In "The Black Cat," how does the narrator describe his personality before he becomes an alcoholic?

Keeping in mind that the narrator is highly unreliable in this story, we can nevertheless note that he describes himself changing for the worse as his alcoholism worsens. As an infant, the narrator says, he was peaceful and known for his "humanity," which is rather faint praise for a baby. In his childhood, he had a sensitive disposition that resulted in the other children teasing him. This led him to be particularly fond of animals...

Keeping in mind that the narrator is highly unreliable in this story, we can nevertheless note that he describes himself changing for the worse as his alcoholism worsens. As an infant, the narrator says, he was peaceful and known for his "humanity," which is rather faint praise for a baby. In his childhood, he had a sensitive disposition that resulted in the other children teasing him. This led him to be particularly fond of animals and to spend a lot of time with them. Even as an adult, he seemed to get more satisfaction from his relationships with animals than from his relationships with people. He was able to find a wife, however, and they both enjoyed their pets. The narrator uses the cat Pluto as an example of what a kind person he was, pointing out how friendly Pluto was toward him and how he was the only one who fed the cat. Consequently the cat wanted to follow him everywhere. Interestingly, the only evidence the narrator is able to or chooses to provide of his commendable disposition is his relationship with animals, yet he clearly wants to establish the fact that he was a good person before he succumbed to "the Fiend Intemperance."

What are the differences between the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles?

Water, carbon and nitrogen cycles, all three of them are global biogeochemical cycles and describe the cycling of these nutrients through the various spheres of the Earth. There are a number of differences between these cycles and some of them are listed here:

• In the water cycle, water changes between its various phases (solid, liquid and gas), but always stays water. In the case of the carbon and nitrogen cycles, various chemical forms of carbon...

Water, carbon and nitrogen cycles, all three of them are global biogeochemical cycles and describe the cycling of these nutrients through the various spheres of the Earth. There are a number of differences between these cycles and some of them are listed here:

• In the water cycle, water changes between its various phases (solid, liquid and gas), but always stays water. In the case of the carbon and nitrogen cycles, various chemical forms of carbon (carbon dioxide, carbonates, sugars, etc.) and nitrogen (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) are cycled through regularly.


• Life is required for the cycling of carbon and nitrogen. Nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria are critical to the nitrogen cycle. Similarly, plants and animals are necessary for the carbon cycle. The water cycle, on the other hand, can continue in the absence of life.


• Evaporation is the only process for returning the water to atmosphere, while carbon can be returned back by combustion, chemical reactions, respiration, etc. Nitrogen can also get back to the atmosphere by denitrification and fossil fuel combustion.


• Fossil fuels are not part of water cycle, unlike the carbon and nitrogen cycles.

Hope this helps.

In what lies does Nick catch Gatsby?

To catch someone in a lie means that the listener knows that the speaker is lying the moment he or she does so and then either challenges the utterance or chooses to ignore it. The listener must have prior knowledge of what the speaker is talking about to know that it is a lie. There is only one occasion, in chapter 5, that this actually happens. When Jay tells Nick that it had taken him only three years to earn the money to build his enormous house, Nick questions him and says, "I thought you inherited your money." Jay is quick to reply:

“I did, old sport,” he said automatically, “but I lost most of it in the big panic — the panic of the war.”

Although Nick does not pursue the matter any further, he does ask Jay what business he is involved in. Jay answers abruptly that it is his affair and later provides more detail when he realizes that his original response was inappropriate.

The above incident relates to a conversation between Nick and Jay in chapter 4. During what Nick calls their "disconcerting ride" in chapter 4, Jay divulges some details about his past to Nick. He tells Nick that his enormous wealth comes from an inheritance which he received when all the members of his family died. He also tells him about how he lived like a young rajah in all the capitals of Europe and that he collected jewels, went big game hunting, and painted.

Nick is skeptical about the information but does not declare outright that it is a lie. He suggests his skepticism by using phrases such as "I knew why Jordan Baker had believed he was lying" and "I wondered if there wasn’t something a little sinister about him, after all." He confirms his suspicion when he later mentions, "With an effort I managed to restrain my incredulous laughter." It is evident, though, that Nick is not entirely sure what to make of Jay's revelations. He states, for example,

My incredulity was submerged in fascination now; it was like skimming hastily through a dozen magazines.

Nick is finally persuaded that Jay is telling the truth when the latter shows him an old photograph of himself posing with a few other young men in Trinity Quad at Oxford. Nick declares his conviction by stating:

Then it was all true. I saw the skins of tigers flaming in his palace on the Grand Canal; I saw him opening a chest of rubies to ease, with their crimson-lighted depths, the gnawings of his broken heart.

In chapter 6, Nick makes it clear that Jay had divulged the truth about his past to him. Nick mentions that Jay had confessed that his parents were "shiftless and unsuccessful farm people" and that he had restlessly sought to find his true destiny. He had told Nick about Dan Cody who employed him for five years and the fact that when Cody died, he inherited twenty-five thousand dollars which he did not get because of some legal dispute. Nick provides two reasons for providing this information: 

...with the idea of exploding those first wild rumors about his antecedents, which weren’t even faintly true.

and

Moreover he told it to me at a time of confusion, when I had reached the point of believing everything and nothing about him. So I take advantage of this short halt, while Gatsby, so to speak, caught his breath, to clear this set of misconceptions away.

Nick, however, never learns exactly how Jay makes his money and how he, within five short years, has become so enormously wealthy. All he can surmise is that Jay has been, and is, caught up in some criminal activity with Meyer Wolfsheim and other shady characters involving bootlegging and dealing in fake bonds and securities. 

Where are the following people and items located with reference to each other? The Finches, Miss Stephanie, Miss Rachel, Mr. Avery, Miss Caroline,...

The setting descriptions for locations in Maycomb are scattered throughout the book as Scout only discusses them when they are associated with a specific event. She starts out, however, with the courthouse, which is located in the main square (5). Then, Scout says that her house sits in the middle of one of the main residential streetsbecause it runs up to the Post Office on the corner. From there, all one has to do is...

The setting descriptions for locations in Maycomb are scattered throughout the book as Scout only discusses them when they are associated with a specific event. She starts out, however, with the courthouse, which is located in the main square (5). Then, Scout says that her house sits in the middle of one of the main residential streets because it runs up to the Post Office on the corner. From there, all one has to do is cross the street to get to the courthouse. Also, before Scout starts first grade, she mentions that she would look out with a telescope from the tree house in their backyard and watch the kids at school to learn about it (15).

Next, Scout describes her street as far as summertime boundaries are concerned. The Finches are located in the center of the street. Miss Rachel lives next door to the north of them, followed by Mrs. Dubose. To the south, the Radley's home is three doors down (6).

"Two live oaks stood at the edge of the Radley lot; their roots reached out into the side-road" (33). One of these trees has the knothole from which the children receive gifts. The children walk around the Radley's to get to the school yard behind it. Miss Caroline Fisher teaches at the school and is Scout's first grade teacher, so that is her locale. Also on the corner of the Radley's is a light pole that Dill stands at to look at the creepy house:

"In spite of our warnings and explanations it drew him as the moon draws water, but drew him no nearer than the light-pole on the corner, a safe distance from the Radley gate" (8).

Directly across the street from the Radley's lives Miss Maudie. (We find this out during her house fire in chapter eight.) This places Maudie at the southernmost point of the street across from the Finches; or, three doors down and across the street. To the north of Maudie is Miss Stephanie Crawford; north of her lives Mr. Avery; and north of him lives Cecil Jacobs, a schoolmate of Scout's.

"Cecil Jacobs, who lived at the far end of our street next door to the post office, walked a total of one mile per school day to avoid the Radley Place and old Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose. Mrs. Dubose lived two doors up the street from us" (35).

The above passage shows where Cecil lives and validates Mrs. Dubose's location as noted above. It is Cecil Jacobs who walks the long way around the block and through a deer pasture to get to school, rather than walk down by the Radley's house and enter the school yard from there. So the deer pasture is north-east of their block and close to the school.

In your opinion, how did the Vietnam War affect the formation of a "Hippie" counterculture movement in Canada? I've already come up with two solid...

You have already formed two very strong main ideas for your essay. Good work! As a third point, I think it is worth mentioning that Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, elected in 1968 (the year this counterculture movement exploded into the mainstream in the United States), had a significant impact on  the spread of this counter-culture movement throughout Canada. He had a youthful demeanor, wore unusual and eye-catching clothing (a strong visual identifier of the hippie...

You have already formed two very strong main ideas for your essay. Good work! As a third point, I think it is worth mentioning that Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, elected in 1968 (the year this counterculture movement exploded into the mainstream in the United States), had a significant impact on  the spread of this counter-culture movement throughout Canada. He had a youthful demeanor, wore unusual and eye-catching clothing (a strong visual identifier of the hippie movement), and was interested in social justice. He also met with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, two celebrities whose iconic presence were synonymous with the movement (especially Lennon's anti-war songs like "Give Peace a Chance.")

Trudeau himself was not a hippie, but his image and stance on many issues made him a comforting presence for those already attracted to this movement, and made them feel they could follow this path of expression and possibly trust their prime minister to act on their own idealistic views regarding the war. It did not turn out that way at the time, but many believe that Trudeau's leadership did make it possible for later generations to embrace counterculture ideals connected to social change. He ended up serving two terms in office (though not consecutively), and his son Justin, also a youthful and charismatic presence, is now serving as Canada's prime minister, and already displaying a tendency to embrace important social issues, and shows a liberal stance on many issues that first became of widespread importance during his father's term in office, such as abortion and marijuana legalization.

