How were European countries able to acquire colonies?

In general, European countries were able to acquire colonies because they got the necessary technology before anyone else did.  By the late 15th and early 16th century, the European countries were far ahead of any other region of the world in terms of technology.  They had ships that could carry relatively large crews and cargos across long distances.  They had steel weapons and armor.  They even had guns that improved in quality rapidly as time...

In general, European countries were able to acquire colonies because they got the necessary technology before anyone else did.  By the late 15th and early 16th century, the European countries were far ahead of any other region of the world in terms of technology.  They had ships that could carry relatively large crews and cargos across long distances.  They had steel weapons and armor.  They even had guns that improved in quality rapidly as time went by.  None of the other people of the world had all of these things.  Because of their advantage in technology, which largely means having better weaponry, the Europeans were able to conquer other countries and colonize them.

The more interesting question is why the Europeans had better technology than anyone else.  This is a much more controversial question.  Over the years, people (mainly of European descent) have tended to argue that this is because Europeans are racially superior to other peoples.  This argument has fallen out of favor and has often been replaced by one that says that Europe’s culture was more likely to allow technology to be created and used.  They say that European culture was more willing to accept change and was more forward-looking than other cultures.  My own view is that Jared Diamond is correct in his book Guns, Germs, and Steel.  Diamond argues that the Europeans were able to get better technology because they had better geographic luck.  That is, they lived in an area that was able to get agriculture before other people got it.  This meant that they could build large, sedentary societies, which are conducive to creating technology.

The immediate cause of the Europeans’ success, then, was their superior technology.  There are different views as to why they had this technology, but I subscribe to the idea that geographic luck played the main role in causing this to happen.

What is the main conflict in "Thank You M'am" and how is it resolved?

The main conflict in “Thank You, M’am” is Roger’s internal conflict of whether or not to run away.

The initial conflict in the story is a character vs. character conflict between Roger and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.  Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse, and Mrs. Jones not only prevents him, she basically kidnaps him.

Mrs. Jones asks Roger if she was bothering him, and he confirms that she wasn’t.

“But you put yourself...

The main conflict in “Thank You, M’am” is Roger’s internal conflict of whether or not to run away.

The initial conflict in the story is a character vs. character conflict between Roger and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.  Roger tries to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse, and Mrs. Jones not only prevents him, she basically kidnaps him.

Mrs. Jones asks Roger if she was bothering him, and he confirms that she wasn’t.

“But you put yourself in contact with me,” said the woman. “If you think that that contact is not going to last awhile, you got another thought coming. When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.”

Commenting that someone needs to wash his face, she asks him if he is hungry.  Mrs. Jones realizes that Roger is not a serious hoodlum.  He is a young boy who made a bad choice.  To keep him from making others, she takes him home and feeds him.

Roger is the one who has the conflict now.  He faces an internal conflict, which means character vs. self.  He has to decide what to do about Mrs. Jones.  Should he stay, or should he go?

“Then, Roger, you go to that sink and wash your face,” said the woman, whereupon she turned him loose—at last. Roger looked at the door—looked at the woman—looked at the door—and went to the sink.

The italics demonstrate Roger’s struggle to decide whether to stay or go.  In the end, he stays.  He continues to wonder what to do, but Mrs. Jones shows him empathy and explains to him how she understands his situation, and once was young herself and wanted things she could not have.  Mrs. Jones shows him kindness, and he returns the favor.  Not only does he not run, he even asks her if she needs anything.

Compare and contrast between Mr. Rochester and St. John from Jane Eyre.

Mr. Rochester and St. John Rivers are literary foils. Simply put, this means that they are characters who offer a contrast to each other. And the contrasts between the two men really couldn't be much greater.

These differences illustrate a number of wider contrasts that Bronte is keen to explore. First, there is the contrast between appearance and reality. Mr. Rochester appears, on the face of it, to be a brooding, rather stern character. Yet beneath that gruff exterior beats a passionately romantic heart.

St. John Rivers, by contrast, is incredibly handsome. Not only that, but as a missionary he appears to possess firm moral rectitude. He seems to have all the necessary qualifications of a "good catch." But beneath his charming exterior there is no passion, no desire, no joie de vivre. He spent what little zest for life he had on an ultimately fruitless courtship of Rosamond Oliver. He couldn't go through with marriage despite the great love between them. Rosamond just wouldn't be much use as a missionary's wife, you see. St. John is such an insufferably self-righteous prig that he's prepared to sacrifice love at the altar of high moral principle. Now, whenever Jane meets him, he comes across a human iceberg, with meltwater coursing through his veins.

This leads us to another important contrast in the story: that between what society demands and what the heart desires. Mr. Rochester has been leading a life of unrestrained debauchery as a way of escaping the chronic unhappiness of a marriage to a mentally unstable wife. His proposal to Jane, though heartfelt, would effectively make her his mistress, and Jane simply won't countenance that for a moment. Though she desperately desires to be with Rochester, she cannot allow herself to risk the shame and social isolation that would undoubtedly befall her should she accept his proposal.

Yet even here Rochester's innate sincerity, goodness, and regard for Jane shine through. He does not seek to compel or cajole; he allows her to decide her own destiny. Contrast this with poor old St. John. He tells Jane that she is "intended" to be a missionary's wife. He's going to marry her for duty, not for love, so naturally he feels that she should have no problem doing likewise. But Jane still has a beating heart, and ultimately her heart tells her that she should turn down St. John's less-than-generous offer.

Rochester is a force of nature, not fully subject to human laws and mores. St. John, however, is entirely a creature of his society, his background, and his upbringing. As such, he will always be a slave to his overriding sense of duty. Jane is almost a synthesis of the two characters. On the one hand, she yearns to follow her heart and be with Rochester, but at the same time, she feels the need to pay due respect to the prevailing moral code. And it is only with the death of Rochester's mad wife that she is at long last able to do this. Love conquers all, but only within a system of socially acceptable norms.

How do the allusions in Act III, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet evoke tension?

Two types of tension are evoked in Act III, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In the beginning soliloquy Juliet is anxiously awaiting night to come so she can be reunited with Romeo for their honeymoon. The initial tension in her words is happy and even sexual in nature, but also has a dark undertone as evidenced by the her first allusion. In the opening lines she alludes to the Greek myth of...

Two types of tension are evoked in Act III, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In the beginning soliloquy Juliet is anxiously awaiting night to come so she can be reunited with Romeo for their honeymoon. The initial tension in her words is happy and even sexual in nature, but also has a dark undertone as evidenced by the her first allusion. In the opening lines she alludes to the Greek myth of Phoebus and Phaethon:

Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,
Towards Phoebus’ lodging. Such a wagoner
As Phaëton would whip you to the west
And bring in cloudy night immediately.

Phoebus, or the sun god Apollo, has a chariot and team of horses which daily drags the sun across the sky to bring on night. The chariot is driven by Phoebus's reckless son Phaethon who has trouble holding the horses. Phaeton is close to scorching the earth with the sun when he is stopped by Zeus. The audience might interpret this reference as indicating Juliet is also anxious about her hasty and maybe even ill-advised marriage to Romeo.

The second allusion evokes the growing tension between Juliet and the Nurse. This tension first surfaces in Act II, Scene 5 when the Nurse is slow to give Juliet the news of Romeo's plans. In this scene Juliet alludes to the devil and to hell in regarding the Nurse:

What devil art thou that dost torment me thus?
This torture should be roared in dismal hell.

The Nurse has come in weeping and distraught but doesn't initially tell Juliet what has happened. Juliet is afraid that Romeo has been killed. Eventually the Nurse reveals that Tybalt is dead and Romeo banished. Later in Act III, the tension between the Nurse and Juliet boils over as the Nurse advises Juliet to forget Romeo and marry Count Paris. Juliet vows to never consult the Nurse again in the final words of Act III.

What three improvements in rail travel were introduced in the late 1800s?

There were several improvements in rail travel in the late 1800s. Rail travel had been growing throughout the 1800s. With the improvements made in train travel in the late 1800s, train travel became even more popular.

One improvement was the use of the identical track. Individual railroad companies used to have their own tracks, which weren’t standardized. This slowed train travel when passengers had to switch trains to accommodate the different kinds of tracks that...

There were several improvements in rail travel in the late 1800s. Rail travel had been growing throughout the 1800s. With the improvements made in train travel in the late 1800s, train travel became even more popular.

One improvement was the use of the identical track. Individual railroad companies used to have their own tracks, which weren’t standardized. This slowed train travel when passengers had to switch trains to accommodate the different kinds of tracks that were being used.

Another improvement was the use of the double track. This allowed trains to pass each other, side by side. Before double tracks were used, when two trains were approaching on the same track, one had to back up and move to a side track to let the other train pass. This slowed travel significantly. Thus, with the use of the double track, the speed of train travel improved.

The coordination of schedules also helped. With the development of time zones in 1883, all the cities in a given time zone had the same time. This allowed for train schedules to be better coordinated, allowing for shorter layovers and, therefore, a quicker trip.

Inventions like the coupler and the air brake also improved train travel. It was quicker and easier to attach extra train cars with the coupler. The air brake made it easier to stop a train.

The improvements in rail travel in the late 1800s helped make train travel more popular.

