What is the relationship between a mother and a daughter in the short story "Girl"?

In this story, the mother is the narrator. She gives a run-on list of lessons and ways to behave for the "girl" or daughter. The mother's advice suggests a traditional role for the girl to play. In addition, the mother gives advice for the girl as she becomes an adult and this is also traditional. Her main recurring warning is not to become a "slut." The mother even gives advice on how to obtain an...

In this story, the mother is the narrator. She gives a run-on list of lessons and ways to behave for the "girl" or daughter. The mother's advice suggests a traditional role for the girl to play. In addition, the mother gives advice for the girl as she becomes an adult and this is also traditional. Her main recurring warning is not to become a "slut." The mother even gives advice on how to obtain an abortion if the daughter finds herself in that position:

this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child before it even becomes a child; 

This is an extended monologue with the daughter responding only twice. (This is noted by the italics.) The mother's advice is perhaps born out of love, but it comes across in negative tones. Her repeating warning to avoid becoming a slut that her mother thinks she is "so bent on becoming" illustrates this negative connotation. The mother-daughter relationship represented here could be a loving one. It's just that we are only getting the tension and the mother's apprehensions about how her daughter will turn out.

In this way, it is typical of many mother-daughter relationships. The mother wants her daughter to be a good wife and mother. In order to train her daughter for this life, the mother feels the need to be domineering and she feels the need to impose a traditional kind of gender training where the wife has certain traditional roles: cooking, cleaning, etc. In this way, the mother limits the possibilities for her daughter. But this traditionalism could be the result of the mother's cultural background which seems to be a mix of Christian and Caribbean cultures. 

One can draw different conclusions about the relationship. It is marked by tension and the mother's anxiety about her daughter's potential promiscuity. But it also shows the mother's determination (and therefore love) to make sure her daughter behaves and fits the role of a respectable woman. 

What events weakened the Czar before the Russian Revolution?

Czar Nicholas II was a ruler isolated from the Russian people. His inner-circle of advisors from among the Russian nobility was made up of conservative thinkers intent on maintaining the Russian status quo that had divided the Romanov Dynasty from the vast majority of the Russian people since its inception.  When enlightened advisors like Count Witte sought to move Russia into the Industrial Age, drawing upon its vast reserves of natural resources within the Ural Mountains and Russian Steppes, the Czar’s Inner Circle sought to chain the Russian peasants to a serfdom-based agriculture whose antecedents extended well into the Middle Ages.  Witte sought to create a thriving Russian urban culture with greater worker participation in the Russian industrialization process.

When Father Gapon rallied the Russian poor and peasantry during the Uprising of 1905, seeking to tender legitimate grievances to the Czar’s government, the Czar’s Inner Circle of advisors called out the Cossacks and Russian Army to brutally repress the uprising, killing many and imprisoning more.

Nicholas II also failed to perceive Russian entrance into the First World War as sheer folly for a nation that had yet to face its societal demons. The vast expenditures of Russian wealth to finance the war and the terrible loss of Russian life upon the Eastern Front accelerated the internal collapse of the Czarist regime and promoted the rise of the Bolsheviks under Lenin.

Nicholas II was also reticent to share power and authority with the Russian Duma or Parliament under the proposed reforms of Alexander Kerensky, although in so doing might have preserved his throne, while blunting the Bolsheviks massing for a violent transfer of Russian power in October and November of 1917.

Provide the net ionic equation and complete ionic equation for 2Ca + 4H2O -> 2Ca(OH)2 + 2H2

The given equation represents the reaction between calcium and water to generate calcium hydroxide. In this reaction, calcium is in a solid state, while water is in a gas phase, calcium hydroxide is aqueous and hydrogen is in a gaseous state. Incorporating all the states in the equation and writing a well-balanced equation, we get:

`Ca (s) + 2H_2O (g) -> Ca(OH)_2 (aq) + H_2 (g)`

Among the given species only calcium hydroxide ionizes; all...

The given equation represents the reaction between calcium and water to generate calcium hydroxide. In this reaction, calcium is in a solid state, while water is in a gas phase, calcium hydroxide is aqueous and hydrogen is in a gaseous state. Incorporating all the states in the equation and writing a well-balanced equation, we get:

`Ca (s) + 2H_2O (g) -> Ca(OH)_2 (aq) + H_2 (g)`

Among the given species only calcium hydroxide ionizes; all other species will not. Calcium hydroxide ionizes into a calcium ion and a hydroxide ion. 

In other words,  

`Ca(OH)_2 (aq) -> Ca^(2+) (aq) + 2 OH^(-) (aq)`

Substituting this equation in the given equation, we get:

`Ca(s) + 2H_2O (g) -> Ca^(2+) (aq) + 2OH^(-) (aq) + H_2 (g)`

This is the complete ionic equation for the given reaction. 

To get the net ionic equation, we have to cancel out the species that are present on both the reactant and product side. In this case, there are no such species and hence the complete ionic equation is the same as the net ionic equation.

Hope this helps. 

Where and when did the modern Civil Rights Movement begin and end?

The movement to acquire civil rights for African-American people technically began even before the Revolutionary War, as there were slave revolts and people opposed to slavery even before the American colonies became a nation. After the Revolution, there was a fervent abolitionist movement during the antebellum period (the period before the Civil War), and during the Reconstruction period, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments provided civil rights (at least in name) to African-American people and...

The movement to acquire civil rights for African-American people technically began even before the Revolutionary War, as there were slave revolts and people opposed to slavery even before the American colonies became a nation. After the Revolution, there was a fervent abolitionist movement during the antebellum period (the period before the Civil War), and during the Reconstruction period, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments provided civil rights (at least in name) to African-American people and the vote to African-American men.

However, the period at the end of and after Reconstruction saw the return of the wide-scale practice of denying African-Americans basic civil rights. The modern Civil Rights movement started during World War II, when A. Philip Randolph, an African-American labor leader, proposed a march on Washington to end desegregation in defense plants. As a result, President Franklin D. Roosevelt integrated defense plants. 

After the war, the modern Civil Rights Movement is often traced to the Montgomery (Alabama) Bus Boycott of 1955-1956, when Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks led a long boycott of the city's buses to protest against segregation in a non-violent way. The Civil Rights Movement had several victories, including the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act, and many stages, and that phase of the movement perhaps ended with the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968. Many believe that the movement is still going on today to ensure equality and justice for African-American people. 

What are some connections in Lord of the Flies to dehumanizing relationships (i.e., real-world connections, connections to novels, etc., NOT...

Dehumanizing relationships are relationships between people where one party considers the other party less than fully human. There are multiple dehumanizing relationships in Lord of the Flies.

First, the fact that the "littluns" are so categorized and are treated largely as a group rather than as individuals is dehumanizing to the youngest boys on the island. At first Piggy wants to make sure each of the youngest children is identified by name, but that project is quickly abandoned, especially since the two highest-ranking boys, Ralph and Jack, don't make it a priority. One could connect this example to a business that employs workers in salaried management positions as well as in hourly staff positions. If a manager in such a company only learned the names of fellow managers and referred to hourly workers by category or title rather than by name (such as "the receptionist" rather than "Katie"), that manager would be dehumanizing the hourly workers.

Second, Piggy is dehumanized by the other boys when he is known only by and unflattering nickname rather than by his real name. The other boys also mock him or dislike him because of his asthma and his accent. Jack takes out his anger at Ralph by plowing into Piggy's stomach and breaking his glasses. When Jack steals Piggy's specs, Jack is dehumanizing Piggy by depriving him not only of his personal property but also of his right to see. Any bullying behavior toward those who are weaker, different, or disabled represents a dehumanizing relationship. 

