Movie theaters charge differing prices to adults, children, and students, additionally, most theatres charge lower prices for afternoon showings....

The pricing strategy that you describe here is called price discrimination.  Price discrimination of this sort can help maximize profits for the movie theater by adjusting prices based on the different price elasticity of demand displayed by different segments of the market.

Let us imagine that students and children have a higher price elasticity of demand.  They have less disposable income and so any increase in the price of the movie makes them much less...

The pricing strategy that you describe here is called price discrimination.  Price discrimination of this sort can help maximize profits for the movie theater by adjusting prices based on the different price elasticity of demand displayed by different segments of the market.

Let us imagine that students and children have a higher price elasticity of demand.  They have less disposable income and so any increase in the price of the movie makes them much less likely to attend.  Conversely, if the theater reduces the price of the movie, many more students and children are likely to attend.  Therefore, it makes a lot of sense for the theater to reduce prices for these two groups.  When the theater reduces prices, it attracts people who would not have come to watch the movie at the higher price. 

Of course, the theater could just lower the prices for everyone, but this would not maximize its revenue.  We assume that adults have a lower price elasticity of demand for movies.  They do not really care if the movie costs $1 or $1.50 more or less.  Lowering the price for adults will not bring more adults in.  Instead, it will simply cause the theater to lose money because they are selling tickets to the adults for less than the adults would be willing to pay.  By charging different prices, the theater gets more of the younger patrons without losing money on the adult viewers.

A similar dynamic occurs with matinee showings.  If not very many people would come to these showings (because of the less convenient time), it makes sense to reduce the price.  It is better to have more people coming at a slightly lower price than fewer people coming at a slightly higher price.  This, too, is a way of increasing and maximizing revenue.

Why is young Gillian called the "black sheep" of the family?

Young Gillian actually labels himself the "black sheep" because he does not value money, nor does he work; instead, he lives off the allowance that his uncle affords him.

After his uncle dies, the law firm of Tolman & Sharp summons Gillian in order to provide him $1000 with the instructions that he must spend it and provide an accounting for this expenditure. Gillian finds the money "a confoundedly awkward amount" and has difficulty deciding how to spend it. So, after asking Old Bryson at the men's club, a cab driver, and a blind man, as well as suggesting a diamond pendant for his favorite actress, Gillian has but one last idea. With this he hurries to his uncle's house where his ward, Miss Hayden, resides. 

When he enters the library in which Miss Hayden sits writing letters, he tells her that his uncle had a codicil to his will in which he willed her a thousand dollars. Since he "was driving up" anyway, he explains, he decided to bring it to her. "Oh!" Miss Hayden exclaims in surprise, and Gillian declares his love for her. But, as she takes the money, Miss Hayden declines his declaration of love, saying, "I'm sorry." So, Gillian asks if he can write a note, and he retires to a desk in order to write out his accounting of the expenditure of the $1000:

Paid by the black sheep, Robert Gillian, $1000 on account of the eternal happiness, owed by Heaven to the best and dearest woman on Earth.

With this act of unselfish love, Gillian proves the irony of his being termed a "black sheep." Further, when he learns that he will receive more money for having dispensed of the $1000 in an altruistic gesture, Gillian tears up this note so that he will have none of "the qualifications that deserve reward" and thereby retain his truly undeserved label of "black sheep."

This ironic reversal to O. Henry's story demonstrates that there is only superficial truth to the reputation Gillian has of being a black sheep, and not caring about how much of his uncle's money he spends. Rather, he simply does not care whether he has money or not; he is completely unmaterialistic.

What is the correlation between smartness and niceness?

There is no absolute, "one size fits all" correlation that one could ascribe to all of the characters. Lennie is fun-loving and nice, and he is the least intelligent character in the story. One can not really say that he is not nice when he smothers a mouse or Curley's wife because he has no real control over his emotions and his body in those panicky states. So, with Lennie, his mentality correlates niceness with...

There is no absolute, "one size fits all" correlation that one could ascribe to all of the characters. Lennie is fun-loving and nice, and he is the least intelligent character in the story. One can not really say that he is not nice when he smothers a mouse or Curley's wife because he has no real control over his emotions and his body in those panicky states. So, with Lennie, his mentality correlates niceness with lack of smartness. George is nice deep down but has a tendency to behave in mean ways. And he is smart. We could correlate intelligence and behaving in an acute, mean way even though this ignores the fact that George is generally nice with a mean exterior. But for the sake of simplicity, George is smart and can have mean behaviors. This suggests a correlation between intelligence and being mean. This works well with Lennie's behavior which is unintelligent and nice. Again, this has to do with behavior and it ignores George's generous spirit and occasional nice demeanor. But the simplistic correlation, using the behaviors of these two characters fit: nice/unintelligent, mean/intelligent. 

However, it doesn't take long to show that these correlations do not apply to everyone. Curley is mean and stupid. He may have some intelligence but there really is no hard evidence of it. He has a job because his father is the boss. He doesn't take other people's feelings into consideration. If he has intelligence, he doesn't use it. Slim is nice and intelligent. This defeats the idea that intelligence must correlate with meanness or that the unintelligent must correlate with being nice. 

Were early Republicans Tories or Whigs?

The Republican Party formed in Ripon, Wisconsin in 1854. The origin of the Republican Party in American history is an interesting story.

In our early history, we had two political parties. One was the Federalist Party, and the other was the Democratic-Republican Party. Eventually, the Federalist Party disappeared after the War of 1812 leaving only the Democratic-Republican Party. The Democratic-Republican Party shortened its name to the Democratic Party. Eventually, the National Republican Party was created...

The Republican Party formed in Ripon, Wisconsin in 1854. The origin of the Republican Party in American history is an interesting story.

In our early history, we had two political parties. One was the Federalist Party, and the other was the Democratic-Republican Party. Eventually, the Federalist Party disappeared after the War of 1812 leaving only the Democratic-Republican Party. The Democratic-Republican Party shortened its name to the Democratic Party. Eventually, the National Republican Party was created to challenge the Democratic Party. The National Republican Party changed its name to the Whig Party. The Whig Party was opposed to many of the policies of Andrew Jackson. They referred to Andrew Jackson as King Andrew because they thought he acted like a king. The Whig Party eventually disappeared.

The Republican Party descended from the Whig Party and the Free Soil Party. The Free Soil Party was against the spread of slavery. When the Kansas-Nebraska Bill was introduced into Congress, the Republican Party was created. It a political party that formed because it was against slavery, especially the spread of it into the West. The Republican Party also tended to represent the interests of the wealthy and the interests of businesses. Thus, the Republican Party formed, in part, from the Whig Party.

How significant was the domino theory as a reason for U.S. involvement in the conflict in Vietnam? Please provide 3 secondary sources that show a...

The domino theory stated that once Communism began to spread in one country, it would also spread to adjacent countries, and then more and more countries until it took over the world, as one domino knocks over the next, which knocks over the next, until they're all down. On this vision, Communism is something like a virus which spreads on contact. (This isn't as crazy as it sounds; ideas behave like mind-viruses in many respects.)...

The domino theory stated that once Communism began to spread in one country, it would also spread to adjacent countries, and then more and more countries until it took over the world, as one domino knocks over the next, which knocks over the next, until they're all down. On this vision, Communism is something like a virus which spreads on contact. (This isn't as crazy as it sounds; ideas behave like mind-viruses in many respects.)

Most historians think that the domino theory was very important in motivating the decision to fight in the Vietnam War (which was never technically a war, actually; it was considered a "police action" under the law so that it didn't have to be approved by Congress). It definitely featured heavily in the public justifications for the war; most Americans did not consider Vietnam particularly important per se (it was sort of a backwater country many Americans had never even heard of), but the fear that losing Vietnam might mean losing the rest of Southeast Asia or even spreading Chinese Communism into Japan and India was highly motivating.

There are some, however, who believe that the domino theory was not the primary motivation for the Vietnam War and was more like an excuse the government used to garner support. This is not a very popular view among mainstream historians.

In the "Ransom of Red Chief," what nickname does the kid give himself?

Sam and Bill are con men who kidnap a boy named Johnny from a businessman named Ebenezer Dorset. They are hoping that this will be a get-rich-quick scheme so they can play a bigger con in Illinois that has to do with real estate. When they finally kidnap Johnny, he ironically isn't scared and actually thinks it is a fun idea to go camping with the two men.

Johnny's not an idiot, though. He knows...

Sam and Bill are con men who kidnap a boy named Johnny from a businessman named Ebenezer Dorset. They are hoping that this will be a get-rich-quick scheme so they can play a bigger con in Illinois that has to do with real estate. When they finally kidnap Johnny, he ironically isn't scared and actually thinks it is a fun idea to go camping with the two men.

Johnny's not an idiot, though. He knows what the kidnappers are doing with him. He makes it difficult for the kidnappers from the start by talking continually and being a pest. Then he comes up with the idea that since they are camping, he can pretend he is an Indian named Red Chief who actually has captured them. Red Chief is the name that Johnny gives himself so he can play a game with the kidnappers. He calls Bill Old Hank the Trapper. He plans on scalping them in the morning, too.

"Every few minutes he would remember that he was a pesky redskin, and pick up his stick rifle and tiptoe to the mouth of the cave to rubber for the scouts of the hated paleface. Now and then he would let out a war whoop that made Old Hank the Trapper shiver. That boy had Bill terrorized from the start."