How is Jonas different from everyone else in The Giver?

Jonas is different from the rest of his community because he has light eyes and the Capacity to See Beyond.

In Jonas’s community, most people do not question the way things are.  Things just are as they are, and people accept that they have always been that way.  Jonas is a little different.  He has light colored eyes, which are also directly related to the other way he is different: Jonas has the Capacity to...

Jonas is different from the rest of his community because he has light eyes and the Capacity to See Beyond.

In Jonas’s community, most people do not question the way things are.  Things just are as they are, and people accept that they have always been that way.  Jonas is a little different.  He has light colored eyes, which are also directly related to the other way he is different: Jonas has the Capacity to See Beyond.  For this reason, he is chosen as the Receiver of Memory.

Almost every citizen in the community had dark eyes. His parents did, and Lily did, and so did all of his group members and friends.  But there were a few exceptions: Jonas himself, and a female Five who he had noticed had the different, lighter eyes. (Ch. 3) 

During his Ceremony of Twelve, the Chief Elder explains why Jonas is different.  She does not mention that he has light-colored eyes, which are very rare in his community and give him a deep and thoughtful look.  She does mention that he has several special traits that make him perfect to be the next Receiver of Memory.

"He has shown all of the qualities that a Receiver must have."

With her hand still firmly on his shoulder, the Chief Elder listed the qualities. (Ch. 8)

Jonas has several traits that make him unique in his community.  The Chief Elder lists them as intelligence, integrity, courage, and wisdom.  The last trait is the Capacity to See Beyond.  Jonas is not really wise yet, but he has the ability to become wise, because he is already thoughtful.

Jonas is different from other members of his community because he notices things around him. After he begins his training, his observations are colored by his changed perception.  The memories have changed him, and made him even more different from the others in his community.

In "The Interlopers," what brought the two men out into the disputed territory that night? What happened to them?

In “The Interlopers,” we know for certain that Ulrich von Gradwitz has come out into the forest on this stormy night because he hates Georg Znaeym. We are not specifically told why Znaeym has come out, but we can infer that it is for the same reason. We are also not explicitly told what happens to the two men, but it certainly seems likely that they are killed just after the story ends.

Ulrich and...

In “The Interlopers,” we know for certain that Ulrich von Gradwitz has come out into the forest on this stormy night because he hates Georg Znaeym. We are not specifically told why Znaeym has come out, but we can infer that it is for the same reason. We are also not explicitly told what happens to the two men, but it certainly seems likely that they are killed just after the story ends.

Ulrich and Georg hate each other personally, and they hate each other because their families have been in conflict for generations. The two families have a dispute about who owns the stretch of forest in which the story takes place. The author explicitly tells us that Ulrich has come out because he thinks Georg will be (as he sees it) trespassing and poaching on his land that evening. As the story says, Ulrich and his foresters had come out

not in quest of four-footed quarry, but to keep a look-out for the prowling thieves whom he suspected of being afoot from across the land boundary.

In other words, Ulrich was out on this night because he hated Georg and wanted to catch Georg on the disputed land. When he caught Georg, he hoped to kill him. We are not told why Georg is out, but we can assume it is for a similar reason.

As for what happens to the men, we do not know for sure. We know that they are trapped under a huge beech tree that blows down in the windstorm. We know that they agree to end their feud. We know that, at the end of the story, Ulrich believes that he sees nine or ten wolves coming towards them. From this, we can infer that the two men die, killed by the wolves.

Do George and Candy buy the farm after Lennie dies in Of Mice and Men?

According to what the reader knows from the novel, George and Candy never buy the farm. In Chapter Five, after Candy discovers Curley's wife dead in the barn, Candy immediately alerts George and shows him the body. While they are alone together Candy asks George,

“You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?” 

Candy hopes that he and...

According to what the reader knows from the novel, George and Candy never buy the farm. In Chapter Five, after Candy discovers Curley's wife dead in the barn, Candy immediately alerts George and shows him the body. While they are alone together Candy asks George,

“You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? You an’ me can go there an’ live nice, can’t we, George? Can’t we?” 

Candy hopes that he and George can go to the farm which has been George's and Lennie's dream. It becomes possible because of the money Candy contributes. Unfortunately George doesn't want to continue with the dream without Lennie. Steinbeck writes,

Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew. 

Candy knows George can't go along to the farm minus his best friend. George says, 

“—I think I knowed from the very first. I think I know’d we’d never do her. He usta like to hear about it so much I got to thinking maybe we would.”

Afterward George goes on with his old story about buying whiskey, sitting in a poolroom or going to a whorehouse. The assumption is that George will be like the rest of the lonely men who roam the country looking for work.

How does "The Ransom of Red Chief" reflect O. Henry's life?

The message of "The Ransom of Red Chief," although it is a funny story, is that "crime does not pay." Sam and Bill have been traveling all over the Midwest for years, trying one crooked scheme after another. They must think of the kidnapping plan because they are running out of ideas. After all these years they have only $600 between them.

O. Henry had served several years in state prison on a felony conviction...

The message of "The Ransom of Red Chief," although it is a funny story, is that "crime does not pay." Sam and Bill have been traveling all over the Midwest for years, trying one crooked scheme after another. They must think of the kidnapping plan because they are running out of ideas. After all these years they have only $600 between them.

O. Henry had served several years in state prison on a felony conviction of embezzlement. He met countless career criminals in and out of prison and came to the conclusion that most of them were losers. He never got over the disgrace of having been a convict. He changed his name from William Sydney Porter to O. Henry and lived in fear of having his past catch up with him. His feelings of guilt, shame, regret, fear of exposure, and so forth were undoubtedly responsible for the fact that he was known to drink two quarts of whiskey a day while he was living in New York and writing for the newspapers. He died at the age of only forty-seven from alcohol-related diseases. 

Another well-known story in which O. Henry expresses the same moral that crime does not pay, or that honesty is the best policy, is "A Retrieved Reformation." Jimmy Valentine is a successful safecracker, but the story opens while he is serving a term in prison. He is still young, and he is beginning to realize that a life of crime is a terrible choice. He can't lead a normal life. He is always looking over his shoulder. When he falls in love at first sight with Annabel Adams, she is not the cause of his reformation but the catalyst. He has been gradually realizing that "success" as a criminal only means attracting more pursuers. He is articulating O. Henry's sincerely meant message when he writes in a letter to an old pal:

Say, Billy, I've quit the old business—a year ago. I've got a nice store. I'm making an honest living, and I'm going to marry the finest girl on earth two weeks from now. It's the only life, Billy—the straight one. I wouldn't touch a dollar of another man's money now for a million.  

What is an objective summary of the Prologue in Romeo and Juliet?

The Prologue to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet simply tells the audience what will happen in the play. It immediately reveals the ending by telling the audience, 

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life

Before that, it informs the audience that the Montagues and Capulets are equal in their importance in Verona ("Two households both alike in dignity"). They are involved in a longtime feud. Shakespeare never tells us why they are fighting but the...

The Prologue to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet simply tells the audience what will happen in the play. It immediately reveals the ending by telling the audience, 

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life

Before that, it informs the audience that the Montagues and Capulets are equal in their importance in Verona ("Two households both alike in dignity"). They are involved in a longtime feud. Shakespeare never tells us why they are fighting but the feud is "ancient" and sometimes the innocent citizens of Verona are also caught up in the violence ("civil blood"). It proclaims that the Montague and Capulet children will be involved. They are "star-crossed", indicating fate has conspired against them, and their deaths are pre-ordained. Only their demise will ultimately end the rivalry ("Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove").

In the final three lines Shakespeare tells us it will take two hours for this story to be told (a dubious claim since it takes at least three if everything is included). He indicates the audience should listen closely ("with patient ears attend") to his story. This is important because Shakespeare's story is not so much about plot, but about the words he uses to spin his tale. Moreover, he tells the audience if there's anything he's missed in the  Prologue, he will work hard to fill in those gaps in the overall telling ("our toil shall strive to mend"). 

The Prologue is also a Shakespearean sonnet in its construction. It is written in iambic pentameter (five stressed and five unstressed syllables per line) and rhymes ababcdcdefefgg. Fourteen lines with alternating rhymes and a couplet at the end. 

As agriculture replaced hunting and gathering, what began to develop?

There are a number of possibilities for answering this question appropriately. One general answer would be "civilization" because the practice of agriculture meant that people who had previously been hunters and gatherers could feed themselves without having to lead a nomadic life. They would no longer have to travel to follow herds or harvests based upon the season, because crops such as grains and root vegetables could be eaten and stored. Animal husbandry was a...

There are a number of possibilities for answering this question appropriately. One general answer would be "civilization" because the practice of agriculture meant that people who had previously been hunters and gatherers could feed themselves without having to lead a nomadic life. They would no longer have to travel to follow herds or harvests based upon the season, because crops such as grains and root vegetables could be eaten and stored. Animal husbandry was a natural outgrowth of plant agriculture, so dairy foods could also be eaten. Being able to stay in one place and eat foods grown and produced on farms meant that homesteads and villages could be created.

As settlements near farms grew, the surplus farm goods could also help to feed others and be sold to generate economic growth. The growth of agriculture had different implications in different parts of the world based upon climate, population and culture. In Europe, for example, the ability for monarchies to flourish depended in part upon the ownership of large parcels of land and peasant labor to farm it. In this way agriculture has been the basis for the growth of civilization in many parts of the world.

During the trial, what do Bob and Mayella say happened to Mayella?

During the trial, Bob and Mayella say Tom Robinson raped Mayella.