I am going to write about Obamacare and I get very confused. Is Obamacare good or not good for the American economy in the future? I need to know...

The term "Obamacare" was at first a pejorative name given by Conservatives to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a health care coverage initiative signed into law by President Obama in 2010. The President decided not to reject this name, because he believed the initiative would be something the country would appreciate and the association of his name was appropriate since the program came into being under his administration.

The program has had many benefits, but...

The term "Obamacare" was at first a pejorative name given by Conservatives to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a health care coverage initiative signed into law by President Obama in 2010. The President decided not to reject this name, because he believed the initiative would be something the country would appreciate and the association of his name was appropriate since the program came into being under his administration.

The program has had many benefits, but is still controversial partly due to some problems and partly due to the overwhelming and constant attempts by Conservative politicians to dismantle it. These efforts to overturn Obamacare stem seemingly from party bias, a general feeling that the ACA takes away freedom of choice in health care, and in some cases an overall dislike of the President. 

Some of the "pros" of the ACA include the program's ability to offer health coverage to many Americans who did not have it previously, due to cost or limitations within their employment situation. This means that health care costs have been lowered across the board for those Americans who now have insurance coverage and do not have to pay out of pocket for health care costs, which can be very high. Health care coverage is now also more affordable than before the ACA came into being, and the ACA also rules that 80% of premiums must go directly towards health care costs. Also, insurance companies are not allowed to make unreasonable rate increases. As well, insurance companies are no longer allowed to deny coverage to anyone with a pre-existening condition. All of these measures have made health care more affordable and more accessible.

The "cons" associated with the ACA include the fact that some people have to pay higher premiums than they paid before (although in most cases this is because their coverage is now more comprehensive). Also, people who do not have health insurance can be fined (this measure was in place after Governor Mitt Romney enacted similar legislation for the state of Massachusetts prior to the ACA). There are complaints about new taxes that are helping to subsidize this program, effectively meaning the wealthy are helping the poor to obtain health care (although some economists apparently believe the long term impact of the ACA will be better for the federal budget). Another complaint has to do with the complicated enrollment process, though this has not been true across the board. Finally, some employers have been cutting back on employee hours in order to avoid being compelled to provide insurance coverage, although this is not a flaw in the ACA itself, but a problem with its implementation.

My son passed away recently and he has been ill and lived with me. He had joint custody of his two boys, 11 and 12 years old. We had them with...

I am very sorry for your loss, and it must be even more difficult to not have the comfort of your grandchildren now or to be able to comfort them.  I am unable to give you any specific advice because grandparents' custody and visitation rights vary from state to state, and it is unlikely that I practiced law in your particular state.  I can share some general thoughts on the situation, though.

First, there really are no standard rights for parents or grandparents.  The standard in every jurisdiction to determine custody and visitation is always the best interests of the child.  Many factors go into this, as I'm sure you realize.  For example, if the boys' mother is working long hours and does not spend a great deal of time with them, it is likely that time with their mother would be considered more in their best interests than time with a grandparent.  If the boys have many extra-curricular activities and time with you would interfere with those, that probably would not be considered in their best interests.  On the other hand, they are of an age where their own preferences might carry some weight, and if they express a desire to spend time with you, a court may very well find it is in their best interests to do so. They are also accustomed to spending a great deal of time with you, so the court could find that what you seek is in their best interests because it is less disruptive of their lives.  But I don't want you to pin your hopes on the fact that there was joint custody when both parents were alive and the boys lived with you.  Now there is one parent who has sole custody under the law, and you cannot step in as a substitute for your son. 

As someone who did custody work for a while, and as a parent and grandparent, my thought is that what you are seeking certainly does not seem unreasonable, but how the court determines the best interests of the children is going to depend on many variables that I do not know and probably variables you don't know either.  My best advice to you is to check with your county bar association for a list of attorneys who practice in this area.  Often, attorneys have an arrangement whereby if they are chosen from this list, they are willing to provide an hour or so of advice at a lower than usual cost.  Also, you can check on the laws of your state with the link below.  What you should also bear in mind is that the court will do everything possible to try to get you and the mother to work out an agreement you can both live with, without the trauma of litigating any of this.  Most cases do settle, and the odds are with yours being worked out, too.  I wish you the best of luck with this! 

What are the components of velocity? How does it differ from speed?

Velocity is a vector quantity. A vector quantity is a quantity that can be described by two numbers. The velocity of an object indicates how fast an object is moving and in what direction.

Geometrically, a vector is represented by a line segment with an arrow indicating its direction. The two numbers describing a vector are typically its the magnitude (the length of the line segment) and the angle between the vector and some other line. The magnitude of the velocity vector is called speed and it is the measure of how fast the object is moving. The angle indicates the direction of the motion.

The problem is that the magnitudes and angles are not easy to manipulate algebraically. The more convenient way to describe vectors is by breaking them up into components.

Consider a coordinate system where the x-axis is horizontal and the y-axis is vertical. If we have a three-dimensional vector, we would also need the z-axis, perpendicular to both x- and y- axes. If we draw the lines from the ends of a vector perpendicular to the x-axis, the segment obtained on the x-axis is the x-component, or the horizontal component, of the vector. Similarly, if we draw the lines from the ends of a vector perpendicular to the y-axis, the segment obtained on the y-axis is the y-component, or vertical component of the vector. Please see the attached image for the illustration.

Each vector is the vector sum of its components:

`veca = veca_x + veca_y`

The magnitude of the vector can be found, if the components are known, from the Pythagorean Theorem:

`a = |veca| = sqrt(a_x^2 + a_y^2)` 

If the given angle is the angle between the vector and x-axis, as on the attached image, then the components can be found from the magnitude and the trigonometric functions of the angle:

`a_x = acos(theta)`

`a_y = asin(theta)`

The components are useful because they make addition and subtraction of the vectors easy: each component of the sum of vectors equals the sum of the corresponding components, which is not true for magnitudes and angles. The equations of motions, which involve the velocity, acceleration and displacement vectors, are therefore easy to solve by breaking up each vector into components.

What is your reaction to a relationship, event, or theme in the novel Lord of the Flies?

One of the major themes throughout the novel Lord of the Flies is the inherent evil individuals possess.Golding conveys his belief that humans are inherently evil by depicting the boys' descent into savagery. At the beginning of the novel, they are civilized, well-mannered English boys who work together to build a signal fire and a shelter. As the novel progresses, Jack gains favor by promoting hunting and fun activities over manual labor that is...

One of the major themes throughout the novel Lord of the Flies is the inherent evil individuals possess. Golding conveys his belief that humans are inherently evil by depicting the boys' descent into savagery. At the beginning of the novel, they are civilized, well-mannered English boys who work together to build a signal fire and a shelter. As the novel progresses, Jack gains favor by promoting hunting and fun activities over manual labor that is advantageous to survival and rescue. The boys' propensity to indulge in violent behavior and attempts to satiate their physical desires reflects their primitive instincts. Void of societal restrictions and regulations the boys become brutal savages who partake in violent acts and eventually murder Simon and Piggy. Golding uses the character of Simon to convey the idea of an "inner beast" by coming to the realization that the evil on the island is inherent while he is hallucinating and speaking to the Lord of the Flies. Golding uses the symbols of the Lord of the Flies and the "beast" to represent the manifestation of evil on the island. Even morally upright characters like Ralph and Piggy partake in savage acts and are enticed to follow their primitive instincts.

One lens through which many people have viewed Lord of the Flies is that of Christianity and the idea of original sin, which they connect to William Golding's portrayal of inherent wickedness, and his belief that humans void of societal restrictions would harm one another and look to satisfy their own desires and needs. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." It is written in Matthew 15:19, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." These beliefs could be seen as reflected in Golding's portrayal of the boys' true nature, and the novel could be interpreted as depicting Biblical views on original sin and inherent evil.

Where should I begin the following assignment?Macbeth has hidden himself in a castle chamber to write a letter to the local Scottish advice...

There are two things that are needed to begin this assignment. 

First, you need to collect examples and evidence from Macbeth that detail Lady Macbeth's changing behavior. Look for times when she is acting especially dark (like in her soliloquy in I.5), especially controlling (like in her reaction to Macbeth's ghost-sighting in III.iv), or especially manipulative (like in her scene with Macbeth in I.iii). 

Watch for how Lady Macbeth uses various tactics (like anger, seduction,...

There are two things that are needed to begin this assignment. 

First, you need to collect examples and evidence from Macbeth that detail Lady Macbeth's changing behavior. Look for times when she is acting especially dark (like in her soliloquy in I.5), especially controlling (like in her reaction to Macbeth's ghost-sighting in III.iv), or especially manipulative (like in her scene with Macbeth in I.iii). 

Watch for how Lady Macbeth uses various tactics (like anger, seduction, guilt, and pride) to control what Macbeth thinks and does. 

Collect these examples and keep them in a place where you can easily reference them while you write. 

Second, you need to understand what a soliloquy actually is. Luckily, Macbeth is full of them! A soliloquy is when a character speaks his or her thoughts out loud, especially when that character is alone onstage. It's essentially a monologue spoken to oneself or to God. Check out Macbeth's soliloquy in III.i, after he sends away all of the other characters onstage. It begins, "to be thus is nothing."  