Third, crimes such as kidnapping, torture, and physical abuse are dehumanizing toward the victims. Jack orders the capture of Samneric; he tortures Wilfred and beats him; and Jack's boy's raid Ralph's camp at night and beat up the boys as they steal Piggy's glasses. This is similar to any reign of terror whether on a small or large scale. Gangs that terrorize city neighborhoods dehumanize their rivals and their neighbors. Historically, brutal regimes such as Adolf Hitler's Nazis or Mao Zedong's Communist China also dehumanized their citizens by causing them to live in fear of being removed from their homes, beaten, tortured, or executed. The Castro regime in current-day Cuba is known for dehumanizing people who try to engage in free speech, often arresting them and keeping them in jail for varying lengths of time. This is similar to Jack's keeping Wilfred tied up for hours before releasing him. 

Finally, the ultimate dehumanizing relationship is murder. The entire group of boys murders Simon, assuming because of their wild frenzy that he is the "beast." Roger then murders Piggy by rolling the boulder onto him. Jack hunts Ralph as if he were a pig with the intent of killing him simply because he is "other." According to Michelle Maiese in the article below, "Psychologically, it is necessary to categorize one's enemy as sub-human in order to legitimize increased violence or justify the violation of basic human rights." Obviously, murder happens all too often in the United States and around the world. Although murder rates have fallen steadily in the U.S. over the past three decades, some cities have recently seen an uptick in the murder rate, which is certainly disturbing. 

The Lord of the Flies illustrates several types of dehumanizing relationships, all of which serve as a warning to readers to advocate for treating each human being on this globe with the kindness and respect every person deserves.

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, what did Scout yell out loud about Cecil Jacobs when she and Jem were walking home?

In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Cecil Jacobs is one of Scout's friends, although, early in the novel, at the beginning of Chapter 9, Lee's precocious and combative narrator is set to fight this young boy because of his insulting comments regarding Atticus' decision to defend an African American against a charge of rape. Later in the novel, in Chapter 28, Scout and her older brother Jem are walking to the school...

In Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Cecil Jacobs is one of Scout's friends, although, early in the novel, at the beginning of Chapter 9, Lee's precocious and combative narrator is set to fight this young boy because of his insulting comments regarding Atticus' decision to defend an African American against a charge of rape. Later in the novel, in Chapter 28, Scout and her older brother Jem are walking to the school auditorium one evening, the latter dutifully carrying his sister's costume for the play in which her role is that of a ham. On their way to the school, the two children are startled by Cecil, who has deliberately jumped out in front of them to scare them, prompting Jem to exclaim, "God almighty!" After the events at the school end, with Scout having hung around with Cecil, she and Jem are walking home in the dark of night when they hear strange noises that frighten them. Recalling Cecil's prank earlier in the evening, Scout decides to call her friend out, yelling, "Cecil Jacobs is a big wet he-en!” 

The source of the noise, of course, is not Cecil Jacobs. It is Bob Ewell who physically attacks the two children, who are saved by a mysterious figure soon revealed to be the reclusive Boo Radley. The answer to the question, though--what does Scout yell about Cecil as she and Jem walk home--is "Cecil Jacobs is a big wet hen!"

What is the creature's nature, personality, and actions?

The creature's personality changes throughout the book. Towards the beginning he could be described as kind and selfless. His actions in the first part of his story demonstrate this. For example, he gathers firewood for the cottagers and leaves it for them overnight.

"I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist their labours. I found that the youth spent a great part of each day in collecting wood for the family fire; and during the night, I often took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days" (Ch. XII). 

However, as the story progresses his actions become increasingly violent and vengeful, as does his personality because he is so often rejected by society and Victor.

"I gave vent to my anguish in fearful howlings. I was like a wild beast that had broken the toils; destroying the objects that obstructed me" (Ch. XVI).

Generally speaking, though, nature is different than personality. While a personality can change over time, one's nature is usually more concrete. The creature's nature is to be kind and to love. His actions often go against this nature, but that is because he is rejected by society and no one will be kind to him or love him back. He sees the lack of kindness in the world, the anger that is shown to him, and he responds accordingly.

What happens in the poem "The Verdicts" by Rudyard Kipling?

In Rudyard Kipling's short poem "The Verdicts," published in 1916, the speaker describes how the men in a particular battle between Britain and Germany are heroes who have saved the British way of life and yet aren't recognized or appreciated (due to a lack of historical perspective).

The speaker's tone is wistful, patriotic, grand, and (as I think most readers would agree) overblown.

For more information about the battle, the controversy over who won, and...

In Rudyard Kipling's short poem "The Verdicts," published in 1916, the speaker describes how the men in a particular battle between Britain and Germany are heroes who have saved the British way of life and yet aren't recognized or appreciated (due to a lack of historical perspective).

The speaker's tone is wistful, patriotic, grand, and (as I think most readers would agree) overblown.

For more information about the battle, the controversy over who won, and how it affected the outcome of the war, please refer to this discussion from The Kipling Society.

Here's a breakdown of what happens in the poem, stanza by stanza:

Stanza 1: The speaker says that the "heroes" (the members of the Royal Navy who fought in the battle) don't become famous while they're actually fighting.

Stanza 2: Instead, they become famous only after the war is over. The only thing we notice about them is that they're glad to come home from the fighting.

Stanza 3: When they're home on leave, we don't have enough perspective to see them as the heroes they are.

Stanza 4: We also don't know whether they become famous later on or if they just fight and die without recognition.

Stanza 5: We don't have the perspective to appreciate the heroes' greatness, but the next generation of people will, because they'll be able to see how the heroes affected the "fate" of the nation.

Stanza 6: Again, we don't understand just how great these heroes are, but our kids will, and all we know now is that they're saving the world.

What is the difference that the poet feels after Lucy is dead?

The difference that the poet feels after Lucy dies is that he looks upon his life and surroundings differently. He has a transformed outlook on what life is all about, and when he looks out at the world around him he perceives things differently.

This is immediately apparent in the first poem of this five-poem collection, all under the title “The Lucy Poems” and subsequently sub-titled “Lucy’s Legacy." In the first poem the poet says...

The difference that the poet feels after Lucy dies is that he looks upon his life and surroundings differently. He has a transformed outlook on what life is all about, and when he looks out at the world around him he perceives things differently.

This is immediately apparent in the first poem of this five-poem collection, all under the title “The Lucy Poems” and subsequently sub-titled “Lucy’s Legacy." In the first poem the poet says that the world is bleak since Lucy died. He desires rain to quench "that parched garden." This garden represents his world, which has been parched since Lucy died.

In the second poem of the group, he states that he talks to the environment around him. This is probably something he never did before. This is how his life is now different. He talks to “rocks, and stones, and trees." In talking to them he "hears" Lucy’s deadened voice. It is as if he can still communicate with his beloved Lucy. This must be comforting to him and is his way of dealing with his loss.

In the third short poem of this group, the poet says that is sure Lucy rests peacefully because of the dying roses that he sees. He’s different now because he can be assured by something that in itself is dying—in this case, these roses. He also sees the sea differently, and to him the sea sighs every time he thinks of Lucy. Therefore, he perceives the sea differently than he used to.

In the fourth poem, the man is different because he has lost a child—Lucy. It is tragic when parents outlive their children. The children have not had a chance to live a full life. This man is forever changed and different because of the premature death of Lucy. His dreams for her—to be successful and fulfilled and more—died with her death.

In addition, in the fifth and final poem of the set, the man asks that those who knew Lucy remember her legacy. He does not want her to be forgotten. He is now different in that his focus is on keeping the memory of her alive. Her legacy is what he has to hold onto now. This will be his comfort and it will be what sustains him for as long as he lives.

How long does it take for Earth to orbit the sun?

Our Earth is in continuous motion. In fact, it has two different motions. It rotates on its own axis and also travels around the Sun. The motion of Earth on its own axis is known as its rotation and it takes about 24 hours. Earth's motion around the Sun is known as its revolution and it takes about 365.25 days. 

Our Earth travels around the Sun in a slightly elliptical orbit and takes 365.25...

Our Earth is in continuous motion. In fact, it has two different motions. It rotates on its own axis and also travels around the Sun. The motion of Earth on its own axis is known as its rotation and it takes about 24 hours. Earth's motion around the Sun is known as its revolution and it takes about 365.25 days. 