When Bob is questioned, he says the rape occurred on the night of November the twenty-first. He claims he was coming out of the woods with a load of kindling when he heard Mayella scream in the house. He then dropped the bundle of wood and ran towards the house. When he looked in the window, he saw Tom raping his daughter.

Bob testifies...

During the trial, Bob and Mayella say Tom Robinson raped Mayella.

When Bob is questioned, he says the rape occurred on the night of November the twenty-first. He claims he was coming out of the woods with a load of kindling when he heard Mayella scream in the house. He then dropped the bundle of wood and ran towards the house. When he looked in the window, he saw Tom raping his daughter.

Bob testifies that he ran around the house to get at Tom, but Tom escaped through the front door. He also states that Tom left Mayella with a black eye and other injuries on her head, neck, and arms. Atticus points out Bob failed to get Mayella medical attention for her injuries.

Meanwhile, Mayella testifies that Tom attacked her right after she asked him to chop up a chiffarobe (dresser) for her. According to her testimony, Tom choked her, beat her about the face, and then raped her.

What is the purpose of the letters that Miss Strangeworth sends in "The Possibility of Evil"?

It would appear that Miss Strangeworth does not understand her own motive or motives for writing her anonymous letters. She rationalizes that it is her civic duty to keep the citizens of her town alerted to the possibilities of evil threatening them personally. She is the last surviving member of the town's founding family and is exceptionally proud of that distinction—although it means little to anybody else. She is just a lonely old maid who has nothing to do with her time and has to make up activities to fill her days. A good example of this is the way she goes grocery-shopping practically every day and buys in very small quantities so that she will have to keep coming back and have at least one thing to do. She thinks she is so important as a person and as a customer that the store-owner Mr. Lewis should remember that she always buys a small quantity of tea on Tuesdays.

"Imagine your forgetting that I always buy my tea on Tuesday," Miss Strangeworth said gently. "A quarter pound of tea, please, Mr. Lewis."

There is no reason why she couldn't buy a full pound of tea once a month, but this gives her an excuse to keep coming back. Time weighs heavily on her hands. She has only discovered the pleasure of writing her poison-pen letters in the past year. They give her something to do, and she can tell herself that she is contributing to the welfare of the community. She cannot realize that she is a busybody and a troublemaker. Her letters are doing no good, only harm. Much of the evil she suspects in others is a projection of the evil inside herself. This is reminiscent of the biblical injunction:

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

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

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

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

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

                                      Matthew 7:1-5 King James Version

So the alleged purpose of the letters is to guard the morals of her neighbors, while the real purpose is to give Miss Strangeworth something to do and to make her feel important. Why are the letters anonymous? Perhaps she senses somewhere deep in her unconscious that she is causing harm and that she could get in serious trouble for making what amount to false accusations. She can be more creative if her identity as the author is unknown. It is only by accident that her identity becomes known to one person, Don Crane, because she dropped his pink letter accidentally at the post office. But Don Crane probably will not tell anybody except his wife Helen who sent him that letter. He can't tell other people because then people will know who chopped up the old lady's rose bushes. Her secret is still safe for a while.

How are language and setting used in "A Worn Path" to reveal the narrator's reaction towards old Phoenix?

The first paragraph is loaded with symbolism. It is a "bright" and "frozen" day. The brightness suggests hope and the cold suggests death or an inability to move. She walks with "heaviness and lightness" so she is agile but heavy and old. The sound her cane makes is a "grave and persistent noise in the still air, that seemed meditative like the chirping of a solitary little bird." The sound is "grave" (serious and with...

The first paragraph is loaded with symbolism. It is a "bright" and "frozen" day. The brightness suggests hope and the cold suggests death or an inability to move. She walks with "heaviness and lightness" so she is agile but heavy and old. The sound her cane makes is a "grave and persistent noise in the still air, that seemed meditative like the chirping of a solitary little bird." The sound is "grave" (serious and with an allusion to death) but also signifies life, as illustrated by the image of the bird. These paradoxical themes are throughout the story. Phoenix is old and slow but determined and able. The setting is cold and dark, but with moments of light ("bright"), suggesting hope. Phoenix is so old that she is close to death ("grave") but her resilience invokes the spirit of life. The ongoing dichotomy of life and death relates to the myth of the phoenix, a bird which could burn and regenerate from its ashes. So, the name Phoenix brings together these different dichotomies, particularly with life and death. 

So, the narrator's treatment of Phoenix is informed by these dichotomies. Phoenix is old and frail but strong in her determination. She is close to the "grave" but she is still full of life. Phoenix is therefore heroic in that her determination is in spite of her old age and the difficult journey. This is why the descriptions of the setting are significant. Phoenix makes the journey in spite of the obstacles: the barbed-wire fence, thorns, and the ditch. 

How does the author describe Mrs. Drover's house at the beginning of the "The Demon Lover"?

At the beginning of the story, the author describes Mrs. Drover's house as deserted and dilapidated. Because of the bombing, there are a few cracks in the structure and the door is warped. The protagonist, Kathleen, notes that the tell-tale marks of the family's past occupancy still stands in familiar places. The old smoke stain is still apparent on the marble mantelpiece, the escritoire still bears the mark of the bottom of a vase, the...

At the beginning of the story, the author describes Mrs. Drover's house as deserted and dilapidated. Because of the bombing, there are a few cracks in the structure and the door is warped. The protagonist, Kathleen, notes that the tell-tale marks of the family's past occupancy still stands in familiar places. The old smoke stain is still apparent on the marble mantelpiece, the escritoire still bears the mark of the bottom of a vase, the wallpaper still displays a bruise mark from the door handle, and the claw marks left by the piano on the parquet floor are still visible.

The author describes the air in the house as stale and the atmosphere, eerie. Whether this is due to a supernatural presence in the house or to Kathleen's state of mind, the author does not say. However, when Kathleen discovers a letter on the hall table that is addressed to her, she becomes visibly anxious and frightened. The letter is not stamped but bears the current day's date. As the story continues to its resolution, the reader senses that the state of the house may possibly bear a direct correlation to the state of Kathleen's psyche.

What is the understood question that Lennie wants George to ask Slim in Of Mice and Men?

When Lennie and George first meet the men with whom they'll be working, Carlson asks Slim how his dog is. Slim announces that she gave birth to puppies the night before. Then he goes on to say that she had nine of them, and since she couldn't feed that many, Slim went and drowned four of them right away. As Slim is talking about puppies, Lennie gets more and more excited, like he's going to...

When Lennie and George first meet the men with whom they'll be working, Carlson asks Slim how his dog is. Slim announces that she gave birth to puppies the night before. Then he goes on to say that she had nine of them, and since she couldn't feed that many, Slim went and drowned four of them right away. As Slim is talking about puppies, Lennie gets more and more excited, like he's going to burst. George sees Lennie's reaction to the news of puppies and knows exactly what he wants--a puppy to pet.

George has been with Lennie since they were kids, so he knows how much Lennie likes to pet anything with fur. At the beginning of the book the reader first encounters this when Lennie carries along a dead mouse simply because it's soft. With that character trait for Lennie already established, it is easy for the reader to infer what he means when George says, "I heard him, Lennie. I'll ask him" (36). Lennie wants George to ask Slim if he can have a puppy to pet.

Why did industrialization lead to imperialism?

Industrialization is the process by which a society moves from being primarily agricultural to largely based on production and manufacturing. Although industrialization and imperialism tend to overlap and intersect, one does not always lead to the other. In fact, there are many examples of pre-industrial societies invading, occupying, and annexing other territories for reasons other than economics. Nevertheless, over the last two hundred years or so, imperialist policies have frequently been intertwined with industrial ambitions. 

...

Industrialization is the process by which a society moves from being primarily agricultural to largely based on production and manufacturing. Although industrialization and imperialism tend to overlap and intersect, one does not always lead to the other. In fact, there are many examples of pre-industrial societies invading, occupying, and annexing other territories for reasons other than economics. Nevertheless, over the last two hundred years or so, imperialist policies have frequently been intertwined with industrial ambitions. 

In US history, these two aspects of society have had a strong influence on the ways in which the nation was formed. For example, the mechanization of labor in the late 18th and early 19th centuries meant that agricultural and manufacturing output could be increased, giving the nation more economic power and influence in global trade. In order to grow that power and influence, many in positions of authority sought more land and resources in order to expand production. As a result, the US government began to negotiate with the Native peoples that occupied territories in the South, West, and Midwest. When these negotiations stalled or failed, the federal government exerted considerable pressure and force to remove the Native inhabitants and take over the land for settlement and expanded production.

In the case of the US, the power acquired from industrialization led to a need and or desire for more land to increase agricultural and manufacturing productivity. In order to gain access to that land and its resources, the government exerted force on the people that lived there and eventually drove them out in order to grow their empire.

What are the similarities and differences between Merovingian dynasty and Carolingian dynasty?

The Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties were successions of rule by Frankish kings who united significant expanses of what we now call Europe. Kingship in both dynasties was hereditary, typically in the form of a son ascending the throne previously occupied by his father. Both partook in forms of the feudal system, where all of the land in the kingdom was divided up among the nobility in return for military service. The two dynasties shared many...

The Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties were successions of rule by Frankish kings who united significant expanses of what we now call Europe. Kingship in both dynasties was hereditary, typically in the form of a son ascending the throne previously occupied by his father. Both partook in forms of the feudal system, where all of the land in the kingdom was divided up among the nobility in return for military service. The two dynasties shared many cultural similarities; they governed much of the same territories, practiced the same faith, and spoke Frankish dialects. Where they really differed was in the amount of power wielded by a king and how administration was used to manage the kingdom.

