What are three interesting facts about Thomas Jefferson?

Thomas Jefferson was one of the most fascinating men of his age, and his life in many ways reflected a lot of the contradictions present in American society as a whole in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. So there are many interesting facts about Jefferson. I will choose the three facts of his life that he chose for the epitaph on his tombstone at Monticello--the three things for which he hoped he would...

Thomas Jefferson was one of the most fascinating men of his age, and his life in many ways reflected a lot of the contradictions present in American society as a whole in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. So there are many interesting facts about Jefferson. I will choose the three facts of his life that he chose for the epitaph on his tombstone at Monticello--the three things for which he hoped he would be remembered:

• First, Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. While he took most of the ideas, and even the language, from sources ranging from John Locke's Second Treatise on Civil Government to the resolutions for independence from various states, and the final document was heavily edited by his colleagues, the Declaration of Independence was Jefferson's. This "statement of the American mind," as Jefferson put it, remains a vital part of American political heritage.


• Second, Jefferson was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This document, which was implemented thanks largely to the efforts of James Madison, enshrined one of the most crucial aspects of the Enlightenment into American law. 


• Finally, Jefferson was the founder of the University of Virginia. In keeping with his belief in religious freedom, Jefferson intended that the University would be a secular institution, different from the many church-affiliated universities in existence at the time. It was not the first state-supported institution in the United States, but like the Declaration and the Statute for Religious Freedom, it was a concrete embodiment of Jefferson's vision for the new nation.

What was the most popular version of the play Romeo and Juliet?

There are several versions of the play Romeo and Juliet. The play has been set in different times and places. It is often taken from its Renaissance setting and placed in a different historical period. It's impossible to determine objectively which is the most popular. I can simply give you my opinion as I review three versions of the play which have been turned into movies. 

1. The first big screen version of Shakespeare's classic was done in 1936 starring Leslie Howard, Norma Shearer and John Barrymore. It is an excellent adaptation using actors who were well versed in delivering Shakespeare's lines. The fact that the actors are way too old is somewhat of a drawback. Barrymore is well into his 50's when he played Mercutio. Basil Rathbone, who often played the villain, is excellent as the "fiery" Tybalt. Overall, this version is very much worth watching even if it is quite dated.

2. Baz Luhrmann's 1996 filming of the play takes us away from Verona to Verona Beach, a futuristic setting which seems to be almost like a parallel universe. Instead of swords the actors use guns, which are named "Sword." Luckily, Luhrmann preserves Shakespeare's original dialogue in this fantastical interpretation which includes a Latina Nurse, a black Mercutio and ultra violent scenes involving explosions and gun fire. Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes play the two young lovers and they do a nice job of reflecting the youthful love of the main characters. The ending is quite disconcerting as Juliet awakens just before Romeo dies and Romeo realizes he has made a terrible mistake. The modern settings are exotic and the acting, especially Pete Postlethwaite as Friar Lawrence, is engaging.

3. By far the best version is Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 classic which was nominated for Best Picture during that year's Academy Awards. It takes us to a luscious Verona with colorful costumes and excellent acting all around. John McEnery's Mercutio is one of the best acting interpretations of any Shakespearen character on film (maybe only Olivier's Hamlet is better). Olivia Hussey is a quite young Juliet (she was only 15) and radiates the immediacy of her first encounter with love. She is particularly brilliant in the balcony scene. The fight scenes are the best ever filmed. Act III, Scene 1 is an intense spectacle that takes us through the streets in a fast paced brawl which features lively sword play between Mercutio and Tybalt (Michael York) before it turns deadly and vicious after Mercutio dies and Romeo challenges Tybalt.

There is also a newer version (2014) which got very poor ratings, but I have not seen. One of the best alternate renditions of the play is the Broadway hit "West Side Story" which is set in New York City in the 1950's. It replaces Shakespeare's language with songs.  

How does the writer create sadness about the boy's death in the poem "Out, Out"?

Robert Frost's poem "Out, Out--" is a simple and sad story of a young boy who cuts off his hand in a work accident and ultimately bleeds to death. The poem is not only a comment on the brevity of life but also its meaninglessness, as evidenced by the title of the poem which is an allusion to Macbeth's speech about the death of his wife:

Out, out, brief candle!

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

The poem is told in a matter-of-fact tone. The boy's death seems perfectly natural within the scheme of things and when he's gone, life goes on as usual. Frost writes in the last lines:

Little, less, nothing!--and that ended it.

No more to build on there. And they, since they

Were not the ones dead, turned to their affairs.

Frost, however, does concede a hint of regret and sadness over the course of events. He suggests regret that the boy is working so long and hard. In lines 10-13 he writes:

Call it a day, I wish they might have said

To please the boy by giving him the half hour

That a boy counts so much when saved from work.

Frost reveals sadness that such a young man should be involved in such a tragic accident. After all, the boy is not far removed from childhood and shouldn't be a casualty of such a meaningless accident:

Then the boy saw all--

Since he was old enough to know, big boy

Doing a man's work, though a child at heart--

He saw all spoiled.

Although Frost is basically unemotional about the tragedy, he does acknowledge some sadness over the futility of the boy's accidental death.

How are the two articles linked that are mentioned at the end of chapter three in Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars?

Towards the end of the chapter titled "November" in Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars, just as Mrs. Baker and Holling are discussing whether Calliban, the monster in The Tempest, should have had a happy ending, Mrs. Bigio, the school cook, comes staggering into Mrs. Baker's classroom. In response to Mrs. Baker's question, "Oh, Edna, did they find him," all Mrs. Bigio can do is make the most unforgettable "sounds of sadness" Holling has...

Towards the end of the chapter titled "November" in Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars, just as Mrs. Baker and Holling are discussing whether Calliban, the monster in The Tempest, should have had a happy ending, Mrs. Bigio, the school cook, comes staggering into Mrs. Baker's classroom. In response to Mrs. Baker's question, "Oh, Edna, did they find him," all Mrs. Bigio can do is make the most unforgettable "sounds of sadness" Holling has ever heard. The next day, Holling learns the body of Mrs. Bigio's husband had been found on an insignificant hill in Vietnam. Three weeks after this sad classroom scene, the two articles appear in the Home Town Chronicle.

According to Holling's narrative, the first article was published on the front page of the paper and featured a picture depicting Mrs. Bigio at her husband's funeral, "holding in one hand the American flag," folded for her into a triangle, while her other hand covered her face, a pose of complete agony. The second article published on the front page of the Home Town Chronicle depicted the Catholic Relief Agency home, where Mai Thi lived, as having been vandalized. The vandals painted in black across the home "GO HOME VIET CONG."

After these two articles appear, Mrs. Bigio begins treating Mai Thi horribly, even telling her while serving holiday lunch that she had no right to be there. Mrs. Bigio's discriminatory treatment of Mai Thi is a consequence of her grief. Because her husband died in Vietnam in a morally questionable war, Mrs. Bigio hates all things Vietnamese, including innocent South Vietnamese refuges, democratic refuges persecuted by the Viet Cong of communist North Vietnam. Since we know how much Mrs. Bigio's grief is affecting her behavior, we can easily see the connection between the two articles at the end of the chapter titled "November." The first article depicts Mrs. Bigio's grief, and the second article depicts actions taken because of her grief. While we don't know if Mrs. Bigio was the actual vandal, we can presume she played a role in the vandalism by at least inciting the vandals.

Give an example of a homozygous recessive genetic disorder.

One example of an autosomal recessive disorder is Cystic Fibrosis. Since Cystic Fibrosis is a recessive disease, in order to have the disease a person must inherit two copies of the recessive allele for the gene named CFTR. Cystic Fibrosis causes cells to not be able to transport salt in and out properly. This results in a build up of mucus on the outside of the cells, and it affects the lung cells the most....

One example of an autosomal recessive disorder is Cystic Fibrosis. Since Cystic Fibrosis is a recessive disease, in order to have the disease a person must inherit two copies of the recessive allele for the gene named CFTR. Cystic Fibrosis causes cells to not be able to transport salt in and out properly. This results in a build up of mucus on the outside of the cells, and it affects the lung cells the most. The lungs get clogged with mucus which not only affects breathing, but also causes them to become easily infected. Because of this, without treatment people with Cystic Fibrosis generally have shortened lifespans. 

As a recessive disorder, people who are heterozygous, and therefore carry one copy of the recessive allele, are carriers. They do not have the disease, but they can pass on their one recessive allele to children. If they have a child with someone who is also a carrier, there is a 25% chance of their child having Cystic Fibrosis. If instead they have a child with someone who is homozygous dominant for the CFTR gene, there is no chance that their child will have Cystic Fibrosis. This is why people who have a family history of Cystic Fibrosis may choose to consult a genetic counselor to determine the chances of passing on the disease to their children.

Why does Nightjohn come back after he successfully escaped?

Nightjohn told Mammy his story after she asked him about the whip scars on his back. He narrated how he once successfully managed to escape from slavery and lived as a free man. However, he returned because he wanted to teach the other slaves how to read. The venture was important enough for him to risk being subjected to slavery again. Nightjohn believed it was important for slaves to learn how to read and write...

Nightjohn told Mammy his story after she asked him about the whip scars on his back. He narrated how he once successfully managed to escape from slavery and lived as a free man. However, he returned because he wanted to teach the other slaves how to read. The venture was important enough for him to risk being subjected to slavery again. Nightjohn believed it was important for slaves to learn how to read and write so that they could preserve their dark history for future generations. He narrated how he was caught and severely punished before being sold back into slavery.

