Consider the description of Edward, the English king, in line 146-159 of Act 4, scene 3 of Macbeth. Why is this passage included in the play?

In Act 4, scene 3 of Macbeth, a Doctor briefly enters to tell Malcolm something regarding King Edward:

DOCTOR: There are a crew of wretched souls / That stay his cure. Their malady convinces / The great assay of art, but at his touch - / Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand - / They presently amend. (142-147)

It is an odd passage and it initially feels irrelevant. However, it is important...

In Act 4, scene 3 of Macbeth, a Doctor briefly enters to tell Malcolm something regarding King Edward:

DOCTOR: There are a crew of wretched souls / That stay his cure. Their malady convinces / The great assay of art, but at his touch - / Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand - / They presently amend. (142-147)

It is an odd passage and it initially feels irrelevant. However, it is important for two reasons. First, the description of King Edward is drastically different from the impression Malcolm and Macduff give of Macbeth. King Edward is deemed a saintly and generous king. He is described as being blessed by God. Macbeth, however, is consistently described as being evil. King Edward is represented as a foil to Macbeth.

Secondly, this passage is placed in the play as an homage to the king. Shakespeare often described the leaders of England reverently, as they were typically patrons of his plays. This description of King Edward is, without a doubt, meant as a compliment to the king.

Why is cutting off his hair such a major step for Ponyboy?

Ponyboy's hair is a big part of his identity as a Greaser.  Ponyboy also has a lot of personal pride in his hair.  He thinks that he looks better with long hair, and it happens to be one of the first details about himself that he gives to readers. 

My hair is longer than a lot of boys wear theirs, squared off in back and long at the front and sides, but I am a...

Ponyboy's hair is a big part of his identity as a Greaser.  Ponyboy also has a lot of personal pride in his hair.  He thinks that he looks better with long hair, and it happens to be one of the first details about himself that he gives to readers. 

My hair is longer than a lot of boys wear theirs, squared off in back and long at the front and sides, but I am a greaser and most of my neighborhood rarely bothers to get a haircut. Besides, I look better with long hair.

Ponyboy's hair marks him as a Greaser, which Ponyboy is proud of.  All of the Greasers are proud of their long, greased hair.  That is why when the Socs threaten to cut hair, the threat is so worrisome.  To a Greaser, having his hair cut would be the equivalent of having a body part cut off.  

It was my pride. It was long and silky, just like Soda's, only a little redder. Our hair was tuff--- we didn't have to use much grease on it. Our hair labeled us greasers, too- -- it was our trademark. The one thing we were proud of. Maybe we couldn't have Corvairs or madras shirts, but we could have hair.

In chapter five, Ponyboy and Johnny are forced to cut their hair.  The reality of the situation is that they are fugitives on the run, and they must cut and color their hair in order to change their appearance.  But symbolically, the event marks the place in the story that Ponyboy begins to throw off aspects of being a Greaser.  That is why the haircut is such a major step for Ponyboy.  He is willingly casting off a part of himself.  That transformation is carried through to the end of the story and culminates with Ponyboy being able to have a regular conversation with a Soc.  

What characteristics are inherited in fish, but learned in humans?

This is a surprisingly difficult question. It's not always clear whether a given behavior is innate or learned in any species, and humans are the species for which this is most difficult, because we are so spectacularly good at learning new behaviors.Still, I think it's largely accurate to say that swimming is an important behavior which is largely innate among fish but largely learned among humans. Fish start swimming as soon as they are...

This is a surprisingly difficult question. It's not always clear whether a given behavior is innate or learned in any species, and humans are the species for which this is most difficult, because we are so spectacularly good at learning new behaviors.

Still, I think it's largely accurate to say that swimming is an important behavior which is largely innate among fish but largely learned among humans.

Fish start swimming as soon as they are born, and show no particular improvements in swimming performance as they grow, suggesting that this is a genetically-programmed behavior.

Humans can float from birth and have the mammalian diving reflex (which is clearly genetic), and there is some genetic variation in human swimming (I'll never swim like Michael Phelps, no matter what I do---he just has better swimming genes than I do), but we generally make terrible swimmers until we have gone through days or weeks of training and practice. Also, we can see humans dramatically improve their performance as they practice. These features suggest that swimming in humans is a learned behavior.

How do prices, output, and profits differ between monopolies and monopolistically competitive firms? Are there similarities?

In fundamental microeconomic theory, competitive markets have the effect of driving market price down to the point where producers are operating at the point of minimum total cost per unit (i.e. at the point of greatest efficiency). Conversely, monopolies will be able to maintain higher prices, specifically at the point where the total market demand curve crosses their marginal cost curve. That is, they do not have to share the market with anyone, so they...

In fundamental microeconomic theory, competitive markets have the effect of driving market price down to the point where producers are operating at the point of minimum total cost per unit (i.e. at the point of greatest efficiency). Conversely, monopolies will be able to maintain higher prices, specifically at the point where the total market demand curve crosses their marginal cost curve. That is, they do not have to share the market with anyone, so they will raise prices until the quantity demanded is such that marginal cost equals that price. The key here is that monopolies face no competition. For a pure monopoly to exist, not only must there be no competitors producing the same good or service, but there should be no effective alternative goods or services to that one. True monopolies are extremely difficult to maintain in the long term, as the higher prices they charge stimulate research and investment into alternatives (e.g. solar as an alternative to electric company provided power). Additionally, it is unusual for a monopoly to be allowed by democratic governments without substantial price regulation (e.g. utility commissions).

 Monopolistic competition is the situation in which there are multiple firms producing a good or service, but they are able to differentiate their products to an extent. In other words, each firm’s product is an imperfect substitute for its competitors’ products, and vice versa. The result is that price can be maintained above the minimum total cost level, but not as high as in a true monopoly. Profits are thus not as high in monopolistic competition, quantity produced and consumed is higher, and price is lower. Monopolistic competition tends to place a premium on marketing, product features, and additional services associated with a product. Anything which ties a consumer into a particular firm’s products over an extended term fosters monopolistic competition. An example would be attempts to associate prestige with a particular brand (e.g. cars, cosmetics). Another example is making capital goods incapable of operating on consumables produced by other firms (e.g. HP ink cartridges, or Keurig’s producing machines which will only operate with K-cups produced by them).

How do Hughes' words vividly convey the power of pike in the poem, "Pike"?

When you finish reading "Pike" by Ted Hughes, you come away with a healthy respect for this kind of fish, maybe even fear, or at least awe. Let's see how the poet's words express, concisely and vividly, the power of these pike, whom the poet clearly admires. 

For Hughes, the pike's power seems to lie in several dimensions: first, sheer size; second, ruthlessness; and third, grace and beauty. These features all combine to delineate the...

When you finish reading "Pike" by Ted Hughes, you come away with a healthy respect for this kind of fish, maybe even fear, or at least awe. Let's see how the poet's words express, concisely and vividly, the power of these pike, whom the poet clearly admires. 

For Hughes, the pike's power seems to lie in several dimensions: first, sheer size; second, ruthlessness; and third, grace and beauty. These features all combine to delineate the fish as powerful creatures worthy of this intense poem.

Notice how, as we get into all of these details, that it's always Hughes's choice of precise words that convey the pike's attributes. He's never vague. He's always bold in his word choice. 

For instance, in conveying their impressive size, Hughes doesn't say "they're huge" or "they're monstrous." He says they are "three inches long," yet a "hundred feet long in their world," compared to the flies that they swim around. And the other specimens are "six pounds each, over two feet long" - exact measurements that give you a chill as you imagine how hefty they would be to hold. The last we hear of their size is when Hughes describes them as "too immense to stir, so immense and old." Their hugeness is part of their power.

So, too, is their ruthlessness. The speaker calls these pike "killers from the egg," with jaws that "clamp" with "fangs." Their grins are "malevolent" (evil) and "aged." These fish even have "iron" in their eyes in death. Well, I'm pretty terrified of them by now!

Yet despite their ability to kill and clamp and show an iron reserve, the pike retain a powerful grace and beauty. They "dance on the surface" of the water, Hughes tells us. There is "green tigering the gold" on their scales, and the pike themselves are at times "stunned by their own grandeur." So it's not that they're simply monsters; they also have their own brand of elegance, adding even more to the sense of their power.

What are some examples of irony in The Grapes of Wrath?

There are many instances of irony in this novel, mostly related to the main theme, man's humanity and inhumanity towards his fellow man. 

In Chapter 13 we see an example of irony when Tom is talking about the burial of Grampa Joad. Grampa has died of natural causes while on the way to California and the Joads have no choice but to bury him alongside the road and move on. Tom suggests leaving a note with...

There are many instances of irony in this novel, mostly related to the main theme, man's humanity and inhumanity towards his fellow man. 

In Chapter 13 we see an example of irony when Tom is talking about the burial of Grampa Joad. Grampa has died of natural causes while on the way to California and the Joads have no choice but to bury him alongside the road and move on. Tom suggests leaving a note with his body explaining who he was and how he died because he says that the government is more concerned about dead men than live ones (Chapter 13) and they'll go to a lot of trouble to figure out who murdered him if he happens to get dug up by a work crew on the side of the road. This comment alone is ironic because it demonstrates the government's callous treatment of its living citizens. Tom makes the argument that the government does not care about living men, only dead ones. Instead of spending their plentiful resources to help the living, they spend them on solving the murders of the dead.