The Merovingian Dynasty was in power from 476 CE to 750 CE. Under the rule of Clovis I, most of Gaul was united as one kingdom.  When one Merovingian king died, his land was divided up among his sons. The sons ruled over their respective territories, but all were considered to be part of the same greater kingdom. Unfortunately, many of the Merovingian kings were more motivated by self-interest than by managing the kingdom. Instead, the Mayor of the Palace was responsible for managing the kingdom. By the time Pippin the Short deposed the last Merovingian king, they were essentially powerless figureheads. It was the weakened power of the Merovingian kings which gave way for the rise of the Carolingians.

The Carolingian dynasty (750 CE to 857 CE) had a similar system of administration for their massive expanses of land, which grew to include not only Gaul but also parts of Germany and Italy. The king would divide up land among his sons, but differed from the Merovingians by the fact that illegitimate sons could not inherit such territory. Under the rule of Charlemagne, the Empire was divided up into counties. Counts served as the administrative power for their territory and reported back to the king on an annual basis. Additionally, the coronation of Charlemagne by the Pope united the secular religious powers of Carolingian society. After the death of Charlemagne, division of the Empire served to weaken the kingdoms against the threat of invasion. Attacks by Vikings and a general disintegration of the unified power of the Carolingians eventually caused the Empire to collapse back into localized kingdoms.

In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, how and where does Phineas show that he's innocuous?

The word innocuous means harmless or non-irritating. Since A Separate Peaceis written from Gene's perspective, there are many times when he feels that Phineas is irritating or out to get him. However, Gene's opinion can be skewed because of his own jealousy and paranoia when it comes to his best friend. One minute, Gene thinks Phineas is being competitive or jealous with a hidden agenda, and the next minute, he thinks Finny is his...

The word innocuous means harmless or non-irritating. Since A Separate Peace is written from Gene's perspective, there are many times when he feels that Phineas is irritating or out to get him. However, Gene's opinion can be skewed because of his own jealousy and paranoia when it comes to his best friend. One minute, Gene thinks Phineas is being competitive or jealous with a hidden agenda, and the next minute, he thinks Finny is his best friend. From an objective standpoint, however, Phineas would rather have fun and engage in friendly sporting competitions than seek the downfall or failure of a friend. Gene is simply paranoid.

Phineas shows that he is innocuous during the first time the boys jump from the tree into the river in chapter two. Gene almost falls out of the tree because he turns back for a moment to say something. He loses his balance and almost falls uncontrollably to the ground, but Phineas reaches out, grabs his arm, and saves him. Gene later realizes the following:

"If Finny hadn't come up right behind me . . . if he hadn't been there . . . I could have fallen on the bank and broken my back! If I had fallen awkwardly enough I could have been killed. Finny had practically saved my life" (32).

This isn't enough to convince Gene that Phineas isn't out to destroy him or his life. In chapter three, Phineas creates a game called "Blitzball" and Gene is jealous of this. Gene feels that Finny creates the game to show off his own athletic ability and talent. This is a misconception because Phineas is innocuous! He just loves being social and playing sports. Put the two together and Phineas is a leader in fun, not treachery.

One last example of Phineas being harmless is when he breaks the school swimming record in chapter three. Gene is the only witness to the event and expects that Phineas would want to show off and tell the whole school what he had accomplished. This doesn't happen, because Phineas tells Gene to be quiet about it. His response is as follows:

"By the way . . . we aren't going to talk about this. It's just between you and me. Don't say anything about it, to . . . anyone" (44).

Phineas isn't out to seek praise and glory like Gene thinks he is. He's humble and not as bad as he's made out to be in Gene's mind. This proves that Phineas is not harmful, too competitive, or bent on seeing the downfall of others.

Please comment on this idea: What makes "The Open Window" so interesting is the conflict between comedy and horror.

The 15 year-old niece in "The Open Window" knows how to play the perfect practical joke; however, the narrator calls this "Romance at short notice." In order to get the desired effect on a victim, a practical joker must make him or her deeply believe the narrative behind the joke. The niece decides to employ a shocking tragedy to hook the gullible visitor into her scheme. In fact, the word "horror" means painful, overwhelming and shocking,...

The 15 year-old niece in "The Open Window" knows how to play the perfect practical joke; however, the narrator calls this "Romance at short notice." In order to get the desired effect on a victim, a practical joker must make him or her deeply believe the narrative behind the joke. The niece decides to employ a shocking tragedy to hook the gullible visitor into her scheme. In fact, the word "horror" means painful, overwhelming and shocking, which all apply to the sad story she tells about her uncles getting lost in a bog one dreadful night three years previous to their meeting.

The comedy comes in at the very end as Mr. Nuttel swiftly makes his exit from the house because of how well the girl plays him. One might ask if this is a horrific comedy or a comical horror story. Both couplings create an oxymoronic conflict that produces the desired effect on Mr. Nuttel as well as the reader. For example, the reader might be like Mr. Nuttel, soaking up the supernatural and tragic story of lost family members, only to be hilariously mocked and/or taken for a fool in the end. Going back over the story after a first reading makes the following passages more comedic and less horrifying each time:

"'I hope you don't mind the open window,' said Mrs. Sappleton briskly; 'my husband and brothers will be home directly from shooting, and they always come in this way. . .' She rattled on cheerfully about the shooting and the scarcity of birds and the prospects for duck in the winter. To Framton, it was all purely horrible. He made a desperate but only partially successful effort to turn the talk onto a less ghastly topic."

The niece couldn't have planned her aunt's speech more perfectly! Everything her aunt says to Nuttel adds to the horrifying story that also helps to build the comedy at the end when the truth is discovered. In fact, one might say that horror and comedy are not necessarily in conflict with each other in this story because without the horror, there would be no comedy. Therefore, the comedy of the story actually depends on how horrific the story is and how well it is believed.

What were some of President Jimmy Carter's successes?

Even though President Carter was a one-term president, he did have successes during his time in office. One major success was the signing of the Camp David Peace Agreement. Israel and Egypt had been bitter enemies from the moment Israel became a country in 1948. These countries fought four wars between 1948-1973. Many people believed there would never be peace between these two countries. President Carter was able to get the leader of Israel, Menachem...

Even though President Carter was a one-term president, he did have successes during his time in office. One major success was the signing of the Camp David Peace Agreement. Israel and Egypt had been bitter enemies from the moment Israel became a country in 1948. These countries fought four wars between 1948-1973. Many people believed there would never be peace between these two countries. President Carter was able to get the leader of Israel, Menachem Begin, and the leader of Egypt, Anwar Sadat, to sign an agreement that would lead to peace between these two countries.

Another successful event of his presidency was signing the Panama Canal Treaty with Panama. Many Latin American countries were leery of U.S. interference in Latin America throughout the 1900s. This treaty gave control of the Panama Canal to Panama at the end of 1999. This was one way to show the Latin American countries that we desired to have a good relationship with them.

President Carter was successful in organizing a U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games that were being held in Moscow. We were protesting the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The United States and several other countries refused to take part in the 1980 Summer Olympic Games because the Soviet Union refused to leave Afghanistan.

“Gothic literature is fascinated with monsters and monstrous figures.” Consider the significance of this statement in the light of two or...

Angela Carter’s Gothic-inspired short story collection The Bloody Chamber is a work that illustrates Carter’s fascination with monsters, monstrous figures, and, more specifically, monstrous women. Carter casts many of the women in her stories as marginalized, ghastly women with horrific features. This is especially interesting in part because she utilizes Gothic tropes to tell her stories, and also because the women in Carter’s stories reflect the liminal position women hold in patriarchal discourse. A striking...

Angela Carter’s Gothic-inspired short story collection The Bloody Chamber is a work that illustrates Carter’s fascination with monsters, monstrous figures, and, more specifically, monstrous women. Carter casts many of the women in her stories as marginalized, ghastly women with horrific features. This is especially interesting in part because she utilizes Gothic tropes to tell her stories, and also because the women in Carter’s stories reflect the liminal position women hold in patriarchal discourse. A striking instance of a monstrous woman occurs early in the collection with “The Tiger’s Bride.” A young woman’s father gambles her away to a mysterious being merely known as The Beast. By the end of the story, however, the young woman embraces the monstrous being that has been lurking within her all along. In a Gothic twist, the woman only becomes fulfilled after she has accepted her status as a monster:

“And each stroke of his tongue ripped off skin after successive skin, all the skins of a life in the world, and left behind a nascent patina of shining hairs. My earrings turned back to water and trickled down my shoulders; I shrugged the drops off my beautiful fur” (67).

Another interesting case of a woman acting as a monster is in “The Lady of the House of Love.” The sensual female vampire is condemned to a life of loneliness, occupying an obviously Gothic castle like a wispy Poe heroine. She inhabits a liminal space between living and dead, animal and human:

“She herself is a haunted house. She does not possess herself; her ancestors sometimes come and peer out of the windows of her eyes and that is very frightening. She has the mysterious solitude of ambiguous states; she hovers in a no-man's land between life and death.... The beastly forebears on the walls condemn her to a perpetual repetition of their passions” (103).

These obviously Gothic monsters are pervasive influences in Carter’s stories. She uses these monstrous figures, and specifically monstrous women, in order to establish Gothic tropes and question women’s marginalized position in patriarchal society.

How do the stage directions at the beginning of Act IV set the mood? What does the contrast between this setting and the one described at the...

