”  What this meant is that the government (the visible hand) should not try to control the economy. Instead, the government should allow market forces of supply and demand to determine what happens in the economy.  Whether Americans got this idea from Adam Smith or not, the idea clearly caught on rather strongly in the US.

The US has always been at least somewhat more conservative when it comes to government intervention in the economy.  In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there was very little regulation of any sort.  Even after the role of government expanded after the Great Depression, the US did not go for things like having the government own key industries. Many other countries went in this direction, but the US did not.  Today, the US government continues to stay out of economic decisions more than most developed countries’ governments do.

We can say, then, that Adam Smith’s ideas helped to make the US a more conservative place than many other developed countries.  This has, perhaps, helped make the US economy wealthier, but it may also have created a situation in which Americans are more willing to accept economic inequality than people in other countries are.

What effect did Napoleon have on France in 1800?

In 1800, after more than a decade of instability following the first French Revolution, and after the establishment of the ineffectual Directory, which ruled France from 1795 to 1799, Napoleon staged a coup and replaced the Directory with the Consulate, a centralized, semi-authoritarian government with certain liberal characteristics that provided a modicum of political and economic freedoms to the populace and stability to the economy. The Consulate was compromised of three "Consuls," or leaders, otherwise...

In 1800, after more than a decade of instability following the first French Revolution, and after the establishment of the ineffectual Directory, which ruled France from 1795 to 1799, Napoleon staged a coup and replaced the Directory with the Consulate, a centralized, semi-authoritarian government with certain liberal characteristics that provided a modicum of political and economic freedoms to the populace and stability to the economy. The Consulate was compromised of three "Consuls," or leaders, otherwise known as the Triumvirate, based on the Roman system. The three consuls were: Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès, Napoleon Bonaparte and Charles-François Lebrun.

Napoleon and his co-consuls set up the new government as a republic, with three legislative assemblies (the Council of State, the Tribunate, and the Legislative Assembly) each given various degrees of power and differing responsibilities. This was an attempt to achieve a separation of powers, based in part on the American system, but also a very clever way to make sure that none of the legislative branches could accomplish much on their own.

Napoleon and his co-consuls also reinstated the popular vote, but the will of the people was diminished because a group of "notables," or pre-eminent members of society, were given greater authority to shape policy, and had been handpicked by the senate, so that these elected officials mostly towed the line of the Consulate, for fear of losing their positions and influence if they did not. In essence, the popular vote and the tri-cameral legislature were window dressing, allowing Napoleon's decision making to seem more democratic than it actually was. That said, Napoleon was actually very popular with the general public, because he restored order to a system of chaos, brought about real economic and political reforms, and proved a fearsome military leader, bringing glory and vast new territories (and revenue) under French control.

After four years of the Consulate, however, with his popularity among the French people soaring ever higher, Napoleon stopped trying to hide his true intentions, and disbanded the republic in order to become Emperor in 1804.

Who does Lyddie kick in Lyddie?

Lyddie kicks Mr. Marsden when he tries to kiss her.

Lyddie is a tough girl. She never lets anyone get anything over on her. When Lyddie is at the tavern, she hears a story about a frog in a butter churn. The frog falls in and continues to kick. Lyddie views the story metaphorically, and so does Triphena.

"Ehyeh," Triphena continued. "Some folks are natural born kickers. They can always find a way to turn disaster into butter" (Ch. 4).

Lyddie’s favorite phrase is “we can still hop.” She believes that no matter what happens, she will continue kicking. When she loses her job at the tavern for visiting home, she does not give up. She goes and gets a job in a factory.

Lyddie’s factory job is not without its hazards. Her overseer, Mr. Marsden, is a pig. He often tries to take advantage of the girls in his factory. Lyddie is not going to stand for that, though. She will always kick.

Mr. Marsden has had his attention on Lyddie for a while. Lyddie is made uncomfortable by him, but doesn’t realize his intentions until she gets sick. It is then that he makes his move. He tries to kiss her, and she kicks him.

What made her do it? Illness? Desperation? She'd never know. But she raised her booted foot and stomped her heel down with all her might. He gave a cry, and, dropping his arms, doubled over. It was all the time she needed (Ch. 16).

Lyddie definitely proves that she is the frog in the butter churn. Even sick, she is able to fend off her predatory boss. After she recovers, Lyddie assumes that she has lost her job. Mr. Marsden does indeed have it in for her. When she catches him doing the same thing to Brigid and attacks him again, this time with a bucket, he does get her fired.

Even being dismissed from the factory does not stop Lyddie. Still kicking, she gives Brigid a letter written to Mr. Marsden’s wife and tells her to mail it if she has any trouble. She lets Mr. Marsden know she will not tolerate him going after Brigid.

In To Kill A Mockingbird, how does the motif of Boo Radley contribute to Scout's coming of age?

Part of Boo Radley's function in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is to demonstrate that outsiders can never truly judge the heart of another person. As shown in the Tom Robinson trial, as shown in Boo's reputation, and as shown on Scout's first day of school when she unknowingly embarrasses her teacher and her father has to remind her that you don't understand a person until "you climb into his skin and walk...

Part of Boo Radley's function in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is to demonstrate that outsiders can never truly judge the heart of another person. As shown in the Tom Robinson trial, as shown in Boo's reputation, and as shown on Scout's first day of school when she unknowingly embarrasses her teacher and her father has to remind her that you don't understand a person until "you climb into his skin and walk around in it," Scout is having to learn empathy. She's leaving the childhood world of black and white. It is gray and there are other people who see it differently.

Boo is this other world embodied, a "mockingbird." He appears creepy and scary to children, but in reality he is a kind soul. In the end, he is their protector as well. That's when Scout is able to forever leave the one-dimensional view of childhood. She's able to look at the whole story from another perspective, just as Atticus had been trying to teach her from the beginning. Finally, she can grasp it. She's grown up.

How many families lost their homes during the Great Depression? How does this relate to Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis?

Your question has a fairly simple answer:  around two million people lost their homes in the Great Depression and became homeless.  This is an interesting question because it has more to do with the Great Depression itself than it does with the book Bud, Not Buddy.  The wording of your question can be tweaked a bit in order to provide the proper statistic.  For example, “families who lost their homes” can also be referred...

Your question has a fairly simple answer:  around two million people lost their homes in the Great Depression and became homeless.  This is an interesting question because it has more to do with the Great Depression itself than it does with the book Bud, Not Buddy.  The wording of your question can be tweaked a bit in order to provide the proper statistic.  For example, “families who lost their homes” can also be referred to as separate “homeless people.”  During the Great Depression, it is a common fact that two million people lost their homes in the United States.

Further, we can see the effects of homelessness in the Great Depression in Bud, Not Buddy in many ways.  These effects are especially apparent when Bud and Bugs visit a “town” Bud calls “Hooverville.”  Bud soon learns that there are many of these “cardboard jungles” all over the United States because these people do not have anywhere else to live.  We can also indirectly see the effect of homelessness in the Great Depression by observing the house called “Grand Calloway Station.”  This is the house where all of the band members live.  They all live in one house because this is the only way they can afford shelter in between gigs.