Later, in Chapter 26, Ma says, "if you're in trouble or hurt or need—go to the poor people. They're the only ones that'll help." This, again, indicates that the government does not care about the poor. This statement is ironic, however, because the poor are usually the ones needing help, and even though they may have nothing, they are more generous than those who do have the ability to help.

Each of these situations demonstrates the irony of humanity itself in the book. The value that is put on human life is very little, but only by some. Those who you would expect to value human life, like your own government or those with money to help, are often the ones who have the least amount of concern for those in need.

What would be a character sketch of George in 300 to 400 words?

Here’s a start. George may be the only one of the three friends who holds a “real” job. He works at a bank six days a week. (Narrator J. pokes fun and claims that all George does there is sleep.) He seems to be an organized person, even though he can sometimes be clumsy or get confused. For the boat trip, he brings along a banjo and instruction book. He is obviously up for learning...

Here’s a start. George may be the only one of the three friends who holds a “real” job. He works at a bank six days a week. (Narrator J. pokes fun and claims that all George does there is sleep.) He seems to be an organized person, even though he can sometimes be clumsy or get confused. For the boat trip, he brings along a banjo and instruction book. He is obviously up for learning something new, and he thinks he’ll have enough spare time to devote to this new endeavor. This turns out not to be the case. But he’s probably the best cook on the boat. He knows what his skills are. And he’s a good and devoted friend to J. and Harris.

For more details to include in your sketch, see George’s stopped watch story in Chapter XI; his Irish stew and banjo stories in Chapter XIV; the fishy story in Chapter XVII; and the tale of George and J. once getting caught in a lock on the river in Chapter XVIII.

Some insurance plans strictly limit coverage for mental health treatment, for instance, paying for only a small number of therapeutic sessions or...

The federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, passed in 2008, states that insurance companies must cover mental health and substance-abuse issues to the same degree that they cover physical care. However, many insurance companies have limits on coverage for mental health care. In addition, the law does not require insurance companies to have mental health care benefits but only states that if they do, they must cover mental health to the same degree...

The federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, passed in 2008, states that insurance companies must cover mental health and substance-abuse issues to the same degree that they cover physical care. However, many insurance companies have limits on coverage for mental health care. In addition, the law does not require insurance companies to have mental health care benefits but only states that if they do, they must cover mental health to the same degree as they cover physical health. In addition, insurance companies can exclude certain diagnoses.

This situation is dire because one in four Americans faces mental illness each year. The reason that insurance companies deny or limit coverage is partly cost. Some mental health and substance abuse issues are chronic, meaning that their treatment is indefinite. Treating these disorders is very expensive yet necessary because, if they are left untreated, mental disorders can not only cause pain and suffering for the individual affected but also can affect their loved ones, employment, and even health. There is evidence, for example, that serious depression has health effects (see "Depression, chronic diseases, and decrements in health: results from the World Health Surveys" by Saba Moussavi, Somnath Chatterji, Emese Verdes, Ajay Tandon, Vikram Patel, and Bedirhan Ustun). In other words, if they are untreated, mental health issues can have physical consequences. 

The reason that insurance companies deny mental health care is that it is expensive. It is also difficult to determine how much care people need to recover from mental illness and to decide when patients are better and can end their care. 

What did the Logans eat for Christmas dinner in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry?

Papa comes home and the Logans have a Christmas feast with the Averys.

Christmas dinner is a big celebration.  It is also a big undertaking.  It takes a long time to cook, and the meal is made by “the eldest girls,” Mama, Big Ma, and Mrs. Avery.  All of the other kids try to hang out in the kitchen smelling the "delicious aromas" there, but keep getting kicked out until the meal is ready. 

The...

Papa comes home and the Logans have a Christmas feast with the Averys.

Christmas dinner is a big celebration.  It is also a big undertaking.  It takes a long time to cook, and the meal is made by “the eldest girls,” Mama, Big Ma, and Mrs. Avery.  All of the other kids try to hang out in the kitchen smelling the "delicious aromas" there, but keep getting kicked out until the meal is ready. 

The meal lasted for over two hours through firsts, seconds, and thirds, talk and laughter, and finally dessert. (Ch. 7)

The feast is special because Papa is home, and the kids miss him.  Stacey’s white friend Jeremy Smitts shows up unexpectedly at the door after dinner with some gifts.  Papa tells Jeremy to leave before his father comes looking for him.  T.J. shows contempt for the presents.  Later, Stacey asks Papa if it is wrong to be friends with a white boy.

“Far as I’m concerned, friendship between black and white don’t mean that much ’cause it usually ain’t on a equal basis. Right now you and Jeremy might get along fine, but in a few years he’ll think of himself as a man but you’ll probably still be a boy to him. And if he feels that way, he’ll turn on you in a minute.” (Ch. 7)

Papa asks Stacey if he likes Jeremy, and he tells him that the boy likes to walk to school with him and doesn't care that the other white boys laugh.  He tells his father that he doesn't think Jeremy will turn on him.  His father explains to him that this is just the way it is between the races.  Nothing will change.  When Jeremey gets older, he will not be Stacey’s friend, even if he thinks he wants to be his friend now.

What is Victor's reason for not explaining his discovery of "so astonishing a secret" to the reader in Frankenstein?

In Chapter Four of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein describes his encounter with the principles of life and death, from which he discovered “so astonishing a secret.”  Yet, in an aside to the reader, Frankenstein refuses to explain his extraordinary discovery:

 “I see by your eagerness, and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be informed of the secret with which I am acquainted; that cannot be:...

In Chapter Four of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein describes his encounter with the principles of life and death, from which he discovered “so astonishing a secret.”  Yet, in an aside to the reader, Frankenstein refuses to explain his extraordinary discovery:

 “I see by your eagerness, and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be informed of the secret with which I am acquainted; that cannot be: listen patiently until the end of my story, and you will easily perceive why I am reserved upon that subject. I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to your destruction and infallible misery. Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow” (42).

There are two fundamental reasons as to why Frankenstein does not share the secret with the reader.  First, the withholding of information serves as alluring foreshadowing.  This device entices the reader to keep reading to discover the “astonishing secret,” and it foreshadows the negative impacts of the secret.  Second, this excerpt explains the dangers of acquiring knowledge and how it can lead individuals to evil or disastrous conclusions.  Frankenstein does not want to share the secret with the reader because he knows the implications of possessing this information, and he is using his narrative as a means to caution the world about exploring ideas that they might not fully understand. 

During the French Revolution, was the Terror successful in preserving the Republic?

The Terror, which lasted from 1793 to 1794, has provoked a lot of debate among historians. What they basically agree on is that the Terror cannot be understood except in the context of the broader French war against the monarchies of Europe. This conflict was for the survival of the Revolution itself, and in this environment, men like Georges Danton and especially Maximilian Robespierre sought to eliminate what they saw as domestic enemies of the...

The Terror, which lasted from 1793 to 1794, has provoked a lot of debate among historians. What they basically agree on is that the Terror cannot be understood except in the context of the broader French war against the monarchies of Europe. This conflict was for the survival of the Revolution itself, and in this environment, men like Georges Danton and especially Maximilian Robespierre sought to eliminate what they saw as domestic enemies of the Revolution. Robespierre in particular wanted to impose his understanding of republican virtue on the French population. Both of these measures, which were seen as necessary to victory in the war, were pursued in tandem with such measures as price supports long advocated by the Parisian sans-culottes who provided a base of political power for Robespierre and his radical Jacobin faction. Robespierre established the Committee of Public Safety to carry out these measures, which were given added urgency by a revolt of counter-revolutionaries in the Vendee, a region outside Paris, that escalated into a full-scale civil war in 1793. As one historian has observed, the Terror was in large part an attempt to rein in what its leaders saw as the unchecked, random violence of the Parisian mobs--to "prevent the sans-culottes from taking the law into their own hands." 

In this aim, it has to be said, the Terror was a success. It was also successful in crushing the Vendee revolt, which threatened the very future of the Revolution, and in eliminating many people who were in fact enemies of the Revolution. It is also true that the French army defeated its enemies on the battlefield in 1794, preserving the Republic for years. The role played by the Terror in bringing about this victory is open for debate. However, the Terror and the actions of the Committee of Public Safety in general mobilized the nation for war in ways unprecedented in human history. In any case, we must remember that whatever successes the Terror had can only be considered in light of its enormous human cost--thousands of people died under the guillotine and in mass executions, and many were, in fact, not enemies of the Revolution. 

What could increase the rate of diffusion across a cell membrane?

Several things could increase the rate of diffusion across a cell membrane.

Diffusion is one of the transport processes that doesn't require energy, because it's driven by environmental conditions rather than a specific cell component. Diffusion can also be defined in terms of entropy; organized systems tend to decay without an influx of energy to maintain their organization. Diffusion is the motion of particles from a region of high concentration to low concentration, so all...

Several things could increase the rate of diffusion across a cell membrane.

Diffusion is one of the transport processes that doesn't require energy, because it's driven by environmental conditions rather than a specific cell component. Diffusion can also be defined in terms of entropy; organized systems tend to decay without an influx of energy to maintain their organization. Diffusion is the motion of particles from a region of high concentration to low concentration, so all we need to do to affect this motion is alter either or both of the concentrations, or change the particle being diffused. 