This is a great story to read when learning about irony because Red Chief should be the one who is scared of the kidnappers, not the other way around. In the end, the kidnappers are happy to send the kid back home.

In what movie or book does a person say their friend or another person "turns out alright" even though they die or are killed? For example, Nick...

I'm not certain there are stories with that exact phrasing, but there are plenty of stories with a similar sentiment. Nick is referring to Gatsby's moral character, not his physical state of being. In the end, despite all the temptations of East and West Egg and his dealings in criminal activities, Gatsby is able to remain essentially good at his core. He only pursues the life of excess and superficiality because of his love for...

I'm not certain there are stories with that exact phrasing, but there are plenty of stories with a similar sentiment. Nick is referring to Gatsby's moral character, not his physical state of being. In the end, despite all the temptations of East and West Egg and his dealings in criminal activities, Gatsby is able to remain essentially good at his core. He only pursues the life of excess and superficiality because of his love for Daisy. He is not taken in by the vapid culture as Daisy and Tom are. This is what Nick means when he says that Gatsby turned out alright. He even mentions that it is the people around Gatsby who are toxic.

A famous example that gets a bit silly would be Darth Vader from the Star Wars movies. He originally joins the the dark side because of his love for his wife. Eventually, this leads him to actually get caught up in bad things. Unlike Gatsby, he spends a great deal of time actually serving the dark side, but eventually he turns out alright, despite dying. Even as he dies he mentions that his son has saved him. It is in this same moral sense that Gatsby also turns out alright.

Many Americans regularly drive their own cars to work rather than use public transportation or form a car pool. (a) How do you know that each...

A discussion of this requires that we look at who exactly is determining the parameters of efficiency and for what purpose.  We might be examining the efficient use of time. Or we might be examining the efficient use of energy.   And there are individual efficiencies at issue as well as collective efficiencies.

People who are driving their own cars on the road might be viewing efficiency from a  completely individual perspective. Or they might be viewing efficiency only from a temporal perspective. For example, if I have an appointment that will require my car in the afternoon, it may not be efficient for me to take a bus to work, take a bus home, and then get in my car and drive somewhere, depending on where I live and where that somewhere is.  I am using my car so that I can be efficient in my use of time.  A manager might have to inspect three different production plants on a given day. To use public transportation to do so might be highly inefficient in terms of time and money, since the manager might be paid at a high rate, and for the good of the entire company, not just the manager, it is most efficient to have him or her use the car.

Alternatively, if many people use public transportation, there is a more efficient use of fuel and space on the roads, from a societal perspective.  It is more efficient to get 50 people downtown on two gallons of gasoline than for each of them to get there on their individual two gallons.  It is more efficient because it reduces traffic jams, allowing everyone to get there faster. When we are looking at societal priorities in a discussion of efficiency, it is a very different matter.

I think what appears to be a conflict is the result only of how one defines efficiency, for which particular resource or resources, and for whom the efficiency is being defined. It's a question of which resources are being used efficiently and one's perspective, individual or collective.

What are the metaphors in Tennyson's poem "The Eagle"?

Alfred, Lord Tennyson is considered one the finest English Romantic poets. As with William Wordsworth, his contemporary and predecessor as Poet Laureate of England, Tennyson wrote many poems glorifying nature. His poem, "The Eagle" is about the majestic bird perching high on a mountain cliff in the first stanza and then diving powerfully toward the sea to hunt for prey in the second stanza. The eagle is admired as beautiful and mighty.

Technically speaking there...

Alfred, Lord Tennyson is considered one the finest English Romantic poets. As with William Wordsworth, his contemporary and predecessor as Poet Laureate of England, Tennyson wrote many poems glorifying nature. His poem, "The Eagle" is about the majestic bird perching high on a mountain cliff in the first stanza and then diving powerfully toward the sea to hunt for prey in the second stanza. The eagle is admired as beautiful and mighty.

Technically speaking there are no metaphors in the poem, but there are comparisons using personification and simile. Personification is when a non-human object or an animal is given human qualities. In the first stanza the eagle is personified as Tennyson says, "He clasps the crag with crooked hands." and "Ring'd with the azure world he stands." Of course, he doesn't have hands, he has talons, and he doesn't stand, he perches.

In the second stanza, Tennyson uses a simile, much like a metaphor except it uses the word like or as in the comparison. Tennyson compares the eagle to a thunderbolt as he swoops down from the cliff. The association is meant to show the swiftness and awe-inspiring quality of the bird. 

What literary elements are used in Edgar Allan Poe's poem "Annabel Lee"?

The first major literary element used in Poe's poem "Annabel Lee" is genre. The poem is written in the form that uses many of the conventions of the traditional ballad, including simple language, narrative content, frequent repetition, and a setting in a distant, romanticized past, removed from everyday life, as we see in the opening:

It was many and many a year ago,  

In a kingdom by the sea ...

The next major literary...

The first major literary element used in Poe's poem "Annabel Lee" is genre. The poem is written in the form that uses many of the conventions of the traditional ballad, including simple language, narrative content, frequent repetition, and a setting in a distant, romanticized past, removed from everyday life, as we see in the opening:

It was many and many a year ago,  

In a kingdom by the sea ...

The next major literary element found in the poem is stanzaic form. The poem is divided into six stanzas, ranging from six to eight lines in length. Rather than have a completely regular pattern of rhyme, Poe repeats a small group of rhyming words at the ends of three or four lines in each stanza. These words are: Lee, we, sea, and me. The meter of the poem is a mixture of iambs and anapests. 

The next major literary element is a combination  of hyperbole and metaphor, in which religious imagery is evoked by the use of images of seraphs, angels, demons, and Heaven in the description of their relationship.

How does the first act of Tartuffe address concerns about "the possibility of sharp discrepancies between social appearance and the 'truth' of...

The idea of sharp discrepancies between truth and appearance are prevalent throughout the play Tartuffe. The author uses the first act to point out some of these discrepancies. One of the best examples of this is the discussion on gossip. Mme. Pernelle tells Elmire that her behavior is causing gossip. “Is something going on? Well I hope not/ You’re being talked about a lot (Act I, Scene I).  Dorine instantly concludes this is because the neighbor is watching them. “It’s our neighbor Daphne, I just know it. They don’t like us. It’s obvious—they show it” (Act I, Scene I). She gives an impassioned speech about why gossip occurs:

Well then they need

new stories for the gossip mill to feed

to all who’ll listen. So they must repaint

The deed of others, hoping that a taint

Will color others’ lives in a darker tone

and by this process, lighten up their own (Act I, scene I).

An example in our society could come from a reality television show.

Another discrepancy between truth and appearance is noticeable in the character of Tartuffe. Although we have not yet met him, he is a topic of discussion in the first act. Of all the major characters, only Mme. Pernelle and Orgon are fond of Tartuffe. “This holy man you think of as uncouth/ Tries to help by telling you the truth (Act I, scene I)” The truth is that Tartuffe is a religious hypocrite who says one thing and does another. Cleante is particularly critical of him: “I see things clearly/ and what I see is loud lip service, merely/ To make exhibitionists seem devout/ Forgive me, but a prayer is not a shout” (Act I, scene 5). Cleante sees Tartuffe’s behavior for what it is: a man pretending to be religious while acting in ways that are not religious. An example in our society could be revered religious figures who preach against an action but do it all the same.

How might the way Scout tells the story bias the reader towards or against other characters in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is written from Scout's adult voice as she remembers her childhood experiences. The adult perspective pieces together many of the holes she may have from her memory in order to create a solid story. As a result, the adult Scout might project more mature conclusions or biases about people that might have been different from what she actually felt or experienced at the time. With that said, Scout could also have demonized people she didn't understand while she was a child and carried those feelings into adulthood. One example of this possibility is Scout's feelings about Aunt Alexandra. The reader might see Aunt Alexandra as a wicked witch based on Scout's assessment and portrayal of her, as shown in the following passage:

"Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants. . . furthermore, I should be a ray of sunshine in my father's lonely life. I suggested that one could be a ray of sunshine in pants just as well, but Aunty said that one had to behave like a sunbeam, I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year. She hurt my feelings and set my teeth permanently on edge" (81).

The above passage shows Scout resisting Aunt Alexandra's attempts to teach her to be a lady. Aunt Alexandra wants Scout to wear dresses, help her father, and not beat other children up, but that doesn't mean she hates her. On the contrary, it's because of her love for her family that she wants to train Scout to behave properly. The friction between the two women, though, probably never really healed and Scout ends up carrying those feelings over into the storytelling. Hence, the story presents only Scout's side of her feelings for Aunt Alexandra, which might give the reader the same biased feelings as well.

For an example of how Scout describes someone to make the reader like another character rather than despise him is with Dill. Scout loves Dill, so descriptions surrounding him will be more positive, as in the following passage:

"Summer was on the way; Jem and I awaited it with impatience. Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree-house; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape; but most of all, summer was Dill" (34).

Contrast the above passage with the one about Aunt Alexandra and the reader can completely see that Dill is a positive character in Scout's story. She places Dill in front of a backdrop of colors, good food, and sleeping outside--all the things kids love about summer! With such love flowing through wonderful language as this, the reader can certainly appreciate Dill.

What are some issues that can arise with DNA replication?