At Waller’s place, he still continued to teach, and this time around his student was Sarny, a young slave girl. Nightjohn taught Sarny the alphabet and how to spell. Sarny’s progress was discovered by Mr. Waller, landing Nightjohn in trouble. Shortly after his gruesome punishment, Nightjohn escaped from Mr. Waller's place, but he returned to continue his clandestine classes. Nightjohn took Sarny as his assistant, and they taught other slaves how to read.

Do Shumel and Bruno die in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

Yes, it seems that the two boys die in the gas chamber. Once Bruno has his hair cut off and he dons the "striped pajamas," there is little apparent difference among him and the Jewish prisoners who are marched into large, dark room that is airtight.

In Chapter 16 Bruno has lice in his hair and must have his head shaved; as a result, he more closely resembles Shumel. Then, in Chapter 17 Bruno learns...

Yes, it seems that the two boys die in the gas chamber. Once Bruno has his hair cut off and he dons the "striped pajamas," there is little apparent difference among him and the Jewish prisoners who are marched into large, dark room that is airtight.

In Chapter 16 Bruno has lice in his hair and must have his head shaved; as a result, he more closely resembles Shumel. Then, in Chapter 17 Bruno learns that everyone in his family but his father are returning to Berlin, so he goes to see Shumel in order to inform his friend that he will be leaving. Outside the fence that confines Shumel, Bruno is saddened that they have not had an adventure. Then, he has a "brainstorm" and tells Shumel that if he could come inside the fence, he could help him look for his father as the boy is very worried about what has become of his parent. Shumel says that he knows where the uniforms are kept and that he will try to take one.

The next day, then, Shumel provides Bruno with a uniform, and after donning it, Bruno crawls under the fence. Bruno's next words, a quote of his actress grandmother's, ring with a terrible irony:

"You wear the right outfit and you feel like the person you're pretending to be."

Together, then, they search to no avail for Bruno's father. Just as Bruno is about to return to the spot where earlier he crawled under the fence so he can now return home, a loud whistle blows, and ten soldiers surround them. Because he has the outfit that makes him look like a Jew, Bruno is herded with Shmuel into a long room. Suddenly, everyone gasps as a loud metallic sound is heard from the outside.

From this description, the reader infers that the boys and others are sent into a gas chamber. For days, Bruno's father searches for him, but all he finds are his clothes by the fence; since there is no sign of Bruno anywhere on the camp or in the villages or towns nearby, Bruno's father deduces the terrible fate that befell his son.

What is the setting in Langston Hughes's "Mother to Son"?

Langston Hughes's poem "Mother to Son" lacks a distinct setting, but it's clear that the what the speaker is doing during the poem is talking to her son. There is a sense that this is happening at a casual place—I see her on a big chair in a living room talking to her son on a couch, but that's just my perspective—but there is no definite place. However, through the title and the informal opening...

Langston Hughes's poem "Mother to Son" lacks a distinct setting, but it's clear that the what the speaker is doing during the poem is talking to her son. There is a sense that this is happening at a casual place—I see her on a big chair in a living room talking to her son on a couch, but that's just my perspective—but there is no definite place. However, through the title and the informal opening line that addresses her son directly, "Well, son, I'll tell you..."  it's clear that the speaker is in a comfortable place.

However, throughout the poem, there is a sense of place when the speaker is talking about where she came from. She lived in poverty as life's had "tacks in it, / And splinters, / And boards torn up, / And places with no carpet on the floor— / Bare."

Both the setting gathered from the first line and the place the speaker describes helps generate meaning in this poem. Both things reveal that this poem is a passing of knowledge and a call for this mother's son to thrive in the world because if she could make it with no "crystal stair," so can he.

What are the Wife of Bath's weaknesses in The Canterbury Tales?

The Wife of Bath comes across as one of the more abrasive characters in The Canterbury Tales, the kind of person it would probably be very tiresome to spend a long journey with. Still, she is also a favorite to modern readers, who generally enjoy her spunk and bawdy wit. 

She definitely has some traits that her fellow travelers and even some modern readers might view as negative. First is her appearance. Despite having...

The Wife of Bath comes across as one of the more abrasive characters in The Canterbury Tales, the kind of person it would probably be very tiresome to spend a long journey with. Still, she is also a favorite to modern readers, who generally enjoy her spunk and bawdy wit. 

She definitely has some traits that her fellow travelers and even some modern readers might view as negative. First is her appearance. Despite having married five men (so far!), the Wife of Bath is far from conventional beauty. She has wide hips, a gap tooth, and a red face. She also is very ostentatious with her dress. From her hat the size of a "bokeler" (a small shield) to her scarlet clothes and scarves to her "moiste and newe" shoes, she is clearly a lady looking to show off her wealth as her most marriageable feature. Aside from the general dislike some people have for this look, her physical description also fits the medieval stereotype of someone who is lustful. 

Beneath the surface, her personality certainly seems to fit the "lustful" stereotype as well. She mentions "oother compaignye in youthe" – the men she has slept with before her many husbands. She is also quick to become angry or recognize slights, such as when other women upstage her in the Church offering.

A look at her five marriages also gives readers a sense of her flaws. They all sound unhealthy to abusive to the modern audience, and the Wife herself seems incredibly manipulative, using sneaky arguments, Biblical examples, and sexual favors to get her way. Each marriage seems to be a back and forth of insults and criticisms and phony compliments and praise, with each party trying to gain as much as possible. 

While the Wife is no role model, most readers forgive her these faults, enjoying her brass humor and sassy outspokenness, while empathizing with and respecting her ability to make so much for herself in a world where a woman is worth so little. For many readers, her flaws make her that much more enjoyable as a character.

Who calls a meeting of the animals in Orwell's Animal Farm?

Animal Farmis an allegory. An allegory is a story that can be read on two different levels and the characters usually represent something else. Since the novel is an allegory of the Russian Revolution, many of the animals (and the farmer) personify real personalities in the revolution. For example, Snowball is an obvious reference to Trotsky, who was exiled from Russia in the early 1920's, Napoleon is the dictator Stalin, Boxer represents the Russian...

Animal Farm is an allegory. An allegory is a story that can be read on two different levels and the characters usually represent something else. Since the novel is an allegory of the Russian Revolution, many of the animals (and the farmer) personify real personalities in the revolution. For example, Snowball is an obvious reference to Trotsky, who was exiled from Russia in the early 1920's, Napoleon is the dictator Stalin, Boxer represents the Russian working class and the farmer is Czar Nicholas II. 

Old Major is the farm's "prize Middle White boar." He calls the initial meeting of the animals in the opening chapter. He is probably a reference to Vladimir Lenin, the leader and chief theorist of Bolshevik doctrine in Russia. Old Major could also be the German philosopher Karl Marx. Marx formulated the communist philosophy in his treatise The Communist Manifesto. 

Old Major calls a meeting of all the animals on Manor Farm to announce his theory of what would later be termed "animalism," and encourage them to rebel against Farmer Jones. He argues that the animals live miserable lives and that, even though Farmer Jones produces nothing, he reaps the benefits of the animal's labor. He urges the animals to overthrow the farmer and begin to take advantage of their own labor.

Just as Marx and Lenin did for the Russian Revolution, Old Major sets the tenets of the rebellion. He has several rules or "commandments" which he recites including, "All animals are equal." The pigs eventually quantify these doctrines and post them for the animals to see. Eventually, however, each rule is broken by the pigs and eliminated from the list, which winds up with only one commandment reflecting the pigs' dominance:

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL 

BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS

Considering the havoc that European explorers and settlers inflicted on Native Americans, intentionally or otherwise, we should learn from history...

There are two ways to look at this statement. I will share thoughts on both sides of the issue so you can make a decision. We must assume that any life we would encounter on another planet would be in a form that we have on our planet.

If we are to learn from history and look at this from the lens of how we impacted the Native Americans, we should definitely leave these people...

There are two ways to look at this statement. I will share thoughts on both sides of the issue so you can make a decision. We must assume that any life we would encounter on another planet would be in a form that we have on our planet.

If we are to learn from history and look at this from the lens of how we impacted the Native Americans, we should definitely leave these people alone. Our interactions with the Native Americans were deadly for them. Our harsh treatment of the Native Americans is a sad and a regrettable part of our history. If we discovered people on another planet, we shouldn’t interact with them until we fully understood them. Then, we shouldn’t impose our ways upon them like we did with the Native Americans.

On the other side of the question, we should interact with these people because they could learn something from us. There are many things that we do well, and some of these things could be helpful to people living on another planet. For example, they could learn how to develop a political system or an economic system. They also could use some of the inventions that have positively impacted us.

Now that you have some ideas from each side of the question, what do you think?

What is rumored to be buried in the swamp?

The story begins with a prologue, which was probably intended to provide the story with elements of the Romantic genre as well as a distinct "American" quality. The prologue establishes that Captain Kidd, a legendary pirate who was familiar to New Englanders, had buried a treasure in the swamp. Kidd was rumored to have buried treasures in real life, and this tale is probably playing off of the popular culture and myths of its time.

...