If, for example, we choose to talk about the concentrations of ions, specifically sodium, then we can look at how pumps and gated channels would affect diffusion. Assuming that the cell membrane is impermeable to these ions, then the only way to let them into the cell is to create channels that allow them to flow in until they reach equilibrium with the outside of the cell; after that point, we have to spend energy using pumps to increase the concentration, and we also need gated channels to prevent them from flowing out until we want them to. So, if the cell has gated channels and pumps, this can control the rate of diffusion and increase it. It can also be further increased by adding additional pumps (to increase the high concentration) or additional gates (to allow particles to move through the membrane faster). 

The particles themselves could be changed as well; typically smaller particles will be able to diffuse faster simply by being less difficult to fit through the channels and pumps. You could also change the charge or polarity of the particle, although this would need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as the charge might be integral to the function of the gates and pumps.

In what ways are Mercutio and Tybalt true to their personalities up to their deaths?

As opposed to dynamic characters who experience some important change over the course of a piece of literature, static characters don't change. Mercutio and Tybalt could definitely be considered static. They are true to their personalities up to their violent deaths in Act III, Scene 1. They neither hesitate in acting out nor do they demonstrate any regret or contemplation of their actions.

Tybalt is arrogant, belligerent and deaf to reason. Twice before Act III,...

As opposed to dynamic characters who experience some important change over the course of a piece of literature, static characters don't change. Mercutio and Tybalt could definitely be considered static. They are true to their personalities up to their violent deaths in Act III, Scene 1. They neither hesitate in acting out nor do they demonstrate any regret or contemplation of their actions.

Tybalt is arrogant, belligerent and deaf to reason. Twice before Act III, he is told to keep himself under control, yet refuses and acts on his anger. He is faithful to the feud and will not tolerate any insult from the Montagues. He announces his intolerance in Act I, Scene 1 as he challenges Benvolio after the Montague has urged restraint in the initial street fight. He tells Benvolio,

What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.

At Capulet's party Tybalt is once again warned about his temper when he insists on fighting Romeo. It takes an equally angry Capulet, who doesn't want his festivities interrupted, to eventually dissuade Tybalt from going after Romeo. This, however, only proves to make Tybalt more incensed as he promises to take up the matter at a different time. In an aside in Act I, Scene 5 he says, 

Patience perforce with willful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.
I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.

Tybalt does indeed seek revenge for the "intrusion" and is looking for Romeo in Act III, Scene 1. Despite Romeo's claims that he actually loves Tybalt, because he has secretly married Juliet, Tybalt's cousin, it does no good. Tybalt will not listen and demands satisfaction. He says,

Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw.

His haughty nature and lack of restraint leads to his death as he refuses to either run away or back down to Romeo after Mercutio dies. He comes back to fight Romeo because he simply cannot resist a conflict. Like Tybalt, Mercutio lacks growth over the course of the play and is also unable to resist a fight.  

Mercutio is ever the long winded storyteller and joker. He craves attention and his jokes often hinge on insults or sexual innuendo. When the audience first meets him In Act I, Scene 4 he is chiding Romeo over his friend's unrequited love for Rosaline. After Romeo has broken away from Mercutio and Benvolio to go over the orchard wall in Act II, Scene 1, and doesn't respond to their calls, Mercutio uses a sexual reference to continue his verbal assault on Romeo. He says,

I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes,
By her high forehead, and her scarlet lip,
By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh,
And the demesnes that there adjacent lie,
That in thy likeness thou appear to us.

His use of sexual innuendo continues later in the Act when he uses terms such as "pump," "pink flower," "tale" and "toy," all with direct sexually tinged implications. He even berates the Nurse with innuendo. When she asks for the time, he says,

’Tis no less, I tell you, for the bawdy hand of
the dial is now upon the prick of noon.

Mercutio's tone is often mocking and insulting. In Act III, Scene 1 when Benvolio urges him to get off the street, he accuses Benvolio of actually being the one who likes to fight. He produces a litany of ways that Benvolio could be prompted to fight. He says,

Thou—why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that
hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard than
thou hast.

Of course the audience knows this to be hyperbole as Mercutio is rarely serious about what he says. In fact, at one point Romeo refers to him as a man "that loves to hear himself talk." His response to the exchange between Romeo and Tybalt is typical. When Tybalt walks away from him and challenges Romeo, his anger is more about being ignored than it is out of any concern for his friend. He cannot help but demand to be the center of attention. Even after he is stabbed and dying, he has to get the last word in as he puns on the word grave and curses the families:

No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as
a church door, but ’tis enough. ’Twill serve. Ask for
me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I
am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o’
both your houses!

What is international trade policy? What is the government's role in international trade policies?

International trade policy describes collectively the international laws and multilateral trade agreements that govern the sale of goods between different countries.Some international trade policy is made by transnational institutions such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, which are not directly controlled by any particular national government. Instead, member governments elect representatives to these transnational bodies in much the same way that citizens elect representatives to legislatures. Only very basic international trade...

International trade policy describes collectively the international laws and multilateral trade agreements that govern the sale of goods between different countries.

Some international trade policy is made by transnational institutions such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, which are not directly controlled by any particular national government. Instead, member governments elect representatives to these transnational bodies in much the same way that citizens elect representatives to legislatures. Only very basic international trade policies are made this way.

Most substantive international trade policy is actually in the form of multilateral trade agreements, which are directly negotiated between the governments of two or more countries. NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership are examples of such trade agreements. There are dozens of such agreements, negotiated between various groups of countries. These agreements primarily involve negotiating reductions in tariffs and protections for intellectual property, but can also involve many other issues, such as labor standards and environmental regulations. These agreements are often negotiated in secret directly between executives of member governments and ratified with little oversight by their respective legislatures or citizens. An advantage of this method is that agreements can be resolved relatively quickly and with less partisanship, but a major disadvantage is that this lack of oversight can make the process undemocratic and give undue advantages to particular interest groups, especially multinational corporations.

How would you demonstrate the various ways in which the title of Things Fall Apart reflects events in Achebe's novel?

The title of Chinua Achebe’s debut novel Things Fall Apart perfectly encapsulates the tragic events that surround Okonkwo’s abbreviated life. The title, taken from W.B. Yeats’ “The Second Coming,” embodies how Okonkwo feels about his life. His traditional values are steadily undermined by the pervasive and intrusive Western influence that settles on Umuofia. Throughout the course of the novel, Okonkwo goes from one of the great men of the tribe to a tragic suicide whose...

The title of Chinua Achebe’s debut novel Things Fall Apart perfectly encapsulates the tragic events that surround Okonkwo’s abbreviated life. The title, taken from W.B. Yeats’ “The Second Coming,” embodies how Okonkwo feels about his life. His traditional values are steadily undermined by the pervasive and intrusive Western influence that settles on Umuofia. Throughout the course of the novel, Okonkwo goes from one of the great men of the tribe to a tragic suicide whose body is taboo to his fellow clansmen. It all begins when Okonkwo and his family are forced into exile after he inadvertently kills a young tribesman during a ceremony:

“The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee from the clan. It was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from the land. The crime was of two kinds, male and female. Okonkwo had committed the female, because it had been inadvertent. He could return to the clan after seven years” (124).

With this action, he jeopardizes everything that he has built up to this point in his life. In his time in exile, his beloved Umuofia changes forever. He anticipates his return, but it is ultimately a disappointment:

“Okonkwo's return to his native land was not as memorable as he had wished.... Umuofia did not appear to have taken any special notice of the warrior's return. The clan had undergone such profound change during his exile that it was barely recognizable.... And it was the wrong year too. If Okonkwo had immediately initiated his two sons into the ozu society as he had planned he would have caused a stir. But the initiation rite was performed once in three years in Umuofia, and he had to wait for nearly two years for the next round of ceremonies” (182-3).

This passage reflects many of the events in Okonkwo’s life. Nothing happens at the right time. He is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Everything that he has built is taken away from him, his values lose their relevance in an altered Umuofia, and his oldest son runs away into the Christian faith. These are all points that illustrate how the aspects of Okonkwo’s life do in fact fall apart. This is why the title is so potent and fitting.

How do the people of Ilujinle feel about Lakunle and why?

At the beginning of the play, Lakunle urges Sidi to not carry loads of water on her head and to dress more modestly. Sidi responds by criticizing Lakunle and saying that everyone calls him the madman from Ilujinle. She says that people curse him for his big words with no meaning and that everyone considers him a fool, even the children. Lakunle tells Sidi that his progressive ideas are accepted in Lagos and...

At the beginning of the play, Lakunle urges Sidi to not carry loads of water on her head and to dress more modestly. Sidi responds by criticizing Lakunle and saying that everyone calls him the madman from Ilujinle. She says that people curse him for his big words with no meaning and that everyone considers him a fool, even the children. Lakunle tells Sidi that his progressive ideas are accepted in Lagos and other advanced villages. Sidi asks him if he is aware of what they call him in the village. She also asks if Lakunle has no shame when he hears the people jeer at him throughout the town. She goes on to tell him that people think he is mad and questions why they let him run the school. She tells him that he's ruining his pupils, and they will eventually utter madness like he does. The reason the villagers think Lakunle is mad is because he neglects traditional customs and favors modern Western civilization. Lakunle is interested in reading, writing, and supports progressive thoughts. His values are different from his neighbors' which is why he is viewed as a madman.

What was the main reason Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation?

Lincoln's motives in issuing the Emancipation Proclamation were complex. As is well known, the wording of the document meant that it did not really free enslaved people. It only applied to slaves held in states "in Rebellion against the United States," areas where he had no political power. In the border states, and even in some southern areas occupied by federal troops, the Proclamation did not free slaves. While there was a moral dimension to...