DNA carries the hereditary information for an organism. Since it is a double helix, when the two strands unwind during DNA replication, either one can serve as a template for DNA replication. The bases are added to the copied strand according to base-pairing rules with adenine pairing to thymine and cytosine pairing to guanine.

The replicated DNA will have one strand from the original template and one newly synthesized complementary strand.

Mistakes can occur during...

DNA carries the hereditary information for an organism. Since it is a double helix, when the two strands unwind during DNA replication, either one can serve as a template for DNA replication. The bases are added to the copied strand according to base-pairing rules with adenine pairing to thymine and cytosine pairing to guanine.

The replicated DNA will have one strand from the original template and one newly synthesized complementary strand.

Mistakes can occur during the pairing of complementary nucleotides to the original template strand. However, the cells have an enzyme called DNA polymerase which can remove the wrong nucleotide by enzymatic action and continue synthesizing the complementary strand. Due to the action of this important enzyme, by the time DNA replication is complete, there is only 1 error per 10 billion nucleotides. This amount is an estimate based on many different sources and I have included two excellent links regarding DNA errors and repair mechanisms.

Even after DNA replication is complete, errors between mismatched base pairs can still be corrected. DNA can be exposed to harmful agents such as X-rays, chemicals in the environment, and UV radiation among others, which can cause damage. Sometimes DNA can spontaneously change. If the cell's repair mechanisms cannot correct a mistake, the change is permanent and is called a mutation.

There are multiple repair enzymes in cells to continuously fix errors in DNA. Examples include nucleases which are able to cut out segments of DNA with damage and the original template strand can be used to guide the correction in the complementary strand.

UV radiation can cause thymine dimers to occur which causes the DNA double helix to buckle. This occurs between adjacent thymine bases. This type of damage which is uncorrected may lead to skin cancer.

It is important to note that errors are not that common, however, some mutations do persist. If DNA never mutated, life could never have new genes. Although many mutations are harmful, some could actually be beneficial in the right environment.

I have included a link to show DNA polymerase and its action on DNA replication and repair.

In chapter 13 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus says to Jem and Scout "Don't you worry about anything." He said "Its not a time to worry." What...

Aunt Alexandra has come to visit. The children’s mother is dead, so she has come to give them some “feminine influence”.  She also was concerned that the children know the importance of their heritage.

"…Aunt Alexandra’s appearance on the scene was not so much Atticus’s doing as hers.  Aunty had a way of declaring What Is Best For The Family, and I suppose her coming to live with us was in that category.” (pg 129)

Aunt Alexandra was obsessed with heredity.  She felt that the longer a person lived on a certain piece of land, the finer the family.  Scout says,

"Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never into the world of Jem and me.” (pg 131-132)

When Aunt Alexandra would be entertaining the ladies of Maycomb, she would call Scout in to say hello.  She asked Scout to say hello to her cousin, Lily Brooke, and Scout said that she didn’t know Lily Brook was her cousin.  Aunt Alexandra was displeased that Atticus had not taught his children about the Finch family.  She went and returned with a book, Meditations of Joshua St. Clair, stating that their cousin had written that book.  All the children knew was that Cousin Joshua tried to shoot the president of the University.  It cost the family five hundred dollars to “….get him out of that one.” (pg 132)

Because of this conversation, Aunt Alexandra talks to Atticus, and Atticus visits the children in Jem’s room that night. Atticus tells them that Aunt Alexandra,

“……asked me to try and impress upon you and Jean Louise that you are not from run-of-the-mill people, that you are a product of several generations’ gentle breeding……She asked me to tell you you must try to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are.  She wants to talk to you about the family and what it’s meant to Maycomb County through the years, so you’ll have some idea of who you are, so you might be moved to behave accordingly. (pg 133)

Jem and Scout are silent.  They don’t know what to say.  Finally Scout asks Atticus if all this behaving is going to change things between them.  She is asking whether he is going to back Aunt Alexandra on this, and what is going to happen to their relationship

That is when Atticus suddenly backs up and replies,

“Don’t you worry about anything……It’s not time to worry.”  (pg 134)

He is basically telling them that they are still children and should enjoy being children.  There will come a time when they should be aware of this, but the time is not now. 

When Scout asks him,

“You really want us to do all that?  I can’t remember everything Finches are supposed to do……” (pg 134) 

Atticus responds,

“I don’t want you to remember anything.  Forget it”(pg 134)

In "Everyday Use," why does Dee want the quilts?

In "Everyday Use," Dee wants the quilts because she wants to preserve them as artifacts of her family's heritage.  The quilts were made by women in the family, and the cloth came from scraps of clothing that had been worn by past family members such as Great Grandpa Ezra's uniform from the Civil War.  Mama intends to give the quilts to Maggie, who will put them to use when she gets married and moves out...

In "Everyday Use," Dee wants the quilts because she wants to preserve them as artifacts of her family's heritage.  The quilts were made by women in the family, and the cloth came from scraps of clothing that had been worn by past family members such as Great Grandpa Ezra's uniform from the Civil War.  Mama intends to give the quilts to Maggie, who will put them to use when she gets married and moves out of the house.  But Dee says that Maggie will use the quilts until they turn into rags, and she does not want the quilts to be destroyed.  Dee wants to put the quilts on the wall as artwork for her and others to admire.  Mama does say that when Dee went away to school that she offered her one of the quilts, which Dee turned down.  However, after Dee goes to school, she changes her perspective and now sees the quilts as cultural artifacts.

What did Robert Burns promise in the poem "A Red, Red Rose"?

In "A Red, Red Rose," the speaker uses two types of figurative language to express his love. First he uses hyperbole, a type of figurative language that exaggerates for emphasis or humor, to declare his love to his "bonnie lass," or beautiful girl. Second, he uses a metaphor, which compares one thing to another without using the words "like" or "as." Four separate promises are made in the poem.

1. "And I will luve thee...

In "A Red, Red Rose," the speaker uses two types of figurative language to express his love. First he uses hyperbole, a type of figurative language that exaggerates for emphasis or humor, to declare his love to his "bonnie lass," or beautiful girl. Second, he uses a metaphor, which compares one thing to another without using the words "like" or "as." Four separate promises are made in the poem.

1. "And I will luve thee still, my dear, / Till a’ the seas gang dry." To translate this into everyday speech, it means, "I will love you until all the seas dry up." Since the seas will never dry up, this is hyperbole, an exaggerated way of saying, "I will love you forever." 

2. I will love you until "the rocks melt wi’ the sun" means "I will love you until the heat of the sun melts rocks on earth." Again, this will never happen, so it is another hyperbolic way of saying the speaker will love his girlfriend forever.

3. "While the sands o’ life shall run" is a metaphor comparing one's lifetime to an hourglass. If all the days of his life are like sands in an hourglass, he will love his girl until the very last one. He will love her until the day he dies.

4. "And I will come again, my luve, / Though it were ten thousand mile" is another hyperbole. This means that, although he must leave his love now, he will return to her, even if he has to travel ten thousand miles to do so. Nowadays someone might actually be separated by ten thousand miles from a loved one. For example, the distance from Scotland to parts of Australia is 10,000 miles. When Robert Burns was writing these poems in Scotland in the 1700s, not many people would travel that far from home, but the literal distance isn't really the point. Using such a large round number means the same as saying, "no matter how far I have to go." So the speaker is promising to return despite the distance that will be separating them. 

Using hyperbole and metaphor, the speaker promises to always love his "bonnie lass" and to return to her no matter how far away he must go from her side.

Compare and contrast homosexual and heterosexual relationships.

The first thing you might emphasize in your paper is that there are many different types of both homosexual and heterosexual relationships, ranging from loving marriages which endure for a lifetime to brief encounters in bars. The character of the people involved in the relationship is far more important than the gender. Especially as gay marriage becomes more widely legalized and accepted, the differences become fewer.

The first major difference between people's experience of homosexual...

The first thing you might emphasize in your paper is that there are many different types of both homosexual and heterosexual relationships, ranging from loving marriages which endure for a lifetime to brief encounters in bars. The character of the people involved in the relationship is far more important than the gender. Especially as gay marriage becomes more widely legalized and accepted, the differences become fewer.

The first major difference between people's experience of homosexual and heterosexual relationships has to do with social acceptance. While homosexuality was an accepted part of ancient Greek culture, Christian and Islamic cultures have opposed it for many hundreds of years; only gradually have some Christian denominations begun to perform gay marriages and ordain gay clergy. This means that gay relationships were, for a long period, part of an underground gay counterculture. This put a great deal of stress on relationships and made it harder for homosexual couples to sustain long term relationships and build families.

Homosexual couples still face obstacles in many cultures around the world. Even in North America, it can be harder for homosexual couples to adopt children and to gain acceptance in certain areas or communities, although most major cities have a thriving and diverse culture, in which both both homosexual and heterosexual families are accepted. 

True or False statements for Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene 1. If the statement is false write the correction 1. Benvolio advises Mercutio to go...