The story begins with a prologue, which was probably intended to provide the story with elements of the Romantic genre as well as a distinct "American" quality. The prologue establishes that Captain Kidd, a legendary pirate who was familiar to New Englanders, had buried a treasure in the swamp. Kidd was rumored to have buried treasures in real life, and this tale is probably playing off of the popular culture and myths of its time.

Kidd is supposed to have buried the treasure with the help of the Devil, who now presides over it. This is an element of foreshadowing, suggesting that the Devil will interfere with, harm or corrupt anyone who goes after the treasure, and contributing to the overall dark tone of the story. 

The treasure's origin and nature don't factor into the story again, lending weight to the idea that it was described for purposes other than contribution to the plot itself. Ultimately the treasure itself is irrelevant to the story; what is important is the effect it has on the characters and the subsequent decisions they make, although the material wealth it provides does figure into Tom's life once he attains it. 

In the story titled "Lamb to the Slaughter," what new ideas or insights does a reader learn from this story?

One of the things a reader might learn from "Lamb to the Slaughter" is that love can turn to hate. Unfortunately, this often happens to married people, but, fortunately, it doesn't happen as quickly as it does with Mary Maloney. A marital relationship is a sensitive one. We are told that something like fifty percent of marriages in America end in divorce. And yet most of these couples must have loved each other when they...

One of the things a reader might learn from "Lamb to the Slaughter" is that love can turn to hate. Unfortunately, this often happens to married people, but, fortunately, it doesn't happen as quickly as it does with Mary Maloney. A marital relationship is a sensitive one. We are told that something like fifty percent of marriages in America end in divorce. And yet most of these couples must have loved each other when they said their vows. I don't think the reader is entirely surprised when Mary Maloney suddenly bashes her husband over the head with a frozen leg of lamb. Maybe she loved him too much. Maybe she expected too much of him. Maybe she thought he loved her as much as she loved him and then came to realize that he really didn't love her at all. This would be a crushing realization and could lead to the sudden impulse to kill.

Another thing a reader might learn from "Lamb to the Slaughter" is that, as the old saying has it, "Still waters run deep." This is the same as saying that people who appear to be meek and mild may be like dormant volcanoes and may be capable of suddenly erupting without warning. That seems to be a good description of Mary Maloney. When she becomes a different person after her eruption, it may be that her new character traits were always there but needed that eruption in order to set themselves free. She exhibits cunning, foresight, duplicity, and a secret sense of humor.

The most impressive thing about Roald Dahl's story is the dramatic change in Mary Maloney's character. Patrick Maloney seems to have been doing her a favor in telling her he is leaving her. She becomes multifaceted and much more interesting after her impulsive act. She seems to become liberated. The reader must sense that Mary will be a different person for the rest of her life.

Mary Maloney might be compared with Mrs. Foster in Roald Dahl's story "The Way Up to Heaven." Mrs. Foster experiences a similar character change when she is responsible for the death of her husband.

What is the role of clothing in Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451?

The clothing characters wear in Fahrenheit 451often defines them symbolically. Characters' clothing also represents the professions they practice in their society. For example, Montag wears a badge with an orange salamander  and a phoenix disc on his chest (page 6), and his captain wears a phoenix on his hat (page 26). In mythology, the salamander was thought to be able to survive fire, so that's why the firefighters in the novel wear badges with...

The clothing characters wear in Fahrenheit 451 often defines them symbolically. Characters' clothing also represents the professions they practice in their society. For example, Montag wears a badge with an orange salamander  and a phoenix disc on his chest (page 6), and his captain wears a phoenix on his hat (page 26). In mythology, the salamander was thought to be able to survive fire, so that's why the firefighters in the novel wear badges with salamanders. The phoenix is a mythological creature who rose reborn from ashes, so it can also survive fire. Another example of symbolic clothing is that of the medical workers who pump Mildred's stomach. They wear "reddish-brown coveralls" (page 15), representing their connection to people's blood and innards. Clarisse, on the other hand, does not wear clothing that represents a profession. She instead wears a white dress, which symbolizes her innocence. 

Where do the events depicted in Chinua Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart unfold?

The novel is set in Nigeria, one of the largest and most populated countries on the African continent. The time-frame for the novel is, however, not modern and the events depicted are fictional (though based on actual incidents and events). The time frame is the 1890's after the colonists had arrived and were in the process of converting people through the use of missionaries. The missionaries were intent on converting the inhabitants to Christianity for...

The novel is set in Nigeria, one of the largest and most populated countries on the African continent. The time-frame for the novel is, however, not modern and the events depicted are fictional (though based on actual incidents and events). The time frame is the 1890's after the colonists had arrived and were in the process of converting people through the use of missionaries. The missionaries were intent on converting the inhabitants to Christianity for they believed that they were heathen, uncivilised and savage.

Foreign governments (such as the English) believed that it was their duty to rescue the inhabitants from an uncivilised existence and educate them. The real purpose, however, was to oppress them and to exploit the country's natural resources. 

Most of the action occurs in Okonkwo's village, Umuofia, it being the main village of a group of nine. Okonkwo was also banished to his mother's village, Mbaino, for seven years after having accidentally killed the son of a villager during his father's funeral, so some of the events in Okonkwo's tragic life are also played out there.  

The villages and their names depicted in the story are fictional although the traditions, culture and descriptions of the villages are based on the factual information. The author, Chinua Achebe, is Nigerian and his father was one of the first in his village who converted to Christianity. Achebe's novel depicts the destructive and divisive nature of the colonists' and missionaries' influence in his country.   

Identify each of the characters in Harrison Bergeron and comment on their role in this new society based on this statement by George: "I don't mind...

The main characters in "Harrison Bergeron" are George, Hazel, and Harrison Bergeron. Each reacts differently to the role he or she plays in the United States in 2081. George Bergeron is someone with above average intellect, so he must wear a "mental handicap radio in his ear" that makes distracting noises every 20 seconds so he cannot think coherently. He expresses complete compliance with the society's enforced equality not only because he doesn't think the steep penalties for violating the laws would be "a bargain," but also because he buys into the rationale that competition belongs in the "dark ages." However, it is evident that his compliance is based upon his handicap radio, for he often begins to have ideas that conflict with the society's sentiments, but those thoughts are always interrupted by the governmental transmissions, so he can never pursue them. He is the one who makes the statement quoted. 

Hazel is a person who requires no "handicap" device because she is already "normal," that is to say, inferior. She is at the lowest rung of intelligence, physical beauty, and strength, so everyone else in society has to be brought down to her level to create "equality." Surprisingly, the fact that everyone is now equal in society does not prevent her from being "a little envious." She wishes she could hear the sounds George hears from his earpiece. Neither does being equal keep her from feeling sadness; she feels sad when she sees her son executed on TV, yet she cannot remember why. However, like George, she immediately "forget[s] sad things," so she doesn't really notice the shortcomings of her society either. 

Harrison Bergeron, the 14-year-old son of Hazel and George, would completely disagree with this statement from his father. No matter how many handicaps are piled on Harrison, he will not accept them. Eventually he tears off and discards the heavy weights, the earpiece, and the wavy glasses he has been forced to wear and rises (literally) to the heights of his true abilities. However, he is executed for his noncompliance. 

Why did Japan want to expand their empire in Asia? Please explain in short essay form.

First, please note that we cannot actually write essays for you here .  Instead, we can give you information that can help you write your own essay. 

There are two main reasons why Japan wanted to expand their empire in Asia in the time before WWII. 

Reason 1: Resources.  Japan does not have that many resources on its own territory.  It is made up of islands that are fairly large, but are also very...

First, please note that we cannot actually write essays for you here .  Instead, we can give you information that can help you write your own essay. 

There are two main reasons why Japan wanted to expand their empire in Asia in the time before WWII. 

Reason 1: Resources.  Japan does not have that many resources on its own territory.  It is made up of islands that are fairly large, but are also very mountainous.  There is not much room for farming.  There are not many deposits of any important minerals.  There is no oil.  This meant that Japan had to rely on imports for things like iron and oil that a country needs in order to have a modern economy and a modern military.  Japan did not want to rely on imports.  It felt other countries could cut off those imports and strangle it.  Japanese leaders felt that an empire would help them because they could get various resources from the places they conquered instead of having to import them from independent foreign countries.

Reason 2: Prestige.  Japan wanted other countries (particularly the US and the main European powers) to admit that Japan was a world power.  They wanted to be important and to have everyone know they were important.  After all, Russia had an empire and they had defeated Russia in a war. They saw that every major power in the world had an empire.  This made them think that they needed their own empire.  They did not think that they would seem important if they did not have an empire.  By taking an empire, they felt, they would make everyone realize that they were a major power in the world.

These are the two main reasons why Japan wanted to expand their empire.  Take these facts and use them to write the body of your essay.  Be sure to add an introduction and conclusion.

What were the consequences of the assassination of Malcolm X? Please include references.

Malcolm X, one of the most influential leaders of the Nation of Islam, was assassinated in New York City in 1965. He had long believed that violence might be necessary (though not always called for) in order for African-American people to achieve equality and justice, a stance that differentiated him from Martin Luther King, Jr., who believed in the use of non-violence to achieve racial equality. In 1964, he publicly broke with the Nation of...