Lincoln's motives in issuing the Emancipation Proclamation were complex. As is well known, the wording of the document meant that it did not really free enslaved people. It only applied to slaves held in states "in Rebellion against the United States," areas where he had no political power. In the border states, and even in some southern areas occupied by federal troops, the Proclamation did not free slaves. While there was a moral dimension to the Emancipation, it was fundamentally a wartime measure, a political document. The best way, perhaps, to describe Lincoln's main motive in issuing the Proclamation is to say that he intended it to redefine the purpose of the war. Lincoln had, since the beginning of the war, maintained that it was a war to preserve the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation ensured that preservation of the Union was incompatible with preserving the institution of slavery. This was especially important when considering the global diplomatic context of the war. If the war was fundamentally about slavery, Great Britain (which had abolished slavery) would not intervene to recognize the Confederacy as Southern leaders fervently hoped they would. Lincoln seems to have genuinely believed by this point that the war should mark the end of slavery in the Confederacy, and the political and strategic benefits to this position strengthened this belief. The Emancipation Proclamation ensured that this would happen.

Who were the detectives and suspects in William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily"?

Technically, there are no detectives in "A Rose for Emily." The town did meet to discuss certain issues with Emily. They meet to discuss how to deal with the smell coming from her house. Since they conclude that it is too inappropriate to confront a woman about smelling bad, they send four men to sprinkle lime around the house during the night. They also confront her about paying taxes. She continually claims that Colonel Sartoris...

Technically, there are no detectives in "A Rose for Emily." The town did meet to discuss certain issues with Emily. They meet to discuss how to deal with the smell coming from her house. Since they conclude that it is too inappropriate to confront a woman about smelling bad, they send four men to sprinkle lime around the house during the night. They also confront her about paying taxes. She continually claims that Colonel Sartoris had remitted them. They argue back but Emily is insistent and they eventually give up. 

When Emily dies, it is attributed to old age, so there is no need for detective nor any suspects. And, when Homer Baron disappears, the matter is not investigated and there are no suspects. However, when they go through Emily's house after she's been buried, they find a man's corpse in one of the rooms. The name of the corpse is not mentioned, but it is widely interpreted that it is the corpse of Homer Baron. The story ends before any detective work can begin. But given Emily's secrecy and the fact that the corpse has been in her home for some time, she would be the primary suspect. Adding some morbid notion to this Gothic ending, the men who discover Homer's corpse conclude that Emily had been sleeping with the body: 

Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of irongray hair. 

Why are Jonas and his father worried about Gabriel's fretfulness at night, and how did Jonas try to solve the problem in The Giver?

Both his father and Jonas are concerned that Gabriel is fretful at night because sleeping through the night is required of the new children. If the newchild continues to not sleep well at night, he will be released.

Dispassionately, Jonas's father tells the family in their "evening telling of feelings" that it is rare that the status of a newchild such as Gabriel would be so uncertain. But, he adds,

"Right now we're all preparing for a Release we'll probably have to make soon."

Alarmed by these words of his father, Jonas suggests that the baby's crib be moved into his room for the night. He tells his parents that since he knows how to feed and comfort Gabriel, the parents could get a good night's rest by letting him care for Gabriel. Worried that Jonas is such a sound sleeper, his father is reluctant to do this. But, when Lily points out that Gabriel cries so loudly that even Jonas will awaken, Father agrees to "...try it, just for tonight."

When Gabriel awakens in the middle of the night, Jonas hears him and goes to his crib. He is able to get the baby back to sleep by rubbing his back. However, Gabriel continues to stir and awaken throughout the night; so, Jonas continues his rubbing of the infant's back to get Gabriel to fall asleep. One time, as he stands quietly beside the crib, Jonas's memory is stirred, and he recalls a memory shared with him by the Giver:

...a bright, breezy day on a clear turquoise lake, and above him the white sail of the boat billowing as he moved along in the brisk wind.

Then, as Jonas recalls this memory, he feels it slide through the hand he has on the back of the baby. Startled, he quickly removes his hand, retrieving what he has left of the memory. But now, the baby sleeps well. When he stirs near dawn, Jonas impulsively decides to give Gabriel the remainder of the memory by placing his hand once more on the baby's back.

By giving Gabriel a memory, Jonas has taken a personal action for which he has no authority:

He was not yet qualified to be a Giver himself, nor had Gabriel been selected to be Receiver.

Frightened by his new power, Jonas decides to keep his act of sharing his memory with Gabriel a secret. There is also in Jonas a burgeoning feeling of anxiety about the conditions that exist in his society. For, he wonders about Elsewhere and how easily his parents speak of this place where Gabriel may be sent. Also, Jonas is concerned about the fact that his father mentions so dispassionately that if Gabriel is released, there is another set of twins due to be born very soon. When his father will be the one to select which one will live in the community and which one will be released, Jonas feels uneasiness, as well as wondering where these human beings all go.

What point is Bierce making with the sentinels' indifference to the action at the center of the bridge and with the statement that they "might have...

It is not a flattering description of these soldiers.  At the center of the bridge, a man is about to die for his beliefs, for trying to stand up for his principles.  Neither we (I should hope) nor they would agree with what he believes -- Peyton Farquhar is described as a slave-owner and secessionist who would like to see the South leave the Union in order to preserve its way of life -- however,...

It is not a flattering description of these soldiers.  At the center of the bridge, a man is about to die for his beliefs, for trying to stand up for his principles.  Neither we (I should hope) nor they would agree with what he believes -- Peyton Farquhar is described as a slave-owner and secessionist who would like to see the South leave the Union in order to preserve its way of life -- however, the man is, nonetheless, about to lose his life.  Even though the Union soldiers, cannot abide by the choices Farquhar has made, especially the choice to try to burn down the Owl Creek Bridge in order to disable the railroads and prevent efficient communication for the Union army, they must on some level agree with him that "all is fair in [...] war" at least or else they would not appear to condone the execution of a civilian without a trial, without allowing him to say goodbye to his wife and children.  Their complete lack of emotion, their lack of empathy for a fellow human being in the moments just before he is hanged, is an indictment of the behavior of both sides in a war.  It isn't just the Peyton Farquhars who are to blame for the war; there are men behaving badly, without reference to their humanity, on both sides. 

How does Juliet say that she refuses to marry Paris in Romeo and Juliet?

When Juliet's mother asks her if she will consider Paris as a suitor, Juliet responds by saying that she will look at Paris, and if she sees anything likable about him, she will make efforts to like him. However, Juliet adds that she will not give way to any feelings for him beyond what her mother's permission allows. This is a subtle refusal as she expresses no real emotional interest in Paris.

This response is, indeed, rather tepid. For, Juliet merely answers her mother's question as a dutiful daughter. Furthermore, she displays no excitement when Paris's name is mentioned, and no emotion as she responds by merely agreeing in obedience to her mother to look at Paris, and if he does not inspire any feelings in her, she will not continue to consider him any more than her filial duty requires.

Curiously, in this scene (Act I, Scene 3), Juliet, who is only thirteen, seems disinterested in the male gender. But, only hours later, she is star-struck by Romeo, who also falls instantly in love with her in Act I, Scene 5. This change in her emotions suggest that Juliet has been affected by fate and she and Romeo may, indeed, be the "star-crossed lovers" described in the Prologue.

Why did God allow Corrie and Betsie to be arrested?

 According to the book, God allowed Corrie and Betsie to be arrested so they could be witnesses of Christ's love and light in the concentration camps where they were interned and so that Corrie could be a witness after the war to what went on in the camps. The two sisters were sent to several camps and ended up in the notorious Ravensbruck. While at the camps, they held Bible studies in the evenings, using...

 According to the book, God allowed Corrie and Betsie to be arrested so they could be witnesses of Christ's love and light in the concentration camps where they were interned and so that Corrie could be a witness after the war to what went on in the camps. The two sisters were sent to several camps and ended up in the notorious Ravensbruck. While at the camps, they held Bible studies in the evenings, using a small cloth Bible that miraculously escaped detection and confiscation. Betsie believed that if people could learn to hate, which is what the Nazis taught, they could also be taught to love. She devoted herself, as Carrie did, though Carrie was more bitter, to spreading God's love in the camps. At one point, the women shared their precious medicine with other inmates instead of hoarding it for themselves, which was a stunning thing to do in those circumstances, and it miraculously lasted extra long. Although Betsie died in the camps, she never lost her faith. Both women helped others keep hope alive in a terrible situation.

After the war, God used Corrie's experience through her book and her tours to show other people that God is with them even in the most terrible situations. 

As a male author, how does William Faulkner portray the female character in the story "A Rose for Emily?"

One could argue that Faulkner at first does not portray Emily in the short story "A Rose for Emily" with much sympathy. For example, here is his grotesque description of her physical self: "She looked bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that pallid hue." Her grotesqueness is further emphasized when the story recounts that a foul smell begins to emerge from her house, one that the townspeople have to surreptitiously treat...

One could argue that Faulkner at first does not portray Emily in the short story "A Rose for Emily" with much sympathy. For example, here is his grotesque description of her physical self: "She looked bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that pallid hue." Her grotesqueness is further emphasized when the story recounts that a foul smell begins to emerge from her house, one that the townspeople have to surreptitiously treat with lime.