1. Benvolio advises Mercutio to go inside, since it is such a hot day, and the Capulets are out. True, in lines 1-4, Benvolio says,

I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire.The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,And if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl,For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

2. Mercutio accuses Benvolio of being a troublemaker. True, lines 5-10, 12-14, 16-31. 

3. Tybalt wants to fight Romeo...

1. Benvolio advises Mercutio to go inside, since it is such a hot day, and the Capulets are out. True, in lines 1-4, Benvolio says,

I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire.
The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,
And if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl,
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

2. Mercutio accuses Benvolio of being a troublemaker. True, lines 5-10, 12-14, 16-31. 

3. Tybalt wants to fight Romeo because he knows about Romeo and Juliet's secret wedding. False, Tybalt challenges Romeo because Romeo crashed the Capulet party and Tybalt overheard him speaking. Tybalt wanted to fight him at the party but was dissuaded by Lord Capulet. Tybalt doesn't understand why Romeo tells him in lines 63-66, 

Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
To such a greeting. Villain am I none.
Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not.

4. Romeo is kind to Tybalt because he is afraid to fight him. False, in a case of dramatic irony (the audience knowing something one or more of the characters doesn't know), Tybalt knows nothing about the marriage between Romeo and Juliet. Romeo won't fight him because they are now related through marriage since Tybalt is Juliet's cousin. See above quote. Romeo is obviously not afraid of fighting Tybalt because the two do fight after Mercutio is killed and Romeo wins.

5.5. Mercutio fights Tybalt because Tybalt has insulted him personally. False, Mercutio is upset that his friend Romeo has backed down. Mercutio and Tybalt are the most belligerent characters in the play and it's not surprising that they fight. Each of them is quite devoted to the feud. Mercutio wants to defend Romeo's honor because he doesn't know Romeo's true motive for backing down. Mercutio says in lines 74-76,

O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!
Alla stoccato carries it away. [He draws.]
Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?

6. Mercutio jokes about his own impending death. True, ever the joker, Mercutio is punning to his death as he plays on the word "grave." He says in lines 100-103,

No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as
a church door, but ’tis enough. ’Twill serve. Ask for
me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.

7. Romeo is shocked and enraged over Mercutio's death and willingly fights Tybalt. True, in lines 127-135 Romeo says,

Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain!
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now.—
Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again
That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul
Is but a little way above our heads,
Staying for thine to keep him company.
Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.

8. Tybalt is accidentally killed by Benvolio. False, Benvolio is not involved in the fight. After Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, Romeo kills Tybalt in revenge.

9. Sampson and Gregory tell the Prince what has caused Tybalt's and Mercutio's death. False, Benvolio describes the fight between Mercutio and Tybalt and then Romeo and Tybalt in lines 160-184. Gregory and Sampson are Capulet servants who are only mentioned in Act I, Scene 1.

10. Lady Montague calls Romeo a liar. False, Lady Montague calls Benvolio a liar in line 186. Romeo has fled the scene. She says,

He is a kinsman to the Montague.
Affection makes him false; he speaks not true.

11. The Prince sentences Romeo to death. False, the Prince banishes Romeo (Romeo goes to Mantua). He does say that if Romeo is found in Verona he will be put to death. The Prince says in lines 196-207,

And for that offense
Immediately we do exile him hence.
I have an interest in your hearts’ proceeding:
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding.
But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine.
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses.
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses.
Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste,
Else, when he is found, that hour is his last.
Bear hence this body and attend our will.
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

 

How did agricultural slavery work? |

There were two kinds of slaves that worked on the plantations in the South. There were house slaves, and there were field slaves. The house slaves generally worked in the home where the plantation owner lived. Some of the work the house slaves did included cooking the meals, serving the food, doing the wash, and keeping the house clean.

The field slaves worked in the farm fields. Many were involved in harvesting crops such as...

There were two kinds of slaves that worked on the plantations in the South. There were house slaves, and there were field slaves. The house slaves generally worked in the home where the plantation owner lived. Some of the work the house slaves did included cooking the meals, serving the food, doing the wash, and keeping the house clean.

The field slaves worked in the farm fields. Many were involved in harvesting crops such as cotton. The field slaves worked very long days. They were up at dawn and worked until dusk. They spent time in the fields removing the balls of cotton from the cotton plants. They also tended the fields where other crops were grown. An overseer, who usually didn’t treat them well, watched them. They weren’t allowed to get an education. They were provided with the basic necessities that included receiving meals, clothing, and shelter. If the slaves misbehaved, worked too slowly, or didn’t follow orders they would often be punished severely. Life was very harsh for these slaves.

In the movie To Kill a Mockingbird, how does the plot develop so that the children eventually change their perception of Boo Radley?

At the beginning of the film To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, Jem, and Dill view their neighbor, Boo Radley, with fear and suspicion.  They had heard many rumors about Boo, like that he stays chained to his bed most of the time and that he only comes out at night.  They believe that Boo is over six feet tall, eats animals raw, and has a large scar on his face.  Dill's aunt tells a...

At the beginning of the film To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout, Jem, and Dill view their neighbor, Boo Radley, with fear and suspicion.  They had heard many rumors about Boo, like that he stays chained to his bed most of the time and that he only comes out at night.  They believe that Boo is over six feet tall, eats animals raw, and has a large scar on his face.  Dill's aunt tells a story of when Boo stabbed his father in the leg with a pair of scissors.  She feeds the children's fear of Boo.  

Later, the children find gifts in the knot hole of an old tree.  They find two carved figurines that resemble themselves.  Jem confesses to Scout that he has been finding gifts in the knot hole for awhile.  He shows her the gifts and they realize that the gifts are from Boo.  Jem also tells her that the night his pants got stuck on the fence, someone folded them and set them out for him.  This is a turning point in the plot as their opinion on Boo shifts.  They start to view him more as a mysterious friend and a person who is probably lonely.  

Near the end, Jem and Scout are walking home together through the woods at night.  Bob Ewell attacks them, but Boo Radley appears and kills him.  Boo carries an injured Jem home.  Scout notices Boo at the house and takes his hand.  They realize that Boo is a true friend.

How many somatic chromosomes does a son receive from his father and mother?

Somatic chromosomes are more commonly called autosomes. By using the term autosome instead of somatic chromosome, we can avoid confusing the terms "somatic chromosome" and "somatic cell." 

Autosome Chromosomes vs Sex Chromosomes

• 
  Autosome Chromosomes: Autosomes are chromosomes that are not sex chromosomes. In humans, this would include chromosome pairs 1-22.

• 
  Sex Chromosomes: The sex chromosomes in humans are designated 'X' and 'Y.' Female cells contain two X chromosomes. Male cells contain one X...

Somatic chromosomes are more commonly called autosomes. By using the term autosome instead of somatic chromosome, we can avoid confusing the terms "somatic chromosome" and "somatic cell." 

Autosome Chromosomes vs Sex Chromosomes

• 
  Autosome Chromosomes: Autosomes are chromosomes that are not sex chromosomes. In humans, this would include chromosome pairs 1-22.

• 
  Sex Chromosomes: The sex chromosomes in humans are designated 'X' and 'Y.' Female cells contain two X chromosomes. Male cells contain one X and one Y chromosome. 

Both sons and daughters inherit one chromosome from pairs 1-22 from each parent. In other words, they inherit 22 autosomes from the father and 22 autosomes from the mother. 

Both sons and daughters also inherit one X chromosome from the mother. If the sex chromosome inherited from the father is an X chromosome the child will be female. If the sex chromosome inherited from the father is a Y chromosome, the child will be male. 

Therefore, both sons and daughters inherit 22 autosomes and 1 sex chromosome from each parent.

Somatic Cells vs Gamete Cells

The term "somatic" is more commonly used to describe the cells in the body that are not egg or sperm cells. Egg and sperm cells are called gamete cells. 

What is Lord Capulet like?

The audience may have a positive impression of Lord Capulet through the first two Acts of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In Act III, he reveals a more malevolent personality after Juliet rebuffs his offer of marriage to Count Paris. 

When we first meet Lord Capulet we admire his love and good sense regarding his daughter. Paris, a wealthy man of Verona, wants to marry Juliet. Because of his title and social status Paris is...

The audience may have a positive impression of Lord Capulet through the first two Acts of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In Act III, he reveals a more malevolent personality after Juliet rebuffs his offer of marriage to Count Paris. 

When we first meet Lord Capulet we admire his love and good sense regarding his daughter. Paris, a wealthy man of Verona, wants to marry Juliet. Because of his title and social status Paris is a good match for Juliet. Capulet, however, worries more about his very young daughter's well-being than any social or political expedience. He urges Paris to woo Juliet and win her love. He says, in Act I, Scene 2,

She’s the hopeful lady of my earth.
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart;
My will to her consent is but a part.
And, she agreed, within her scope of choice
Lies my consent and fair according voice.

The audience also may appreciate Lord Capulet's behavior during the party at his house. When Tybalt overhears Romeo and wants to fight, Capulet stops him. In fact, he even speaks well of Romeo, something we don't expect because of the bitter rivalry between the Capulets and Romeo's family. Capulet says, in Act I, Scene 5, 

Content thee, gentle coz. Let him alone.
He bears him like a portly gentleman,
And, to say truth, Verona brags of him
To be a virtuous and well-governed youth.
I would not for the wealth of all this town
Here in my house do him disparagement.

Capulet, however, also has a fierce temper and when Juliet refuses to marry Paris in Act III, Scene 5, he berates the girl, levying a litany of Shakespearean insults on the girl. He calls her "green-sickness carrion," "tallow face," "disobedient wretch" and "Mistress Minion." He also threatens to disown the girl. He says,

An you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend.
An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,
For, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee,
Nor what is mine shall never do thee good.
Trust to ’t; bethink you. I’ll not be forsworn.