Malcolm X, one of the most influential leaders of the Nation of Islam, was assassinated in New York City in 1965. He had long believed that violence might be necessary (though not always called for) in order for African-American people to achieve equality and justice, a stance that differentiated him from Martin Luther King, Jr., who believed in the use of non-violence to achieve racial equality. In 1964, he publicly broke with the Nation of Islam and committed himself to a more peaceful form of Islam that emphasized the use of the religion to bridge divides between people of different races and backgrounds.

After he was shot, his well-written autobiography continued to be widely read, and his belief in instilling pride in African-Americans became popular. The slogan "black is beautiful" has been attributed to him. His beliefs inspired some of the new movements of the late 1960s and 1970s, including the Black Power movement. Most influential was his belief that African-Americans should have pride in their cultural identity and their connection to Africa. He also believed in the separation of the races (though he might have been starting to backtrack from this belief at the end of his life). He was very influential in raising Black consciousness and in making African-Americans aware of and proud of their history. Some good references for more information about Malcolm X include the Duke University site in the links below and The Autobiography of Malcolm X. 

What can we infer about Ponyboy's character in The Outsiders?

Ponyboy Curtis is the main focus and narrator of the book The Outsiders. He is the youngest of the three Curtis brothers, and also the youngest of the greaser gang. Very early in the novel Ponyboy describes himself by saying, "I make good grades and have a high IQ and everything, but I don't use my head" (Hinton 4). This tells the reader that while Ponyboy may lack common sense in some situations, he...

Ponyboy Curtis is the main focus and narrator of the book The Outsiders. He is the youngest of the three Curtis brothers, and also the youngest of the greaser gang. Very early in the novel Ponyboy describes himself by saying, "I make good grades and have a high IQ and everything, but I don't use my head" (Hinton 4). This tells the reader that while Ponyboy may lack common sense in some situations, he is very intelligent, something not common to the other greasers.

At the beginning of chapter 3, Ponyboy shares the story of his brother, Sodapop, losing his horse, Mickey Mouse, with a Soc girl he meets at the movies, Cherry Valance. During this dialogue, Cherry also shares her secrets about disliking Soc society, and says to Ponyboy, "You're the first person I've ever really gotten through to" (Hinton 38). Later, the pair discuss how they both like viewing the sunset from their respective sides of town. From this interaction, the reader can infer that Ponyboy is both sensitive and understanding, traits which he sometimes tries to hide from society. Later in the chapter, we also see Ponyboy has a dreamy side when he's hanging out in the lot with Johnny. While lying there, he talks about his ideal life in the country, which in Johnny's words has "just people. Plain ordinary people" (Hinton 48). In this vision, Sodapop gets Micky Mouse, his horse, back; Darry, his oldest brother, loses his hard edge so he can "be like he used to" (Hinton 48); and the boys' parents are alive again.

From all of this, the reader can infer that Ponyboy is sensitive and dreamy, while aspiring to be more than simply a greaser and hood his entire life.

What different features do seeds have to aid dispersal?

Seed dispersal is the process by which seeds are transported away from the parent plant, thus enabling lesser competition from the parent plant and higher chances of survival. Seed dispersal is carried out by a number of agents, including wind, water, animals, human beings, fire, etc. Depending on which agent is preferred, the seeds have different adaptations. Some of these are listed here:

• Some seeds have hooks or burs on their surface that allow them...

Seed dispersal is the process by which seeds are transported away from the parent plant, thus enabling lesser competition from the parent plant and higher chances of survival. Seed dispersal is carried out by a number of agents, including wind, water, animals, human beings, fire, etc. Depending on which agent is preferred, the seeds have different adaptations. Some of these are listed here:

• Some seeds have hooks or burs on their surface that allow them to attach to animal skins or furs, thus facilitating transport across large distances.


• Some seeds are very light and thus can be blown away by the wind.


• Another adaptation to allow wind dispersal is "wings" or fluff. Such unique structures allow the seeds to remain airborne for a longer time and thus enable dispersal across longer distances.


• Seeds can also have structures that generate higher buoyancy, thus keeping them afloat in water. Such seeds are also often waterproof.


• Some seeds are also encased in hard shells and can only be released by fires strong enough to kill the adult trees. These are uniquely adapted to dispersal by fire (although these hardly travel any distance and actually take up the space left vacant by the now burnt parent tree).

Hope this helps. 

What makes the tea ceremony such an important scene in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest?

First, we should note that Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnestis a British play, first performed on 14 February 1895 in London. The "tea ceremony" is a Japanese tradition, not a British one. Although the British upper classes in the Victorian period typically had "afternoon tea", a light meal served in the late afternoon consisting of tea, small sandwiches, and pastries (such as scones), this is properly referred to as "tea" and should not be...

First, we should note that Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is a British play, first performed on 14 February 1895 in London. The "tea ceremony" is a Japanese tradition, not a British one. Although the British upper classes in the Victorian period typically had "afternoon tea", a light meal served in the late afternoon consisting of tea, small sandwiches, and pastries (such as scones), this is properly referred to as "tea" and should not be confused with the Japanese tea ceremony.

There are two teas portrayed in the play, the initial one in Algernon's house in London and the second one in the country house where Cecily resides. Both provide a backdrop to significant interactions among the characters.

The first significant element both share is that they indicate to us the socio-economic backgrounds of the characters. The meal itself, the presence of servants, and the conventions of politeness all suggest upper class characters. This is important because it provides a context for the relationship issues discussed in the play.

The most important event is that Jack proposes to Gwendolyn during tea and Lady Bracknell provides the comic obstacle to the marriage that drives the plot of the play. It is also during the first act that Algernon first hears about Cecily, which drives the second love plot of the play.

The teas also provide the occasion for some of the dazzling word play for which the play is so well known, many of which tend to undermine the conventions of sentimental romantic drama. An example of this is:

Jack: “How you can sit there, calmly eating muffins when we are in this horrible trouble, I can’t make out. You seem to me to be perfectly heartless."

Algernon: "Well, I can’t eat muffins in an agitated manner. The butter would probably get on my cuffs."

What does the title of the story "The Possibility of Evil" mean?

The title of the story refers primarily to Miss Strangeworth's obsession with the morality of the people in her town. She believes it is her responsibility to watch for evil behavior in everybody else, and she sees this possibility everywhere she goes. But it is only a possibility not a reality, at least in most cases. It is true that there may be some real wickedness going on in a small town and that if she suspects everybody of evil doings she will occasionally be right.

There is an old French saying which is especially pertinent to this story. It is:

Honi soit qui mal y pense

There are numerous possible interpretation of this phrase. In Miss Strangeworth it can be interpreted to mean that people who think others are evil are often evil themselves. It can also imply that people who think evil of others will end up suffering from the evil in others. Miss Strangeworth is projecting her own evil upon other people. She sees it everywhere because it is coming from inside herself.

Miss Strangeworth never concerned herself with facts; her letters all dealt with the more negotiable stuff of suspicion.

It is easy for her to see the "possibility" of evil everywhere she goes. For instance, she visits the grocery store nearly every day. She sees that the owners grandson is handling some of the cash and thinks how easy it would be for him to be "lifting petty cash from the store register." That is what she warns Mr. Lewis about in one of her anonymous letter and tarnishes the relationship between grandfather and grandson.

She finally brings out the evil in Don Crane's nature--and brings it upon herself--what he accidentally discovers that she is the author of a poison pen letter addressed to him and realizes she was the author of several she had sent to his wife. The letters all suggest that their baby daughter might be mentally retarded. In retaliation, Don Crane destroys her precious rose bushes with hedge clippers and sends her a letter reading:

LOOK OUR AT WHAT USED TO BE YOUR ROSES

So the title is a double entendre. Miss Strangeworth's concern about the possibility of evil in others has an evil motivation and brings out evil in others. This sweet little old lady is crazy and a menace to others. She will eventually be exposed, and then the whole town will turn against her. Instead of being the town's leading citizen she will be the town pariah.

Honi soit qui mal y pense

There is a passage in the Sermon on the Mount in the New Testament which is particularly appropriate to Shirley Jackson's story.

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
                                                                    Matthew 7

What was Robert Owen's philosophy?

Robert Owen, born in the United Kingdom in 1771, had some ideas that were very different than they way most people thought in the late 1770s and the early 1800s. He believed in utopian ideals.

Robert Owen was involved in business. At the age of 19, he started his own business that was involved in the textile industry. Eventually, he was able to run a mill his father-in-law had owned when he bought the business...

Robert Owen, born in the United Kingdom in 1771, had some ideas that were very different than they way most people thought in the late 1770s and the early 1800s. He believed in utopian ideals.

Robert Owen was involved in business. At the age of 19, he started his own business that was involved in the textile industry. Eventually, he was able to run a mill his father-in-law had owned when he bought the business from his father-in-law.

Robert Owen believed in treating his workers fairly. This was a very uncommon belief of owners who ran factories during this time period. He wanted his workers and their families to be treated well. He restricted child labor, he built a school, and he worked to improve the working conditions in his business.

Later in his life, he established a community based on his utopian beliefs. This community was called New Harmony. This community, located in Indiana, was based on the concept of people cooperating with each other instead of competing against each other. He wanted everybody to get an education and to eliminate the grouping of people based on their wealth. Unfortunately, this community was not successful in the long run.

Robert Owen believed an ideal society was one where everybody was treated well and where people worked cooperatively together.

What do you think Equality's main motivation is for creating his new invention? Explain.