However, as the story goes on, Faulkner's take on Emily is more sympathetic. Her story is deserving of pity, as her father drove away any eligible bachelors and the one man who took an interest in her, Homer Barron, seems to have left her. She is eventually forgotten as she ages, and she dies alone. When she dies and the townspeople unearth the skeleton of Homer Barron in a kind of bridal chamber in a sealed room, the scene is both grotesque and pitiable. Faulkner describes the dead man's body in the following way: "The body had apparently once lain in the attitude of an embrace, but now the long sleep that outlasts love, that conquers even the grimace of love, had cuckolded him." In other words, Emily poisoned her lover so that he would always remain true to her. Though this scene is grotesque in the true spirit of Gothic horror, it also presents Emily is a sympathetic light. Faulkner presents her as a sympathetic character who is so lonely that she kills her lover to make sure she is never alone. 

`2 + 7 + 12 + 17 + .... (5n - 3) = (n/2)(5n - 1)` Use mathematical induction to prove the formula for every positive integer n.

You need to use mathematical induction to prove the formula for every positive integer n, hence, you need to perform the two steps of the method, such that:

Step 1: Basis: Show that the statement P(n) hold for n = 1, such that:

`2 = 1/2*(5*1-1) => 2 =4/2 => 2=2`

Step 2: Inductive step: Show that if P(k) holds, then also P(k + 1) holds:

`P(k): 2 + 7 + .. + (5k-3) = (k(5k-1))/2` holds

`P(k+1):  2 + 7 + .....

You need to use mathematical induction to prove the formula for every positive integer n, hence, you need to perform the two steps of the method, such that:

Step 1: Basis: Show that the statement P(n) hold for n = 1, such that:

`2 = 1/2*(5*1-1) => 2 =4/2 => 2=2`

Step 2: Inductive step: Show that if P(k) holds, then also P(k + 1) holds:

`P(k): 2 + 7 + .. + (5k-3) = (k(5k-1))/2` holds

`P(k+1):  2 + 7 + .. + (5k-3) + (5k+2) =  ((k+1)(5k+4))/2`

You need to use induction hypothesis that P(k) holds, hence, you need to re-write the left side, such that:

` (k(5k-1))/2 + (5k+2) = ((k+1)(5k+4))/2`

`5k^2 - k + 10k + 4 = 5k^2 + 4k + 5k + 4`

You need to add the like terms, such that:

`5k^2 + 9k + 4 = 5k^2 + 9k + 4`

Notice that P(k+1) holds.

Hence, since both the basis and the inductive step have been verified, by mathematical induction, the statement `P(n): 2 + 7 + .. + (5n-3)= (n(5n-1))/2`  holds for all positive integers n.

Why does Darnay pay to have an escort to Paris in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities?

Darnay needs an escort for his safe passage to Paris because he has been born a French aristocrat, and a particular one, at that.

In Book the Third, Chapter I, Dickens depicts every village and every town gate as having its own band of citizen-patriots with their muskets in "a most explosive state of readiness." These "red-caps" or sans-culottes,* as they were called, are the revolutionaries, who like Madame Defarge, have registered their enemies in lists...

Darnay needs an escort for his safe passage to Paris because he has been born a French aristocrat, and a particular one, at that.

In Book the Third, Chapter I, Dickens depicts every village and every town gate as having its own band of citizen-patriots with their muskets in "a most explosive state of readiness." These "red-caps" or sans-culottes,* as they were called, are the revolutionaries, who like Madame Defarge, have registered their enemies in lists of their own and often exercise a capricious judgment when stopping the "comers and goers."

Perhaps because he is a particular emigrant, Darnay is spared immediate death, and is, instead, awakened in the night and told that he must pay for escorts. The two men who escort him allow Darnay to ride his own horse, but they have a line tied to its bridle which they hold.

When they reach the town of Beauvais, the main reason for Darnay's escorts then becomes apparent. "Down with the emigrant!" is a shout from many; a farrier curses him, "Judged!....Aye, and condemned as a traitor." Hearing him, the crowd shouts its approval, so the escorts and the postmaster hurry Darnay's horse into a yard and shut the gates against the rushing crowd.

Further in the narrative, as Darnay is escorted to Paris, he moves from being a "free traveler and French citizen" to becoming a prisoner handed over to Monsieur Defarge. As he stands before a desk on which registers lie, Darnay hears, "Is this the emigrant Evremonde?" After this, he is questioned and conducted to La Force where he is handed over to the jailer with a note reading "in secret." Darnay is placed in a cell by himself. 
It is, thus, apparent that Darnay has had two particular escorts and has been turned over to M. Defarge because his name has been knitted into her list, and his is a special name.

* sans-culotte (a name given to the revolutionaries) = without shorter pants. It was the aristocracy who wore the shortened pants (culottes) with stockings

What are the internal and external conflicts of Caesar in the play Julius Caesar?

Often, many readers examine the internal and external conflicts of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in relation to Brutus, but it's important to realize that Caesar himself faces internal and external conflict (though he has precious little time on the stage before his untimely demise). In a nutshell, the internal conflict Caesar faces is his own paranoia, while the external conflict he faces is the murderous conspiracy of dissatisfied Romans. 

While Caesar begins the play as the...

Often, many readers examine the internal and external conflicts of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in relation to Brutus, but it's important to realize that Caesar himself faces internal and external conflict (though he has precious little time on the stage before his untimely demise). In a nutshell, the internal conflict Caesar faces is his own paranoia, while the external conflict he faces is the murderous conspiracy of dissatisfied Romans. 

While Caesar begins the play as the most powerful man in Rome, one can also surmise that he's paranoid. When considering potential advisors, Caesar proclaims:

Let me have men about me that are fat;

Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights.

Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;

He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous. (192-95)

In this quote, we see that Caesar prefers to be surrounded by advisors who don't think. As such, one can surmise that he already fears potential threats to his authority, and so he wants to avoid people intelligent enough to oppose him. This preference subtly illustrates the paranoia Caesar internally struggles with.

The external conflict Caesar faces is of course more obvious: it's the conspirators. Backed by helpers, Cassius, and later Brutus, plot to wrestle power away from Caesar and protect the Republic. The conflict is relatively short and very violent, as the conspirators ultimately succeed in overcoming and killing Caesar in Act 3, Scene 1. 

Why is the American military's presence in Hawaii important?

The United States has maintained a series of military installations on the Hawaiian Islands because the country has long considered itself "a Pacific nation." Once Americans settled the long western coast of the U.S. portion of the North American continent, they began to look across the Pacific Ocean, both for economic and security reasons. The Pacific, like the Atlantic, is an enormous expanse of water that both connects continents and provides a form of sustenance in its natural resources. As the United States grew as a nation, both geographically and economically, its ability to secure its western coastline while forging economic ties with Asia grew in importance. The Hawaiian Islands, situated at the midway point between Asia and North America, with their natural deep-water ports and agricultural potential, became a strategic asset, prompting the construction of sizable military installations there, particularly the large naval base at Pearl Harbor and, as air power grew in importance, Hickam Air Force Base. 

The importance of U.S. naval facilities in Hawaii were apparent not only to American officials, but to military planners in Imperial Japan as well. The December 7, 1941 surprise attack on U.S. military installations on the islands was intended to radically-degrade the American capabilities to project military power across the ocean. Japan sought to colonize Southeast Asia, as well as China and the Korean Peninsula, and eliminating, even if only for a few years, America's ability to project military power to Asia was central to its planning. 

With the end of World War II and the emergence of the Soviet Union as a potential military threat--Russia also has a long coastline along the Pacific Ocean, and maintains a sizable Pacific Fleet within its navy--the military bases on Hawaii remained extremely important. U.S. aircraft carriers and ballistic missile and attack submarines all operate out of the naval bases on Hawaii, and played a major role in protecting U.S. access to important maritime trade routes, protecting U.S. allies like Japan and the Philippines, and defending against Soviet (and, today, Russian) naval forces and long-range bombers, which are increasingly patrolling closer and closer to American shores, just as was the case during the Cold War. 

Economically, protection of maritime trade routes across the Pacific is essential to the United States. Asia is, collectively, vitally important to the U.S. economy. The overwhelming bulk of trade in goods takes place via maritime cargo traffic. Large container ships sail back-and-forth across the Pacific everyday, and any threat to a disruption in that traffic is considered a very serious issue. The U.S. Navy plays the major role in protecting that movement of ships, and the growth of Chinese naval capabilities, along with a resurgence in Russian naval activities, means the importance of the military bases in Hawaii will not end anytime soon.

At the beginning of section II, what does the narrator say Dexter wants in "Winter Dreams"?

The narrator says, "the quality and the seasonability of these winter dreams varied, but the stuff of them remained."

The word "seasonability" can be troublesome for readers.  It is an archaic word that means occurring at the appropriate time—like the word "opportune." Perhaps Fitzgerald meant that the different practical permutations of Dexter's dreams were not fixed, but they were consistent in their essence. 

The narrator puts a finer point on what this opening sentence means...

The narrator says, "the quality and the seasonability of these winter dreams varied, but the stuff of them remained."

The word "seasonability" can be troublesome for readers.  It is an archaic word that means occurring at the appropriate time—like the word "opportune." Perhaps Fitzgerald meant that the different practical permutations of Dexter's dreams were not fixed, but they were consistent in their essence. 