In defense of Lord Capulet, we may think he is just doing what he feels is right for his daughter and the family after the death of Tybalt. When the Nurse discovers Juliet in her bed, after the girl takes the potion to fake her death, we witness the softer side of Capulet when he believes he has lost his daughter. In Act IV, Scene 5, he says,

O child! O child! My soul and not my child!
Dead art thou! Alack, my child is dead,
And with my child my joys are burièd.

The final verdict on Capulet's behavior may ultimately be negative. His attitude toward the feud and his obstinate behavior about the marriage to Paris heavily contribute to the final outcome of the play as he pushes his daughter to make a decision which leads directly to tragedy.

In what ways does Muhammad Ali fulfill a Socratic function in today’s society? Compare and contrast Muhammad Ali and Socrates.

In Plato’s version of the trials of Socrates, titled “Apology,” Socrates responds to accusations of the court of Athens put against him for corrupting the local youth. Socrates has spent his entire life in the supposed service of the god Apollo, testing to show the god who amongst the people of Athens is wise. To perform this duty, commissioned to him by the Oracle at Delphi, Socrates spent his days in dialogue with those around him, mostly asking questions. He claimed to have no knowledge of his own, since if one knows something, one cannot effectively learn that thing. His questions were pointed, however, and often made the people he was speaking to look ignorant. He made a lot of the local leaders look unintelligent, and that made them angry, hence the accusations and the trial. He was directed to stop querying people in this manner, and he refused to comply. Socrates was one of our earliest recorded examples of conscientious objection. 

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay before converting to Islam in 1964, refused to be inducted into the US Armed Forces when he was drafted in 1967, while the United States was active in the Vietnam War. He cited both his religious beliefs and the fact that he had no personal issues with the Vietcong as reasons for his refusal. In June of that same year, he was convicted of draft evasion (although, technically he showed up for induction and refuse to step forward when his name was called, so he didn’t exactly evade the draft). He was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. His conviction was overturned in June of 1971, after he had suffered a three year ban from boxing. 

The question of whether or how Ali serves a Socratic function in society suggests, first of all, that Socrates himself had a particular function in society.  It could be argued that Socrates was simply living his life in the manner he felt best, and when that became a problem for society he chose civil disobedience rather than compliance. The same could be said for Ali, in some sense, although Ali was a notable figure in the boxing world prior to being drafted, so his response to the draft was instantly visible and public.

On the other hand, Socrates certainly did have a public presence, even if he had no formal function in society. He called into question the key leaders in Athens from the point of view of a regular citizen. Ali was also a “regular citizen” whose personal convictions led him to disagree with a requirement of the state, and when commanded to meet that requirement he too chose civil disobedience rather than compromise his conscience.

Did Victor Frankenstein ever really assume responsibility for the dire consequences that resulted from his creation or was he more of a...

Intriguing question! In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein’s actions lead to intense repercussions. Although this book was written decades ago, scholars still debate Victor’s actions and responsibility. Throughout the book, Victor’s acceptance of responsibility (or lack thereof) is clearly evident, especially with Elizabeth’s death and the creature’s experiences.

Beginning with Elizabeth's death, Victor illustrates that his actions of creating the monster incited extreme consequences. For example, Victor expresses his responsibility for the...

Intriguing question! In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein’s actions lead to intense repercussions. Although this book was written decades ago, scholars still debate Victor’s actions and responsibility. Throughout the book, Victor’s acceptance of responsibility (or lack thereof) is clearly evident, especially with Elizabeth’s death and the creature’s experiences.

Beginning with Elizabeth's death, Victor illustrates that his actions of creating the monster incited extreme consequences. For example, Victor expresses his responsibility for the actions by stating:

“From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and voiceless grief of my Elizabeth. This also was my doing! And my father's woe, and the desolation of that late so smiling home -- all was the work of my thrice -- accursed hands!”

As a result, Victor expresses the guilt that he feels, especially after the death of his loved one, Elizabeth. Although he feels remorse and responsibility for these actions, Victor never tries to ameliorate the situation by stating his guilt to the court or even by confessing to Elizabeth.

Furthermore, Victor feels responsible for making the creature; however, he never seems to express remorse for not caring about his creature. As Victor states while discussing with Walton:

“You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been.”

Thus, Victor seems to accept responsibility for pursuing knowledge overzealously; however, he fails to admit responsibility for leaving his creature alone without care or nourishment. As the creature expresses:

"It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half-frightened, as it were instinctively, finding myself so desolate. Before I had quitted your apartment, on a sensation of cold, I had covered myself with some clothes; but these were insufficient to secure me from the dews of night. I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I knew, and could distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain invade me on all sides, I sat down and wept.”

Therefore, throughout the book, Victor confronts the repercussions of his actions, such as Elizabeth’s death and the creation of his monster. Although he admits his partial guilt, he fails to accept full responsibility. For example, he never tries to save Elizabeth and he fails to provide nourishment and care for the very being that he created. Furthermore, he never apologizes to his creature or attempts to mend their relationship. Thus, he blames the creature for many of the repercussions and takes the easy way out by simply ignoring or trying to destroy his creation.

What are the reasons why I should read The Great Gatsby?

Your reasons for doing things are personal. The only person who can know your reasons is you. While an educator can suggest possible ways in which students might benefit from reading a book, those are not necessarily your reasons. A few possibilities are:

1. 
   The Great Gatsbyis required reading for one of your classes. Although you can try to save time be reading summaries instead, by doing so you will miss important details, causing you...

Your reasons for doing things are personal. The only person who can know your reasons is you. While an educator can suggest possible ways in which students might benefit from reading a book, those are not necessarily your reasons. A few possibilities are:

1. 
   The Great Gatsby is required reading for one of your classes. Although you can try to save time be reading summaries instead, by doing so you will miss important details, causing you to get lower grades on papers and tests. 


2. By reading extended (several hundred page) works written for adults, you develop high-order reading skills. Although your future employers won't quiz you on the contents of Fitzgerald's novel, in most professional jobs you will be required to read and understand long, complex documents. Thus the reading skills you develop by doing the full reading are transferable to both other classes and the work environment. The more you read, the faster your reading speed and the greater your reading comprehension.


3. The more you read, the better you write. Many studies on student writing skills show that high quantities of reading are strongly correlated with writing skill.


4. To understand the present involves knowing how things arrived at their present state. The Great Gatsby is a story with many details about life in the Jazz Age before the Great Depression and can help you understand the evolution of American society.


5. 
   The Great Gatsby is part of the American literary canon. This means that most well-educated Americans have read it, and not knowing it may, in certain social circles, make you appear ignorant and uneducated.


6. You might enjoy it.

Which of John Locke's ideas had an influence on American government?

Two of John Locke’s ideas influenced American government in important ways.  Both ideas can be seen in the Declaration of Independence.

First, Locke had ideas about where government got its legitimacy.  He said that government could only be legitimate if the people consented to be governed.  This helped influence America to become a strongly democratic country where we believe that the people’s voices must be heard.

Second, Locke had ideas about what government was supposed...

Two of John Locke’s ideas influenced American government in important ways.  Both ideas can be seen in the Declaration of Independence.

First, Locke had ideas about where government got its legitimacy.  He said that government could only be legitimate if the people consented to be governed.  This helped influence America to become a strongly democratic country where we believe that the people’s voices must be heard.

Second, Locke had ideas about what government was supposed to do.  He believed that the government was supposed to protect people’s basic human rights.  He listed these rights as the rights to “life, liberty, and property,” (which Thomas Jefferson changed to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration).  To Locke, the only reason to have a government was so that it could protect these rights.  This influenced American government, causing the American people to want limits on their government.  Our Constitution is full of provisions that say what the government cannot do.  It sets our government up in such a way that it is hard for the government to act.  The Constitution is this way because Americans do not want the government to be powerful enough to take away their rights.  They want to limit the government so it will not do much more than protecting their basic rights.

In these ways, John Locke’s ideas influenced the system of government that we have today.

In "The Bet," does the lawyer's opinion on life being better than no life change?

This is a great question. I'd like to say that, no, his opinion doesn't change. That would have made a better end to the story, I think. But the story ends with the lawyer writing a long note about his time in prison and why he is forfeiting the bet five hours early. Early in the note, the lawyer writes this line:

With a clear conscience I tell you, as before God, who beholds me,...

This is a great question. I'd like to say that, no, his opinion doesn't change. That would have made a better end to the story, I think. But the story ends with the lawyer writing a long note about his time in prison and why he is forfeiting the bet five hours early. Early in the note, the lawyer writes this line:

With a clear conscience I tell you, as before God, who beholds me, that I despise freedom and life and health, and all that in your books is called the good things of the world.

The lawyer writes that he despises life. To me, that seems like a complete turnaround from his earlier statement at the beginning of the story. That was when he argued that any life was better than no life at all.  

Of course it is odd that the lawyer walked away from the bet to presumably keep on living. I'd be curious to see what his reaction would have been if someone offered to kill him. Or I'd be very curious to ask him if he would rather have been killed fifteen years earlier. From his letter, it almost sounds like he wishes for death, but he would not have that attitude if he wasn't allowed to live, read, and research for all of those years.