Our Earth travels around the Sun in a slightly elliptical orbit and takes 365.25 days to complete one revolution around the Sun. It is this motion around the Sun, in addition to Earth's rotation and its tilt, that is responsible for seasons on Earth. It is also the reason why the Northern and Southern hemispheres experience contrasting weathers at the same time (summer in the Northern hemisphere and winter in the Southern hemisphere at the same time). 

Hope this helps.

What was achieved in SEATO? What tensions arose between the USSR and the US because of this?

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was created in 1954. Member nations included the United States, Great Britain, France, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Thailand, and Pakistan. The goal of the organization was to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. It is interesting to note that most nations in Southeast Asia didn’t join this organization.

The creation of this organization is another example of the tensions that existed between the United States and the...

The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was created in 1954. Member nations included the United States, Great Britain, France, Australia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Thailand, and Pakistan. The goal of the organization was to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. It is interesting to note that most nations in Southeast Asia didn’t join this organization.

The creation of this organization is another example of the tensions that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union as part of the Cold War. We were trying to stop the spread of communism while the Soviet Union was trying to spread it. One of the activities of this organization was to make the economies of this region strong. We believed a strong economy was an effective deterrent in stopping the spread of communism. We also used the charter of SEATO as the legal basis for our involvement in Vietnam. Our involvement in the Vietnam War heightened tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States.

SEATO was different from NATO in that SEATO didn’t have a way to authorize military action if needed. There was nothing in its charter that allowed member nations to create a military force to take action if needed. There also was no organized intelligence-gathering system within SEATO.

For various reasons, member nations left the organization in the 1970s. When the Vietnam War ended in 1975, there was no longer a reason for this organization to exist. By 1977, SEATO no longer existed as an organization.

Sherlock Holmes is known for his intuition, and his ability to make quick, rational deductions from what he sees and hears. Write a paragraph...

It seems to me that the paragraph you write for your assignment could begin with more or less the same words as those stated in the question:

Sherlock Holmes is known for his intuition, and his ability to make quick, rational deductions from what he sees and hears.

The next sentence would most likely refer to the specific story under discussion.

Good examples of the detective's superior mental abilities can be seen in his story "The Adventure of the Speckled Band."

You don't have to look through the whole story to find your examples. In a typical Sherlock Holmes story the detective exhibits his uncanny mental powers near the beginning. Throughout the main body of the story Watson, the narrator, only describes what Holmes says and does--but Watson rarely tells the reader what Holmes is thinking until after the whole case is solved. Then at the end of the story Holmes will frequently explain what he had been thinking during his investigation. This is true in "The Adventure of the Speckled Band."

Holmes deduces that Helen Stoner traveled by dog cart to the railroad station because of the mud on left arm of her jacket and the return ticket he spots in the glove on her left hand. He must have sensed intuitively that she was covering up some bruise marks, which he uncovers by pushing back the frilly cuff of Helen's sleeve. She acknowledges that the five little livid spots were made by the grasp of her violent stepfather.

Then at the end of the story, after the fiendish Dr. Grimesby Roylott has been killed by his own snake, Holmes explains some of his thinking to his friend and companion Dr. Watson. This is the best place to find examples of Holmes' powers of deduction. The explanation begins with the following words:

My attention was speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I was probably on the right track. 

You could probably paraphrase most of the above paragraph if you want to include the information in one paragraph. For example, you could say:

Sherlock Holmes explains to Watson that his attention was speedily drawn to the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. 

And so on. In that case you would not need to use quotation marks.

So examples of Sherlock Holmes' intuition and his ability to make quick, rational deductions from what he sees and hears are typically to be found at the beginning and conclusion of the stories. The middle part deals with the strange characters he invariably meets, with Watson's observations of Holmes' "methods" of investigation, and with the "adventure" aspect of the story which is almost always present. For instance, in "The Adventure of the Speckled Band" Holmes has to cope with a poisonous snake which ends up killing his dangerous and half-insane adversary Dr. Grimesby Roylott.

What are some challenges Thomas Jefferson faced?

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) faced many challenges of a political and personal nature during his lifetime. He beloved wife Martha died in 1782, and it is believed by many historians that Jefferson had a long relationship with his slave, Sally Hemings, and may have had children with her. He wrestled with the issue of slavery and thought the institution of slavery was damaging to master and slave. However, he did not act to abolish or limit...

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) faced many challenges of a political and personal nature during his lifetime. He beloved wife Martha died in 1782, and it is believed by many historians that Jefferson had a long relationship with his slave, Sally Hemings, and may have had children with her. He wrestled with the issue of slavery and thought the institution of slavery was damaging to master and slave. However, he did not act to abolish or limit slavery when he was President (though he had earlier proposals that limited slavery).

After he won the presidential election of 1800 in a contested election with Aaron Burr (that was in itself a struggle), he also wrestled with the size and mission of the federal government. While his idea as a Democratic-Republican (or Republican, as his party was then called) President was to limit the size of the federal government, he actually expanded the size and power of the government in some ways when he made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. He also struggled with British impressment of American sailors, meaning that Britain tried to force Americans into their navy. As a result, Jefferson imposed an embargo on British goods. This also was a show of the power of the federal government--a principle that he was opposed to--and it was largely ineffective, only hurting the United States. He was unable in the end to stop British impressment. 

What dreams are in Animal Farm, chapters 1-10?

At the beginning of Animal Farm, the animals gather to hear Old Major's dream. It is a dream of what the world would be like if humans were no longer the masters. He uses that dream to stir up the longings of the animals to be free of the oppression brought on by humans. He conjures up a waking, revolutionary dream of animal utopia:

Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come, it might be in a week or in a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet, that sooner or later justice will be done ...

The animals are greatly moved by Old Major's vision of animals in unity, living in freedom and justice, according to a different set of rules than the humans. These rules will become the Seven Commandments of Animalism.

In chapter seven, we meet a different sort of dream in the confession of the three hens, who say that Snowball came to them in a  dream and told them to disobey Napoleon's orders. They are killed for this confession.  

By chapter ten, the old dreams have died:

But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream, the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water, and the three-day week, were no longer talked about. Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. The truest happiness, he said, lay in working hard and living frugally ...

Yet Napoleon's propaganda insists that the dreams of the Rebellion are still operative, despite the fact that only the pigs and the dogs are benefitting from the animals running the farm.  

Compare and contrast the reasons for Britain's and Japan's industrialisation.

The most important contrast is that Britain industrialized long before Japan.

Britain was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, investing heavily in coal power and iron production as early as the 1760s.

Japan did not seriously industrialize until a century later, in the Meiji Restoration starting in the late 1860s.

For Britain, industrialization was a fundamentally new innovation; they were applying the most recent discoveries in science to create new modes of production and dramatically expand economic output.

For Japan, industrialization was a defensive action; they saw that Europe and the United States were overtaking them technologically, economically, and militarily, and redoubled their efforts to catch up.

The triggering event for Japan's industrialization was actually an act of quite literal gunboat diplomacy by the United States; in 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry brought a small fleet into Tokyo Bay and demanded that Japan open itself to trade with the US. Before that, Japan had been fiercely isolationist, a policy known as sakoku. But once they began to trade with the US, they realized how far behind they were and how much they were missing out on in terms of technology and prosperity. Another important consideration, of course, was the fear that US military technology would allow Japan to be easily conquered. (Ultimately, they were unable to prevent that outcome, only delaying it until 1945.)

Still, the actual pattern of industrialization between the two countries was quite similar: Expansion of trade, development of coal and steel as vital inputs to production, improvement of agricultural technology to dramatically increase food output and free up laborers to work in factories. Even the progression of different industries was quite similar, starting in low-tech manufacturing such as textiles, going through capital-intensive manufacturing such as steel and trains, and ultimately culminating centuries later with high-tech manufacturing such as computers and automobiles. Today both the United Kingdom and Japan are world leaders in electronics manufacturing.