Once you're set with both of those things, the only remaining task will be to turn your examples into a soliloquy! Pretend you're Macbeth ranting to yourself about your domineering wife. 

What role does desperation play in Act two of The Crucible?

There are many instances of desperation from the beginning of Act Two. The characters' desperation adds to the drama and tension of the play as a whole and indicates their distress and feelings of hopelessness against the authority of the court and the accusations of others.

Although the Act commences in a reasonably convivial mood where John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth, are making small talk, it quickly changes when we read of John's desperate attempts to make Elizabeth happy:

Proctor, with a grin: I mean to please you, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth - it is hard to say: I know it, John.

He gets up, goes to her, kisses her. She receives it. With a certain disappointment, he returns to the table.

There exists an obvious tension between the two, born from John's earlier illicit affair with Abigail Williams, their erstwhile maidservant, who had since been dismissed. The tension increases when Elizabeth raises the issue of John going to town. Elizabeth is desperate that he should go to denounce Abigail for she fears that the girl wishes to harm her.

Elizabeth: I think you must go to Salem, John. He turns to her. I think so. You must tell them it is a fraud.

When Mary Warren, their new maid, returns from court and reports about the events there, Elizabeth becomes even more desperate. John is upset that she had gone to town and at one point threatens to whip her. Mary then tells the couple that she had saved Elizabeth's life, for she had been accused of witchcraft. Once Mary has gone to bed, Elizabeth declares her suspicion that it could only be Abigail who implicated her. She desperately demands that John goes to court to speak to Abigail:

John, with so many in the jail, more than Cheever's help is needed now, I think. Would you favor me with this? Go to Abigail. 

Elizabeth believes that Abigail thinks that she still has John's affection and that she would use the witch trials to get rid of her and take her place.

It is her dearest hope, John, I know it. There be a thousand names; why does she call mine? There be a certain danger in calling such a name - I am no Goody Good that sleeps in ditches, nor Osburn, drunk and half-witted. She'd dare not call out such a farmer's wife but there be monstrous profit in it. She thinks to take my place, John.

John, however, seems to be quite reluctant to do as his wife requests and accuses her of being too suspicious and unforgiving. In desperation Elizabeth eventually cries out:

You'll tear it free - when you come to know that I will be your only wife, or no wife at all! She has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it well! 

She is clearly in despair and wants John to tear himself free of his guilt about his affair and release himself from Abigail. In her anguish, she threatens that she will leave him if he does not do so.

After Reverend Hale's arrival, Elizabeth's desperation is once again obvious, for she tells John to inform him about Abigail's deceit just when the Reverend is about to depart:

Elizabeth, with a note of desperation: I think you must tell him, John.
Hale: What's that?
Elizabeth, restraining a call: Will you tell him?

More desperation is displayed with the arrival of Giles Corey, who expresses dismay that his wife has been arrested on a charge of witchcraft. He is clearly desperate and feels responsible for her arrest after having previously made a careless remark about her reading books and he not being able to pray when she did. Francis Nurse also enters and utters the same about his wife, Rebecca:

Giles: They take my wife...

Proctor, to Francis: Rebecca's in the jail?
Francis: Aye, Cheever come and take her in his wagon.

The men are very obviously distraught. Rebecca, for example, has been arrested for murder and they appeal to Reverend Hale to intervene.

Francis, going to Hale: Reverend Hale! Can you not speak to the Deputy Governor? I'm sure he mistakes these people -
Hale: Pray calm yourself, Mr. Nurse.
Francis: My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church, Mr.. Hale - indicating Giles - and Martha Corey, there cannot be a woman closer yet to God than Martha.

The tension heightens ever further with the arrival of Ezekiel Cheever and Marshall Herrick. They procure a warrant for Elizabeth's arrest. Evidence has been found that she practices witchcraft by using a doll. Abigail Williams had supposedly been harmed by Elizabeth's witchery when a needle was found protruding from her stomach. Abigail claimed that she had seen a doll in Elizabeth's possession. The two men are there to find the doll.

When the doll is discovered, the officers want to arrest Elizabeth even after Mary Warren confesses that it was her poppet and that she had given it to Elizabeth as a gift. A needle is found protruding from the doll's belly, which to them is irrefutable evidence of Elizabeth's evil, although Mary again admits that she herself had placed it there for safe keeping.

Elizabeth hears of Abigail's accusation and cries out:

'The girl is murder. She must be ripped out of the world!

To Cheever, this is irrefutable proof that Elizabeth wants to harm Abigail. John realises the severity of the situation and, in desperation, snatches the warrant from Cheever's hands and tears it up. He demands that thy leave.

Reverend Hale tries to calm John down, but he is clearly overwhelmed and shouts at him:

Get y'gone with them! You are a broken minister.

In his desperate need to save his wife, John demands to know whether the reverend will allow them to take his wife away. Reverend Hale states that the court is fair and just and that he has to abide by its commands. Proctor, even more desperate, passionately cries out:

Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this! 

Elizabeth then calmly tells John that she has to go. He finally accedes and Elizabeth is arrested.

A final act of desperation in the Act is displayed by both John and Mary Warren, when John asks her if she will testify about Abigail's manipulation. John is desperate to prove Elizabeth's innocence and wants Mary to accompany him to court the next day. Mary is clearly terrified of Abigail and the other girls, and cries out:

I cannot, they'll turn on me - 

She desperately cries out repeatedly that she cannot testify, but John is adamant that she must:

Proctor, grasping her by the throat as though he would strangle her: Make your peace with it! Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs, and all our old pretense is ripped away - make your peace! He throws her to the floor, where she sobs, "I cannot, I cannot...And now, half to himself, staring, and turning to the open door: Peace. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now. He walks as though toward a great horror, facing the open sky. We are naked! And the wind, God's icy wind, will blow!

The scene closes with Mary sobbing desperately: 'I cannot, I cannot, I cannot.' 

How were alliances an important cause of World War One?

Alliances were an important cause of World War I because they transformed what was a regional crisis in the Balkans into a broader European war. This was because the major powers were enmeshed in a complex system of alliances that obliged them to enter the conflict. When a Bosnian Serb group known as the Black Hand assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in the summer of 1914, Austria-Hungary, with the support of Germany, held the...

Alliances were an important cause of World War I because they transformed what was a regional crisis in the Balkans into a broader European war. This was because the major powers were enmeshed in a complex system of alliances that obliged them to enter the conflict. When a Bosnian Serb group known as the Black Hand assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in the summer of 1914, Austria-Hungary, with the support of Germany, held the nation of Serbia itself accountable. They issued an ultimatum to the Serbs that that nation could not accept, and when they declined, they declared war. The problem was that Serbia had an alliance with Russia, who mobilized its troops against Austria-Hungary in response. This led Germany to honor its commitment to the Austrians by declaring war against Russia. 

Russia, in the meantime, had an alliance with France that caused the French to enter the war. Germany, faced with the challenge of fighting a two-front war, invaded France, attacking Belgium in the process. The attack on Belgium triggered a treaty between that nation and Great Britain, who declared war on the Germans. So alliance systems set in motion a chain of events that culminated with a continent-wide war beginning in the summer of 1914. Other nations, including the Ottoman Empire and later the United States, would join the fray later. 

What are the words that show the attitude of the speaker in "Ballad of Birmingham"?

Dudley Randall's "Ballad of Birmingham" recounts a poignant tale of a mother and child involved in the 1963 bombing of a predominantly black church in Birmingham, Alabama. The poem is steeped in irony as the mother believes she has made the right decision by sending her daughter to church to sing in the choir instead of allowing her to go to a "Freedom March." In a case of dramatic irony, the reader already knows that...

Dudley Randall's "Ballad of Birmingham" recounts a poignant tale of a mother and child involved in the 1963 bombing of a predominantly black church in Birmingham, Alabama. The poem is steeped in irony as the mother believes she has made the right decision by sending her daughter to church to sing in the choir instead of allowing her to go to a "Freedom March." In a case of dramatic irony, the reader already knows that the mother makes the wrong choice for her daughter. 

At first, the mother's attitude is one of contented resolve. She's certain that the "March" will include "dogs," "clubs," "hoses," and "guns." She's satisfied that the church will be safe ("She smiled") because it is a "sacred place" and she never imagines anything could go wrong. This contentment is echoed in the lilting rhythm of the poem's first four stanzas. The mother refrains, "No Baby, no, you may not go."

When the mother hears the explosion, her attitude changes to one of shock and anguish ("Her eyes grew wet and wild"). The reader may feel pity for her as she searches for her daughter in the rubble of the church ("But, baby, where are you?"). Surprisingly, one attitude that is absent is that of bitterness over racial injustice. At the end of the poem, the reader is simply presented with the overwhelming grief of the mother.  

What are some quotes on courage in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Chapter 9, Scout asks her father if he defends "niggers." Atticus admits that he does and tells her that he wouldn't be able to hold his head up in town if he didn't. He tells her not to let people "get her goat," and to remain calm when provoked. Scout asks Atticus if they are going to win and he tells her "no." Scout wonders why he's going to continue with the case, and...