The narrator puts a finer point on what this opening sentence means when he goes on to carefully separate what Dexter does not want—to associate with rich people and the things, tangible and intangible, that they possess. Dexter wants "the glittering things themselves." He aspires to have what the rich have without conscious thoughts about why he wants it. His quick success after college is the first step, he believes, in surpassing what rich men his age have. He does not seek approval from his social superiors—he wants to out-earn them on his own terms. He notes the flaws in people above him in social standing, and his own rise builds his confidence. Dexter seeks self-reinvention and longs to break from his past and leave no trace of who he used to be; that is the "stuff of them" with regard to his winter dreams. How he makes his fortune, a string of laundries or any other industry, is unimportant. For Dexter, the destination is all and the journey is incidental.

In Of Mice and Men, how does Steinbeck present the brutality of life on a ranch at the time the novella is set?

Steinbeck presents the brutality of ranch life in several ways:

We witness at the beginning of the novella how George maneuvers the timing of their arrival at the ranch so that he and Lenny can miss some work. From this, we know from the start that the men endure long, exhausting hours in the fields. Steinbeck also describes the bunkhouse itself in great detail so that we can envision how harsh the living is for the men: they get a bunk, a shelf made of a crate, a wood burning stove for heat. The men have no privacy and no luxuries.  

Curley, the owner's son, is presented as a bully who the men have to cater to. George is forced to worry about him: George knows that if Curley picks a fight with Lenny, it won't go well for them. Curley can enter the bunkhouse when he wants to, and he treats the men rudely. The ranch is a place of fear and danger to George, who constantly coaches Lennie on what to say and do and what not to say and do. 

The aging Candy and his old dog also reflect the harshness of life at the ranch. Candy has little choice, given the way he lives, but to let his dog be shot when it gets too old, but we know he sees in this shooting the brutal way he will be cast off when he too becomes useless. In fact, he says he wishes he could be shot, as he thinks it would be better than what is ahead of him when he can no longer work.

The dream George weaves of owning a farm with Lenny, and the two of them living off "the fat of the land" highlights the brutality of life on the ranch. What George and Lenny dream of as virtual paradise is a simple, ordinary existence: they won't have to work brutally long days, they can take a day off if they want to, they won't have to tolerate the presence of people they don't like, they will have a place to call home. Their longing for this ordinary life, and the way it captures the imagination of characters like Crooks and Candy, shows how harsh their lives are in contrast. 

What did President Truman do during the Cold War to stop the spread of communism?

President Truman took actions to try to stop the spread of communism. As communism spread through Eastern Europe, we developed a policy called Containment. The goal of the Containment policy was to keep communism from spreading.

There were many actions that were part of this policy. The European Recovery Program offered aid to countries fighting the spread of communism. Greece and Turkey were two countries that benefited from this aid. When the Soviet Union established...

President Truman took actions to try to stop the spread of communism. As communism spread through Eastern Europe, we developed a policy called Containment. The goal of the Containment policy was to keep communism from spreading.

There were many actions that were part of this policy. The European Recovery Program offered aid to countries fighting the spread of communism. Greece and Turkey were two countries that benefited from this aid. When the Soviet Union established the Berlin Blockade, we used the Berlin Airlift to keep West Berlin from becoming communist. We flew supplies over the blockade until the Soviet Union lifted the blockade. We went to the United Nations to ask for help for South Korea, which was resisting the unprovoked invasion by North Korea. We led the United Nations forces in the fight against North Korea. We were successful in preventing the spread of communism in these instances.

President Truman took several actions to stop the spread of communism.

Which BEST describes parenthetical citations? A) Parenthetical citations are end-text citations to document outside sources within a document,...

B)Parenthetical citations are in-text citations to document outside sources within a document, usually including the author's last name and the page numbers for the material cited. Depending on what style of research formatting you choose, the formatting of citations can vary somewhat. I compared both MLA and APA, although I'm assuming you are studying MLA because that style is used in literature and language studies; parenthetical citations are citations that are found in parentheses within...

B)Parenthetical citations are in-text citations to document outside sources within a document, usually including the author's last name and the page numbers for the material cited. Depending on what style of research formatting you choose, the formatting of citations can vary somewhat. I compared both MLA and APA, although I'm assuming you are studying MLA because that style is used in literature and language studies; parenthetical citations are citations that are found in parentheses within the text. Therefore, D is eliminated. Parenthetical citations are found at the end of a quote or paraphrase, usually at the end of a sentence, which eliminates C. That leaves A and B as options. This why the research style is so important: some citations involve adding certain information like author's name, page number, and possibly the year of publication. However, it is unusual to include the title in a citation (I'm not aware of any that require this), so that is why B is the correct answer.

How and why do William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet speak to us today in a strong way?

Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet are two of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays. Both have gripping plots, poetic language, and memorable characters.

Romeo and Julietis the famous tale of “A pair of star-cross’d lovers,” a story that has been retold many times. Two of the most popular adaptations in the 20th century are the musical West Side Story (filmed in 1961) and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), both of which were portrayed in a...

Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet are two of Shakespeare’s most iconic plays. Both have gripping plots, poetic language, and memorable characters.

Romeo and Juliet is the famous tale of “A pair of star-cross’d lovers,” a story that has been retold many times. Two of the most popular adaptations in the 20th century are the musical West Side Story (filmed in 1961) and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996), both of which were portrayed in a contemporary setting. Because both war and love have been part of human nature for millennia, the story of forbidden romance can be portrayed in nearly any culture. Shakespeare’s version, which was not the original, is particularly timeless, due to vivid characters such as Juliet’s bawdy nurse and Romeo’s imaginative and volatile friend Mercutio. The play also has beautiful poetry that depicts the passion of love (such as Romeo’s “what light through yonder window breaks?” speech) and words of wisdom about the futility of violence.

Hamlet is a philosophical tale of intrigue that keeps spectators in suspense. The title character has captured the imagination of scholars and audiences all over the world. He is a lone, changeable figure, full of contradiction and doubt. Many say he is an early depiction of modern man. Hamlet differs from Laertes, for example, a man of action who lives as he feels. Hamlet reacts to the world around him, doubting everyone and everything in his quest for vengeance. He often meditates on the senselessness of life. In one of many monologues, Hamlet marvels at the existence of mankind:

What a piece of work is a man! ... in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?

There are countless reasons why both Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet remain so powerful, including their adaptability, complex characters, exciting plots, and magnificent language.

What quotes in To Kill a Mockingbird reveal Mr. Underwood's racism and bigotry, other than when Atticus says he despises all negroes?

The whole town of Maycomb is aware that Braxton Underwood despises Negroes.

Mr. Underwood is the newspaper publisher.  When Atticus is accosted by a mob of Cunninghams trying to attack his client Tom Robinson, Mr. Underwood holds a rifle on him to cover him in case they get violent.  Later, Atticus makes a comment about this, saying that it is interesting because Mr. Underwood is a racist.

Mr. Underwood demonstrates that he is a racist during...

The whole town of Maycomb is aware that Braxton Underwood despises Negroes.

Mr. Underwood is the newspaper publisher.  When Atticus is accosted by a mob of Cunninghams trying to attack his client Tom Robinson, Mr. Underwood holds a rifle on him to cover him in case they get violent.  Later, Atticus makes a comment about this, saying that it is interesting because Mr. Underwood is a racist.

Mr. Underwood demonstrates that he is a racist during the trial by his reaction to Scout and Jem sitting in the balcony.

Mr. Braxton Underwood, who had been sitting quietly in a chair reserved for the Press, soaking up testimony with his sponge of a brain, allowed his bitter eyes to rove over the colored balcony, and they met mine. He gave a snort and looked away. (Ch. 18)

Mr. Underwood does not approve of Scout and Jem, white kids, sitting with the blacks in the balcony.  This is why he snorts.  He likely feels that Tom Robinson is guilty because he is black and accused of attacking a white woman.  He disapproves of the blacks being at the trial in general.

Despite this, Mr. Underwood is annoyed when Tom Robinson is shot.  Black or white, you don’t kill cripples.

Mr. Underwood didn’t talk about miscarriages of justice, he was writing so children could understand. Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children … (Ch. 25)

The point is that even racists like Mr. Underwood do not approve of shooting a man like Tom Robinson, who is obviously crippled.  The trial resulted in Tom Robinson being convicted although he was innocent, but Underwood doesn’t focus on that.  He just argues that it is wrong to shoot someone who can’t defend himself.

The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of _____ in the nucleus.

The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus.

An element is the purest form of a substance. When divided, it results in a large number of identical atoms—assuming no isotopes are there. Atoms contain three main types of particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. The protons are positively charged particles, while the electrons are negatively charged particles. In comparison, neutrons do not have any charge. The nucleus consists...

The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus.

An element is the purest form of a substance. When divided, it results in a large number of identical atoms—assuming no isotopes are there. Atoms contain three main types of particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. The protons are positively charged particles, while the electrons are negatively charged particles. In comparison, neutrons do not have any charge. The nucleus consists of neutrons and protons, while the electrons are outside the nucleus. The number of protons and neutrons combined together are known as the mass number of the element. 

In the case of isotopes, atoms may contain different numbers of neutrons, but they still contain the same number of protons and electrons.

Hope this helps.

What laws or law came out of both the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the Great Chicago Fire?

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire occurred in New York City in 1911. It is one of the deadliest industrial disasters in the history of the United States. The fire led to improved safety standards for factory workers. One of the reasons that this fire was so deadly was because the factory owners locked the doors to the exits. During this time, locking doors was a common practice to prevent theft and unauthorized breaks. This was...