The demographic pattern during industrialization was also quite similar: Britain's small population expanded greatly; Japan's already large population grew enormous. Economic output grew even faster, resulting in a rapidly rising standard of living; but this wealth was not distributed evenly, so inequality rose as the rich became richer must faster than the poor became less poor.

I have homework about World War II, and I need help with a couple questions. 1) What marked the turning point in the war and the beginning of...

The Battle of Stalingrad from the summer of 1942 to February of 1943 marked the turning point of World War II. After successful attempts to capture parts of Eastern Europe, Germany launched an offensive on the Russian city of Stalingrad. The Russians defended their city and stopped the German incursion into the Soviet Union. During the long and bloody battle, the Axis forces suffered approximately 800,000 casualties, including soldiers lost, wounded, or killed. The Germans alone had 400,000 casualties and lost 900 aircraft, 500 tanks, and 6,000 pieces of artillery, affecting their ability to wage war in the future. 

World War II ended in Europe on V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which was May 8, 1945, when the Nazis officially surrendered unconditionally. Adolph Hitler had killed himself on April 30, 1945, as Berlin was falling to the Allies. The U.S. had gotten involved in the war after the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, in which 2,403 American military personnel were killed. On December 8, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt gave a speech before Congress in which he called the attack "a date which will live in infamy" and declared war on Japan, marking the entry of the U.S. into World War II. 

What are some crimes and evil practices/beliefs of Theodore Roosevelt?

So far as I am aware, no one ever credibly accused Theodore Roosevelt of committing any acts that were actually illegal.  As to his beliefs, “evil” is a very strong term.  However, Roosevelt did hold a variety of beliefs that many people today would abhor.

Roosevelt believed in the idea of “big stick diplomacy.”  He felt that the United States should use its military might to get its way in international affairs.  He did not...

So far as I am aware, no one ever credibly accused Theodore Roosevelt of committing any acts that were actually illegal.  As to his beliefs, “evil” is a very strong term.  However, Roosevelt did hold a variety of beliefs that many people today would abhor.

Roosevelt believed in the idea of “big stick diplomacy.”  He felt that the United States should use its military might to get its way in international affairs.  He did not think that the US needed to worry much about morality or the feelings of people in other countries.  This is, for example, why he used military force to prevent the government of Colombia from putting down a rebellion in Panama, which was then part of Colombia.  He wanted the rebels to win because they would give the US better terms for the land where Roosevelt wanted to build the Panama Canal.   Today, many people would say that it is wrong to believe that the US should use its power to take whatever it wants.

Roosevelt was also racist by any modern use of the term.  He did not think that Native Americans or African Americans were really equal to white people.  Moreover, like many Americans at the time, he believed that many people that we would call “white” today were racially inferior.  He believed that many of the “New Immigrants” from places like Italy and Poland were racially inferior to people from places like England and Germany.  Today, we typically think that people who believe things like this are, at best misguided and might even be evil.

Finally, Roosevelt believed strongly in the idea of eugenics.  This belief went hand in hand with his belief that certain kinds of white people were better than others.  He wanted the “good” white people to have more children.  He wanted to force criminals and other undesirable people to be sterilized or to be forbidden from having children.  Today, we think that this is a terrible idea.  We think it is wrong to argue that poor people or people who are not very smart should not have children because we do not want them to pass their genes on to future generations.

While I think it is stretching things to say that these are evil beliefs, they are certainly beliefs that most people today would reject.

Describe the assassination of Caesar in Julius Caesar.

Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March by a group of senators led by Brutus and Cassius. 

About a month before the assassination, on the Feast of Lupercal, Julius Caesar was warned by a soothsayer to beware the Ides of March.  He laughed it off, but there was a conspiracy by a group of senators led by Cassius and Brutus.  Cassius convinced Brutus, a prestigious senator, that Caesar was too ambitious and wanted...

Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March by a group of senators led by Brutus and Cassius. 

About a month before the assassination, on the Feast of Lupercal, Julius Caesar was warned by a soothsayer to beware the Ides of March.  He laughed it off, but there was a conspiracy by a group of senators led by Cassius and Brutus.  Cassius convinced Brutus, a prestigious senator, that Caesar was too ambitious and wanted to be king of Rome.  He and the other senators were upset about Caesar’s march on Rome and defeat of the consul Pompey. 

The senators developed a plan.  Caesar’s trusted lieutenant Decius Brutus would make sure Caesar came to the capital. A senator named Trebonius would distract Mark Antony, because the senators worried that he would prevent their attack.  The conspirators would not kill anyone other than Caesar.  Brutus insisted. 

On the big day, Decius Brutus convinces Caesar to ignore his wife Calpurnia’s dream.  She dreamed that he would be in danger, seeing citizens bathing their hands in his blood.  He convinces him that the dream is a good thing and not a bad thing and Caesar goes.  He also tells Caesar the senate is giving him a crown. 

The soothsayer again sees Caesar.  They have a discussion about the Ides of March. 

CAESAR

[To the Soothsayer] The ides of March are come.

Soothsayer

Ay, Caesar; but not gone. (Act 3, Scene 1)

When Caesar gets to the senate, the senators surround him with a suit from Metellus Cinder.  He wants his brother Publius pardoned.  Caesar refuses, saying he never changes his mind.  Casca then stabs Caesar, and the others follow suit.  The last to stab is Brutus.  Caesar is surprised.  He never expected Brutus to betray him.

CAESAR

Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.

Dies

CINNA

Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets. (Act 3, Scene 1)

Caesar was stabbed 32 times.  The conspirators believe that they have liberated Rome.  They killed Caesar because he was too dangerous, and now that he is gone they feel that the people of Rome will approve of what they have done.  They could not be more wrong.

Why is Reverend Parris not responsible for the tragedy in Salem? Defend Parris using three points with textual evidence and explanations.

In the very first scene of the play, Parris is reluctant to believe that his daughter Betty's illness is due to witchcraft. Susannah Walcott enters his home having spoken with Dr. Griggs about Betty. Susannah says the doctor cannot find an explanation for Betty's symptoms in his books, and Parris insists, "Then he must search on." Parris believes her illness is physical, and not caused by witchcraft. The fact that he, a clergyman, is more...

In the very first scene of the play, Parris is reluctant to believe that his daughter Betty's illness is due to witchcraft. Susannah Walcott enters his home having spoken with Dr. Griggs about Betty. Susannah says the doctor cannot find an explanation for Betty's symptoms in his books, and Parris insists, "Then he must search on." Parris believes her illness is physical, and not caused by witchcraft. The fact that he, a clergyman, is more likely to seek a medical explanation than the doctor of Salem Village is very telling.

The second statement he makes suggesting his lack of responsibility occurs soon after: Susannah says the doctor told her that Reverend Parris "might look to unnatural things for the cause of it" and Parris immediately disagrees, saying "No, no, there be no unnatural causes here." He says he has sent for Reverend Hale, who will confirm this. He then says, "Let him look to medicine, and put out all thought of unnatural causes here. There be none."

Susannah responds that the doctor wanted her to say he should look to unnatural causes. Thinking the girl might speak of this to others, he insists: "Go directly home and speak nothin‘ of unnatural causes." This is a third example of Parris doing what he can to prevent any sort of rumors of witchcraft in the village. This is a powerful way to open the play, because it makes it clear that the creation of an environment of hysteria and rumor in Salem Village is made possible when outside visitors come to Salem (such as Reverend Hale, who believes in the witchcraft accusations until he begins to think John Proctor is being unfairly targeted).

Despite Parris' unwillingness to engage with the witchcraft rumors early on, and his belief that Abigail's lies may well be at the center of the problem, once the village is engulfed in hysteria he does little to speak out against it. His main motivation seems to be to maintain his position of employment, and it is revealed that other characters see him as greedy and self-centered.

At the end of the story, what does Squeaky decide to do for Raymond? Why does she make this decision?

At the end of Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Raymond’s Run” Squeaky has a moment of clarity in her life. After seeing how her brother, Raymond, keeps up with her while she runs May Day race, she comprehends that he has the potential to be a great runner “in the family tradition” and she has the ability to be his coach. She realizes she lived up to her potential as a runner and her reputation...