In Chapter 9, Scout asks her father if he defends "niggers." Atticus admits that he does and tells her that he wouldn't be able to hold his head up in town if he didn't. He tells her not to let people "get her goat," and to remain calm when provoked. Scout asks Atticus if they are going to win and he tells her "no." Scout wonders why he's going to continue with the case, and he says,

"Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win." (Lee 101)

Atticus understands that he is taking on a highly sensitive case that he will more than likely lose. Atticus knows that real courage is facing adversity head on, despite its challenges. He will remain courageous and display his integrity as a morally upright man by defending Tom Robinson in a prejudiced courtroom later on in the novel.

In Chapter 11, Atticus makes Jem read to Mrs. Dubose after Jem loses his temper and destroys her camellia bush. At the end of the chapter, Mrs. Dubose passes away. Atticus explains to his children that Mrs. Dubose was suffering from a chronic disease and was addicted to morphine. Mrs. Dubose knew she was going to die, but wanted to break her morphine addiction before she passed away. Jem's reading distracted her for increasingly longer periods of time in between her morphine doses until she was finally able to break her addiction. Atticus comments that she was the bravest person he ever met. He says,

"I wanted you to see something about her--I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do." (Lee 149)

What was Herman Calloway doing when Bud entered the club?

In Chapter 12, Lefty Lewis drops Bud off at the Log Cabin to see his "father." When Bud walks in the doors, he sees six men sitting in a circle talking. Herman E. Calloway has his back facing Bud, and he is telling his band members old stories from when he used to be a boxer. Herman claims that he won the Golden Gloves in the middleweight division.He tells a story about the time...

In Chapter 12, Lefty Lewis drops Bud off at the Log Cabin to see his "father." When Bud walks in the doors, he sees six men sitting in a circle talking. Herman E. Calloway has his back facing Bud, and he is telling his band members old stories from when he used to be a boxer. Herman claims that he won the Golden Gloves in the middleweight division. He tells a story about the time he fought Jordan "Snaggletooth" MacNevin, who happened to be a very old fighter. Herman said that he went into the fight trying to knock the old guy out, but got hit so hard that his mouthpiece flew into the crowd. Herman said that he had never been hit so hard in his life. Bud thinks that Herman is his father after he hears Herman say,

"There comes a time when you're doing something and you realize it just doesn't make any sense to keep on doing it, you ain't being a quitter, it's just that the good Lord has seen fit to give you the sense to know, you understand, enough is enough" (Curtis 146).

Bud remembers that he felt the same way when Todd Amos was beating on him earlier in the novel and assumes Herman is his father.

What is Mrs. Sommers feeling when she departs on the streetcar in "A Pair of Silk Stockings"?

After having given herself a pleasurable hiatus from her domestic deprivations, as Mrs. Sommers rides the cable car home, she feels a poignant yearning for the continuation of the pleasurable suspension from her hard reality.

Prior to her shopping trip, Mrs. Sommers has conditioned herself to be frugal and concerned with her motherly obligations. But, when she sits on a revolving stool at a counter because she feels faint from not having eaten lunch, Mrs....

After having given herself a pleasurable hiatus from her domestic deprivations, as Mrs. Sommers rides the cable car home, she feels a poignant yearning for the continuation of the pleasurable suspension from her hard reality.

Prior to her shopping trip, Mrs. Sommers has conditioned herself to be frugal and concerned with her motherly obligations. But, when she sits on a revolving stool at a counter because she feels faint from not having eaten lunch, Mrs. Sommers's hand brushes against a pair of "very soothing, very pleasant to the touch" silk stockings that are reduced in price. She cannot resist buying them. Further, the feel of luxury on her legs after she changes from her cotton stockings into the new silk ones ignites a desire in Mrs. Sommers to treat herself to more luxuries with the money which she has unexpectedly obtained. In short, she lives a day like that of a lady of luxury.

At the end of the pleasurable respite from her domestic duties, Mrs. Sommers feels enjoyment in her escape from enforced frugality so much that she feels "a poignant wish" that the cable car would continue on with her and never stop. 

What happens to potential energy when a ball is tossed into the air?

Potential energy is a form of energy that is related to an object's position. It can be mathematically expressed as:

P.E. = mgh

Where P.E. is the potential energy, m is mass of the object, h is its height and g is the acceleration due to gravity. 

Thus, the higher the position (or higher the height), the higher an object's potential energy will be.

When we toss a ball into the air, its height increases...

Potential energy is a form of energy that is related to an object's position. It can be mathematically expressed as:

P.E. = mgh

Where P.E. is the potential energy, m is mass of the object, h is its height and g is the acceleration due to gravity. 

Thus, the higher the position (or higher the height), the higher an object's potential energy will be.

When we toss a ball into the air, its height increases and thus, its potential energy increases as well. This increase in potential energy is at the expense of kinetic energy that was supplied by tossing it up. As the ball rises, it loses velocity and ultimately comes to a velocity of 0 m/s. This is the location of maximum potential energy. After this instant, the ball falls back towards the earth and loses height, thus losing potential energy (all of which converts back to kinetic energy and/or is lost to air resistance). 

Thus, when a ball is tossed up, its potential energy increases, reaches a maximum height and then starts decreasing as the ball falls back to the ground.

Hope this helps. 

Usefulness of income elasticity of demand to a manager

Information about income elasticity of demand can be useful to a manager because it can help them know what sorts of goods and services they will be able to sell in the future. This assumes, of course, that they have information about the changing incomes of their customers.

One of the non-price determinants of demands is consumer income.  For normal goods, demand increases as consumers have more income.  For inferior goods, demand increases as consumers...

Information about income elasticity of demand can be useful to a manager because it can help them know what sorts of goods and services they will be able to sell in the future. This assumes, of course, that they have information about the changing incomes of their customers.

One of the non-price determinants of demands is consumer income.  For normal goods, demand increases as consumers have more income.  For inferior goods, demand increases as consumers have lower incomes.  The greater the income elasticity of demand for a product, the more the demand for that product changes as people’s incomes change.  This can be important information for a manager.  Let us say that you are the manager of a firm that produces or sells a certain good.  You have information that tells you that the income of your consumers is about to rise. If you know the income elasticity of the demand for your product, you will know how much you need to change the amount of the product that you are making or that you are buying from your supplier.

Thus, income elasticity of demand can be a useful concept for a manager.  It can help you to make decisions about what kinds of products to produce or to buy from suppliers.

Can somebody tell me one helpful and one harmful bacteria in or on the human body?

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that can be helpful or harmful to humans. How E. coli affects humans depends on where the bacteria are located in the human body.  

When E. coli is helpful:

 E. coli is helpful to humans when it is located in the large intestine.  Here. E. coli aids in the production of vitamin K2 and helps humans digest and absorb food. E. coli may even prevent other...

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that can be helpful or harmful to humans. How E. coli affects humans depends on where the bacteria are located in the human body.  

When E. coli is helpful:

 E. coli is helpful to humans when it is located in the large intestine.  Here. E. coli aids in the production of vitamin K2 and helps humans digest and absorb food. E. coli may even prevent other harmful bacteria from becoming established in the human body.  

When E. coli is harmful:

If ingested (eaten), E. coli can be harmful and cause infection within humans. Infection caused by the ingestion of E. coli may cause severe abdominal cramps, fever, and diarrhea that usually becomes bloody within the first 24 hours.

Marisol is painting on a piece of canvas that has an area of 180 square inches. The length of the painting is 1 1/4 times the width. What are the...

We are given a rectangular canvas with area 180 square inches with a length 5/4 as long as the width and we are asked to find the dimensions:

Area = length times width, so we let w=width in inches and l=5/4w=length in inches.

Then `w(5/4 w)=180 `

`5/4 w^2=180 `

`w^2=180 * 4/5 `

`w^2=144 `

Since the width must be positive, w=12.

Then `l=5/4 w=5/4 * 12=15 `

The dimensions are 12" by 15"

...

We are given a rectangular canvas with area 180 square inches with a length 5/4 as long as the width and we are asked to find the dimensions:

Area = length times width, so we let w=width in inches and l=5/4w=length in inches.

Then `w(5/4 w)=180 `

`5/4 w^2=180 `

`w^2=180 * 4/5 `

`w^2=144 `

Since the width must be positive, w=12.

Then `l=5/4 w=5/4 * 12=15 `

The dimensions are 12" by 15"

Check: 12x15=180 as required.

What is a good thesis statement on racism for To Kill a Mockingbird? I have the theme; I just need a thesis statement.

It's easy to write a thesis statement if you understand what it is.

Your thesis is your main idea of your essay, and your thesis statement must state your main idea. It's a good idea to plan out the points you will use to prove your main idea, and you should include the points in your thesis statement.

I know what your theme is, racism, but I don't know your thesis. Your thesis should be...

It's easy to write a thesis statement if you understand what it is.

Your thesis is your main idea of your essay, and your thesis statement must state your main idea. It's a good idea to plan out the points you will use to prove your main idea, and you should include the points in your thesis statement.

I know what your theme is, racism, but I don't know your thesis. Your thesis should be a statement about your theme. So you might say "Racism is the main theme explored in To Kill a Mockingbird" or you might say "Harper Lee is against racism in To Kill a Mockingbird." There are several other ways you could state a thesis about this theme, too.

Let's go with the first thesis, "Racism is the main theme explored in To Kill a Mockingbird."