Equality and his fellow brothers have all been kept ignorant of the past of this dystopian society, which was once technologically advanced with cars and electricity. Equality has been educated to think that the world is flat and that his collective society is the right way to live and govern others.  So when Equality discovers electricity in the underground tunnels, he feels that for once he will do something useful for his society by bringing...

Equality and his fellow brothers have all been kept ignorant of the past of this dystopian society, which was once technologically advanced with cars and electricity. Equality has been educated to think that the world is flat and that his collective society is the right way to live and govern others.  So when Equality discovers electricity in the underground tunnels, he feels that for once he will do something useful for his society by bringing them knowledge and “light.” His job as a street sweeper suppresses his abilities as one of the smartest among his fellow brothers. Equality's motivation is that he thinks he will be able to lift this society out of the dark ages into which it voluntarily regressed after a great war where all knowledge and books were burned. Equality’s intentions were honorable, and he acted for the good of the community in taking electricity to the elders. It’s ironic that the invention would have made life better for his brothers, but he is denied the opportunity to really give back and advance the lives of those oppressed by the society.

Describe the setting of the story "Eveline." How does the place where Eveline lives affect her personality?

There is a certain aura of stagnation, death, defeat, and paralysis in the setting of "Eveline." Eveline Hill sits listlessly at the window with the funereal smell of "dusty cretonne" as she stares down a lonely avenue where there was once a field in which children played. Now, however, the field is gone, because an intruder, a Protestant man from Belfast, purchased this lot and had houses built upon it.

At the port where the...

There is a certain aura of stagnation, death, defeat, and paralysis in the setting of "Eveline."

Eveline Hill sits listlessly at the window with the funereal smell of "dusty cretonne" as she stares down a lonely avenue where there was once a field in which children played. Now, however, the field is gone, because an intruder, a Protestant man from Belfast, purchased this lot and had houses built upon it.

At the port where the ship rests that can take her away with her lover, the adult world of desire disturbs the waters around the ship, but causes "distress and nausea"--what Joyce calls paralysis--in Eveline.

Much like the setting, Eveline suffers a paralysis of spirit under the looming influence of the dead and the stagnation of her life:

• The man from Belfast who had houses built on the field has silenced the laughter of children and ruined the happy memories.


• Eveline's mother is deceased, and the hanging print of the promises of Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque is a reminder of Eveline's promise made to her mother to keep the family together.


• Eveline perceives herself to be in danger of her father's violence, and feels helpless as there is no older brother any more who will protect her.


• Her life is "hard" as she suffers through squabbles about money.


• Eveline continues to sit at the window and inhales the "odour of dusty cretonne" as her dream of leaving with Frank fades because she is again reminded of her promise to her mother.


• She is further reminded of her mother's words that the end of pleasure is pain--"Derevaun Seraun!"


• When Eveline finally goes to the port, she sees the "black mass of the boat" that blows a "mournful whistle into the mist" and she halts, emotionally paralyzed.


• "A bell clanged upon her heart": Her duty evoked by the Blessed Margaret Mary paralyzes Eveline and she cannot board the ship.


• Eveline surrenders to the circumstances that she cannot control: "She set her white face to him [Frank], passive, like a helpless animal." 


• Much as she has sat listlessly at the window, Eveline has an insufficiency of will, and she cannot board the ship.

How was trench warfare conducted in World War l?

After the opening months of the German invasion of France through Belgium in the late summer of 1914, the western front settled into a bloody stalemate. Trench warfare was an integral part of the fighting on this front. Both sides dug massive complexes of trenches which ran roughly parallel with each other across a front of hundreds of miles. Generally, trench warfare was a war of attrition where each side attempted to wear down the...

After the opening months of the German invasion of France through Belgium in the late summer of 1914, the western front settled into a bloody stalemate. Trench warfare was an integral part of the fighting on this front. Both sides dug massive complexes of trenches which ran roughly parallel with each other across a front of hundreds of miles. Generally, trench warfare was a war of attrition where each side attempted to wear down the other through frequent artillery bombardments. Sporadically, infantrymen would go "over the top" to attack the enemy across a "no man's land" strung with barbed wire and pocked by bomb craters. This region was also covered by machine guns, so these assaults were incredibly costly, and often totally futile. Occasionally, the war saw massive offensives like that against the French salient at Verdun, or the Allied offensive at the Somme River. These offensives cost literally millions of lives, and were generally inconclusive. It took American entry into the war to break the stalemate created by bloody trench warfare. 

How can you determine the mass of an element present in a compound if you do not know the identity of the element?

In order to solve this problem, you will also need to know the percent by mass of the other element in the compound. The percent by mass of the other element should be given in your question.

Example: Given the compound, `~XS_2` , determine the mass of element X. The compound is 40.064% S by mass. "X" is the unknown element in the compound.

Step 1: Determine the grams of elements X and S.

Grams of S: Assume that you have a 100 g sample of compound `~XS_2` . Since `~XS_2` is 40.064% S, there would be 40.064 g of S in a 100 g sample.

Grams of X: Grams of X can be calculated by subtracting grams of S from 100 g.

   (100 g `~XS_2` ) - (40.064 g S) = 59.936 g X

Step 2: Determine the moles of the known element S.

In order to convert grams of S to moles, multiply grams of S by the conversion factor, 1 mole S = 32.065 g S. 32.065 g is the atomic mass of S as shown in the periodic table.

   (40.064 g S)(1 mol S/32.065 g S) = 1.2495 mol S

*Notice that the conversion factor is oriented such that the unit "grams" is on the bottom - this enables you to cancel out gram units and be left in units of moles.

Step 3: Set up a mole ratio to determine the moles of unknown element X.

Notice that the ratio of subscripts in the compound `~XS_2` is 1 M:2 S. This means that the ratio of moles of element M to moles of element S in the compound is 1:2. Set up equivalent mole ratios as shown below.

   (? mol X/1) = (1.2495 mol S/2)

Rearrange the equation or "cross-multiply" to solve for unknown moles of X.

   ? mol X = [(1.2495 mol S)(1)]/2 

   ? mol X = 0.62475 mol X

Step 4: Determine the atomic mass of unknown element X by dividing grams of element X (from Step 1) by moles of element X (from Step 3).

   (59.936 g X)/(0.62475 mol X) = 95.936 g/mol 

The element in the periodic table with this mass is molybdenum (Mo). Therefore, the formula of the compound is `~MoS_2`

What does the phrase "in the dark" mean and what are some examples?

“In the dark” is an idiom that means you are unaware of something, usually because someone deliberately kept it from you.

An idiom is a commonly used figure of speech.  It is a simile or metaphor, but it is used so often that most people have heard it and know what it means.  This phrase is an idiom.  Other idioms include “it’s raining cats and dogs” and “beat around the bush.”  A similar idiom is...

“In the dark” is an idiom that means you are unaware of something, usually because someone deliberately kept it from you.

An idiom is a commonly used figure of speech.  It is a simile or metaphor, but it is used so often that most people have heard it and know what it means.  This phrase is an idiom.  Other idioms include “it’s raining cats and dogs” and “beat around the bush.”  A similar idiom is "out of the loop."  It also means someone did not tell you something.

The phrase “in the dark” is usually used when a person does not know something that he or she should know.  Sometimes it means that people deliberately did not tell the person what he wanted to know or should have known.  It’s a metaphor because if you are literally in the dark, you can’t see.

Here is an example about the phrase.

When Jenny broke up with her boyfriend she kept her friends in the dark about it because she was embarrassed.

In this case, Jenny deliberately did not tell her friends that she broke up with her boyfriend, so her friends were in the dark.  Jenny kept a secret from them.  You can use this phrase about any kind of lack of knowledge though.

I was in the dark about the band schedule.

This person did not know what the band schedule was, so he is in the dark.  Maybe he forgot to check, or maybe he just forgot.  Either way, he did not know what was going on.

Why did the SS officers conduct the selection in the book Night?

In chapter three of Elie Wiesel's memoir Night, he and his father go through the initial selection at Birkenau death camp to determine which Jews would be immediately put to death and those who would be kept (barely) alive to do slave labor. The selection was conducted by the infamous SS officer Dr. Mengele, who earned the nickname "Angel of Death." The selection determined those who were fit enough to work and those who would be of no use. The Nazis planned to basically starve the work prisoners, so they wanted only the fittest. They also planned on conducting medical experiments and looked for the healthiest. Those who were pointed to the right by Mengele went to their deaths, gassed and then burned. Those who went to the left were taken to barracks where they were stripped of their possessions and chosen for work details.

Before the selection, a man tells Elie and his father to lie about their ages. Elie is only 14 at the time but is told to say he is 18. His father, who is 50, is told to say he is 40. This difference in ages probably saves their lives. Still, there is suspense as it looks as though those who go to the left are headed to a pit of flames, just as Madame Schachter had predicted in her screaming fits on the train. But just before they reach the pit they are turned and pointed to the barracks. Once in the barracks they are further split up into groups. Those who are the strongest will work the crematoria, and others, like Elie and his father, are eventually taken to Buna work camp where they work in a warehouse for electrical equipment.

More selections are made throughout the book as the prisoners lose their health, and in, some cases, their minds because of starvation. A particularly important selection comes at Buna when some are left behind in the hospital and some sent to Buchenwald. At this point the Jews are able to decide their own fate. Elie and his father could stay in the hospital, where they would have been liberated by the Russians almost immediately. Unfortunately, Elie chooses to be evacuated, and eventually his father dies at Buchanwald.