At the end of Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “Raymond’s Run” Squeaky has a moment of clarity in her life. After seeing how her brother, Raymond, keeps up with her while she runs May Day race, she comprehends that he has the potential to be a great runner “in the family tradition” and she has the ability to be his coach. She realizes she lived up to her potential as a runner and her reputation as the toughest girl in the neighborhood. Raymond becomes a person with potential, and Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker wants more for him. She has her ribbons and trophies, he does not.

And I’m smiling to beat the band cause if I’ve lost this race, or if me and Gretchen tied, or even if I’ve won, I can always retire as a runner and begin a whole new career as a coach with Raymond as my champion.

Not only does she decide that she can coach Raymond, she realizes with more work she can be a better student, and with more compassion she can be a friend to the other girls. At her young age, Squeaky has an epiphany; she has more potential than merely being a good runner. Her most important decision is her change of attitude toward Raymond. He is no longer the disabled brother she cares for; he is a person with a future.

What are the five main types of precipitation?

Precipitation, in the simplest terms, is the process by which water, contained in the clouds, falls down under the influence of gravity. There are several forms of precipitation, including rain, snow, hail, sleet, drizzle, freezing rain, etc. Among these forms, rain and drizzle are the only precipitation types that deliver liquid water; all others cause frozen water to fall down on the ground. 

Rainfall is the most common form of precipitation and occurs when water...

Precipitation, in the simplest terms, is the process by which water, contained in the clouds, falls down under the influence of gravity. There are several forms of precipitation, including rain, snow, hail, sleet, drizzle, freezing rain, etc. Among these forms, rain and drizzle are the only precipitation types that deliver liquid water; all others cause frozen water to fall down on the ground. 

Rainfall is the most common form of precipitation and occurs when water droplets grow to a size of 0.5 mm or more. Rainfall can be very light, moderate, or very heavy (resulting in flooding).

If the size of the droplet is less than 0.5 mm, the precipitation is called drizzle. 

Snow is the precipitation in the form of solid, frozen water. Snow is formed when the temperature is below freezing and falls down to the surface. If the temperature in the atmosphere is not sufficient to melt the snow, we receive snowfall.

Hail is commonly observed during thunderstorms and consists of very large pieces of ice (5 mm or larger). 

Sleet occurs when snow partially melts during its fall through warm layers and it refreezes when the drops fall through freezing conditions. Thus, hail is the precipitation in which we receive snow pellets. 

Freezing rain happens when supercooled water droplets fall on surfaces that have freezing temperatures. This causes the water to freeze on the surfaces, such as roads, pavements, cars, etc. 

Hope this helps.

What are some quotes that relate to anti-semitism?

The Merchant of Venice is filled with antisemitic characters. Shylock reports that Antonio kicked, spat at, and insulted him: “You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, / And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine.” When Shylock seeks to do Antonio harm, the Christian Antonio indicates that nothing is harder than “His Jewish heart.”

Launcelot decides to leave his master Shylock because “the Jew is the very devil.” He uses the term “Jew” as an insult multiple times:...

The Merchant of Venice is filled with antisemitic characters. Shylock reports that Antonio kicked, spat at, and insulted him: “You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, / And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine.” When Shylock seeks to do Antonio harm, the Christian Antonio indicates that nothing is harder than “His Jewish heart.”

Launcelot decides to leave his master Shylock because “the Jew is the very devil.” He uses the term “Jew” as an insult multiple times: “My master's a very Jew” and “for I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer.” Launcelot also seems to believe that Jewish people cannot be kind, telling Jessica that his father must have been Christian because she is so sweet. He later says that she is damned because her father is Jewish.

Lorenzo calls Shylock “faithless,” as if Judaism isn’t a faith. Solanio refers to Shylock as “the villain Jew” and “the dog Jew.” Nearly everyone knows Shylock as the “Jew,” a word that sets him apart and gives a negative connotation due to the society’s antisemitism. Because of his religion and ethnicity, Shylock is considered an alien in his own home.

Characters mock and abuse Shylock, tying his cruelty, duplicity, and greed to his Jewishness. However, it is difficult to watch or read the play without thinking that Shylock’s severe flaws have developed in order to cope in a bigoted society.

Mary's behavior changes drastically throughout the story. Please explain how and why that happened.

Love can turn to hate, and it often does so in marriages. The surprising thing in "Lamb to the Slaughter" is that Mary's love for Patrick turns to hate so suddenly. Her action in killing her husband with the frozen leg of lamb is probably a surprise even to her. She seems to be acting on a blind impulse. If she hadn't been holding the leg of lamb, she probably wouldn't have committed the murder....

Love can turn to hate, and it often does so in marriages. The surprising thing in "Lamb to the Slaughter" is that Mary's love for Patrick turns to hate so suddenly. Her action in killing her husband with the frozen leg of lamb is probably a surprise even to her. She seems to be acting on a blind impulse. If she hadn't been holding the leg of lamb, she probably wouldn't have committed the murder. Her impulse is probably caused by her sudden and complete disillusionment. She loved her husband. She was expecting a baby in a few months. She thought she had a happy home. She must have believed that Patrick loved her as much as she loved him. Then in just a few minutes he destroyed all her illusions, and at the same time he must have destroyed her love.

"This is going to be a big shock to you, I'm afraid," he said. "But I've thought about it a good deal and I've decided that the only thing to do is to tell you immediately." And he told her. It didn't take long, four or five minutes at most, and she sat still through it all, watching him with puzzled horror.

Characters don't really change. They evolve. Mary's violent reaction to Patrick's shocking betrayal must have been like uncorking a bottle and releasing a whole cloud of pent-up emotions and previously unsuspected character traits. Mary seems to become a different woman, but actually she is the same woman with multiple depths or dimensions exposed. We readers accept this new "liberated woman." Significantly, the author Roald Dahl doesn't try to explain her motivation. We don't question the possibility that she could have changed so radically. We find ourselves thinking along with her. How is she going to get out of this situation? What would become of her unborn baby?

It certainly shouldn't be surprising that someone kills someone else in a fit of rage. It must happen all the time. It has often been called "the urge to kill." And it shouldn't be surprising that the perpetrator doesn't want to get punished for it. Since we are the only witnesses to Mary's crime we are like accessories after the fact, so to speak. We don't like Patrick. We don't blame Mary for clobbering him. We want to see her get away with her crime. Maybe she shouldn't have done it, but what's done is done. 

What resources did the United States gain while they had control over the Philippines?

The United States became involved in the Philippines in connection with the Spanish American War in 1898 until the Philippines were granted independence in 1946. The economic interests in the Philippines were two-fold; the country would be a market for American goods and the US would import raw materials. The Americans were mostly interested in sugar, rubber, coconut, abaca and pineapple.

American corporations acquired large tracts of land and benefited from cheap agricultural labor. Philippine...

The United States became involved in the Philippines in connection with the Spanish American War in 1898 until the Philippines were granted independence in 1946. The economic interests in the Philippines were two-fold; the country would be a market for American goods and the US would import raw materials. The Americans were mostly interested in sugar, rubber, coconut, abaca and pineapple.

American corporations acquired large tracts of land and benefited from cheap agricultural labor. Philippine exports to the United States increased from 18% in 1899 to 83% in 1933 (Hartendorp, 1958). Additionally, American companies neglected resources that were already plentiful back at home, including tobacco. Even though tobacco was grown in the Philippines, they began to import the crop from the United States during this same period. Workers were transferred from tobacco and rice plantations and instead labored on sugar, rubber and coconut plantations for very low wages.

In addition to agriculture, the United States increased mining operations of gold, chromate and copper to feed growing American industries.  In addition to extracting raw materials, the US imported labor from the Philippines. Many Filipino men began working on plantations in California and Hawaii.

Evaluate the domestic and international leadership of Presidents Roosevelt and Truman during World War II. Be sure to include details on how they...