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire occurred in New York City in 1911. It is one of the deadliest industrial disasters in the history of the United States. The fire led to improved safety standards for factory workers. One of the reasons that this fire was so deadly was because the factory owners locked the doors to the exits. During this time, locking doors was a common practice to prevent theft and unauthorized breaks. This was changed by the introduction of the aforementioned legislation. Another law that resulted from this fire was the "54-hour bill" to address working hours and ages of employees. It stated that women and boys under the age of 18 could work no more than 54 hours a week. Individuals under the age of 14 were not permitted to work in factories, and women were required to have at least a break of one month after giving birth before returning to work in factories. Additional reforms to address fire safety were also instituted as a result of the fire, including the banning of smoking inside and fire-proof trash cans. In order to enforce these laws, every factory was subsequently required to register with the New York Department of Labor.

The Great Chicago Fire resulted in stricter building and fire codes. However, it can be argued that the rebuilding of the city after the fire had more profound architectural effects than legal changes. Before the fire, the city's buildings and homes were constructed mostly of wood, since timber was very plentiful in the Midwest during this time and fire and building codes were either too lax or ignored. In fact, the Chicago Tribune once claimed that the city was "full of firetraps." "The Great Rebuilding" was an effort to rebuild the city center after the fire. It resulted in innovative buildings and a new style of architecture. Laws required that buildings be made of fireproof materials, such as brick, limestone and marble. Big banks and business invested heftily in the rebuilding, resulting in a new business district made up of these fireproof materials. Terra-cotta become one of the most popular of them all.  In 1956, the Chicago Fire Academy was built on the site where the fire began. It continues to train firefighters to this day.

In "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, what does the traveler do when faced with a fork in the road?

When the narrator comes to a fork in the road, the first thing he does is try to see down one of them as far as he can (line 4) up until it bends away into the forest (5).  Next, he inspects the other road (6), noting both that it is more grassy than the first (8) as well as that they seem to have been traveled about the same number of times (9-10).  He...

When the narrator comes to a fork in the road, the first thing he does is try to see down one of them as far as he can (line 4) up until it bends away into the forest (5).  Next, he inspects the other road (6), noting both that it is more grassy than the first (8) as well as that they seem to have been traveled about the same number of times (9-10).  He sees that both are covered in leaves that look equally fresh (11-12), and he makes the decision to take the second, grassier path (12).  However, even though he thought it might be interesting to come back and take the first path some day (13), he knows that it is unlikely that he'll ever be able to come back and try it because of the nature of choices: how one leads to the next and so on (14-15).

Finally, in the last stanza, he anticipates telling the story of his choice once he's become an old man (16-17).  After the colon at the end of line 17 is the story he's going to tell: that he once came to a fork in the road (18), he took the road less traveled (19), and that has made a big difference in the way his life turned out (20).  What's the problem?  That story will be a lie.  He's already said that one road was "just as fair" as the other (6), that they had been trodden the same number of times (9-10), and both that morning "equally lay" in fresh leaves (11-12).  He plans to make it sound as though he made a truly unique choice, a choice that not many people make, but this will be untrue because he's told us that the roads were walked on by equal number of feet.  Thus, his descriptions of the roads tells us that there really aren't unique choices; we can only choose the roads that have been taken before us.

Describe the impact of the Keynesian economic principles in the Hoover and Roosevelt administrations.

Keynesian economic principles influenced the administrations of both Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt, especially the administration of Franklin Roosevelt. Keynesian economic principles state that when an economy goes into a recession or a depression, the government should actively be involved in trying to end it. Keynesian economic principles called for significant government spending to try to help end an economic downturn.

President Hoover is often associated with laissez-faire economic policies. These policies call for little...

Keynesian economic principles influenced the administrations of both Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt, especially the administration of Franklin Roosevelt. Keynesian economic principles state that when an economy goes into a recession or a depression, the government should actively be involved in trying to end it. Keynesian economic principles called for significant government spending to try to help end an economic downturn.

President Hoover is often associated with laissez-faire economic policies. These policies call for little government involvement in the economy. However, as the Great Depression worsened, President Hoover called for a significant increase in government programs to try to deal with the Great Depression. The National Credit Corporation, the Emergency Relief and Construction Act, and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation are examples of programs that President Hoover developed to try to ease the effects of the Great Depression. These programs increased government spending. However, the Great Depression was so severe that these programs didn’t help to end the Great Depression.

President Roosevelt started immediately after he took office to try to develop programs to deal with the Great Depression. In his first 100 days in office, many programs were developed. During his first two terms, there were so many programs that called for increased government spending to try to help end the Great Depression. Programs that created jobs such as the CCC, the CWA, and the PWA are examples. The TVA and Home Owners Loan Corporation are additional examples of programs that increased government spending to try to help get the economy going again. The Social Security Act and the AAA were other programs that were developed. The government went into debt because it spent so much money trying to end the Great Depression.

The difference between President Hoover and President Roosevelt is that President Roosevelt immediately worked to end the Great Depression and had many more programs than President Hoover had to end the Great Depression. President Hoover also waited a few years before implementing his programs that reflected Keynesian economic principles. While both men used the ideas of Keynesian economic principles, President Roosevelt was much more active in using them.

When does the mood change in "The Monkey's Paw"?

The mood changes from one of simple domestic harmony to one of sorrow and dread right after Part II of the story ends with the announcement by the man from Maw and Meggins that the company is awarding Herbert's parents the sum of two hundred pounds as compensation for the loss of their son in a factory accident. Part II ends with one sentence.

Unconscious of his wife's shriek, the old man smiled faintly, put out his...

The mood changes from one of simple domestic harmony to one of sorrow and dread right after Part II of the story ends with the announcement by the man from Maw and Meggins that the company is awarding Herbert's parents the sum of two hundred pounds as compensation for the loss of their son in a factory accident. Part II ends with one sentence.

Unconscious of his wife's shriek, the old man smiled faintly, put out his hands like a sightless man, and dropped, a senseless heap, to the floor.

When Part III opens, we feel the coldness in the little house and an emptiness left by Herbert's permanent absence.

In the huge new cemetery, some two miles distant, the old people buried their dead, and came back to a house steeped in shadow and silence. 

All of Part III is entirely different in mood from the first two parts of the story. In the final part the couple seem much older. They have lost the happy-go-lucky young lad who provided all the interest and amusement in their lives. Now their lives seem empty and their house seems haunted. When Mrs. White gets the fantastic idea of having her husband wish for Herbert to come back to life, the mood becomes worse than sad. It starts to grow ominous. They are trafficking with supernatural forces they do not understand. If they had to lose their son Herbert in order to obtain the two hundred pounds they wished for--then what would they have to lose if their second wish were granted? The uncanniness increases until it seems like a mixture of madness on the part of the mother and pure horror on the part of the father. The reader too is infected with their emotions and is vastly relieved when Mr. White thinks of uttering his third and final wish and makes that dreadful knocking stop.

What could be a thesis statement about Lady Macbeth's character changing over time?

Lady Macbeth is ruthless and power-hungry, but by the end of the play, her guilty conscience has ruined her mind and made her feel that her life is not worth living.  

She told her husband, immediately after Duncan's murder, that they should not dwell on what they had done or else it would "make [them] mad"; clearly she did not take her own advice because she has essentially gone mad, imagining that she cannot...

Lady Macbeth is ruthless and power-hungry, but by the end of the play, her guilty conscience has ruined her mind and made her feel that her life is not worth living.  

She told her husband, immediately after Duncan's murder, that they should not dwell on what they had done or else it would "make [them] mad"; clearly she did not take her own advice because she has essentially gone mad, imagining that she cannot wash Duncan's blood off her hands.  Further, she had said then that "a little water clears us of this deed," and it was Macbeth who feared that there was so much blood on his hands that it would turn the ocean red.  By the end, however, it is Lady Macbeth who feels that not even "all the perfumes of Arabia" could get the scent of blood off her hands.  

Moreover, Macbeth was initially afraid that he would never be able to sleep peacefully because he murdered Duncan while he was sleeping.  However, it seems that it is Lady Macbeth whose sleep is fitful as a result of her guilt.  She seems to feel guilty for creating a monster: she only wanted Macbeth to kill Duncan; then Macbeth arranged for the murder of Banquo and attempted murder of Fleance without consulting her, and now she cries, "The Thane of Fife had a wife.  Where is she now?"  Her husband ordered the murder of this poor woman and her children all because he was angry at her husband.  This doesn't seem to sit well with Lady Macbeth.  Finally, we never see the Macbeths together after the banquet scene and the only other time she appears on stage is during the sleepwalking scene, and this seems to confirm the distance that has grown between she and her husband and their priorities.  Her eventual suicide confirms how guilt-ridden she is.

What is wrong in the play A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare?

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy in which many things go “wrong.” This creates suspense and humor. Here are a few examples:

• 
  

  Helena loves Demetrius who loves Hermia. Hermia’s father is forcing Hermia to marry Demetrius. However, Hermia is in love with Lysander. When the fairy Puck gives the men a love potion, they both fall for Helena. (Puck had meant to give it only to Demetrius.) Helena believes the whole thing is a “keen mockery,” and Hermia is heartbroken at Lysander’s betrayal.

  
  


• 
  

  The fairy rulers Titania and Oberon quarrel so much that they upset nature’s balance. Oberon decides to give Titania the love potion so she falls in love with “some vile thing.” When she wakes up, she sees and hears Bottom, asking, “What angel wakes me from my flowery bed?” Puck has actually transformed Bottom’s head into that of a donkey, and Bottom himself is a foolish weaver who fancies himself an amazing actor. Titania is enamoured with him.