Now you need to plan out your essay and decide on some points you can make to prove your thesis. A good way to do this is through brainstorming. You should come up with lots of points, and then check through the book and figure out which points would be best to support your thesis. You should be able to find evidence to support each point. . You should choose at least three points to use in your essay.

Here are my suggestions for points to support the thesis "Racism is the main theme explored":

• The majority of white people in Maycomb are racist.


• Maycomb is separated into white and black neighbourhoods.


• Tom does not get a 'fair' trial because of racism.


• The word "nigger" is used a lot in the text, and Scout and her father are called "nigger lovers."


• People in Maycomb have "...the evil assumption—that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted around our women..." according to Atticus in his statements during the trial.


• The town of Maycomb has never "...seen any jury decide in favor of a colored man over a white man," according to Reverend Sykes.


• White people give coloured folks hell without stopping to think that they're people too, according to Mr. Raymond.

There are lots of other things you could say about racism in To Kill a Mockingbird, too. After brainstorming, you need to pick at least three main points and add them to your thesis statement. Your final thesis statement, which you can use in the introduction to an essay, might read: Racism is the main theme explored in To Kill a Mockingbird; most of the people in town are racists, Tom is guaranteed to lose because he is a black man accused by a white woman, and racist language is used throughout the book.

What are some of the themes in Dracula?

Well, first I would point you . That eNote covers the main themes of salvation vs damnation, the role of women, and the rest. In addition to those, I would include the following:

• Reason vs Superstition: To what extent do Van Helsing and the rest deploy reason to defeat Dracula? Or is it that to defeat Dracula means they must acknowledge the truth of his supernatural power? Another angle on this pairing might include...

Well, first I would point you . That eNote covers the main themes of salvation vs damnation, the role of women, and the rest. In addition to those, I would include the following:

• Reason vs Superstition: To what extent do Van Helsing and the rest deploy reason to defeat Dracula? Or is it that to defeat Dracula means they must acknowledge the truth of his supernatural power? Another angle on this pairing might include looking at the use of technology in the story.


• Xenophobism: Dracula is an exotic foreigner who "invades" or "infests" England with his eastern ways; it is up to the "civilized" English (led, tellingly, by someone from the continent!) to literally root him out. Or you could look at the book as a form of racism, pure and simple, with Dracula as the demonized minority, the whole book a celebration of a kind of "lynching."


• Desire: Dracula can be seen as a form of repressed desire, definitely sexual, that Van Helsing and the rest must kill in order to preserve their "rationality." A related theme is the book's attitude towards sex, Mina saying she is "unclean" after her visit from Dracula, or Harker's experience with the lady vampires in Dracula's castle.


• Language: another fascinating thing about the book is how it is made up of artifacts -- extracts from journals, newspaper articles, and the rest -- in an attempt to make the story seem more "real." Mina is valuable in part because she knows shorthand. An early phonograph is used to take oral notes. There is a feeling that documentation will make Dracula less powerful, somehow.

That's only a few. Dracula is a fascinating book!

What is the role of O'Brien in the third part (Part 3) of "1984" by George Orwell? Why is he important?

O'Brien's role in the third part of 1984 is to reprogram Winston's thoughts so that he internalizes the values of the Party. Winston's fundamental crime lies not in what he did, though that is criminal too, but what he thought. He believed he could think differently from the government, and he thought he could rebel and win against the government. O'Brien's role is to show him that the government is all powerful, and that he,...

O'Brien's role in the third part of 1984 is to reprogram Winston's thoughts so that he internalizes the values of the Party. Winston's fundamental crime lies not in what he did, though that is criminal too, but what he thought. He believed he could think differently from the government, and he thought he could rebel and win against the government. O'Brien's role is to show him that the government is all powerful, and that he, Winston, is nothing.

O'Brien does this through torture but also by revealing that the government knew all along everything Winston was doing. Big Brother and his spies truly were watching him. They were reading his journal and replacing the speck of dust. They were filming his affair with Julia. They were ahead of him every step of the way. Challenging them was futile.

O'Brien has two other tasks. First, he must get Winston to truly believe that whatever the government says is true is the truth. That is why Winston must come to believe, not just pretend to believe, that two plus two equals five. He must not have independent thoughts.

Finally, O'Brien must rid Winston of his illusion that he is a person of integrity, thus destroying his sense of humanity. He does this by getting him to betray Julia.

O'Brien is important because he is the face of the totalitarian government and fully explains its beliefs while demonstrating its power and what it will to do to a person to ensure complete obedience.  He is Big Brother personified, and it is not a pleasant picture. 

What is the conflict and resolution for Act I, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet?

Act I, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet serves two important purposes. First, it introduces the audience to Juliet and the Nurse. We find out that Juliet is very young, only 13, and that she is very close to the Nurse. In fact, the Nurse literally lives up to her name as she talks about weaning the girl using wormwood. The second purpose is to introduce what would later be the major conflict of...

Act I, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet serves two important purposes. First, it introduces the audience to Juliet and the Nurse. We find out that Juliet is very young, only 13, and that she is very close to the Nurse. In fact, the Nurse literally lives up to her name as she talks about weaning the girl using wormwood. The second purpose is to introduce what would later be the major conflict of Juliet marrying Count Paris. 

Lady Capulet initially wants to speak with Juliet alone, but then thinks better of it and asks the Nurse to stay. We get the feeling she is uncomfortable with her daughter and she needs the Nurse's support. The Nurse proceeds to steal the scene as she recalls Juliet's childhood, particularly the time her husband made a bawdy joke at the toddler Juliet's expense.

Lady Capulet's "purpose" is to ask Juliet if she would like to marry Paris. He is an eligible bachelor who is of the same social and economic status as Juliet and would make a good match, at least in Juliet's parent's eyes. The Nurse is also impressed with Paris and she tells Juliet, 

A man, young lady—lady, such a man
As all the world—why, he’s a man of wax.

The Nurse likes Paris so much that she later advises Juliet to forget Romeo (after he is banished) and instead marry Paris.

The conflict at this point is simply for Juliet to take a look at Paris and see if she really likes him. In the preceding scene, Lord Capulet told Paris to "win" Juliet's heart and then they would talk of marriage. Playing the dutiful daughter, Juliet resolves the conflict in this scene by telling her mother she will look at Paris but won't do anything without her parent's consent. She says,

I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.

Of course, the true conflict comes later when Capulet demands that Juliet marry Paris in Act III after the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt.

What war occurs while Van Winkle is asleep in "Rip van Winkle"?

While Rip van Winkle is sleeping, the American Revolution occurs. This revolutionary war took place from 1765-1783, so when Rip awakens the war has been over for two years.

This American War of Independence, as the British termed it, was waged after Americans began to feel oppressed by taxation without any representation and by British rulers--the king and the aristocracy--who did not exercise their authority for the "good of human society." The need to establish...

While Rip van Winkle is sleeping, the American Revolution occurs. This revolutionary war took place from 1765-1783, so when Rip awakens the war has been over for two years.

This American War of Independence, as the British termed it, was waged after Americans began to feel oppressed by taxation without any representation and by British rulers--the king and the aristocracy--who did not exercise their authority for the "good of human society." The need to establish republican values of the inalienable rights of man and liberty and the necessity of protecting virtue formed the ideals of the American Revolution.

However, when Rip van Winkle returns to his village after twenty years, he is disturbed by the radical changes in social customs and political ideas. When he is accosted by some men, Rip becomes dismayed and declares,

"I am a poor quiet man, a native of the place, and a loyal subject of the King--God bless him!"

Of course, the anachronistic Rip does not realize the faux pas he has committed since before his sleep, King George III was in power. When the people hear this, they shout that Rip is "A Tory! a spy! a Refugee!" and they want to be rid of him.

Interestingly, however, through his character of van Winkle, Irving expresses a certain nostalgia for Colonial times. For, when Rip van Winkle observes those around him, he notices that people seem greatly changed in character.

There was a busy, bustling disputatious tone about it (the inn) instead of the accustomed phlegm and drowsy tranquility.

Rip van Winkle wishes for the days when he sat and conversed at the Inn, but it is not long before he takes his old place once more on the bench by the inn door.

How do you summarize Siobhan Dowd's The London Eye Mystery?

To write a summary of a book, we start by identifying the title, author, and main characters. We then explain the most important details of the story, which are the conflict, rising action, climax, and resolution.The most important character in any story is the protagonist, which is the main character who grows and changes as a result of overcoming the conflict. The conflictin a story is the battle the protagonist struggles against....

To write a summary of a book, we start by identifying the title, author, and main characters. We then explain the most important details of the story, which are the conflict, rising action, climax, and resolution.

The most important character in any story is the protagonist, which is the main character who grows and changes as a result of overcoming the conflict. The conflict in a story is the battle the protagonist struggles against. In Siobhan Dowd's The London Eye Mystery, the protagonist and narrator is Ted Spark, who works with his sister Kat to solve the mystery of what happened to Salim when he disappeared. Ted and Kat battle against a society that doesn't believe children are able to solve a crime and fail to take them seriously, especially Ted, who has Asperger syndrome. Ted and Kat particularly struggle against Detective Inspector Pearce, who fails to take their observations and theories seriously.