How are cells different from viruses?

To understand how cells are different from viruses, one must first understand what a virus is and how it functions. A virus is a small particle that exists as a capsid, which is generally defined as a protein coating that contains and protects the genetic material located inside. Viruses can only function inside a host cell, and while outside of a cell they lack the ability to generate the metabolic activity necessary for protein production...

To understand how cells are different from viruses, one must first understand what a virus is and how it functions. A virus is a small particle that exists as a capsid, which is generally defined as a protein coating that contains and protects the genetic material located inside. Viruses can only function inside a host cell, and while outside of a cell they lack the ability to generate the metabolic activity necessary for protein production and replication. Once a virus infects a host cell, it inserts its own genetic material, in the form of DNA or RNA, into the host cells genetic material, causing the host cell to create many copies of the virus, instead of the necessary proteins for healthy cell function and survival. These new viruses then leave the host cell, causing it to die, and go on to infect more cells. 

The main difference between a cell and a virus is that a cell, whether it is prokaryotic or eukaryotic, is metabolically active, and maintains all the necessary functions for self-replication. This is not possible in viruses. Cells are also different from viruses due to the presence of ribosomes, which are responsible for the process of protein synthesis. Various cell types can also contain many other organelles that are not present in viruses. Also, cells contain a cell membrane to hold in the cytoplasm and all of the components of the cell contained within it, while viruses, other than their external capsid protein coat, lack this feature. From an anatomical stand point cells are also much larger than viruses. 

Hope this helps!

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what is peculiar about Tom which would lead one to believe he could not have grabbed, beaten, or raped Mayella Ewell?

In Chapter 18, Atticus asks Mayella Ewell to identify the man who allegedly beat and raped her. Mayella indicates that Tom Robinson was the man responsible, and Atticus asks Tom to stand up.When Tom stands up, that entire community and jury can see that Tom has a crippled left arm. Scout says that it is twelve inches shorter than his right arm and hangs dead at his side. She mentions that Tom's hand was...

In Chapter 18, Atticus asks Mayella Ewell to identify the man who allegedly beat and raped her. Mayella indicates that Tom Robinson was the man responsible, and Atticus asks Tom to stand up. When Tom stands up, that entire community and jury can see that Tom has a crippled left arm. Scout says that it is twelve inches shorter than his right arm and hangs dead at his side. She mentions that Tom's hand was small and shriveled. Scout can see that his left arm and hand are of no use to him. Reverand Sykes tells Scout that Tom had his arm caught in Dolphus Raymond's cotton gin as a boy and almost bled to death. He says that Tom's muscles were torn loose from the bone, and his injuries were severe. Tom could not have possibly strangled Mayella around her neck with his crippled left arm, let alone hold her down while he raped her. Mayella's injuries to the right side of her face indicate that a man who lead almost exclusively with his left hand beat her in the face. There is sufficient evidence that suggests her left-handed father, Bob Ewell, was responsible for Mayella's injuries.

Why does the Nurse seek out Romeo?

The Nurse seeks out Romeo at Juliet's behest, as an intermediary. She comes to find Romeo, to give him a warning about abusing Juliet's trust, and basically to see what Romeo's intentions towards Juliet really are:

Pray you, sir, a word: and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you out;

Juliet has sent the Nurse to find Romeo, to talk to him and find out more about him. The Nurse has...

The Nurse seeks out Romeo at Juliet's behest, as an intermediary. She comes to find Romeo, to give him a warning about abusing Juliet's trust, and basically to see what Romeo's intentions towards Juliet really are:

Pray you, sir, a word: and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you out;

Juliet has sent the Nurse to find Romeo, to talk to him and find out more about him. The Nurse has been taking care of Juliet ever since Juliet was a tiny child, and is very protective of her. So the Nurse also takes this opportunity to issue young Romeo with a gentle threat:

First let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman is young; and therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.

To put it in a more modern vernacular, the Nurse is saying: "Listen, mister. If you're leading Juliet on, that's a rotten thing to do, because she is very young. So if you're just two-timing her, that's a terrible thing to do to any lady, and the kind of thing a weak coward would do, besides."

Following this conversation, Romeo delivers a message to Juliet through the Nurse:

Bid her devise some means to come to shrift this afternoon; and there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains.

Romeo tells the Nurse, "Tell Juliet to make up some excuse so she can come to confession this afternoon at Friar Laurence's place. And then not only will he hear her confession, but he will marry us." Then he tries to give the Nurse a coin "for her trouble" in coming to deliver the messages.

How does Ray Bradbury use hyperbole in his novel Fahrenheit 451?

Hyperbole is the use of extreme exaggeration for the purpose of creating a desired effect. The author fully intends that his readers recognize a hyperbolic statement as a figure of speech, and as readers we willingly go along for the ride in order to experience the effect, whether it be amusement, shock, disdain, wonder, admiration, you name it. Ray Bradbury does a very entertaining job with hyperbole in Fahrenheit 451, usually for the purpose...

Hyperbole is the use of extreme exaggeration for the purpose of creating a desired effect. The author fully intends that his readers recognize a hyperbolic statement as a figure of speech, and as readers we willingly go along for the ride in order to experience the effect, whether it be amusement, shock, disdain, wonder, admiration, you name it. Ray Bradbury does a very entertaining job with hyperbole in Fahrenheit 451, usually for the purpose of highlighting his themes.

In section one, “The Hearth and the Salamander,” Bradbury gives us an overwhelming taste of Montag’s home life as he gets bombarded by the T.V. walls Millie is watching in the parlor. Bradbury's description almost lets us experience it with Montag here:

A great thunderstorm of sound gushed from the walls. Music bombarded him at such an immense volume that his bones were almost shaken from his tendons; he felt his jaw vibrate, his eyes wobble in his  head. He was a victim of concussion...whirled in a centrifuge, and spat out over a waterfall that fell and fell into an emptiness…

Clearly an exaggeration, right? But as readers, instead of sarcastically saying, “Yeah, right,” like we might when a friend hypes up a story, we enjoy the exaggerated description. We may even relate to it, imagining that concert where we could feel the bass vibrating in our entire body. And we get what Bradbury is showing us: Montag is a victim of his own house. These T.V. walls have taken over his living room, and his wife loves them—more than she loves him. Through this hyperbole we experience the themes of the broken relationship and the artificiality resulting from materialism.

Montag’s resulting feelings towards his wife are evident in the next hyperbole, when he is lying sick in bed and Millie is unsympathetically standing over him, only wanting him to go to work and make more money for a fourth T.V. wall.

He...saw her without opening his eyes, her hair burnt by chemicals to a brittle straw, her eyes with a kind of cataract unseen but suspect far behind the pupils...the body as thin as a praying mantis from dieting, and her flesh like white bacon.

By overstating the effects of an artificial life on a 30-something woman, Bradbury nudges us towards his deeper message that a materialistic life isolates us from our own humanity. The use of hyperbole allows him to present these ideas without sounding preachy, while entertaining us in the process.

Why did Erik and Arthur look like fools in the final football game?

Erik and Arthur look like fools in the final football game because Brian Baylor, the boy who plays center, kept throwing the ball up way too high or wide, so that Erik and Arthur had to jump and dive to get the ball, looking stupid the whole time. It's clear that Brian did this on purpose, because before this game, he'd demonstrated excellent skills in throwing the ball properly.

We find all this out on...

Erik and Arthur look like fools in the final football game because Brian Baylor, the boy who plays center, kept throwing the ball up way too high or wide, so that Erik and Arthur had to jump and dive to get the ball, looking stupid the whole time. It's clear that Brian did this on purpose, because before this game, he'd demonstrated excellent skills in throwing the ball properly.

We find all this out on pages 231-232, when Paul discusses the newspaper's coverage of the game with his dad on the living room floor, the morning after Thanksgiving Day. The spotlight for the entire game is focused on another boy, anyway, meaning that Erik didn't get any recognition for his performance in the game in addition to looking foolish during it.

Of course, Paul finds the whole situation funny. He's tired of seeing his cruel brother soaking in the glory of football success, but he's trying to hide his amusement from his father, who is irritated that the news article doesn't portray his other son in a better light.

What is the main conflict in the book Dracula?

In Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, Jonathan Harker, his resourceful fiancee Mina Murray, the highly learned Dr. van Helsing and a few others team up to fight the vampire, Count Dracula. After many years living in a remote castle in Transylvania, Dracula has decided to reenter civilization to feed and create more of the undead (vampires) to command. He must be stopped. Dracula's quest for power versus the group that wants to stop him is the...

In Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, Jonathan Harker, his resourceful fiancee Mina Murray, the highly learned Dr. van Helsing and a few others team up to fight the vampire, Count Dracula. After many years living in a remote castle in Transylvania, Dracula has decided to reenter civilization to feed and create more of the undead (vampires) to command. He must be stopped. Dracula's quest for power versus the group that wants to stop him is the book's main conflict.

Dracula, with his ability to shapeshift into such animals as bats or wolves, his command of unpleasant animals such as rats, his cunning intelligence and his ability to blend into the culture at large, including exploiting the widespread disbelief in the existence of creatures such as him, is a formidable opponent. HIs desire to spread vampirism and create a legion of the undead is a frightening prospect. The small band opposing him is not without its own resources however: Harker has been to Dracula's castle and can confirm that Dracula  is only up at night and that his image doesn't reflect in a mirror. The brilliant Dr. van Helsing has researched vampires, has an impressively rational and analytical mind and is also cutting edge in his understanding of technology: for example, he can do blood transfusions (never mind blood types!), and Mina is a courageous, determined woman. What transpires is a good versus evil tale as a small group of good people attempt to defeat Count Dracula.