  
  


• 
  

  The play performed by a troup of amateur actors is a bit of a train wreck. The writing is poor, the acting is supposedly weak, and the group is extremely nervous. Philostrate says that this tragedy they performed “Made mine eyes water; but more merry tears / The passion of loud laughter never shed.”

  
  

This being a comedy, the mixups are resolved. Puck removes the potion from Lysander’s eyes, but Demetrius remains enchanted. Therefore Lysander and Hermia are able to marry as are Demetrius and Helena. (The duke overrules Hermia’s father.) Titania comes to herself again and reunites with Oberon, and the play staged by the actors, as ridiculous as it is, provides much entertainment for the nobles.

How does Stevenson make Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde's relationship so fascinating?

One major way in which Stevenson makes the relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde so fascinating is through his use of point of view.  Stevenson employs a third-person limited omniscient perspective; this means that the narrator is not a participant in the story and can report the thoughts and feelings of only one character, and, in this case, that character is Mr. Utterson, Dr. Jekyll's lawyer and friend.  Because we can only learn about...

One major way in which Stevenson makes the relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde so fascinating is through his use of point of view.  Stevenson employs a third-person limited omniscient perspective; this means that the narrator is not a participant in the story and can report the thoughts and feelings of only one character, and, in this case, that character is Mr. Utterson, Dr. Jekyll's lawyer and friend.  Because we can only learn about events based on what Mr. Utterson sees and hears, the truth about the relationship between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde remains a mystery to which clues are only revealed bit by bit.  We are put into Utterson's position by being just as in the dark and confused as he is, and so our interest is piqued just as Utterson's is.  Were the story written from Dr. Jekyll's perspective, there would likely be nowhere near as much mystery, and thus we would not find the relationship nearly as fascinating.

Air temperature is an example of what type of environmental factor?

Environmental factors are variables or parameters that affect the local environment and its various constituents. We can classify these environmental factors as either biotic or abiotic, depending upon their nature. Any environmental factor which is not biological in nature (that is, not a living organism or was once a living organism), is known as an abiotic factor. These factors include, sunlight, temperature, humidity, rainfall, nutrients, wind, soil type, etc. In comparison, biotic factors are the...

Environmental factors are variables or parameters that affect the local environment and its various constituents. We can classify these environmental factors as either biotic or abiotic, depending upon their nature. Any environmental factor which is not biological in nature (that is, not a living organism or was once a living organism), is known as an abiotic factor. These factors include, sunlight, temperature, humidity, rainfall, nutrients, wind, soil type, etc. In comparison, biotic factors are the organisms living in a particular area and include plants, animals, etc. 

Since, the temperature of the air is not a living organism, we can term it as an abiotic environmental factor. Air temperature, along with other abiotic factors, is not constant and keeps on changing and continually affects the biotic factors in a given region.

Hope this helps. 

Explain how the theme of appearance vs reality is illustrated in the conversation between Launcelot and Gobbo in The Merchant Of Venice.

The conversation between these two occurs in Act 2, scene 2, at the point that Shylock's servant, Launcelot, has decided to leave his service and work for Bassanio. Shylock has been quite stingy and has treated him badly, whilst Bassanio has offered him greater benefits. Just as he is about to leave, he encounters his father, Launcelot Gobbo, who is looking for Shylock and wishes to present him a gift.

GOBBO

Master young man, you, I pray you, which is the way
to master Jew's?

LAUNCELOT

[Aside] O heavens, this is my true-begotten father!
who, being more than sand-blind, high-gravel blind,
knows me not: I will try confusions with him.

Since his father is practically blind, Launcelot decides to play a trick on him and confuse him even further. He knows that his father does not recognize him and thinks that he is someone else. This tomfoolery is what informs the theme since Launcelot presents himself as someone he is not and his father, who knows no better, believes him.

When his father asks him for directions to Shylock's home, he provides very confusing directions. His father then asks him if he knows whether his son, which is of course him, is still living with Shylock. The younger Launcelot then repeatedly asks Gobbo if he is speaking of the young 'Master Launcelot.' He here intentionally uses the term 'master' to confuse his father even more, for he is not a master but a servant.

Gobbo is loathe to use the term 'Master' in reference to his son. Launcelot uses the term 'raise the waters' in an aside, suggesting that he will raise the level of Gobbo's confusion. He then insists on referring to himself as 'Master' and Gobbo, misunderstanding him, for he does not know he is actually talking to his son, but a respected citizen who is a master, replies:

Your worship's friend and Launcelot, sir.

Gobbo thinks that the person he is speaking to is a friend of Shylock's and therefore uses the phrase 'Your worship's friend.' He makes it pertinently clear that he is talking about Shylock and plain, ordinary Launcelot, the one who is not a master but a servant. 

The mischievous Launcelot continues teasing his father and insists on using the term 'Master,' whilst his father insists that he is referring to someone else. This confusing repartee brings about much humor and would probably leave the audience laughing about the comical irony.

Launcelot, then cruelly, tells his father that his son has passed away, which is obviously a great shock to the old man, for he cries out:

Marry, God forbid! the boy was the very staff of my
age, my very prop.

Launcelot uses the term 'father' whilst speaking to Gobbo. The word is used as a pun here for it was common to refer to an old man as 'father' which was a term of respect. Gobbo does not realise, of coure, that it is his own son asking him if he knows him and says that, because of his semi-blindness, he does not. Launcelot has had enough of fooling around and tells Gobbo that he is actually his son and that he requires his blessing. 

Gobbo is not convinced and tells Launcelot to stand up (he is, in all probability kneeling either in front or to the side of his father, with his back to him) for he is sure that he cannot be his son. Gobbo is somewhat convinced when Launcelot mentions his mother's name (Margery).

Gobbo reaches out to his son and feels his long hair, wrongly believing that he is touching Launcelot's beard. He exclaims his surprise that his son has changed so much and compares his beard to a horse's tail. The little facade has finally ended and he asks Launcelot if he and Shylock are getting along for he has brought Shylock a gift.

Launcelot tells Gobbo that he and Shylock were getting along well but that he has decided, for his own good, to run away from Shylock's service and that he will not rest until he has covered an ample distance away from the Jew. He complains that Shylock has starved him and that he can easily count all of his ribs. He tells his father to present the gift to Bassanio who will be his new master and that he will provide him with a new uniform. Launcelot fears that he will become like a Jew himself if he should continue serving Shylock.

How can I write an essay explaining how to help the community in which I work to address the barriers that prevent learning within my school...

Let's first address what some of those barriers may be, and then you can move on to develop a topic statement that shows your overall position in a way that you can support with additional details. 

A common barrier in learning within a school community is the disconnect between parents and teachers. This specific barrier consists of parents not actively participating in the academic progress of their children. Instead, they hold the school community, teachers, and not themselves, entirely responsible for the raising and education of the child. This attitude causes parents to not appreciate the importance of their roles in the social and intellectual successes of their kids. As a result, they hinder the learning process that takes place in the classroom by not providing the much-needed continuity that is required for learners to maintain and enhance the skills that they learn during the day. Something must be done to close the gap between parents and the school community. Once both sides work together, they will be able to achieve more. 

The information in the previous paragraph can serve as an introduction that explains exactly which barrier you are going to focus on. Since the barrier in this case is the lack of home and school connection, you can expand the rest of the essay by developing the points mentioned regarding parents resting upon the system, and not providing the needed continuity at home. 

An example of it would be as follows:

Paragraph 2- About parents not taking active part in the academic progress of students. 

Start your paragraph addressing that point directly in your topic statement, and then provide examples. Here is an example. 

In this community, parents do not take active participation in the academic progress of their children. A large majority of students report having a hard time completing homework because they do not get help at home. Moreover, parents hardly show up for conferences, avoid calls from teachers, and many use "not understanding" or "not knowing" as excuses for not even asking their children about their classwork. The attitude of the students matches that of their parents: if they do not get motivation or support at home, why bother doing homework at all? This behavior also affects the atmosphere of the learning environment. The feeling of dread alone makes the problem all the more complicated.

Paragraph 3- Here you can talk about the results of that kind of attitude in the overall performance. Mention facts, such as low grades, low test scores, absenteeism, lack of motivation, teachers feeling discouraged, and the overall sense of frustration that comes from knowing that something can be done, but will not happen. 

Finally on your paragraph 4, you might address the point made in the first paragraph about "something" that needs to happen. You are not obligated to provide a solution to a problem for an essay, but you certainly will show extended knowledge about your topic if you at least suggest a possibility.

Hence, in this paragraph, mention some alternatives to bring parents on board. A popular thing that parents are doing voluntarily these days is joining the schools' social media pages. Some school districts allow for student work to be displayed online to give accolades to work well-done. This is another way to lure the parents in to looking into those communication tools.

Other school districts offer social media parent groups to keep abreast of what is going on, check out pictures, or to communicate directly with the school principal. The Millennial parents' love for social media may be the key to attract and invite them to participate in workshops that the school can provide for them on how to help their kids with their homework. Another way to attract parents is through Parent Academy activities that many community centers provide to schools through programs sponsored by the city government. 

Your last paragraph should reflect the opinion used as closure for paragraph 1: That working together will help to achieve more. As a great way to bring closure to the entire essay, use this opportunity to express the positive aspect of breaking down the learning barrier that you have been describing all this time. This is the chance to show the importance of tackling the problem, and the positive results that may arise from taking action.