At the beginning of Act IV, the stage directions indicate the characters are in a dark jail that has barred windows and a heavy door.  Marshal Herrick can now only deal with his job when he is drunk.  Sarah Good no longer even appears to be human.  As a result, the mood is incredibly dark, sad, and somber.  At the beginning of Act I, however, Reverend Parris was praying over his sick daughter, confused and...

At the beginning of Act IV, the stage directions indicate the characters are in a dark jail that has barred windows and a heavy door.  Marshal Herrick can now only deal with his job when he is drunk.  Sarah Good no longer even appears to be human.  As a result, the mood is incredibly dark, sad, and somber.  At the beginning of Act I, however, Reverend Parris was praying over his sick daughter, confused and weeping.  His slave, Tituba, seems to share his concern, although she also fears for her own safety.  The mood, then, was certainly tense and emotionally heightened in Act I, while there is almost a note of resignation in Act IV. 

The contrast between the anxiety and tension in Act I with the dark sadness in Act IV shows us just how much the trials have affected this community.  The community that was once so ready to point fingers and place blame has now been decimated, depressed, and ruined by the witch trials.  Its transition from a godly place to one run by the devilish motivations of malicious children and their greedy parents is fairly complete.

How did Elie Wiesel help the Civil Rights Movement?

Elie Wiesel has dedicated his life to the human rights movement.  Having survived the hatred of the Nazis in a death camp, he vowed to never remain silent about how his people were treated.  He educated the world about the depravity of racism and has been a champion of the cause of human freedom. Through the years, Wiesel has spoken out and demanded action against human rights abuses on a global scale. During the 1970s,...

Elie Wiesel has dedicated his life to the human rights movement.  Having survived the hatred of the Nazis in a death camp, he vowed to never remain silent about how his people were treated.  He educated the world about the depravity of racism and has been a champion of the cause of human freedom. Through the years, Wiesel has spoken out and demanded action against human rights abuses on a global scale. During the 1970s, he was a vocal opponent of the system of apartheid in South Africa.  He also pressured the international community to intervene in ethnic cleansing incidents in Bosnia, Cambodia, and Rwanda. Wiesel established the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity in 1988 and has been active in helping Ethiopian Jews and Darfuri refugees through education and training. His efforts as an advocate for human rights has been an inspiration for the Civil Rights Movement for decades.  

Why does Sal say she sounds like Phoebe when she says "I don't want to hear it"?

Sal sees Phoebe as a parallel version of herself. Both have had their mothers leave them, and Sal initially reacted to this in the same way that Phoebe does. Both girls rationalize the desertions, blaming it on some other circumstance and avoiding the knowledge that both Mrs. Hiddle and Mrs. Winterbottom chose to leave. Sal and Phoebe try to convince themselves that their mothers would never leave children that they loved. Yet in fact they...

Sal sees Phoebe as a parallel version of herself. Both have had their mothers leave them, and Sal initially reacted to this in the same way that Phoebe does. Both girls rationalize the desertions, blaming it on some other circumstance and avoiding the knowledge that both Mrs. Hiddle and Mrs. Winterbottom chose to leave. Sal and Phoebe try to convince themselves that their mothers would never leave children that they loved. Yet in fact they did. Sal is beginning to realize this as she watches Phoebe. She tries to speak some truth to Phoebe, but Phoebe does not want to hear it, just as Sal did not want to hear her father discuss her mother’s departure and Margaret Cadaver’s role in her father’s life. While Sal has not fully accepted the truth of her situation, she is a few steps ahead of Phoebe; Phoebe tries to convince herself that her mother was kidnapped instead of leaving of her own choice. Phoebe has become Sal’s mirror of her own voice, her own thoughts, and her own behavior. This gives Sal some perspective to deal with her loss.

Downgrading South Africa: What would junk status mean for South Africa? In your discussion, please touch on the following issues: -What does junk...

"Junk bond" is an informal term for a high-risk, high-yield bond. Generally if you get downgraded to "junk status" this means that your credit rating has been lowered so low that you are now only able to borrow in the very highest-risk bonds.

Countries have credit ratings just as companies and individuals do, and these credit ratings are used to decide the interest rates at which they can borrow their sovereign debt in global markets.

The really terrifying thing about these credit ratings is that they are made by private companies---mainly three companies Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch. Most people seem to think that international credit ratings are issued by the World Bank or by the US government or something; no, these are private for-profit financial corporations, and they've been implicated a number of times in fraudulently distorting credit ratings for their own gain, yet their punishment is usually minimal if anything (linked US Department of Justice filing against Standard & Poor's).

South Africa's credit rating was downgraded at the end of 2015, and may be downgraded again (Barron's article linked). This is because international investors are increasingly concerned about South Africa's inability to reduce its budget deficits, and thus think that maybe they won't be able to repay the bonds on time. This higher risk is reflected in the lower credit rating, and the investors demand higher yields on the bonds before they'll be willing to buy them.

If this happens, there's a chance that South Africa will have to pay higher interest rates, in which case it will be even harder for them to repay their debts, which can create a feedback loop into a full-scale economic crisis. This is another problem with credit ratings; they can be self-fulfilling, as perceived higher risk can create higher risk. The good news is that South Africa has their own currency and their inflation rate is still manageable (about 6%), and so they have room for monetary policy to raise the money supply and bring down those interest rates. South Africa has a relatively high tax burden, however, so they may not be able to raise taxes much---which means they'll need to cut some of their government spending to bring the budget back to balance and ease fears of repaying their debt.

What is one cultural reference in the chapters of the Ramayana that helps the reader understand the significance of some part of the story?

One specific cultural reference in Ramayana that helps the reader better understand the significance of Lord Rama's actions would be the way that beliefs in Ayodhya are described.

One of the most compelling elements of the Ramayanais how much Lord Rama embraces his dharma, or sense of duty. Readers can have a difficult time understanding how firmly embedded this is in his psyche. However, in describing the way in which Lord Rama's father, King...

One specific cultural reference in Ramayana that helps the reader better understand the significance of Lord Rama's actions would be the way that beliefs in Ayodhya are described.

One of the most compelling elements of the Ramayana is how much Lord Rama embraces his dharma, or sense of duty. Readers can have a difficult time understanding how firmly embedded this is in his psyche. However, in describing the way in which Lord Rama's father, King Dasaratha, has ruled over Ayodhya, there are cultural references about the Ayodhyan belief system:

Like Manu first of kings, he reigned.
And worthily his state maintained,
For firm and just and ever true
Love, duty, gain he kept in view . . .

When Valmiki references the way dharma, or duty, is a part of the culture in Ayodhya, the reader can fully grasp why Lord Rama is so insistent on following its path. Members of the presiding Raghu clan viewed their rule as descending from Manu himself. This is why Dasaratha and his son, Lord Rama, are bound by their promises. Such a cultural reference depicts the role that honor and dharma played in royal decisions.

Cultural references to Ayodhya help to explain how different it is from the way that Ravana rules in Lanka. The culture of Ayodhya is one where "Each man contented sought no more, / Nor longed with envy for the store / By richer friends possessed." This helps to explain how different Lord Rama is from Ravana. Ravana covets what others have, and takes what belongs to others. This envy is not a part of life in Ayodhya. Further Ayodhyan cultural references illuminate this divide:

And none was faithless or forsworn,
   A braggart or unkind.
None lived upon another's wealth,
None pined with dread or broken health,
   Or dark disease of mind.
High-souled were all. The slanderous word,
The boastful lie, were never heard.

These cultural references help the reader to understand how Lord Rama and Ravana stand diametrically opposed to one another. The culture of Ayodhya plays a very large role in helping to explain the actions of King Dasaratha and his son, Lord Rama.

What is post modernism and what are the causes and effects of post modernism?

Postmodernism is a framework which seeks to reject or re-assess the knowledge and ways of knowing developed during the modern period. The scholars of the modern period emphasized the quantifiable nature of the world and worked with theory attesting to the concrete, quantifiable, and knowable nature of all things. In more recent years, postmodernism has arisen in the arts and social sciences out of the disillusionment with such hard theoretical thinking. Postmodernism emphasizes the subjective nature of knowledge and reality, and deals with the question of how we come to know what we know to be true.

The cause of postmodernism is quite simple-- the aforementioned disagreement with a purely quantifiable and predictable theory of how the world works. Such disillusionment may occur on a small or large scale, equally prompting one to re-address what has previously been taken for granted as truth. 

The effects of postmodernism are many. Knowledge and the means of attaining knowledge change throughout time, and postmodernism occurs one to take all knowledge with a grain of salt. How do we know what we know? Allow me to refer to an example I have previously outlined in answering on postmodernism.

If a  modernist weighs a sack of potatoes using standardized weights and determines it to be about one kilo, they  might argue that all sacks of potatoes of a similar size would also weigh about one kilo. The postmodernist, on the other hand, recognizes that the system of weights and measures used to determine the weight of the sack of potatoes has been previously established as an arbitrary means of quantifying weight. Weighing the sack of potatoes in the metric system has little value to the person who works with imperial weights and does not know conversion rates. Similarly, one kilo of potatoes might feel quite light to an adult, and quite heavy to a child. What's more, determining the weight of the sack of potatoes doesn't tell us much about its quality-- are the potatoes ripe or rotten? Is it many small potatoes, or a few large ones?

While this example is a little bit silly, I hope it helps you get a better understanding of the importance of subjectivity and personal experience in postmodernism. This emphasis on skepticism on previously established systems of knowledge is especially favored by social scientists seeking to re-address the often skewed opinions of their predecessors in their fields of study. There has been a significant shift in psychology, sociology, and anthropology from the observed, outsider perspective to the lived experience of insiders. For artists, postmodernism also prompts questions about the nature of art. Is art only something we can look at? Must it be beautiful? 