In The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, why does Gitl insist on bringing all the gifts to the wedding if they are going to be brought back anyway?

In Chapter 6, as her brother is about to get married, Gitl continues to arrange and rearrange the wedding gifts on two wagons as she says "Those schnorrers in Viosk will know we honor our own."

What she means is that she wants to make sure that everyone coming to the wedding (especially the family of the bride, Fayge, who are from Viosk) will be aware that Gitl's family and and friends have provided abundant...

In Chapter 6, as her brother is about to get married, Gitl continues to arrange and rearrange the wedding gifts on two wagons as she says "Those schnorrers in Viosk will know we honor our own."

What she means is that she wants to make sure that everyone coming to the wedding (especially the family of the bride, Fayge, who are from Viosk) will be aware that Gitl's family and and friends have provided abundant and generous gifts to Shmuel and Fayge on their wedding day. The gifts are a gesture of love and honor, a tangible way of displaying the pride that the community feels for Shmuel, a hardworking man with a good reputation.

According to this article from the Jewish Encyclopedia, a schnorrer is a moocher: someone who pretends to have respectability while living off other people's generosity. This explains Gitl's attitude toward her brother's new in-laws: she assumes that they are taking a passive, unhelpful role in the wedding, and that the responsibility falls on her to make sure it's a classy affair. By ensuring that the gifts appear numerous and lavish, Gitl is ensuring the respectability of the whole event and, you might say, rubbing this in the noses of her brother's new in-laws. On the other hand, Gitl could just be joking. She's a kind soul who nevertheless likes to tease people and use words that are harsher than what she really means.

What are the conflicts in chapter 13 of To Kill A Mockingbird?

The biggest conflict in Chapter 13 of  Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbirdis Aunt Alexandra's decision to come stay with Atticus, Jem, and Scout. This development is a conflict particularly for Scout, as Aunt Alexandra is determined to make her niece act like a "young lady." Aunt Alexandra disapproves of Scout's rough-and-tumble, tomboy existence, and she aims to force Scout to conform to standard feminine expectations of women. Thus, another, broader conflict here is...

The biggest conflict in Chapter 13 of  Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird is Aunt Alexandra's decision to come stay with Atticus, Jem, and Scout. This development is a conflict particularly for Scout, as Aunt Alexandra is determined to make her niece act like a "young lady." Aunt Alexandra disapproves of Scout's rough-and-tumble, tomboy existence, and she aims to force Scout to conform to standard feminine expectations of women. Thus, another, broader conflict here is the conflict of gender roles, specifically the conflict that greets women who try to flout gender roles. Scout values her independence and toughness, and Aunt Alexandra's imposition of traditional feminine gender roles threatens to extinguish these qualities and force her into the realm of tea-party society. Some of the threat of this conflict is lessened, however, when Atticus, after briefly trying to adhere to his sister's schemes, quietly tells Scout to forget about them. 

In your opinion, should the US have accepted the Castro revolution and subsequent communist government as legitimate? Why or why not?

It would have been difficult for the United States to have supported the Castro Revolution and the communist government that was established in Cuba. In order to understand why this was the case, it is necessary to understand what was happening in the world after World War II ended.

The United States and the Soviet Union were in a Cold War, a period of time of confrontation and competition between these two countries. The Soviet...

It would have been difficult for the United States to have supported the Castro Revolution and the communist government that was established in Cuba. In order to understand why this was the case, it is necessary to understand what was happening in the world after World War II ended.

The United States and the Soviet Union were in a Cold War, a period of time of confrontation and competition between these two countries. The Soviet Union was trying to spread communism around the world. We were trying to prevent the spread of communism. We believed in the Domino Theory, which stated that if one country in a region became communist then other countries would also become communist. Thus, we opposed the spread of communism in Western Europe, in Asia, and in Southeast Asia. When Cuba became communist as a result of the Castro Revolution and with the growing friendship between Cuba and the Soviet Union, we were concerned communism might spread in the Americas. There was now a communist government just 90 miles from our country.

With our concerns about the spread of communism, we couldn’t possibly have supported the Castro Revolution and the communist government that followed. We had supported the Batista presidency to keep communism out of Cuba. Supporting Castro and his government would have been an acknowledgement that the Domino Theory was wrong, and the communism wasn’t necessarily an undesirable form of government. Given the time period, there was no way that support was going to occur.

What are some literary devices used in Mercutio's quote in Act I of Romeo and Juliet: "If love be rough with you, be rough with love. / Prick love...

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the Bard employs the dramatic character of the foil. A foil is a character set up as a contrast to another character. This contrast makes the particular qualities of each character stand out. The Nurse is a foil to Juliet and, likewise, Mercutio is a foil to Romeo. Both Romeo and Juliet are romantics who idealize love as spiritual and a mutual adoration between two people. In contrast, the Nurse...

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the Bard employs the dramatic character of the foil. A foil is a character set up as a contrast to another character. This contrast makes the particular qualities of each character stand out. The Nurse is a foil to Juliet and, likewise, Mercutio is a foil to Romeo. Both Romeo and Juliet are romantics who idealize love as spiritual and a mutual adoration between two people. In contrast, the Nurse and Mercutio are anti-romantic and emphasize the sexual and physical aspects of love.

In Act I, Scene 4, Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio and the other Montague men are on their way to Capulet's party. It is known to Mercutio that Romeo has been spurned in his affection for Rosaline. Ever the skeptic and joker, Mercutio advises Romeo to have fun at the party and to dance. But Romeo is very serious over his recent lack of success with Rosaline. He contemplates the cruel aspects of love when he says,

Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,

Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.

Mercutio's bawdy and sexually charged reply uses both a personification of love and a pun on the word prick. He says,

If love be rough with you, be rough with love.

Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.

He personifies love as someone that can be beaten down and uses two meanings of the word prick, the one that sticks, as Romeo uses it, and the second a reference to the male genitalia. He is telling Romeo to forget about love and just have sex. 

Victor reveals himself as the "true murderer." Why did he feel that his hands were "thrice accursed"? Do you agree?

Interesting question! In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor feels remorse and guilt for making the creature. As the book progresses, Victor places the creature’s inhumane actions upon his own shoulders. This is especially seen through Justine’s conviction.

During Justine’s trial for the murder of William, Victor feels such guilt that he wishes to confess to the murder. However, Victor realizes that no one would believe him about making the creature. Eventually Justine confesses...

Interesting question! In the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor feels remorse and guilt for making the creature. As the book progresses, Victor places the creature’s inhumane actions upon his own shoulders. This is especially seen through Justine’s conviction.

During Justine’s trial for the murder of William, Victor feels such guilt that he wishes to confess to the murder. However, Victor realizes that no one would believe him about making the creature. Eventually Justine confesses and is hanged (despite her innocence), causing Victor to feel further regret. This represents his “thrice-accursed” hands. The first was creating the monster, the second was the creature’s murder of William, and the third was Justine’s death.

Despite the guilt that Victor feels from his “thrice-accursed” hands, his own actions (and lack of action) caused the creation of the monster and the death of William and Justine. For example, Victor's own actions made the creature, which led to William and Justine’s deaths. Lastly, his inaction also incited negative repercussions. For example, Victor failed to even address the very creature’s existence, until it was too late.

As a result, Victor experienced much pain and agony. However, his own choices led to the suffering that ensued.

What are Creon's views on women and femininity?

Creon's view of women were very much grounded in the society in which Sophocles was raised. Ancient Athens was what is sometimes described as a strongly "homosocial" culture, one in which men primarily associated with other men and women with women. In general, men delayed marriage until they were economically established and had completed military serrvice, usually when they were in their thirties. Due to high infant mortality rates, women were married when they became...

Creon's view of women were very much grounded in the society in which Sophocles was raised. Ancient Athens was what is sometimes described as a strongly "homosocial" culture, one in which men primarily associated with other men and women with women. In general, men delayed marriage until they were economically established and had completed military serrvice, usually when they were in their thirties. Due to high infant mortality rates, women were married when they became fertile, at the ages of 12 or 13, leading to a large inequality of age in marriage. Women tended to be raised in isolation from men, and most were educated only in household management. What that meant was that few Greek men had any experience of associating with women of their own age other than prostitutes, and generally had a low opinion of the intellects and abilities of women.

Creon was typical in considering women as having a purely subordinate role in the family and the city. He thought them lacking in intelligence, swayed by emotion, and incapable of making independent judgments. Creon, and the original audience of the play, would have considered Ismene the ideal woman, as she has a mild and pliant nature, and Antigone unnatural for her defiance of an older male relative. Creon believes that men should simply give orders to women rather than listen to them and criticizes his own son Haemon for being too easily swayed by Antigone. 

Why does Dickens use humor in "A Christmas Carol"?

"A Christmas Carol" is a story with a strong message about the importance of reformation, but despite its sincerity, it is littered with instances of humor and light-heartedness. Arguably, Dickens uses this method for two reasons.

First of all, Dickens employs humor in the characterization of Scrooge to make the reader like him. After all, if the reader felt no empathy or warmth towards Scrooge, then the story of his reformation would not be so...