Franklin D. Roosevelt effectively ended the Great Depression with American involvement in war production. While the U.S. Congress had passed a series of neutrality acts in the 1930s in an attempt to keep the U.S. out of the war, Roosevelt was able to maneuver the U.S. towards involvement in the war, while maintaining solid relationships with allies such as Great Britain. In 1939, he was able to get the Congress to pass the "cash and carry" act, which said that the U.S. could sell arms to other nations if the other countries paid cash (instead of financing their purchase with loans) and carried the arms on their own ships. In 1941, he was able to get the Lend-Lease Act passed so that he could lend or lease materials to countries, such as Great Britain and China, that he deemed critical to the war effort. By maneuvering the U.S. slowly into the war, he was able to conquer domestic opposition to the war, and this opposition all but disappeared after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the American entry into the war. In 1942, Roosevelt started the War Production Board to convert peacetime industries into industries needed for the war in a rapid manner. Roosevelt maintained alliances with Great Britain and the Soviet Union though wartime conferences such as Tehran in late 1943, when the leaders discussed the eventual Allied invasion of northern France.

Truman, who became President with Roosevelt's death in 1945, continued his policies with our allies, Great Britain and the Soviet Union. However, by the time of the Potsdam Conference in August of 1945, there was growing mistrust between the Soviet Union and the west, particularly the U.S. The Soviet Union had already occupied parts of Eastern Europe, such as Poland. In addition, Truman told the Soviet leader, Stalin, about the development of the atomic bomb, but Stalin showed little interest or surprise (perhaps because he had already been informed about the bomb through spies). This conference showed the signs of mistrust and division that would continue to develop between the west and the Soviet Union during the ensuing Cold War. 

Why was the French and Indian war important?

I would say that one of the reasons why the French and Indian War is important is because it established the basis for the American Revolution.

The colonists greatly assisted the British during the French and Indian War. This support came in the form of military and economic commitment to the British cause.  With the successful conclusion to the war, the colonists expected gratitude from the British.

There was a great deal of surprise when...

I would say that one of the reasons why the French and Indian War is important is because it established the basis for the American Revolution.

The colonists greatly assisted the British during the French and Indian War. This support came in the form of military and economic commitment to the British cause.  With the successful conclusion to the war, the colonists expected gratitude from the British.

There was a great deal of surprise when the British reaction was quite the opposite.  Once the French and Indian War ended, the British were in need of financial replenishment. They needed to find a source of income that could help pay for the war against the French and Native Americans.  The British began to tax the colonists much more in order to pay for the war.  British control over the colonists rose as a result of the French and Indian War.

This caused greater anger within the colonies. They perceived the British increase in taxation as ingratitude for the support the colonists offered.  It increased resentment and mistrust of the British.  As a whole, the colonists had difficulty accepting the British impositions on daily life.  The French and Indian War established the uneasiness that would eventually lead to the American Revolution. 

Explain how the sleep metaphor supports a central idea of the poem "Death, be not proud."

John Donne’s poem, “Death, be not proud,” focuses on death as a transitory state between life and what comes after life. In the poem, the speaker personifies and then chastises death, explaining that it holds no real power despite what others might attribute to it.

To show death’s lack of true power, the speaker equates death with sleep, specifically pointing out that sleep is a temporary state:

One short sleep past, we wake eternally

And...

John Donne’s poem, “Death, be not proud,” focuses on death as a transitory state between life and what comes after life. In the poem, the speaker personifies and then chastises death, explaining that it holds no real power despite what others might attribute to it.

To show death’s lack of true power, the speaker equates death with sleep, specifically pointing out that sleep is a temporary state:

One short sleep past, we wake eternally

And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.                                           

The speaker is expressing the idea that death is only a period of unconsciousness before a person, or maybe better a soul, awakens to an eternal life.

The sleep metaphor is intended to help the reader understand that the finality of death is, according to the speaker, illusory. Further, by equating death with sleep, the speaker attempts to diminish death by referencing other causes of sleep, thereby putting death on the same footing as things such as poppies and charms.

It is this diminished and contextualized personification of death that the speaker admonishes to “be not proud.” In the speaker’s worldview, death is nothing save a period of rest before the afterlife.

In Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, what is the metaphor in the line "When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st"?

This line from Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 contains layers of meaning. Since the entire poem to this point has referred to summer and nature, and this line speaks of growing as the opposite of death, the metaphor is that the woman the poet is addressing will continue to grow like a treesince the poem will keep her alive, nurturing her always. Although any living thing can grow, in the context of the poem where the...

This line from Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 contains layers of meaning. Since the entire poem to this point has referred to summer and nature, and this line speaks of growing as the opposite of death, the metaphor is that the woman the poet is addressing will continue to grow like a tree since the poem will keep her alive, nurturing her always. Although any living thing can grow, in the context of the poem where the writer mentions "darling buds of May" and "shade," a tree seems most appropriate for the metaphorical meaning.

Another metaphor is apparent in the line, and that is the reference to "Time." The capitalization of the word suggests Shakespeare wishes to personify time. In the poem, the woman being immortalized by the poem grows "to Time"; that is, in the sight or perspective of Time, she continues to live on and thrive. It is as if Time is an audience, or possibly a parent, watching the woman grow over the years. What is meant literally is that future generations of living people will see the woman continue to grow in reputation as she becomes more and more revered through the centuries because of the sonnet that has been written in her honor.

Another way of looking at this reference to "Time" is to understand it as metonymy, a figure of speech in which an item is named for something with which it is closely associated—such as saying "life" instead of "blood" or "flesh" instead of "humanity." Here "Time" is used as a substitute for "future generations of people," who will live in the time to come.

This line from Shakespeare's sonnet contains two metaphors as well as metonymy.

What is an example of personification in Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, "Nature"?

Emerson uses personification in the introduction of his essay to imbue the era in which he lives with uniquely human characteristics:

"Our age is retrospective. It builds the sepulchers of the fathers. It writes biographies, histories, and criticism."

Here, Emerson attributes sentience, critical thinking and even the ability to erect tombs (sepulchers) to a non-human, intangible idea, “our age,” which most nearly means, “the times in which we live.”

A little later, at the end...

Emerson uses personification in the introduction of his essay to imbue the era in which he lives with uniquely human characteristics:

"Our age is retrospective. It builds the sepulchers of the fathers. It writes biographies, histories, and criticism."

Here, Emerson attributes sentience, critical thinking and even the ability to erect tombs (sepulchers) to a non-human, intangible idea, “our age,” which most nearly means, “the times in which we live.”

A little later, at the end of the first paragraph of chapter one, when discussing the ability of nature to evoke awe and wonder in humans, Emerson again employs personification to lend human characteristics to the stars in the sky.

“But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.”

Here, Emerson designates the stars as “envoys,” which in common parlance means diplomatic messengers. This is clearly a human description of a non-human object. Then Emerson describes the stars as wearing an “admonishing smile,” another uniquely human characteristic.

This latter example of personification (the admonishing smile) is part of a larger motif present in much of Emerson’s works; he imparts aspects of human behavior and physicality to the natural world in order to convey his feelings of intense kinship for nature. Again and again throughout Emerson's writings, the reader can see that he views the natural world as his friend and constant companion.

What is surprising about the narrative point-of-view Dickens has adopted in Great Expectations?

What is unusual, and perhaps surprising, about the narrative point of view in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations is the narrator's portrayal of himself. Most first-person narratives tend to be defensive and apologetic. The author's purpose usually seems to be blaming others for his misfortunes, or to blame fate, luck, or something else. In Great Expectations, however, Pip frequently ridicules himself and blames himself, rarely trying to justify or exonerate his behavior. One example is the way he exposes his changing attitude towards Joe Gargary, the man who loved him, paid for every morsel he ate through his hard labor, protected him, taught him and looked forward to the "larks" they would have when they became partners some day. Pip does not try to excuse himself, but he does explain his rationalization for distancing himself from his kind, humble, faithful guardian. Pip will remind many readers of how they themselves have forgotten old relatives and friends as they have met new people and developed new interests. 