In many ways, postmodernism is about subverting the truths and means of attaining truth established during the modern period.

In Macbeth, why is Banquo afraid after Duncan's death in Act II?

In Act II, while he is a guest at Macbeth's castle in Inverness, Banquo seems to be afraid of his own thoughts and imaginings. He is worried about what the future holds as he gazes at the starless sky as a potent of dark things to come—"Their candles are all out" (2.1.5).

When Macbeth approaches, Banquo nervously calls for his sword, but is reassured that a friend is there. Macbeth then inquires of Banquo why...

In Act II, while he is a guest at Macbeth's castle in Inverness, Banquo seems to be afraid of his own thoughts and imaginings. He is worried about what the future holds as he gazes at the starless sky as a potent of dark things to come—"Their candles are all out" (2.1.5).

When Macbeth approaches, Banquo nervously calls for his sword, but is reassured that a friend is there. Macbeth then inquires of Banquo why he is "not yet at rest." Banquo replies that he has dreamed of the weird sisters, adding, "To you they have show'd some truth" (2.1.20). This remark implies that they have predicted Macbeth's becoming Thane of Cawdor. However, Macbeth pretends that he has given the witches no thought: "I think not of them." He probably does this in the hope of preventing any suspicion of him by Banquo after he later completes his intended act against the Chain of Being (the murder of King Duncan).

Perhaps, though, Macbeth reconsiders his words, for he may now recall how deeply moved he was at the time of the meeting with the witches, as well as how Banquo observed aloud, "Look, how our partner's rapt" (1.2.143). If he acts disinterested now, Banquo may again become suspicious, wondering why he denies that he was not also disturbed by the predictions they heard. For whatever reason, Macbeth speaks again to Banquo, this time as though wishing to draw Banquo closer to him by his joining in his cause:

If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis
It shall make honour for you. (2.1.25-26)

But, because Macbeth's intentions are nebulous, Banquo is suspicious. So, he replies cautiously,

                       ...So I lose none
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsell'd. (2.1.27-30)

This rather ambiguous answer is, nevertheless, an implication that Banquo suspects Macbeth of some dishonorable intentions. Hearing these words, Macbeth makes no reply, only bidding Banquo good night: "Good repose the while!" and they both make their exits.

What are some text clues and predictions for "A Sound of Thunder"?

You can predict the ending based on the comments about changing the future and the discussion of who is president.

You can make a prediction that the men are going to change the future from the fact that such a big deal is made about how careful they have to be because it is easy to change the future.  In the beginning of the story, they discuss who the president is.  This is a text clue that foreshadows the ending, when another man is chosen president.

“We’re lucky. If Deutscher had gotten in, we’d have the worst kind of dictatorship. There’s an anti-everything man for you, a militarist, antiChrist, anti-human, anti-intellectual. People called us up, you know, joking but not joking. Said if Deutscher became President they wanted to go live in 1492. …”

This foreshadows the ending when Deutscher is president.  In the present, Keith has been elected and they are happy because certain people feel that Deutscher would be a tyrant.  At the end of the story we will see the spelling on the sign is different and Deutscher is president.

Another example of foreshadowing is the caution about how easy it is to change the future by changing something in the past.  The government regulates time travel carefully, we are told.  There is a special path, and you do not step off that path!

“We don’t want to change the Future. We don’t belong here in the Past. The government doesn’t like us here. We have to pay big graft to keep our franchise. A Time Machine is finicky business. Not knowing it, we might kill an important animal, a small bird, a roach, a flower even, thus destroying an important link in a growing species.”

These text clues indicate that someone is going to step off the path to change the future.  All of that talk about not changing anything in the future definitely foreshadows Eckels stepping off the path onto the butterfly.  He changes the future, just like we have been warned against.

How to derive a formula for and calculate the specific acoustic impedance of air and water at STP, knowing that: The density of air at STP is...

Specific acoustic impedance is defined as the ratio of acoustic pressure (p) to specific flow (u) (also known as acoustic flow velocity).

`z = p/u `

We know that for sound waves traveling in a medium, the displacement of the particles in the y direction at a position x and at a time t is given by:

`y(x,t) = A_0sin(kx - wt) `

Where Ao is the maximum displacement (the amplitude), k is the wave number (defined as k=2`pi`/`lambda`) and w is the angular frequency of the oscillation. It is also known that the velocity u of a particle in this sound wave and the acoustic pressure p are given by the following two equations:

`u(x,t) =(del y)/(del t) = -A_0wcos(kx - wt)`

`p(x,t) = -kappa (del y)/(del x) = -kappa A_0kcos(kx - wt) `

Here, `kappa` is defined as the adiabatic bulk modulus (it basically measures the resistance of a substance to uniform compression). Now, substituting this results in our definition of the specific acoustic impedance, we get:

`z= (kappa k )/w `

But it can also be shown, when studying sound waves, that

`kappa = rho v^2 `

Where v is the speed at which the sound wave travels in this medium and `rho` is the density of the substance. Finally, we have for the specific acoustic impedance, using the definition of k:

`z = rho v^2 k / w = rho v `

Now we see that the acoustic impedance of a substance is a function of the density of the medium and the velocity at which the sound wave travels in it. But both of this variables depend on the temperature, so the impedance is really a function of the temperature.

Using the values given by you, we have for air:

`z_(air)=(1.29 kg m^(-3))(332 m s^(-1)) = 428.28 (kg) / (m^(2) s)`

And for water:

`z_(water) = (1003 (kg)/(m^3))(1500 m/s)=1.5045xx10^6 (kg)/(m^2s)`

What this show us is that sound is less intense (~3500 times less) in water than in air for a given pressure amplitude! Things sound louder in air than in water!

What were four causes of the Scientific Revolution?

The Scientific Revolution occurred in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, leading to the Enlightenment. 

In the sixteenth century, Copernicus stated that the earth revolved around the sun. This was the beginning of the “heliocentric”view of the universe. This was a shocker for just about everybody. It shook the religious world to its roots. Previously, it had been assumed that everything revolved around the Earth, and that it did so because God wanted it to....

The Scientific Revolution occurred in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, leading to the Enlightenment. 

In the sixteenth century, Copernicus stated that the earth revolved around the sun. This was the beginning of the “heliocentric” view of the universe. This was a shocker for just about everybody. It shook the religious world to its roots. Previously, it had been assumed that everything revolved around the Earth, and that it did so because God wanted it to. To say that the Earth instead revolved around the sun was considered heresy by some. Once this barrier was broken, scientific progress continued to be made. Galileo confirmed Copernicus' theories in 1610 and added more new information about the planets.

The Protestant Reformation broke the hold of the Catholic church in some places. It began in 1517 with Martin Luther's 95 Theses. Some credit this religious change with making some degree of scientific progress more likely than would have been possible under Catholicism, although this viewpoint is debated. Martin Luther himself was not particularly supportive of any scientific ideas that were not supported by the Bible. 

The Renaissance brought back ancient scientific texts that had been more or less “lost.” These texts generated more interest in science and also gave scientists a better starting point than would have been possible without the revived texts.

The invention of the printing press in 1448 greatly facilitated the flow of information. Now scientists could learn of each other's experiments and observations much more quickly than they could have previously, when everything had to be handwritten, a slow and expensive process.

Later, of course, the Scientific Revolution was crowned by Newton's Laws, which provided a new way of looking at the universe, as a place that followed strict scientific laws that could be discovered and described.

In what way is Lord of the Flies a novel about power? (i.e. How and why is power addressed in the novel?)

Another way to think about power in Lord of the Flies is how power relates to the essential human emotions of love and fear.  

Jack's power derives from the fear he and his henchmen can instill in others. This way of leading promotes unhealthy competition and factionalism, and the instability it creates (both in the novel and in life) is ultimately divisive and ruinous. Golding observes that it seems to be a pattern that...

Another way to think about power in Lord of the Flies is how power relates to the essential human emotions of love and fear.  

Jack's power derives from the fear he and his henchmen can instill in others. This way of leading promotes unhealthy competition and factionalism, and the instability it creates (both in the novel and in life) is ultimately divisive and ruinous. Golding observes that it seems to be a pattern that mankind falls into over and over again. As observed in the novel, without external, punitive controls (adult authority, police, society's expectations), man left to his own devices will seek to acquire and expand power without regard for what it means to others. Jack's narcissism is malignant and plays out over and over again through his brutal approach to controlling others, and the ones who attach themselves to him do so because of their own appetites for brutality—their desire to instill fear instead of experience it. Fear of punishment keeps people in line, in Jack's world.

Ralph's leadership comes from a more loving, democratic place. The root "demos" means people, and Ralph and his followers deem it important to let others have a voice, symbolized in the novel with the conch and the forums where the boys are given an opportunity to offer their own ideas. Simon becomes the embodiment of love, particularly when he promotes peaceful resolutions to problems and focuses on feeding others, both literally and spiritually, soothing their fears rather than promoting them. Ralph seeks to share power and move the boys forward through unity and shared responsibility. Ralph rejects the brutality of Jack's way and challenges him on moral grounds, not out of a personal desire to expand his power.

In Things Fall Apart, what points demonstrate that the Oracle's decisions are final?

The role of the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves within the Umuofian tribe is the most unquestionably powerful force within the region. She is the ultimate authority in the clan, and her decisions are final. The Oracle serves as a mediator between the tribe and their gods; thus, her will and proclamations are not to be debated. Indeed, she is so powerful that the clan will not go to war without her blessing:

...