The term rising action refers to all events that lead to the story's climax, which is the turning point in the story, the moment when the story starts leading to the resolution. All the clues the children find count as rising action. The climax occurs the moment Ted and Kat realize that Salim actually had almost made it all the way back to the Sparks' home that day, but he got distracted by the Barracks, a very tall building in the Sparks' neighborhood about to be demolished. Salim loves tall buildings and couldn't help but want to explore and see the view from the top story. Ted further realizes that Salim got accidentally locked in the building when Ted and Kat's father, who is in charge of the demolition, locked up for the night.

Naturally, the resolution occurs when Salim is found, and Salim agrees to move to New York City with his mother though he had not wanted to at the start of the story.

What positive and negative influences did the Industrial Revolution have on employment?

The Industrial Revolution arose during the 18th century in England due to shifts in technology and had both positive and negative effects on the lives of workers.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing took place on a small scale. There might be a local blacksmith who would make metal items necessary for farming but families were also likely to make their own cloth for clothing. A miller would process grains for a village so that families could turn their own wheat into flour.

During the late 18th century, all this began to change. For example, looms became larger, which made it possible to create cloth factories. Technology created automatic processes for weaving patterns in cloth which meant that weavers could work faster without having to focus on maintaining the pattern themselves. Instead of weaving their own cloth, housewives bought factory-made cloth.

With the rise of factories, employment opportunities increased. No longer did a person have to be in a long apprenticeship prior to being able to make a living; factory jobs did not require nearly as much training. Thus, it became easier to work for money and jobs were plentiful.

The problem is that these jobs were often exploitive. Steam power, on which factories in the 19th century ran, was dangerous. A boiler could explode and kill hundreds of people in short order; disasters happened to working people in the past, but because of the scale of factories, more people could die quickly if an accident happened.

It was expensive to create a factory and industrialists were eager to see profits. As a result, they kept wages down and work hours long. It was cheaper to hire children from poor families, so these youngsters were denied an education and, instead, worked long hours. Sarah Cleghorn wrote a famous poem about this situation:

The golf links lie so near the mill

That almost every day

The laboring children can look out

And see the men at play.

Thus, while the industrial revolution made jobs more accessible to people, the quality of life for those who worked in the factories suffered due to long hours of work in poor and dangerous conditions.  

How does one become cum laude?

“Cum Laude” is Latin for “with honors”, and in high schools and colleges, it takes a great grade point average to become one. A student needs to maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average or higher to graduate with honors or distinction. Although each college may differ on the exact grade point average needed to achieve cum laude, the requirements are sometimes very difficult to maintain.  In addition, some institutions require that a certain...

“Cum Laude” is Latin for “with honors”, and in high schools and colleges, it takes a great grade point average to become one. A student needs to maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average or higher to graduate with honors or distinction. Although each college may differ on the exact grade point average needed to achieve cum laude, the requirements are sometimes very difficult to maintain.  In addition, some institutions require that a certain percentage of the a student’s grade point average is earned in classes completed at that institution.

Cum Laude (with honors)—3.6 grade point average

Magna cum laude (with great honors)—3.8 grade point average

Summa cum laude (with greatest honors)—3.9 or higher grade point average

To achieve this, your work must be exceptional and near perfect.  You will need to complete all assignments and be rigorous in your studies.  Letting your grade point average slip for even one semester could spell disaster as it is often takes several semesters to see a rise in your grade point average.  My advice is to keep your class load manageable and to make sure you have a work ethic that insures success.

What is the setting of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?

The Adventures of Tom Sawyertakes place in St. Petersburg, Missouri, along the Mississippi River, in the 1840s. The small town and surrounding area is Tom’s playground for all the adventures he goes through in the novel. The town of Hannibal is considered the present day setting of the novel, and if you go there, you will see a replica of the fence Tom talks Ben into painting and the boyhood home of Mark Twain....

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer takes place in St. Petersburg, Missouri, along the Mississippi River, in the 1840s. The small town and surrounding area is Tom’s playground for all the adventures he goes through in the novel. The town of Hannibal is considered the present day setting of the novel, and if you go there, you will see a replica of the fence Tom talks Ben into painting and the boyhood home of Mark Twain. There is also a magnificent cave nearby that the boys explore (Tom and Becky Thatcher get lost in the cave) and Jackson Island where the boys stay while pretending to be pirates. Other setting sites include a graveyard, where the Tom and Huck see Injun Joe kill the doctor, and an abandoned house, where Huck and Tom overhear the plans of Injun Joe to kill the Widow Douglas. 

The novel takes place during the United States' “adolescence” and the settling of the West.  It is also takes place during the time of slavery.

Why do people in Corinth want Oedipus to return?

At the beginning of the play, Oedipus believes that his parents are the king and queen of Corinth, Polybus and Merope.  In truth, they are not his natural parents (his natural parents are Laius and Jocasta), they are his adoptive parents.  When Oedipus was a baby, Laius and Jocasta gave him to a servant to dispose of in the woods due to the prophecy they'd had that Laius's son would kill him someday; however, this...

At the beginning of the play, Oedipus believes that his parents are the king and queen of Corinth, Polybus and Merope.  In truth, they are not his natural parents (his natural parents are Laius and Jocasta), they are his adoptive parents.  When Oedipus was a baby, Laius and Jocasta gave him to a servant to dispose of in the woods due to the prophecy they'd had that Laius's son would kill him someday; however, this servant gave the baby to another servant, one from the house of the Polybus.  And in this way did Oedipus come to be raised by an adoptive family.  However, though Oedipus was once told some of this by a drunken man, he does not believe it.  Thus, when he received the prophecy that he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother he decided never to return home to Corinth so that he could not fulfill this terrifying future. 

However, a messenger arrives from Corinth now to fetch Oedipus home from Thebes because Polybus has died.  His adoptive father's fate seems, to him, to confirm that the prophecy was in error, and he scorns both the oracle who delivered the prophecy as well as Apollo, the god she serves. 

What is the impact that the Indian Removal Act (Trail of Tears) has on the modern Cherokee tribes?

The Indian Removal Act has had an impact on the Cherokee Tribe to this day. The Indian Removal Act forced many Native American tribes that were living east of the Mississippi River to relocate to the lands west of the Mississippi River. The Trail of Tears refers to the path of the forced relocation and the resulting suffering and death that resulted.

The Cherokee were impacted significantly by the law and by the Trail of...

The Indian Removal Act has had an impact on the Cherokee Tribe to this day. The Indian Removal Act forced many Native American tribes that were living east of the Mississippi River to relocate to the lands west of the Mississippi River. The Trail of Tears refers to the path of the forced relocation and the resulting suffering and death that resulted.

The Cherokee were impacted significantly by the law and by the Trail of Tears. About 4,000 Cherokee died as they were being relocated to the land west of the Mississippi River. This loss of life impacted future generations. Family sizes were reduced leading to fewer Cherokee being born. The Cherokee also realized they couldn’t trust the government. They had an agreement with the federal government through previous treaties that said they could stay on their land. However, those agreements weren't honored. To this day, there is a distrust of the federal government by Native American tribes, including the Cherokee.

Native American tribes also use the Trail of Tears as a remembrance of what their ancestors endured. This is something that is taught to every Native American child. This experience has also taught the Cherokee about adapting to changing conditions, just as their ancestors did years ago.

The Indian Removal Act has impacted and still impacts the Cherokee.

Why is crop rotation an effective and sustainable way to improve agricultural yields?

If the same crop is grown on a given piece of land, over time, the yield falls. This is mainly due to persistent pest and disease problems (specific to that crop), reduced soil fertility, soil erosion, or depletion in soil nitrogen content. A ready-made solution to some of these problems is the use of chemicals: pesticides for taking care of pests, extensive fertilization to maintain and improve soil fertility, etc. However, chemical addition is not...

If the same crop is grown on a given piece of land, over time, the yield falls. This is mainly due to persistent pest and disease problems (specific to that crop), reduced soil fertility, soil erosion, or depletion in soil nitrogen content. A ready-made solution to some of these problems is the use of chemicals: pesticides for taking care of pests, extensive fertilization to maintain and improve soil fertility, etc. However, chemical addition is not a sustainable solution and can result in environmental issues, among others.

Crop rotation is a natural and sustainable remedy for this situation. When crops are grown in a cyclic fashion in a given field, they complement each other and provide remedies to the problems mentioned above. For example, including a nitrogen-fixing crop in the crop rotation cycle will ensure that there is sufficient nitrogen in the soil. Crop rotation also helps with managing pests and diseases which are particular to a crop. Since crops are being changed, these pests and diseases will not find hosts for continued survival. Deep-rooting and shallow-rooting crops can be cycled to ensure soil fertility and stability. Crop rotation also improves the physical characteristics of the soil including bulk density, water holding capacity, and porosity. 

Hope this helps. 

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," what are both the internal and external conflicts in the story?

In part two, the internal conflict is revealed when Bierce elaborates on Peyton Farquhar's inner struggle to participate in the Civil War. Having an aristocratic southern background prevents Farquhar from enlisting in the Confederate Army, which bothers Peyton to the point that he decides to burn down the Owl Creek Bridge as a way to aid the Confederate cause. Ambrose Bierce does not go into detail as to why Farquhar cannot enlist, but he writes,

...