One great chapter in Dickens' novel is Chapter 30 in which Pip, now conspicuously overdressed like a London gentleman, encounters Trabb's boy. Pip is really glorying in his elegant appearance and the reaction of the townspeople who had known him as a wretched orphan who never wore anything but work clothes and whom Estella had once described as "a common working boy." 

Casting my eyes along the street at a certain point of my progress, I beheld Trabb's boy approaching, lashing himself with an empty blue bag. Deeming that a serene and unconscious contemplation of him would best beseem me, and would be most likely to quell his evil mind, I advanced with that expression of countenance, and was rather congratulating myself on my success, when suddenly the knees of Trabb's boy smote together, his hair uprose, his cap fell off, he trembled violently in every limb, staggered out into the road and crying to the populace, “Hold me! I'm so frightened!” feigned to be in a paroxysm of terror and contrition, occasioned by the dignity of my appearance. As I passed him, his teeth loudly chattered in his head, and with every mark of extreme humiliation, he prostrated himself in the dust.

Trabb's boy won't stop tormenting Pip. He runs around the block and pretends to be seeing him for the first time in his new regalia. He repeats his same act several times, making Pip look like exactly what he is--a nobody who trying to play the role of an important London gentleman. 

Throughout the novel, Pip confesses his foolish pretensions and his feelings of inadequacy, guilt, ignorance, and shame. This is unusual in a first-person narrative. Even the name "Pip" is a constant reminder that the hero-narrator is just an ignorant, insignificant nobody. He was required by his unknown benefactor to keep the name Pip, making it easy for Abel Magwitch to find him in the marvelous Chapter 39, where the former escaped convict reveals to Pip's horror that he was created to be a fop by an ignorant man who took it for granted that all "gentlemen" were useless and helpless parasites.

“Yes, Pip, dear boy, I've made a gentleman on you! It's me wot has done it! I swore that time, sure as ever I earned a guinea, that guinea should go to you. I swore arterwards, sure as ever I spec'lated and got rich, you should get rich. I lived rough, that you should live smooth; I worked hard that you should be above work. What odds, dear boy? Do I tell it fur you to feel a obligation? Not a bit. I tell it, fur you to know as that there hunted dunghill dog wot you kep life in, got his head so high that he could make a gentleman—and, Pip, you're him!”

Most readers cannot follow Pip's progress throughout the novel without feeling that at least some of his many faults apply to themselves. It is hard to think of any other short story or novel in which the first-person narrator makes such a thorough confession of his affectations and delusions, his sins of commission and omission. 

How does the play Antigone portray divine law vs. civic law?

The conflict between divine law and civic law drives much of the plot in the tragedy Antigone. Antigone represents divine law because she has chosen to bury her brother to fulfill the requirements of the gods rather than leave him unburied in compliance with the decree of Creon, who stands for civic law. In the first scene of the play, Antigone explains to her sister Ismene that she intends to bury Polyneices, and she insists that she will be sinless in her crime. She tells Ismene she is free to obey their uncle, but in doing so she will "be guilty of dishonoring laws which the gods have stablished in honor." When Creon proclaims to the Chorus that he now possesses the throne and all its powers and intends to govern the State for the good of its people, the Chorus acknowledges that he has "power ... to take what order thou wilt, both for the dead, and for all us who live."

The two opposing laws face off when Antigone, accused of violating civic law, is brought before Creon. When Creon asks her if she has broken his law, she answers that she has because "it was not Zeus that had published me that edict," asserting that divine law trumps civic law. When Haemon comes to plead for Antigone, saying the people do not want her to be put to death, Creon insists that as the ruler, he has the right to dictate the laws to the city; the people do not have the right to tell him what to do. Creon only relents to the point of having her entombed alive rather than executed outright.

When Teiresias, the prophet, appears, he advocates for divine law in Antigone's absence. Creon accuses the prophet of acting based on greed, but the prophet informs him that his violation of divine law has loosed the Furies of Hades on him--executors of divine law. Creon quickly acts to reverse his civic law, stopping to oversee the burial of Polyneices himself on the way to the tomb to free Antigone. As he leaves, he states, "My heart misgives me, 'tis best to keep the established laws, even to life's end." This line is ambiguous; it is unclear whether the "established law" he refers to here is civic or divine and whether his misgivings come from breaking civic or divine law. 

Creon comes to revere divine law over civic law too late, for he loses both his son and his wife. In the end, the Chorus comments, "Reverence towards the gods must be inviolate. Great words of prideful men are ever punished with great blows." This final pronouncement clarifies the play's decision that divine law must be revered over civic law, as Antigone argued from the beginning. 

We have seen how a character’s physical defect or disorder becomes a powerful symbol of another deeper and more serious problem or concern. ...

In the novel, Milkman notices, by the time he's fourteen years old that "one of his legs was shorter than the other."  It affects the way he walks and the way he dances.  Despite the fact that the narrator tells us that the deformity was mostly in Milkman's head, "It bothered him and he acquired movements and habits to disguise what to him was a burning defect."  He even crosses his legs a certain way to conceal that the left leg was a half inch shorter than the right.  The "deformity," if we can even call it that with its mostly imaginary nature, goes with Milkman's tendency to feel that he is owed something, that he deserves or doesn't deserve something, that he's been a victim somehow.  The deformity with his leg is just one more example of something happening to Milkman, something he doesn't deserve, some way that he is just a victim of life.

His sister, Lena, actually calls him out on this once in the novel, accusing him of "Using [Lena, Corinthians, and their mother], ordering [them], and judging [them]."  Everything has always been about Milkman, providing for him, caring for him, doing for him, and he has grown to expect to be treated this way by everyone, all the time.  Later, in Shalimar, Milkman is hunting bobcat with some locals, and he notices that "the pain in his short leg was so great he began to limp and hobble."  He considers how much he did not "deserve [the] contempt" of the locals when he tried to buy a new car without trying to fix the old one.  In this moment, he has a stunning epiphany:

It sounded old.  Deserve.  Old and tired and beaten to death.  Deserve.  Now it seemed to him that he was always saying or thinking that he didn't deserve some bad luck, or some bad treatment from others.

Milkman had felt that he didn't deserve his family's dependence or hate, that he didn't deserve to hear his parents' terrible stories, that he didn't deserve Hagar's anger at him, and so on.  Suddenly, however, he realizes that he has thought of himself as the victim of everyone else's behaviors instead of taking responsibility for his own life and choices.  He realizes that he's only wanted others to share their happiness with him and never their pain.  Once he experiences this realization, his leg doesn't bother him any more.  When he thought of himself as a victim, the leg was one more thing he didn't deserve; when he begins to take responsibility, his "deformity" is no longer an issue.

Are Emerson's "The Rhodora" and Whitman's "A Noiseless Patient Spider" similar in terms of their ideas?

There are quite a few similarities in Emerson’s “The Rhodora” and Whitman’s “A Noiseless Patient Spider”.  

The first I noticed was the sense of discovery within the speaker. Each speaker has an awareness of encountering a larger, more transcendental idea contained within the small body of the spider and the flower.  In Whitman, it was “I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated” (line 2) and in Emerson it was “when the...

There are quite a few similarities in Emerson’s “The Rhodora” and Whitman’s “A Noiseless Patient Spider”.  

The first I noticed was the sense of discovery within the speaker. Each speaker has an awareness of encountering a larger, more transcendental idea contained within the small body of the spider and the flower.  In Whitman, it was “I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated” (line 2) and in Emerson it was “when the sea-winds pierced our solitudes,/ I found the fresh Rhodora in the woods/spreading its leafless blooms” (line 2-4). Whitman encountered the transcendent idea of the soul’s longing to be connected contained within the body of the spider. Emerson encountered the idea of the beauty that dwells in being. Though it was only a simple encounter, he found the undefinable quality of being and beauty contained within the flower and within the moment itself. Both poems also create a similar kind of moment of encounter for the reader. As the speaker encounters the object, the reader encounters the poem in a similar way. We happen upon the poem in the solitude of reading.