The role of the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves within the Umuofian tribe is the most unquestionably powerful force within the region. She is the ultimate authority in the clan, and her decisions are final. The Oracle serves as a mediator between the tribe and their gods; thus, her will and proclamations are not to be debated. Indeed, she is so powerful that the clan will not go to war without her blessing:

“And in fairness to Umuofia it should be recorded that it never went to war unless its case was clear and just and was accepted as such by its Oracle--the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. And there were indeed occasions when the Oracle had forbidden Umuofia to wage a war. If the clan had disobeyed the Oracle they would surely have been beaten, because their dreaded agadi-nwayi would never fight what the Ibo call a fight of blame” (12).

Another striking instance that shows her power and influence among the members of the tribe is when she decrees that the young captive Ikemefuna must die. Ezeudu warns Okonkwo not to take part in the slaying of Ikemefuna, but does not question the Oracle’s decision:

“Yes, Umuofia has decided to kill him. The Oracle of the Hills and the Caves has pronounced it. They will take him outside Umuofia as is the custom, and kill him there. But I want you to have nothing to do with it. He calls you his father” (57).

These are just two happenings that illustrate the Oracle’s absolute power within the Umuofian community.

What were the occurrences of discrimination displayed in the movie American Violet?

Really, the entire theme of the movie revolves around discrimination in the criminal justice system.  This discrimination could be based on race, but also social class.  I have cited an article that makes reference to a 2012 study by three prominent universities that demonstrates racial bias in the criminal justice system.  The study found that black defendants were 30% more likely to do jail time than white defendants that committed the same crime.  This type...

Really, the entire theme of the movie revolves around discrimination in the criminal justice system.  This discrimination could be based on race, but also social class.  I have cited an article that makes reference to a 2012 study by three prominent universities that demonstrates racial bias in the criminal justice system.  The study found that black defendants were 30% more likely to do jail time than white defendants that committed the same crime.  This type of racial bias is demonstrated in the film because all of the accused were African-Americans.  Furthermore, it would appear that innocent black citizens were targeted merely due to their race.

Class bias or discrimination was also demonstrated in the film as well.  All of the defendants were from a housing project and live in a community where the median household income was well below average.  The accused in this case were represented by court-appointed attorneys who pressured them to accept plea agreements.  There was no evidence they had committed a crime and the prosecution's case was very weak.  It is likely that if the defendants had the resources to hire their own personal attorneys, they would have all been advised to fight the charges.  

How does Romeo react to Balthasar's news in Act V Scene 1?

Balthasar reveals to Romeo that Juliet is dead in Act V, Scene 1. He tells Romeo,

Her body sleeps in Capels’ monument,And her immortal part with angels lives.I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vaultAnd presently took post to tell it you.

In a case of dramatic irony, Balthasar knows nothing of the Friar's plan for Juliet to fake her death and in the next scene the audience finds out that...

Balthasar reveals to Romeo that Juliet is dead in Act V, Scene 1. He tells Romeo,

Her body sleeps in Capels’ monument,
And her immortal part with angels lives.
I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault
And presently took post to tell it you.

In a case of dramatic irony, Balthasar knows nothing of the Friar's plan for Juliet to fake her death and in the next scene the audience finds out that Romeo doesn't get the message from the Friar announcing the plan. Thus, Romeo reacts as he does throughout the play. He leaps to action without considering the implications of those actions. He is predictably impetuous. Upon hearing the news he launches into a plan to commit suicide in the Capulet tomb next to Juliet. He says, "Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight." He orders Balthasar to "hire post-horses" so they can immediately go to the tomb and he finds a poor apothecary (pharmacist) to buy poison from. He actually bribes the apothecary because it was against the law in Mantua to sell the substance. He is so bent on his plan that he even kills Count Paris outside the tomb when he arrives. Had he been just little more introspective, he may have not been so hasty. The Friar actually arrives in the tomb not long after Romeo has taken the poison.  

What would you consider to be key strategic revisions/re-readings Aime Cesaire makes on Shakespeare’s The Tempest in A Tempest?

The key strategic revision the play makes is in telling the story of The Tempestfrom the point of view of Ariel and Caliban, recast as a mulatto slave and a black slave. If Shakespeare's play represents a colonialist perspective, one that, for example, endorses Prospero's move to first learn everything he needs to know to survive from Caliban, then to turn on him and enslave him (rationalizing it by casting Caliban as a...

The key strategic revision the play makes is in telling the story of The Tempest from the point of view of Ariel and Caliban, recast as a mulatto slave and a black slave. If Shakespeare's play represents a colonialist perspective, one that, for example, endorses Prospero's move to first learn everything he needs to know to survive from Caliban, then to turn on him and enslave him (rationalizing it by casting Caliban as a monster), in contrast, Cesaire offers the post-colonial or view-from-below version of colonialism that perceives the non-European Other with sympathy and the European as the unjust enslaver. 

In Cesaire's play, as outlined in the enote linked to below, the action has been moved to an island in the Carribean, where Ariel sincerely believes that obedience to Prospero will lead to freedom. Caliban, on the other hand, here not depicted as a monster, challenges Prospero at every turn in his desire to wrest freedom from colonial rule. 

`(x + 2y)^4` Use the Binomial Theorem to expand and simplify the expression.

You need to use the binomial formula, such that:

`(x+y)^n = sum_(k=0)^n ((n),(k)) x^(n-k) y^k`

You need to replace x for x, 2y for y and 4 for n, such that:

`(x+2y)^4 = 4C0 x^4 + 4C1 x^3*(2y)^1 + 4C2 x^2*(2y)^2 +  4C3 x*(2y)^3 +  4C4 (2y)^4 `

By definition, `nC0 = nCn = 1` , hence `4C0 = 4C4 = 1` .

By definition `nC1 = nC(n-1) = n` , hence `4C1 = 4C3 = 4.`

By definition `nC2 = nC(n-2) = (n(n-1))/2` ,...

You need to use the binomial formula, such that:

`(x+y)^n = sum_(k=0)^n ((n),(k)) x^(n-k) y^k`

You need to replace x for x, 2y for y and 4 for n, such that:

`(x+2y)^4 = 4C0 x^4 + 4C1 x^3*(2y)^1 + 4C2 x^2*(2y)^2 +  4C3 x*(2y)^3 +  4C4 (2y)^4 `

By definition, `nC0 = nCn = 1` , hence `4C0 = 4C4 = 1` .

By definition `nC1 = nC(n-1) = n` , hence `4C1 = 4C3 = 4.`

By definition `nC2 = nC(n-2) = (n(n-1))/2` , hence `4C2 = (4(4-1))/2 = 6`

`(x+2y)^4 = x^4 + 4x^3*(2y)^1 + 6x^2*4y^2 +  4x*8y^3 + 16y^4 `

`(x+2y)^4 = x^4 + 8x^3*y + 24x^2*y^2 +  32x*y^3 + 16y^4 `

Hence, expanding the complex number using binomial theorem yields the simplified result `(x+2y)^4 = x^4 + 8x^3*y + 24x^2*y^2 +  32x*y^3 + 16y^4.`

How might one explain the title of Steinbeck's book "Of Mice And Men"?

The title is a quotation from Thomas Gray’s poem “To a Mouse,” whose theme is that both men and animals (even those as diminutive as a field mouse) may make plans for the future, so that future comfort and happiness can be attained. The problem, however, is that unforeseen circumstances are not included in our plans, because some things are beyond our understanding of the world. In Gray’s poem, the mouse has built a nest...

The title is a quotation from Thomas Gray’s poem “To a Mouse,” whose theme is that both men and animals (even those as diminutive as a field mouse) may make plans for the future, so that future comfort and happiness can be attained. The problem, however, is that unforeseen circumstances are not included in our plans, because some things are beyond our understanding of the world. In Gray’s poem, the mouse has built a nest to keep him warm and safe, but does not know that the narrator would be plowing that field in the Autumn: “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men / Gang aft agley, / An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, /For promis’d joy!”

In Steinbeck’s book (and play), the brothers Georg and Lennie are making plans to one day own their own farm, but Lennie’s low mentality and desire to stroke small animals had not figured into their plans, so when Lennie accidentally breaks a woman’s neck, George has to kill his brother to keep him from being killed by a mob. The plans “of Men,” then, can be thwarted just as the mouse’s plans for the winter are thwarted.

Name five achievements of one of these early civilizations: Egypt, India, Mesopotamia, or China.

China has a long cultural history of innovation, and we can still experience many Chinese inventions today.

Legend has it that in 2737 BCE, a Chinese emperor was sitting under a tree when some leaves fell into his cup of water. He enjoyed the flavor these leaves gave his drink, and encouraged an herbalist to study the tree and the infusion of leaves in water. From then on, tea has  been cultivated for drinking purposes. It has long been a part of Chinese herbal medicine and is believed to have many health benefits. Tea leaves became one of China's major exports, and some historians might argue that the production and trade of tea has helped to shape our highly connected world.

Around the same time the benefits of tea were discovered, the Chinese began cultivating silk worms. For thousands of years, only the Chinese knew the mysterious means of cultivating silkworms and spinning their cocoons into thread. The production of silk was vital to international trade, and the luxurious textile was a favorite of European royalty. Silk was so important to trade that we call the trade network dating to at least 130 BCE the "Silk Road."

The Chinese were also the first people to begin working with iron. During the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 BCE) the Chinese discovered a means of melting down iron and pouring it into molds to create "cast iron." Iron weapons and vessels became preferred over bronze because it was stronger and more durable. 