In part two, the internal conflict is revealed when Bierce elaborates on Peyton Farquhar's inner struggle to participate in the Civil War. Having an aristocratic southern background prevents Farquhar from enlisting in the Confederate Army, which bothers Peyton to the point that he decides to burn down the Owl Creek Bridge as a way to aid the Confederate cause. Ambrose Bierce does not go into detail as to why Farquhar cannot enlist, but he writes,

Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it is unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking service with the gallant army that had fought the disastrous campaigns ending with the fall of Corinth, and he chafed under the inglorious restraint, longing for the release of his energies, the larger life of the soldier, the opportunity for distinction (4).

Farquhar's insecurities and longing to participate in the fight against the North motivate him to risk his life by destroying the Owl Creek Bridge. Farquhar essentially feels inadequate because he is not a Confederate soldier and, thus, does not have numerous opportunities to fight Union troops.

Another internal conflict involves Peyton's inability to accept his fate. While waiting to die with a noose around his neck, Farquhar fantasizes about escaping. Farquhar imagines a scenario where his noose snaps and he falls into the water below. Farquhar's inability to accept the difficult reality is illustrated by his continual thoughts of escape before he is hanged.

The external conflicts throughout the story concern the belligerents involved in the Civil War and Peyton's struggle against the Union soldiers who are about to hang him. Throughout the story, the Union Army is fighting a war against the Confederacy, which seceded from the Union in 1860. Peyton's conflict begins when he is manipulated by a Union spy to burn down the Owl Creek Bridge. Unfortunately for Peyton, he is arrested and hanged by the Union soldiers stationed at the Owl Creek Bridge.

What would be the exposition of "The Lady or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton?

The exposition is the description of the king and the trial system.

Exposition is the beginning of a story.  It is where a story’s setting, characters, and inciting incident are described.  In this story, the author describes the kingdom and the king.  The king’s personality is very important.  He is described as “semibarbaric.”  We do not know exactly when the story takes place, but we are told it was a long time ago.

In the very olden time there lived a semi-barbaric king, whose ideas, though somewhat polished and sharpened by the progressiveness of distant Latin neighbors, were still large, florid, and untrammeled, as became the half of him which was barbaric.

From this, we can gather that the story took place a while ago, and that the kingdom is not near Latin America.  We also learn that the king has some very original ideas.  The word “semibarbaric” basically means that he is at war with himself.  He wants to be civilized, but he also has a savage side.

The king’s personality results in a very unique system of justice that he thinks is quite clever.  It is important to the exposition of the story that this system of trial be described, because the plot will turn on the trial’s unique format.  In this system of justice, an accused person is sent into an arena to make a choice.  The outcome of the choice determines if he is considered innocent or guilty.

Directly opposite him, on the other side of the enclosed space, were two doors, exactly alike and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them. He could open either door he pleased; he was subject to no guidance or influence but that of the aforementioned impartial and incorruptible chance. 

Behind one door is a tiger, which will instantly maul the contestant.  Behind the other door is a lady, who has been chosen specifically for the accused.  Apparently all accused are men.  The lady then marries the man, whether or not he was already married.  The king cares not for such trivialities.

The inciting incident is the last part of the exposition.  It occurs right before the rising action, and it serves to introduce the story’s problem.  In this case, the problem is the king’s daughter.

This semi-barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as his most florid fancies, and with a soul as fervent and imperious as his own. ... Among his courtiers was a young man of that fineness of blood and lowness of station common to the conventional heroes of romance who love royal maidens. 

Naturally the king did not approve of the match, and so the princess’s lover is about to be thrown into the arena.  This is a problem, because as the story progresses we learn that she is going to find out what is behind what door, and will tell him.  But will she tell him the right door to save his life?

Who aids Scout in her coming of age journey in To Kill a Mockingbird?

While Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is obviously a classic tale of race relations in the South, it's also a story chronicling the education and growth of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch. While many characters aid Scout in her journey, none are as essential to her coming of age than her father, Atticus Finch.

Principled, intelligent, independent, and kind, Atticus Finch is one of the most brilliantly written and most beloved characters in contemporary literature....

While Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is obviously a classic tale of race relations in the South, it's also a story chronicling the education and growth of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch. While many characters aid Scout in her journey, none are as essential to her coming of age than her father, Atticus Finch.

Principled, intelligent, independent, and kind, Atticus Finch is one of the most brilliantly written and most beloved characters in contemporary literature. While he often consigns himself to "doing the best he can" with raising his children, it's clear from the beginning that he is instrumental in helping Scout to become a mature, principled adult in her own right. For instance, in the first chapters of the novel, Atticus urges Scout to consider things from other people's perspectives, rather than simply condemning a person for holding beliefs other than her own. This simple advice, the advice to walk around in someone else's shoes for a change, becomes a central mantra in a novel that increasingly focuses on alternative ways of perceiving race, gender, family values, education, and the legal process. While this nugget of wisdom is not the only advice Atticus offers Scout, it is certainly one of the most important, as it helps elevate Scout above the ignorance and dull devotion to tradition that paralyzes most of the other residents of Maycomb County. 

In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, what does Tom Robinson say during his testimony that contributes to a guilty verdict?

In Chapter 19, Tom Robinson takes the witness stand and describes his background and interactions with Mayella Ewell. Atticus begins by questioning Tom as to why he was convicted of disorderly conduct. Tom explains that he got into a fight with a man and went to jail because he couldn't pay the fine. Then, Atticus asks Tom if he's ever spoken to Mayella before, and Tom admits that he has. He explains that Mayella asked...

In Chapter 19, Tom Robinson takes the witness stand and describes his background and interactions with Mayella Ewell. Atticus begins by questioning Tom as to why he was convicted of disorderly conduct. Tom explains that he got into a fight with a man and went to jail because he couldn't pay the fine. Then, Atticus asks Tom if he's ever spoken to Mayella before, and Tom admits that he has. He explains that Mayella asked him to help her with many chores and that he frequently offered his assistance when she asked. Tom tells Atticus that he was never paid for his services and refused to take a nickel from her. Later on, Mr. Gilmer cross-examines Tom and asks him why he went out of his way to help Mayella without excepting any type of payment. Tom says, "I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try more'n the rest of 'em---" (Lee 264) Scout mentions that "the damage was done" and that nobody liked Tom's answer. In 1930s Alabama, a black man feeling sorry for a white person was unthinkable. Tom's answer was taboo, and the jury viewed him with contempt because of it. By telling the prosecutor he felt bad for Mayella, Tom hurt his chances of being acquitted and was eventually found guilty.

How was your understanding of the cultural and contextual dimensions of the text developed through the dialogue?

In the novel, much of the dialogue and text focuses on food. In Vietnamese and other eastern cultures, food is often an expression of acceptance, benevolence, or love. Alternatively, it can also be an expression of indifference and disrespect.

Consider the significance of duckweed noodles in Aunt Tam's conversation with Que regarding her path to wealth. She describes how, during the era of the "Rectification of Errors," she had ground duckweed into flour and made pancakes of dough from them. From the dough, she had cut out strips of long, fine vermicelli, which cooked into delicate, delicious clear noodles. Aunt Tam describes how she sold those noodles and with the profits, bought more duckweed to produce more noodles. Eventually, she made enough profit to purchase machines to crank out her popular noodles. She tells her sister-in-law, Que, that her goal is to become as wealthy as possible.

The narrator tells us that Aunt Tam's goal is to live a life of vengeance; essentially, Aunt Tam's narration is a statement of contempt towards Que; on the surface, she discusses how the duckweed noodles paved the way to her hard-earned wealth, but her narrative is a flaunting of her rebellion and her non-conformity towards communist ideals, ideals still espoused by Chinh, Que's brother.

To Aunt Tam, Chinh had been culpable for her own brother's death. It was Chinh, a member of the Communist party, who had preached against wealth and privilege. He was also a direct participant in the land reforms that destroyed the livelihoods of many Vietnamese. So, through her life of wealth, Aunt Tam is signifying to Que that she will never absolve Que and Chinh for their part in Ton's death. This may be what precipitates the latent animosity between both women and acts as a catalyst for Que's eventual indifference to her own daughter, Hang.

Later, Aunt Tam also uses the proceeds from her wealth to provide for Hang, Que's daughter. In the novel, the dialogue between Aunt Tam and Hang highlights how the former uses both lavish food gifts and money to cause the latter to be beholden to her. Aunt Tam means to make Hang the beneficiary of the Tran family legacy, whether Hang desires it or not.

"I really can't. Dearest Aunt, I'm too young to spend this money. Keep it please."

"No. I told you to take it. You must obey. Don't fuss with me. What is this money compared to your life? As long as I'm alive, as long as these hands are capable of working..."

"As long as these hands can work, there will always be money...with one of my mandarin orange harvests, I made enough to buy you a gold necklace. I've already ordered it. The pendant is heart-shaped and it weighs a gram and a half, and the chain the same. When you turn sixteen, you'll wear it."