"A Christmas Carol" is a story with a strong message about the importance of reformation, but despite its sincerity, it is littered with instances of humor and light-heartedness. Arguably, Dickens uses this method for two reasons.

First of all, Dickens employs humor in the characterization of Scrooge to make the reader like him. After all, if the reader felt no empathy or warmth towards Scrooge, then the story of his reformation would not be so powerful. We see examples of Scrooge's wit in Stave One during his conversation with Marley:

"You travel fast?'' said Scrooge.

"On the wings of the wind,'' replied the Ghost.

"You might have got over a great quantity of ground in seven years,'' said Scrooge.

Scrooge's witty retorts, therefore, add a human element to his character and make him more likeable.

Secondly, looking at Dickens' preface to "A Christmas Carol" offers a glimpse into another reason for his use of humor:

I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.

In other words, Dickens wishes to present his message of social and personal reform in a manner which captures the joy and happiness of the season, not in a manner which comes across as demanding or oppressive. Through Scrooge, Dickens speaks directly to his readers: he wants them to consider the plight of the industrial poor—of people like the Cratchits—and act to improve their conditions. He is advocating an inclusive Christmas, where all members of society come together in harmony, and Dickens knows that humor is the only means by which he can transcend the existing social boundaries to make this happen.

What two reasons does Dally give to try to convince Johnny not to turn himself in? (two quotes)

1. Dally says Greasers get it worse than anyone else.


2. Johnny will become "hardened" in prison like Dally.

In Chapter 6, Dally comes to visit Ponyboy and Johnny at the abandoned church. When Dally arrives, he takes the boys to eat at Dairy Queen. Seemingly out of nowhere, Johnny says, "We're goin' back and turn ourselves in." (Hinton 87) Dally is shocked at Johnny's statement. Johnny explains that he thinks he has a good...

1. Dally says Greasers get it worse than anyone else.


2. Johnny will become "hardened" in prison like Dally.

In Chapter 6, Dally comes to visit Ponyboy and Johnny at the abandoned church. When Dally arrives, he takes the boys to eat at Dairy Queen. Seemingly out of nowhere, Johnny says, "We're goin' back and turn ourselves in." (Hinton 87) Dally is shocked at Johnny's statement. Johnny explains that he thinks he has a good chance of getting off easy if Cherry and Ponyboy testify that he acted in self-defense. Dally becomes upset and explains to Johnny that he is a Greaser and that Greasers "get it worse than anyone." Johnny tells Dally that it isn't fair to Ponyboy and his family that they remain in hiding. Dally continues to explain that if Johnny were to turn himself in, he would be taken to prison where he would become "hardened." Dally fears that Johnny would become callous and violent like himself if he were to go to jail. Before Johnny gets a chance to turn himself in, they see the abandoned church on fire and attempt to save the children trapped inside.

How did Prohibition help lead to the rise of organized crime?

The 18th amendment to the Constitution established prohibition in our country. It was now illegal to make, to transport, or to sell alcohol in our country. Most people said they believed the idea of Prohibition was a good one. However, their actions suggested they really didn’t agree with the concept.

Even though people agreed with the idea of Prohibition, they didn’t stop drinking. Secret clubs, called speakeasies, formed. Alcohol flowed freely in these speakeasies. Since the...

The 18th amendment to the Constitution established prohibition in our country. It was now illegal to make, to transport, or to sell alcohol in our country. Most people said they believed the idea of Prohibition was a good one. However, their actions suggested they really didn’t agree with the concept.

Even though people agreed with the idea of Prohibition, they didn’t stop drinking. Secret clubs, called speakeasies, formed. Alcohol flowed freely in these speakeasies. Since the demand for alcohol didn’t disappear with Prohibition, there was a need to try to satisfy the demand. However since it was illegal to make, to transport, or to sell alcohol, organized crime syndicates got involved trying to satisfy the demand for alcohol. Since it was illegal to be involved in the alcohol trade and business, prices rose making this a very profitable industry, even though it was an illegal industry. Organized crime was willing to take the risk of making huge profits knowing there was a possibility of being prosecuted for doing this. As a result, organized crime became very active in satisfying the demand for alcohol during Prohibition.

In The Ransom of Red Chief, Bill and his friend would think several times before attempting another kidnap. Why ?

The petty criminals Sam and Bill in O. Henry's humorous story "The Ransom of Red Chief" bit off more than they could chew when they kidnapped Ebenezer Dorset's son, a.k.a. Red Chief. The fact is, the kidnapping took its toll on them physically, mentally/emotionally, and financially. Bill in particular suffered physically at Red Chief's hands (and feet and mouth). He had bruises on his lower legs from being kicked, he had a swollen area behind...

The petty criminals Sam and Bill in O. Henry's humorous story "The Ransom of Red Chief" bit off more than they could chew when they kidnapped Ebenezer Dorset's son, a.k.a. Red Chief. The fact is, the kidnapping took its toll on them physically, mentally/emotionally, and financially. Bill in particular suffered physically at Red Chief's hands (and feet and mouth). He had bruises on his lower legs from being kicked, he had a swollen area behind his left ear from being hit by a rock Red Chief threw, and he had several bites on his hands, not to mention he hadn't slept for over 24 hours. Emotionally Bill was humiliated, terrorized, lost his nerve, and was pestered to distraction by incessant questioning and blather from the boy. His "spirit was broken." Mentally, he was in such a state that Sam feared for his mind. Sam himself, though he wouldn't admit it, was afraid of being burned at the stake at dawn. In the end, instead of gaining the $2500 they hoped to extort from Dorset, they ended up paying him $250 to take his boy back. So for their own physical, mental, and financial health, the men will think very seriously before they attempt another kidnap. 

What is the ultimate source of energy that powers wind?

The ultimate source of wind energy is the sun. 

The sun's rays heat the earth and its atmosphere. However, this heating effect is not uniformly distributed. The uneven heating of our atmosphere by the Sun causes the winds. An easy way to understand this is by thinking about what happens when the air is heated. Hot air rises up in the atmosphere, while the colder air settles down to take the place vacated by the...

The ultimate source of wind energy is the sun. 

The sun's rays heat the earth and its atmosphere. However, this heating effect is not uniformly distributed. The uneven heating of our atmosphere by the Sun causes the winds. An easy way to understand this is by thinking about what happens when the air is heated. Hot air rises up in the atmosphere, while the colder air settles down to take the place vacated by the hot winds. This motion of hot and cold air is what we experience as wind. The motion of air from hotter to colder regions can also take place along the earth's surface. 

Depending on the temperature variation, topography, and a number of other factors, winds can be weak or very strong. These days, special emphasis is being placed on the utilization of wind energy for electricity generation and thereby using it as a source of renewable energy.

Hope this helps. 

In "Charles," who is the main character in the story? What's a reason for your answer?

I think that the mother is the main character in Jackson's "Charles."

Jackson opens and closes with the mother's frame of reference.  The narrative begins with her reflection about Laurie starting kindergarten.  It speaks to how she perceived a potential change in her son when he "renounced corduroy overalls with bibs" in place of "blue jeans with a belt."  This detail is striking because it shows how the mother sees her son drifting away from...

I think that the mother is the main character in Jackson's "Charles."

Jackson opens and closes with the mother's frame of reference.  The narrative begins with her reflection about Laurie starting kindergarten.  It speaks to how she perceived a potential change in her son when he "renounced corduroy overalls with bibs" in place of "blue jeans with a belt."  This detail is striking because it shows how the mother sees her son drifting away from her.  When she furthers this with how Laurie's start of kindergarten reminds her that "an era of my life has ended," it is clear that we are seeing her son's experience through her own eyes.  She tells us how he came home, the way he responded to his father, and what he said.  Her narrative focus drives the story, and in doing so, helps to make her the main character.

When we experience the ending of the story, our attention turns to her. As it becomes clear her son is the classroom disruption, everything we once thought changes.  She moves from being a concerned parent who has good intentions, but is limited in what she can do to an oblivious parent who failed to see the changes in her son.  The problems that she saw as someone else's are now her own and this shift is significant to her characterization.  The story's conclusion has a jarring effect on the reader because of how we see the mother and helps to make her the main character.

In "Through the Tunnel," why is the beach "not his beach"? How does this detail hint at the symbolic meaning of the two beaches?

Jerry says the "safe beach" is "not his beach" because it "now seemed a place for small children [...]." He has been practicing and practicing in order to swim through the tunnel in the rock, something that the "big boys—men to Jerry" could do. Fitting in with them has been so important to him, especially at this age where even his mother must recognize that his longing to have more freedom from her is normal...

Jerry says the "safe beach" is "not his beach" because it "now seemed a place for small children [...]." He has been practicing and practicing in order to swim through the tunnel in the rock, something that the "big boys—men to Jerry" could do. Fitting in with them has been so important to him, especially at this age where even his mother must recognize that his longing to have more freedom from her is normal and right (even if it's scary for her). That next day, "He did not ask for permission" to go to the "wild bay"; children ask permission and Jerry no longer wants to think of himself as a child. The safe beach is "a place where his mother might lie safe in the sun." He doesn't want to be with her all the time; he craves the danger and independence he has when he goes to his other beach. He wants to feel himself to be as adult as he perceives those older boys to be.