Construction on the Great Wall of China began around 220 BCE and continued for nearly 2,000 years. It became the world's largest military fortification, and if you ever visit China, you may have the opportunity to walk along parts of it! Much of the wall still stands, a true testament to Chinese architectural expertise.

Finally, the Chinese invented movable-type printing in the 11th century CE. Prior to this, books were printed by carving words and images onto blocks of wood, which were used like a stamp. One of the drawbacks to this was that a single block of would could only be used to make (many copies of) one page. It was also a great investment of time to carve one perfect block for printing-- no mistakes allowed! Movable-type printing involves using individual blocks (or stamps) for different characters and images. They can be rearranged to create a nearly endless combination of words, phrases, and ideas. This was a much better return on the investment of an artisan's time, and far more versatile in the printing industry. This process was vital to the spread of literacy, especially when it reached Europe during the 15th century.

These are just a few innovations we can thank the Ancient Chinese for. 

What is the date of Shakespeare's death?

William Shakespeare was born on an undetermined date in April of 1564 and lived until April 23, 1616 (which several scholars believe was also the day of his birth). The only primary source records of his life are his plays, poems, and sonnets, as well as various official records, such as court and church documents. Because of this, much has to be inferred about Shakespeare's life. Over time, he became prominent as an actor, playwright, and...

William Shakespeare was born on an undetermined date in April of 1564 and lived until April 23, 1616 (which several scholars believe was also the day of his birth). The only primary source records of his life are his plays, poems, and sonnets, as well as various official records, such as court and church documents. Because of this, much has to be inferred about Shakespeare's life. Over time, he became prominent as an actor, playwright, and manager for the London acting company the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and bought the second-largest house in Stratford-upon-Avon. His investments in real estate brought him extra income and gave him time to focus on his writing.

The cause of Shakespeare's death is unknown. His brother-in-law had died a week earlier, so there may have been a disease spreading. However, that is only a possibility.

One of the things that interests people about Shakespeare's death is his will. In it, he leaves most of his estate to his eldest daughter, Susanna. Many note that he left his wife, Anne, the "second-best bed." Some see this as a slight; Shakespeare married her when he was 18 and she was 26 and pregnant, and so he may have resented her. Still, others argue that the second-best bed would be the marital bed (the best bed being reserved for guests) and so the request was sentimental, not spiteful. Like much of Shakespeare's life and thoughts, we can only guess about the truth.

List quotes for Boo Radley changing into a good man.

Boo Radley was always a good man--it's Scout and Jem's perception of him that changes. At first, Jem receives all his information about Boo Radley from Miss Stephanie Crawford, which is a mix of fact, error, and gossip. Boo had done a little joy-riding in his youth with a bad crowd once, but that doesn't make him a bad man. Nevertheless, Miss Crawford helps to shape their perception of Boo Radley as a spooky phantom or boogieman who lives in a haunted house a few doors down from them. As the children learn more about him and try to get closer to him, though, they discover that he's always been nice--it's just the rumors that painted him as bad.

First, in chapter 4 the children discover gum and two Indian-head pennies in a knot-hole of one of the Radley's oak trees. It isn't until chapter 7 after the kids receive two carved soaps of themselves, a spelling medal, and a pocket watch with a knife on it that Jem starts truly thinking that Boo Radley might be the one sending these gifts to them. He suggests to Scout that they write to whomever is doing this a thank you note. It's at this point that Jem almost reveals that he believes that Arthur (Boo) Radley is the kind man giving them things.

"He had been on the verge of telling me something all evening; his face would brighten and he would lean toward me, then he would change his mind. 'Here, let's write a letter.' I pushed a tablet and pencil under his nose.

'Okay. Dear Mister. . .'

'How do you know it's a man? I bet it's Miss Maudie--'

'Ar-r, Miss Maudie can't chew gum--' Jem broke into a grin" (61).

By saying "Ar-r," Jem almost reveals that he believes Arthur (Boo) is the kind gift giver, not a bad man.

In between the times that the kids receive the first and second sets of gifts, Jem creeps up to the Radley's back porch on the last night of summer with Dill and Scout looking on. In chapter 6, Jem wants to get a peek at Boo from a back window, but Mr. Nathan Radley comes out and shoots a gun in the air; so, the children run for their lives. Unfortunately, while scrambling under the fence, Jem's pants get stuck in it. He leaves them there in order to escape, but goes back for them later that night. In chapter 7, he reveals to Scout what happened when he went back for his pants:

"When I went back, they were folded across the fence. . . like they were expectin' me. . . And something else. . . They'd been sewed up. Not like a lady sewed 'em, like sometin' I'd try to do. All crooked" (58). 

Jem says the above quote in between discovering the first set of gifts in the knot-hole and the second set in chapter 7. This experience helps him to start to believe that Boo Radley is a friend and not an enemy. The fact that Boo Radley is a good man is finally settled in Jem's mind on the night that Miss Maudie's house burns down in chapter 8.

On the night of the fire, Atticus has the kids stand out front of the Radley's house so he can keep an eye on them during rescue efforts. When they get home that night, Atticus asks Scout where she got that blanket around her shoulders. Jem realizes that it must have been Boo who draped it around her during the fire. Then he spills all of his experiences and deductive reasoning on Atticus to show that he believes Boo Radley is a good man, not a bad one:

"Jem seemed to have lost his mind. He began pouring out our secrets right and left in total disregard for my safety if not for his own, omitting nothing, knot-hole, pants and all. . . 'I sweart to god he ain't ever harmed us, he ain't ever hurt us, he coulda cut my throat from ear to ear that night but he tried to men d my pants instead. . . he ain't ever hurt us, Atticus--'" (72).

The above quotes show how Jem's perception of Boo Radley progressively changes. Again, Boo was the same before Jem thought he was bad, but Boo was the same the whole time. Jem and Scout just needed to get to know him first in order to realize that he is good. The lessons to be learned are not to listen to gossip and get to know someone first before passing negative judgment.

In Of Mice and Men, is Curley's wife's death inevitable?

I would say that Curley's wife's death is inevitable in Of Mice and Men.

The way Steinbeck constructs the narratives of Lennie and Curley's wife establishes what takes place in the barn. Lennie had problems with his last job in Weed because he grabbed a girl's dress.  He has also shown a penchant to want to touch "soft" things that feel "nice" to pet.  Finally, Lennie had already seen Curley's wife and remarked that...

I would say that Curley's wife's death is inevitable in Of Mice and Men.

The way Steinbeck constructs the narratives of Lennie and Curley's wife establishes what takes place in the barn. Lennie had problems with his last job in Weed because he grabbed a girl's dress.  He has also shown a penchant to want to touch "soft" things that feel "nice" to pet.  Finally, Lennie had already seen Curley's wife and remarked that she was "purty."  

For her part, Curley's wife enjoys being the center of attention.  The ranch hands continually comment on how Curley's wife appears in the bunk house so that she can be noticed by the other men.  Candy says that she has "the eye" in the way she interacts with Slim and Carlson. When she is alone with Lennie in the barn, she recognizes that she has an "audience" that could listen to her story of wanting to be in "pitchers."  The combination of Lennie seeking something he sees to be soft and beautiful and her wish to be noticed by others makes their contact inevitable.

As has been the case throughout the narrative, anytime Lennie comes into contact with "soft" creatures, death is inevitable.  Mice and puppies perish under Lennie's touch. Even Curley's hand is destroyed when it comes into contact with Lennie.  The moment Curley's wife allows Lennie to stroke her hair, her doom is inevitable.  When she gets scared and tries to pull away, Lennie's grip tightens.  He breaks her neck as her screams intensify. 

There could have been circumstances that might have averted Curley's wife's death.  Had she not been in the barn alone with Lennie, she might have lived. If she was not so insistent on having an audience, there is a chance she could have avoided a dangerous situation.  However, Steinbeck shows that if we are not careful, our desires can lead to bad things.  Her desire to be noticed and Lennie's compulsion to touch define both of their personalities and set the stage for her death.

Compare and contrast the young Nick Adams before and after the incident at the Indian camp in Hemingway's short story.

Before the incident at the Indian camp, Nick is still just a boy. Like a child he lays in his father's arms in the boat on the way across the cold lake. When his father tells him where they are going, he simply answers "Oh" just as any child would. His father has to explain what the pregnant Indian woman is going through. Nick wants his father to give her medicine to stop her screaming,...

Before the incident at the Indian camp, Nick is still just a boy. Like a child he lays in his father's arms in the boat on the way across the cold lake. When his father tells him where they are going, he simply answers "Oh" just as any child would. His father has to explain what the pregnant Indian woman is going through. Nick wants his father to give her medicine to stop her screaming, but, in his first realization of the pain which must be endured in the adult world, his father informs him he has no anesthetic. His father says the screams are "not important." 

Nick has to watch his father do a Caesarian section on the woman with a jack knife and fishing line. At first Nick is interested but turns away after realizing what his father is doing. Hemingway writes, "Nick did not watch. His curiosity had been gone for a long time." As if watching the gory details of the birth were not enough, Nick also witnesses the body of the Indian father who slits his throat in the upper bunk of the Indian dwelling, presumably because he "couldn't stand things." His father apologizes to Nick for bringing him along. Nick is full of questions about suicide which his father patiently answers.

The reader cannot help but believe that Nick is changed. He has watched a life come into the world and one depart all in the course of a morning. As father and son row back across the lake, the boy, who is now not so childish, is no longer in his father's arms. He sits alone in the stern. He is now unafraid as he drags his hand in the lake. This lesson in life even seems to bolster his youthful enthusiasm as he thinks, "he felt quite sure that he would never die." This final sentence would presume that Nick will be able to "stand things."