I have to write a essay on the strengths and weaknesses of Hamlet in the play "Hamlet". I was thinking that one of his strengths could be his...

I would agree that Hamlet looks at life in a more philosophical manner than most protagonists of revenge dramas. He is also more empirical about deciding whether or not to kill Claudius than the average character in a revenge play. He seeks to confirm that Claudius murdered his father instead of rushing out to kill him on the word of a ghost. Because he thinks so deeply about reality, appearance and death, because he is so self-reflective, Hamlet has sometimes been called the first modern hero. He has also been attacked as indecisive, but one can question whether it is "indecisive" or, instead, prudent, thoughtful and morally sound to ask questions before you kill another person. 

Critic Rene Girard writes eloquently in defense of Hamlet as a character who struggles with and calls into question the whole idea of revenge that the play revolves around. He writes in a chapter entitled "Hamlet's Dull Revenge," in Theatre of Envy that Shakespeare wanted to undermine the revenge tragedy genre. Girard called Hamlet

the most brilliant feat of theatrical double entendre.… he will denounce the revenge theater and all its works with the utmost daring without denying his mass audience the catharsis it demands … (273)

To do this, Shakespeare must make Hamlet a contemplative person, a thinker and questioner of his society. 

Within the play, Hamlet expresses deep questioning, as you note, in his soliloquies, such as in his "what a piece of work is man," or "to be or not to be" speeches, and in act five, scene 1, when he enters into conversation with the grave diggers, as well as when he questions the sincerity of the mourners at Ophelia's grave. He is constantly questioning appearance versus reality, so it should easy to find examples of that in the play: I have provided the link to E-notes quotes from the play below.

Why does Calpurnia's way of speaking change when she is around other black people? Does this change make her honest or hypocritical?

The Finch's housekeeper, Calpurnia, lives in two different worlds. During the day, she exists in a white world and as such she presents herself in a very formal, proper way. As Calpurnia is a major authority figure in their lives, Jem and Scout are accustomed to seeing her behave in this way, which is why they are surprised when they accompany her to her church and see her behave in a very different way around...

The Finch's housekeeper, Calpurnia, lives in two different worlds. During the day, she exists in a white world and as such she presents herself in a very formal, proper way. As Calpurnia is a major authority figure in their lives, Jem and Scout are accustomed to seeing her behave in this way, which is why they are surprised when they accompany her to her church and see her behave in a very different way around other black people.

When considering Cal's dramatic shift in behavior or personality, it's important to remember the era in which the story takes place. Prior to racial integration, it was very common for whites and blacks to occupy different worlds. When these worlds did overlap, as in the case of Calpurnia working for a white family, black people often had to present themselves in a formal and deferential way or risk losing their jobs or worse. For that reason, Jem and Scout have never seen the side of Cal's identity and personality that comes out during her argument at church, where she is free to express herself without fear of losing her job or angering white people.

Additionally, Cal's job puts her in a difficult social position. She is very loyal to Atticus and the children, which some people could have perceived as a kind of betrayal of the black community.

In terms of whether she is being honest or hypocritical, the reader can interpret her change in behavior as being a more authentic representation of her identity and a demonstration of the conflict she feels as a result of being in two worlds. Throughout the story, she is a strong person who has no difficulty asserting herself. The only difference is the cultural limitations that are imposed upon her, which determine the ways in which she is able to assert herself. 

How would I describe the musical tone colour in the song "Pompeii," by Bastille?

Musical tone color, which is also known as timbre, is the quality of sound that is not frequency, amplitude or duration. At its simplest, musical tone color is the thing that allows listeners to identify a sound as being an instrument. For example, an oboe is going to sound different from a trumpet, even if they are playing at the same frequency, duration or amplitude. Consequently, an instrument has a musical tone color.

In the song...

Musical tone color, which is also known as timbre, is the quality of sound that is not frequency, amplitude or duration. At its simplest, musical tone color is the thing that allows listeners to identify a sound as being an instrument. For example, an oboe is going to sound different from a trumpet, even if they are playing at the same frequency, duration or amplitude. Consequently, an instrument has a musical tone color.

In the song "Pompeii," the band Bastille utilizes synthesizers and electronic equipment, but the driving musical tone color is the drums. The song is anthemic and driving, with vocals coming to the front, but the drum is the musical sound color that characterizes the song most heavily. A listener gets the feeling they are running either towards or away from something because of the deep, pulsing drums. 

How did Dan Cody acquire his wealth in The Great Gatsby?

in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dan Cody is Gatsby's first mentor and role model; in fact, Gatsby changes his name from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby upon meeting Cody on Lake Superior. Cody was clearly a very wealthy man: he owned the Tuolomee, a yacht capable of going around the world. He was "many times a millionaire" (105). He made his money in ore, silver in Nevada and "every rush of...

in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dan Cody is Gatsby's first mentor and role model; in fact, Gatsby changes his name from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby upon meeting Cody on Lake Superior. Cody was clearly a very wealthy man: he owned the Tuolomee, a yacht capable of going around the world. He was "many times a millionaire" (105). He made his money in ore, silver in Nevada and "every rush of metal since Seventy-Five" (105). At age fifty, Cody is in good physical shape but ripe for plucking by a gold-digging female. Gatsby is invited aboard the yacht to work for Cody, and as Gatsby protects Cody from his own worst impulses, Cody begins to trust him and leaves him twenty-five thousand dollars in his will. Gatsby never gets this money when Cody dies, but he does gain an education of sorts, in how to be or not be a wealthy man. 

Why did people in the past try so hard to be like everyone else?

The American culture of the 1950's has been labeled as an era of conformity by historians. Conformity is the word for the idea that you have proposed in your question. Since the Fifties was an era of conformity, it should come as no surprise that psychologists wanted to study the phenomenon. In 1955, Morton Deutch and Harold Gerard published the results of a study on why people conform. They identified two classifications for understanding why...

The American culture of the 1950's has been labeled as an era of conformity by historians. Conformity is the word for the idea that you have proposed in your question. Since the Fifties was an era of conformity, it should come as no surprise that psychologists wanted to study the phenomenon. In 1955, Morton Deutch and Harold Gerard published the results of a study on why people conform. They identified two classifications for understanding why people follow the group. First is what they called normative conformity. What this means is that people have a desire to fit into the groups and are naturally fearful of being rejected. In this situation, the individual may, in fact, disagree with the thoughts of the group but will not demonstrate this publicly.

The other reason that people follow the lead of the group is what they referred to as informational conformity. In this scenario, a person may be ignorant or uninformed and looks to the group to find the norm. In other words, the individual does not know any better so they are likely to follow the lead of others. The person that follows the group in this case is more likely to adopt and internalize the ideas of the group.

If there is new fad that decreases the demand of a good, how could you amend the issue only involving the price?

The answer to this depends on what you mean by “amend the issue.”  If you are asking what you could do to the price of the good to raise its demand back to previous levels, the answer is “nothing.”  If you are asking what you could do to raise the quantity demanded back to previous levels, the answer is “lower the price.”

These answers are based on the difference between a change in demand and...

The answer to this depends on what you mean by “amend the issue.”  If you are asking what you could do to the price of the good to raise its demand back to previous levels, the answer is “nothing.”  If you are asking what you could do to raise the quantity demanded back to previous levels, the answer is “lower the price.”

These answers are based on the difference between a change in demand and a change in quantity demanded.  Demand can be defined as the amount of a good that people are willing and able to buy at a given price.  In the case you pose here, a fad arose that made your product less popular. People are now willing to buy fewer of your product at a given price.  You cannot change this by changing the price because we specified that demand is the amount that people can and will buy at a given (cannot be changed) price.  The quantity demanded, by contrast, does change when the price changes. The law of demand tells us that, ceteris paribus, people will buy more of a thing as its price drops and less of it when its price rises.  What this means is that you can get people to buy more of your product if you lower the price. This will not raise demand, but it will raise the quantity demanded.

Thus, we can say that there is no way that you can change demand by changing your price.  However, you can increase the quantity demanded.  Which of these would meet your definition of “amend the issue?”

How is biology used in criminology? Is it more important than chemistry to take in high school? I can only do one.

The most important role for biology in criminal justice is DNA evidence, which has revolutionized forensic science and fundamentally changed the way we solve criminal cases, particularly major felonies like rape and murder. DNA typing is still expensive enough that it would not make sense to use it to investigate misdemeanors.If you have the stomach for it, autopsy has always been very important in criminology, and will most likely remain so. The best way...

The most important role for biology in criminal justice is DNA evidence, which has revolutionized forensic science and fundamentally changed the way we solve criminal cases, particularly major felonies like rape and murder. DNA typing is still expensive enough that it would not make sense to use it to investigate misdemeanors.

If you have the stomach for it, autopsy has always been very important in criminology, and will most likely remain so. The best way to understand what happened in a murder is to examine the body of the victim.

Biology also offers some insights into the causes of certain forms of mental illness that are associated with criminal behavior, including brain tumors and lead poisoning.

Chemistry is also quite important for forensic science, however, and it's a shame that they won't let you study both. There are a number of important applications of chemistry in criminal justice, particularly with regard to the investigation of illegal drug trafficking.