The tone of the conversation is emblematic of every conversation between Aunt Tam and Hang. The elder is to be obeyed without question. Aunt Tam's self-sacrifice proves her devotion, and so, Hang must comply with the older woman's wishes. The dialogue in much of the book guides us in understanding the cultural and the contextual dimensions of the text. Because of Aunt Tam's devotion, Hang is to exemplify all the necessary traits a submissive young woman should have, and she is to carry on the traditions of ancestor worship on behalf of the Tran family after Aunt Tam's demise.

Additionally, the dialogue between Que, Hang, and Aunt Tam often illuminates the underlying tension between the three women and their struggle for relevance in a culture which values conformity above personal agency.

How does the reader reaction to Brutus's death in Julius Caesar?

Brutus killed himself when Antony and Octavius’s armies were moving in on him.

Brutus died an honorable death, by Roman standards.  Rather than allow himself to be captured, he killed himself.  Suicide was considered a noble alternative to being paraded through Rome in a triumph.  When all seemed lost, Brutus took his life. 

Antony makes very celebratory comments about Brutus when they find his body.

This was the noblest Roman of them all:All the...

Brutus killed himself when Antony and Octavius’s armies were moving in on him.

Brutus died an honorable death, by Roman standards.  Rather than allow himself to be captured, he killed himself.  Suicide was considered a noble alternative to being paraded through Rome in a triumph.  When all seemed lost, Brutus took his life. 

Antony makes very celebratory comments about Brutus when they find his body.

This was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He only, in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world 'This was a man!' (Act 5, Scene 5)

Why did Antony consider Brutus so noble?  Unlike some of the other conspirators, Brutus did what he did for the good of Rome.  He did not desire power or wealth.  He was already an important senator and from a rich family.  There was nothing ambitious about Brutus.  He took part in the conspiracy to kill Caesar because he thought that Caesar was a tyrant.

Brutus often acted foolishly, it is true.  He was naïve about how the people would react to the conspirators’ actions.  He cared more about image than about fact.

Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully … (Act 2, Scene 1)

Brutus made some bad decisions, including allowing Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral instead of killing him like he probably should have.  Taking their armies to Philippi was also a bad idea.  He should have listened to Cassius, who had more experience.  However, Brutus believed that his cause was the right one.  He died doing what he thought was honorable.

Write in brief about the themes of Pygmalion.

I have linked below to the many themes of Pygmaliondiscussed , including beauty, identity, appearance versus reality, and sexism. I will, however, talk about class, since that seems to me the most important theme of this play. Shaw was a Fabian, a kind of socialist who thought socialism could be brought about through reform, not by revolution. In the play, he attacks the British class system, in which the opportunities people had were...

I have linked below to the many themes of Pygmalion discussed , including beauty, identity, appearance versus reality, and sexism. I will, however, talk about class, since that seems to me the most important theme of this play. Shaw was a Fabian, a kind of socialist who thought socialism could be brought about through reform, not by revolution. In the play, he attacks the British class system, in which the opportunities people had were based primarily on who their parents were—in other words, on the accident of birth. A class ideology or belief system insisted that people of higher class parents were genetically or innately superior to those of the lower classes, who were often thought to be born inferior or with a genetic predisposition to crime or immorality. In Pygmalion, Shaw explodes this myth of class by showing that Eliza, an impoverished flower seller, could, with a little training in how to speak and act like a lady, outshine the born aristocrats and become fit to marry a Duke (though she doesn't). Shaw also shows, in the depiction of Eliza's father, Mr. Doolittle, who comes into money, that it is economics, not birth, that determines who behaves morally according to middle-class norms.

Why does Polonius read Ophelia's love letter and what are his plans?

In Act II, scene ii, Polonius reads Hamlet's love letter to Ophelia to Gertrude and Claudius. Ophelia had given it and other love letters to Polonius, her father, out of confusion and concern over Hamlet's professions of love for her. Polonius shares the letter with the King and Queen because he knows they are worried about Hamlet's recent irrational behavior. In the letters, Polonius believes he has found the key to Hamlet's madness: Hamlet is...

In Act II, scene ii, Polonius reads Hamlet's love letter to Ophelia to Gertrude and Claudius. Ophelia had given it and other love letters to Polonius, her father, out of confusion and concern over Hamlet's professions of love for her. Polonius shares the letter with the King and Queen because he knows they are worried about Hamlet's recent irrational behavior. In the letters, Polonius believes he has found the key to Hamlet's madness: Hamlet is in love. Polonius explains to the King and Queen that when Ophelia came to him with her worries, he told her to avoid Hamlet: "Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star / This must not be.” In other words, because of being a prince, Hamlet was out of her league and it was safest to stay away from him. But because Ophelia has rejected him, Hamlet has gone crazy, Polonius maintains.

Polonius's plan is to spy on the couple along with the king to confirm that Hamlet really is in love. As a courtier, he will prove his worth if he can solve the monarchs' problem.  

What is a man vs. technology conflict in Lois Lowry's The Giver?

One type of technology that proves to be quite a conflict in Lois Lowry's The Giver is medical technology. Normally, when we think of technology, computers and TVs come to mind. We sometimes forget that medical advances are also a type of technology. There are two major types of medical technology that influence the plot and conflict for Jonas: the pill that suppresses the Stirrings and the injection used to Release (or kill) people. 

First, Jonas is introduced to the medicine (or pill) that suppresses the Stirrings after he has a vivid dream about his friend Fiona. Everyone must tell what they dreamed at breakfast time; so after Jonas tells his dream one morning, his mother knows that he has hit puberty and is ready for the pill. This pill not only suppresses sensual feelings, but it also takes away the desire for preference. For example, Jonas might want to date Fiona after having such a dream. He may even want to marry her one day; but in a world of Sameness, the community can't have preferential treatment towards any other person. That would upset the family units and the fact that free choice is undesirable. Thus, the Stirrings pill does much more than simply suppress sensual feelings.

Next, the injection that the community uses to Release people is deadly. Modern science does this with animals when it is time to "put them down," but we don't use it on people. For example, a veterinarian uses a sleeping aide first, then injects the animal with the deadly serum. Jonas's father, on the other hand, does not use a sleeping serum first, he simply injects the deadly medicine as follows:

"He took out a syringe and a small bottle. Very carefully he inserted the needle into the bottle and began to fill the syringe with a clear liquid. . . his father began very carefully to direct the needle into the top of a new child's forehead, puncturing the place where the fragile skin pulsed. The newborn squirmed, and wailed faintly" (149).

This is the most significant use of medical technology in the book because it is the turning point for Jonas. It is Jonas vs. the community and their deadly medical technology after this. He can't bear the fact that killing babies is an approved practice! After seeing his father kill a baby, he plots to overthrow the community with the Giver's help.

What is the good night in "Do not go gentle into that good night" by Dylan Thomas?

In this poem, the good night is symbolic of death.  The speaker is addressing  "[his] father" in the poem, as we see in the last stanza, imploring him to fight against death (line 16).  The narrator says, again and again, "Do not go gentle into that good night," meaning that his father should not go quietly or peacefully, without a fight, to death (1, 6, 12, 18).  Instead, he should "Rage, rage against the dying...

In this poem, the good night is symbolic of death.  The speaker is addressing  "[his] father" in the poem, as we see in the last stanza, imploring him to fight against death (line 16).  The narrator says, again and again, "Do not go gentle into that good night," meaning that his father should not go quietly or peacefully, without a fight, to death (1, 6, 12, 18).  Instead, he should "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" (3, 9, 15, 19); the speaker demands that his father fight passionately against the end of life.  In order to convince his father that this is the right thing to do, he gives numerous examples of all different kinds of men and explains that each of them fights death, for his own reasons.  The men may have different reasons for raging against death, but the important part is that they all do it.  The narrator seems to hope that by presenting his father with all of this proof that others fight to stay alive, his father will do the same.

How does the narrator describe Carlé in "And of Clay Are We Created"?

In “And of Clay Are We Created,” the narrator at first describes Carlé as a very calm and levelheaded news reporter.  “Fear seemed never to touch him,” she says, though this is not necessarily true.  She realizes that he maintains a “fictive distance” from the events he reports on, using the camera lens to disassociate himself with the gravity of reality.  The narrator says this distance “seemed to protect him from his own emotions,” suggesting...

In “And of Clay Are We Created,” the narrator at first describes Carlé as a very calm and levelheaded news reporter.  “Fear seemed never to touch him,” she says, though this is not necessarily true.  She realizes that he maintains a “fictive distance” from the events he reports on, using the camera lens to disassociate himself with the gravity of reality.  The narrator says this distance “seemed to protect him from his own emotions,” suggesting that there exists something volatile in him, something repressed and emotionally taut.

Later in the story, the narrator describes Rolfe physically, as the situation with Azucena is beginning to take its toll:  he is totally fatigued, with dark circles under his eyes and stubble on his chin.  The narrator notices that this is “different from the fatigue of other adventures,” and that “he could not look at the girl through a lens any longer.”  Here we see a physical and emotional change coming over Carlé:  he no longer has that distance to protect him, and due to his emotional investment in Azucena’s story his own emotions soon will out.

At the end of the story the narrator describes him as “vulnerable,” finally, and paints him as both relieved and resigned, to his own acknowledgement of his past and to Azucena’s inevitable fate.  The final paragraph of the story is addressed to Rolfe, and the narrator here describes him as a man forever changed by his experience, “freed from the clay.”