But in fact if criminology is your passion and you have the option, I would strongly encourage you to take psychology or neuroscience instead. Sociology, anthropology, and even economics would also be good choices. The major frontier of criminology right now lies not in investigating the results of crimes, but in understanding and modifying criminal behavior in order to prevent them. The major advances likely to be made soon will not be in catching criminals, but in understanding why they became criminals in the first place.

What viewpoint is expressed by the author in “The Story of an Hour”?

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" is told in the omniscient, third person point of view. This viewpoint allows for the narrator of the story to be all-knowing (omniscient) and to share with the readers information that the characters may not be privy to, given their experiences. 

This point of view makes it possible for both of the following pieces of information to be accurate and believable: 

He [Richards] had only taken the time...

Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" is told in the omniscient, third person point of view. This viewpoint allows for the narrator of the story to be all-knowing (omniscient) and to share with the readers information that the characters may not be privy to, given their experiences. 

This point of view makes it possible for both of the following pieces of information to be accurate and believable: 

He [Richards] had only taken the time to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram, and had hastened to forestall any less careful, less tender friend in bearing the sad message. 

and 

Into this she [Mrs. Mallard] sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.

An omniscient point of view allows for readers to experience what Richards felt when he first received the news of Mr. Mallard's death as well as for them to experience what Mrs. Mallard feels in the moments following the news being broken to her. 

Omniscient point of view can be a tremendously useful device, particularly in cases where there are key plot elements happening in different times and places in a story.

How does Harper Lee advance the theme of imprisonment and crossing of boundaries in To Kill a Mockingbird?

While many might prefer to answer this question through the lens of the Tom Robinson trial, I'd actually like to approach it from the perspective of the strange history and local legends surrounding Boo Radley.

Examining the notions of imprisonment and crossed boundaries within the context of Boo's character, it becomes apparent that imprisonment, both physical and metaphorical, is the consequence for the crossing of boundaries (you can also think of this as violating taboos...

While many might prefer to answer this question through the lens of the Tom Robinson trial, I'd actually like to approach it from the perspective of the strange history and local legends surrounding Boo Radley.

Examining the notions of imprisonment and crossed boundaries within the context of Boo's character, it becomes apparent that imprisonment, both physical and metaphorical, is the consequence for the crossing of boundaries (you can also think of this as violating taboos or other standards of social conduct) in Maycomb County. Boo Radley is a middle-aged recluse who has effectively lived under house arrest since he was a teenager. He was originally imprisoned after he helped a local gang pull off a relatively harmless prank (14), but several local legends have embellished the reasoning for his reclusiveness. Stephanie Crawford, for instance, tells Jem that Boo attacked his father with a pair of scissors and was subsequently locked up in the basement of the local courthouse before being brought back home for good (15). Considering Boo to be crazy, Jem assumes that Boo is chained to the bed, a wild idea that Atticus refutes (16).

In examining Boo Radley's case, it becomes apparent that, for whatever reason, Boo doesn't quite fit in the established Maycomb social structure. Whether or not the character is actually crazy is left up to the reader to decide, but Harper Lee does make one fairly overt suggestion: crossing any kind of social boundary in Maycomb, even if one merely engages in a foolish but insubstantial teenage prank, is grounds for imprisonment and exile. Furthermore, the sinister threads of gossip are likely to increase the efficacy of imprisonment, forcing the prisoner further away from human community through collective social shunning. As such, many parallels can be drawn between Boo Radley and Tim Robinson, though one is black and the other is white. Both men are considered the "other" in Maycomb terms, and both of these opinions are erroneously derived through prejudice. Be that as it may, both men experience imprisonment as a result of this otherness. 

How did each of the following groups resist the effects of capitalism (the actual economic effects of capitalism or the ideas of how changes could...

Most people have at least heard of the Luddites, thinking of them as people who were opposed to industrial technology---but that isn't quite right. They were actually opposed to the use of industrial technology to exploit workers; this question gets right that it was much more about opposing capitalism than it was about opposing technology. The Luddites saw that business owners were appropriating the additional wealth produced by more efficient machines rather than sharing it, and in protest destroyed those machines.

The Chartists, on the other hand, were not really opposed to capitalism. They were in favor of democracy. They were motivated in part by the sense that working people were being exploited by capitalists; but their main objectives were political---universal suffrage (well, for men), the right to run for office, fair elections with secret ballots. They weren't asking for an end to poverty, but for equal participation of the poor in the political system.

"Socialism" is one of those words that everyone uses and hardly anyone really understands. Marxism in particular is relatively well-defined, because Karl Marx himself clearly expressed his ideas about history and capitalism, and one can today decide whether they agree or disagree with those ideas. Marx's core idea was that capitalism was unsustainable; its inherent flaws and contradictions would eventually undermine it, and in the grand cycle of history (he clearly believed in some form of historical determinism) be replaced by a much better system that he called "scientific socialism", in which the means of production would be shared by all and there would be no private ownership of capital. (This is not to be confused with private property in general---Marx did not say that you could not own socks; he said that you could not own factories.)

But "socialism" in general has taken on a much broader meaning than that. When we look at modern "democratic socialism" in countries such as Denmark and Norway, they really do not resemble the system of collective ownership that Marx envisioned. They are more like capitalism plus a welfare state, or capitalism with taxation and redistribution of wealth. Democratic socialism is largely an attempt to mitigate the downsides of capitalism (increased inequality, poverty, economic instability) while still keeping most of the upsides (high productivity, high efficiency, high standard of living). In Denmark they try to have their capitalist cake and eat it too---and so far it seems to be working pretty well, as they're consistently rated among the happiest people in the world.

That leaves Classical Conservatives. Unlike neo-conservatives, classical conservatives are actually quite communitarian. They believe that tradition is the best source of morality, and eschew discussions of individual rights in favor of concepts such as loyalty, patriotism, and tradition. Their response to capitalism has been quite mixed; while some embrace it as part of their concept of tradition (we can hear this in ideas like "The American Dream"), others reject it in favor of an older way of life that is focused on family and religion rather than profit and efficiency. Many classical conservatives believe in sharing and redistributing wealth, but often prefer that redistribution be handled by charities and religious institutions rather than by government. They believe that the harms and excesses of capitalism can be rectified not by stricter government regulations, but by shared moral principles and collective grassroots action. Many even contend that poverty would not exist if the poor themselves had stronger moral principles such as work ethic and commitment to family.

What is irony in the poem "Mending Wall"?

In Robert Frost's poem, "Mending Wall," the speaker considers the idea of the wall in his yard and wonders why it is necessary. He prefers that there is no wall between he and his neighbor so they can have access to each other. However, the neighbor feels otherwise and believes that "good fences make good neighbors." He believes that walls or fences set up healthy boundaries between neighbors and that keeping an element of privacy...

In Robert Frost's poem, "Mending Wall," the speaker considers the idea of the wall in his yard and wonders why it is necessary. He prefers that there is no wall between he and his neighbor so they can have access to each other. However, the neighbor feels otherwise and believes that "good fences make good neighbors." He believes that walls or fences set up healthy boundaries between neighbors and that keeping an element of privacy makes for better relationships.

The irony is that putting a wall up between yourself and someone else seems like it would do the opposite--it seems like it would create a barrier, distance. For some people, it would. The speaker, for instance, thinks no fences would make good neighbors. Yet, the neighbor prefers a barrier, regardless of how ironic it may seem. For him, that is what makes him comfortable and makes him feel more neighborly towards the speaker.

What is the resolution to Krebs's conflict?

The resolution is when Hemingway's anti-hero, Harold Krebs, who resolves his conflict by abandoning himself to his disillusionment, leaves home because he wants his life "to go smoothly."

After having suffered through the horrors of World War I, Krebs simply wants to relax at home, but he soon discovers that he cannot relate to the people who want to hear lies about the war. Previously, Krebs has been able to follow a code of honor which...

The resolution is when Hemingway's anti-hero, Harold Krebs, who resolves his conflict by abandoning himself to his disillusionment, leaves home because he wants his life "to go smoothly."

After having suffered through the horrors of World War I, Krebs simply wants to relax at home, but he soon discovers that he cannot relate to the people who want to hear lies about the war. Previously, Krebs has been able to follow a code of honor which has given him a sense of "valuable quality," but now because of the lies he has told, he has a certain "distaste for everything that had happened to him in the war."

The new complexities of his life are overwhelming for Krebs, so much so that he feels completely inauthentic whereas during the war he was, at least, able to do "the only thing for a man to do." So, after he feels forced to lie to his mother, Krebs feels that there is nothing for him to do but leave home because he wants his life "to run smoothly" so he can keep his life "from being complicated."

"Fancy thinking the beast was something you could kill." What is the author trying to say with this quote?

This statement is spoken by the "Lord of the Flies," the "pig's head on a stick" that speaks to Simon in his vision in the thicket. While the conversation between the pig's head and Simon can be confusing--and it was written in a way to seem mysterious and ambiguous--it presents one of Golding's strongest themes in the novel. The lesson of the novel is that humans, left on their own even in an idyllic environment,...

This statement is spoken by the "Lord of the Flies," the "pig's head on a stick" that speaks to Simon in his vision in the thicket. While the conversation between the pig's head and Simon can be confusing--and it was written in a way to seem mysterious and ambiguous--it presents one of Golding's strongest themes in the novel. The lesson of the novel is that humans, left on their own even in an idyllic environment, will create a society that quickly degenerates unless they can follow rules and unless they have a moral basis for their lives. Ralph is the character who grasps the importance of rules and order; Simon is the character who grasps the importance of morality. Simon has already suggested that the "beastie" the boys are afraid of is "only us." Here Golding explores that idea further. The head says, "I'm part of you.... the reason why it's no go." The fact that he is called the Lord of the Flies is a reference to Beelzebub, or Satan, the personification of Evil. So Golding here is saying that evil resides within the human soul--"close, close, close!"--and therefore it cannot be hunted and killed as something external. The only way for the boys to really deal with the evil and save their society is to recognize the potential for their own moral failings and to build their society on a moral foundation. 

I am writing about Bill Clinton as a tragic hero. What is his tragic flaw? How do I use topics like Whitewater or Monica Lewinsky in an essay...

The idea of President Bill Clinton as a tragic hero is an interesting one. Usually a tragic hero is defined as someone whose general nature is noble, but whose tragic flaw brings about their downfall. Tragic heroes are also usually of noble birth; this was not true of Clinton, but his humble upbringing with a single parent and his determination to be successful led to exceptional performance in academia (he became a Rhodes Scholar), and...

The idea of President Bill Clinton as a tragic hero is an interesting one. Usually a tragic hero is defined as someone whose general nature is noble, but whose tragic flaw brings about their downfall. Tragic heroes are also usually of noble birth; this was not true of Clinton, but his humble upbringing with a single parent and his determination to be successful led to exceptional performance in academia (he became a Rhodes Scholar), and made him a very admired politician.

In Clinton's case, the most significant event of his presidency was the attempt to impeach him following the discovery that he'd had an extramarital affair with an intern, Monica Lewinsky. Impeachment is a dramatic event and happens rarely to sitting presidents; when an attempt was made to impeach Richard Nixon over crimes committed during the Watergate event, he resigned first. Clinton stayed the course, perhaps knowing that public opinion would help support him in the midst of an inappropriate persecution by the Republican Congress, and in the end he was not impeached.

The issues around the hearing and investigation were contextualized by saying that Clinton's lying under oath about the affair somehow constituted impeachable offenses. Some Americans thought he was unfit for office because of his actions; but many more people believed his personal life was not relevant to his work as President, and resented the time and expense of the investigation. It is also generally well known that many politicians and powerful people engage in affairs and it does not appear to affect their efficacy in their jobs (at the time it was mentioned in media that President Kennedy was suspected of a number of extramarital affairs). As well, the notion that Clinton should be impeached for behavior common in politics seemed to many to be hypocritical.

This is where one can begin to identify the tragic flaw associated with this kind of behavior. In Mr. Clinton's case, his tragic flaw could be any number of personality traits associated with his actions, but I think a good one that stands out is charisma. Clinton's personal charisma not only helped move him forward in politics, but makes him attractive to women. Just as politicians are said to engage in various kinds of corrupt behavior because they feel powerful, Clinton's charismatic personality was fed by admiration and the political power associated with being a Senator, Governor and President. That charisma helped him feel invincible and impervious to judgment.

What leads Scout to feel so distant from her brother in chapter six of To Kill a Mockingbird?

Chapter six of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird starts out with Dill and Jem having plans on their final night of summer vacation that do not include Scout. The lady in the moon is out, the street lights are on, and the night is dark and hot. When Dill suggests they go for a walk, Scout is suspicious, which proves she is not in on the plan. The boys allow Scout to go along...

Chapter six of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird starts out with Dill and Jem having plans on their final night of summer vacation that do not include Scout. The lady in the moon is out, the street lights are on, and the night is dark and hot. When Dill suggests they go for a walk, Scout is suspicious, which proves she is not in on the plan. The boys allow Scout to go along to the Radley house as long as she doesn't mess things up. They want to peek into a broken shutter and get a glimpse of Boo Radley. The fact that she wasn't in on the boys' plan is one way Scout felt left-out that night.

The next way Scout feels like her influence on Jem is waning is when he goes to retrieve his pants which had been caught in the fence at the Radley house. She tries to convince him to stay and forget the pants, but he doesn't listen to her. Scout truly believes that Jem will get shot if he goes back to the Radley house; and she reasons that a whooping by Atticus is better than death. Jem sees it differently. He never wants to disappoint his father to the point of deserving a spanking. Jem would rather die than go through that. Scout's response is the following:

"It was then, I suppose, that Jem and I first began to part company. Sometimes I did not understand him, but my periods of bewilderment were short-lived. This was beyond me. 'Please,' I pleaded, 'can'tcha just think about it for a minute--by yourself on that place--'

'Shut up!'" (56).

Jem actually grabs Scout by the collar to get her to stop arguing with him about going to get his pants. He was going no matter what and tensions were higher between them than ever before. When Jem does come back, he doesn't say anything to Scout, and she doesn't say anything to him. 

Describe the 1911 Chinese revolution.

The 1911 revolution in China was an important one. It changed China’s system of government. As a result of this revolution, the Republic of China was created, as the Qing Dynasty was no longer in power in China. The imperial system had ended.

The Qing Dynasty faced many issues. In 1895, China lost a war with Japan. As a result, China lost some territory including control over Korea and Taiwan. In 1899, China was in...

The 1911 revolution in China was an important one. It changed China’s system of government. As a result of this revolution, the Republic of China was created, as the Qing Dynasty was no longer in power in China. The imperial system had ended.

The Qing Dynasty faced many issues. In 1895, China lost a war with Japan. As a result, China lost some territory including control over Korea and Taiwan. In 1899, China was in danger of being colonized as many nations had developed spheres of influence in China. The issuing of the Open Door Policy by the United States prevented other countries from colonizing China. In 1900, the Boxer Rebellion was aimed at removing foreign influence from China. This failed rebellion also threatened China’s independence. Warlords continued to exert influence in China, which held back the opportunity for progress.

A group of people, led by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, pushed for major reforms in China. Some of the people involved in the revolutionary movement had western educations and wanted to see changes in China. They weren’t satisfied with the limited reforms made by the Qing Dynasty. In 1910, fighting broke out in a region of China that eventually turned into a full-scale revolt. The emperor gave up the throne, ending the Qing Dynasty, and creating the Republic of China.

What are two components of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that makes it such a lasting and influential play?

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is long-lasting and influential because audiences from every generation and every nation can relate to the themes presented in the play and for the witty, artistic, and profound language used to tell the tragic story. The following is a list of themes that are still identifiable today by audiences around the world:

1.  Family Feud or Gang Violence


2.  Parent/Child Relationship Struggles


3.  Teenage Love and Teenage Suicide


4.  Spontaneous and Rash Teenage Decision-making


5.  Revenge

These are just a few of the themes that audiences can relate to 500 years after the play first debuted. The world's communities see these struggles still today, so the play is able to still be entertaining as well as worthwhile for students to learn from.

Next is the creative language that must be difficult to translate into different languages, but nonetheless, profound ideas strike truth into people's hearts no matter the translation. The following are just a few of the most famous quotes used over and over by people everywhere when alluding to universal themes of fate, love, and tolerance:

"A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;

Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows

Doth withtheir death bury their parents' strife" (Prologue. 7-9).

Whenever someone breaks up with a significant other, someone might say "it's just not meant to be," or "it wasn't written in the stars," or that the relationship was "star-crossed." This line is a great example of doomed love and it seems to help people blame fate for a failed relationship rather than themselves.

"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun" (II.ii.2-3).

The above passage is Romeo's first famous lines in the balcony scene which seems to be a scene that exemplifies romantic love. And the first line bounces off of the tongue with perfect rhythm as it uses iambic pentameter.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other word would smell as sweet" (II.ii.45-46).

Juliet says this quote while contemplating the fact that Romeo is a Montague and her family's enemy. The metaphor rings true today, though people may use this as a theme for tolerance and not judging people based on the family or group they might be associated with.

Classics like Romeo and Juliet are long-lasting and influential as audiences throughout the ages are able to identify and relate to the language and themes presented in them. This play will forever be the standard for profound thematic elements and crafty language.

What did McCandless do when he returned to the U.S.?

This question is potentially huge, because I believe that you are referring to McCandless's return to the United States after paddling his canoe into Mexico. The reason the answer could be huge is because that event happened early in McCandless's wanderings. I would like to limit my answer to what McCandless did soon after coming back to the United States.  

For the first night back in the United States (January 18), McCandless spent the...

This question is potentially huge, because I believe that you are referring to McCandless's return to the United States after paddling his canoe into Mexico. The reason the answer could be huge is because that event happened early in McCandless's wanderings. I would like to limit my answer to what McCandless did soon after coming back to the United States.  

For the first night back in the United States (January 18), McCandless spent the night in jail for attempting to re-enter the country without an ID. During the next six weeks, McCandless wandered aimlessly. He went as far east as Houston and as far west as the Pacific Ocean. His journal states that he got a job and an ID in Los Angeles sometime during late January or early February. By February 9, McCandless was camping at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Then, on February 27, McCandless arrived in Las Vegas. He lived with other vagrants in Las Vegas until May 10. Then he left the city and went back to his wandering. 

On May 10, itchy feet returned and Alex left his job in Vegas, retrieved his backpack, and hit the road again,. . .