Another similarity within the two poems is the existential questioning and how the object encountered came to symbolize that. For Whitman, the existential desire is oriented around the idea of connection. The spider in Whitman’s poem is shown pulling “filament” (line 4) from itself and casting it to create a spider web. The speaker commands his own soul to do something similar, sending out “the gossamer thread you fling” (line 10). The speaker hopes the lines he sends forth will not only create a kind of web, but one that will connect him to a meaning more powerful than himself. In the same way that the spider sought to “explore the vacant vast surrounding” (line 3), the speaker seeks “the measureless oceans of space” to be connected by the filaments of his own soul.

For Emerson, the existential question is a similar kind of desire for an interconnectedness of moments or fate.  This is revealed within the last four lines of the poem. The speaker questions what it was that brought the flower into the same moment in “why thou wert there…/ I never thought to ask; I never knew” (line 14-15), recognizing the serendipity of the encounter.  The speaker recognized his own path. But because the flower is Other, the speaker will never be able to know the moments that led it to that same moment. He wonders if there was an external power that led them both into that moment by claiming “the self-same power that brought me there, brought you” (line 17). And despite never quite comprehending that power, the speaker felt its presence. It was enough for him to feel that power through the encounter with the flower. 

What important information did June obtain from attending the Joy Luck Club gathering in her mother's place?

When June attends the Joy Luck Club gathering in her mother's place, she learns the astonishing truth that her two step-sisters are still alive. The Joy Luck Club aunties (Lindo Jong, An Mei Hsu, and Ying Ying St. Clair) reveal to June that it had always been her mother's deep desire to seek out her long-lost daughters and to reunite with them. After searching for years, Su Yuan Woo had finally obtained the requisite address...

When June attends the Joy Luck Club gathering in her mother's place, she learns the astonishing truth that her two step-sisters are still alive. The Joy Luck Club aunties (Lindo Jong, An Mei Hsu, and Ying Ying St. Clair) reveal to June that it had always been her mother's deep desire to seek out her long-lost daughters and to reunite with them. After searching for years, Su Yuan Woo had finally obtained the requisite address when her untimely death put an end to her dreams.

The Joy Luck Club aunties encourage June to finish her mother's quest and to tell her two step-sisters about the mother they never knew. To help June fulfill her mother's wishes, they collectively bequeath a gift of $1,200 to her so that she can go to Shanghai to visit her sisters. June is overwhelmed and deeply touched by their generosity but worries about how she will be able to paint an accurate picture of her mother to her step-sisters. The aunties become exasperated with June and advise her to talk to her step-sisters about her mother's intelligence, kind nature, her commitment to her family, her wonderful gift in the kitchen, and her personal aspirations in life.

June begins to feel suffocated by the high expectations of the aunties until she realizes how eager all of them are to preserve the heritage and traditions of past generations. The aunties fear that succeeding young generations of American-born Chinese will forget their important ties to the past and their history. In joining the Joy Luck Club in her mother's place, June is essentially continuing an important tradition in her Chinese community.

In The Giver, why might minor rule breaking, such as riding a bicycle before the age of nine, be tolerated in the otherwise strict community?

The rule against bicycles is broken because it is a minor rule and breaking it is tradition.

Rules that are broken for everyone are unspoken rules of their own.  This is part of community conformity, which is fundamental to Sameness.  Traditions generated by minor rule-breaking turn into rules when they are codified by the committee.

The rule against children under nine riding bicycles is the one Jonas says is always broken.  Older siblings teach their...

The rule against bicycles is broken because it is a minor rule and breaking it is tradition.

Rules that are broken for everyone are unspoken rules of their own.  This is part of community conformity, which is fundamental to Sameness.  Traditions generated by minor rule-breaking turn into rules when they are codified by the committee.

The rule against children under nine riding bicycles is the one Jonas says is always broken.  Older siblings teach their younger siblings how to ride so that when they get the bike, they can ride it.

It was one of the few rules that was not taken very seriously and was almost always broken. The children all received their bicycles at Nine; they were not allowed to ride bicycles before then. But almost always, the older brothers and sisters had secretly taught the younger ones. (Ch. 2) 

You can see why the community would not mind this rule being broken.  One, it adds to efficiency.  Once the nine year olds get their bicycles, they can use them immediately.  Two, it is tradition.  Older brothers and sisters all teach their siblings to ride.  Breaking the rule is an unwritten rule.  Finally, allowing the rule to stand even though it is continually broken reinforces the idea that it is very hard to change a rule, so that no one will attempt to change rules willy-nilly.

Rules were very hard to change. Sometimes, if it was a very important rule--unlike the one governing the age for bicycles—it would have to go, eventually, to The Receiver for a decision. The Receiver was the most important Elder. (Ch. 2)

Jonas comments that the community will never change the rules against bicycles, because it is not considered an important enough rule to bother the Receiver with.  Instead, they will “simply fret and argue about it themselves for years, until the citizens forgot that it had ever gone to them for study.”  While they are fretting, the citizens develop their own unwritten rule about bicycles and the rule change is not really needed.

While describing the soldier in "The Seven Ages of Man," why does Shakespeare compare "reputation" with a "bubble"?

Shakespeare adopts a playful tone to describe the "seven ages" of man. He does so to underscore the transient and ever-changing nature of a growing person.

Every stage of man’s life has its distinctive peculiarities. After passing through adolescence, a person reaches adulthood. He takes up a profession. Shakespeare, here, picks up a soldier as he best describes the temperament of a man in this stage of life.

When a person becomes a soldier or...

Shakespeare adopts a playful tone to describe the "seven ages" of man. He does so to underscore the transient and ever-changing nature of a growing person.

Every stage of man’s life has its distinctive peculiarities. After passing through adolescence, a person reaches adulthood. He takes up a profession. Shakespeare, here, picks up a soldier as he best describes the temperament of a man in this stage of life.

When a person becomes a soldier or attains adulthood, he develops a heightened sensitivity to others’ opinions about himself. His concern for his reputation acquires far greater significance than anything else. He becomes so obsessed with his repute that he doesn't even hesitate to risk his life to win himself glory. Shakespeare puts forth this in an amusing way:

Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. 

"Bubble" signifies the idea of transience and impermanence. The “reputation,” for which a young man is eager to venture his life, is actually bubble-like; implying that it’s not going to last long.

It’s not considered prudent to endanger one's life for something that’s trivial or insubstantial. Life’s is too valuable to be lost for an insignificant cause. Shakespeare, however, isn't being didactic at all. He just points out, in a light-hearted manner, the peculiarity of a person at this stage of his life.  

A newspaper delivery boy throws a newspaper onto a balcony 1.25 m above the height of his hand when he releases the paper. Given that he throws the...

This is a numerical of projectile motion. Here, the initial velocity, u = 25 m/s and `theta`  = 35 degrees.

a) Maximum height achieved can be calculated by the following equation:

`H = (u^2sin^2theta)/(2g) = (25^2 xx sin^2(35))/(2 xx 9.81) = 10.48 m`

Thus, the newspaper achieves a maximum height of 10.48 m.

b) At the point of maximum height, the y-component of velocity is 0 m/s, while the horizontal velocity stays the same....

This is a numerical of projectile motion. Here, the initial velocity, u = 25 m/s and `theta`  = 35 degrees.

a) Maximum height achieved can be calculated by the following equation:

`H = (u^2sin^2theta)/(2g) = (25^2 xx sin^2(35))/(2 xx 9.81) = 10.48 m`

Thus, the newspaper achieves a maximum height of 10.48 m.

b) At the point of maximum height, the y-component of velocity is 0 m/s, while the horizontal velocity stays the same. Thus, the velocity at maximum height is same as the horizontal velocity component.

The horizontal component of velocity = u cos(35) = 25 x cos(35) = 20.48 m/s.

c) In this type of motion, the only acceleration acting on the object is the acceleration due to gravity, g. And it is acting in the downward direction always. 

d) The vertical distance traveled by the newspaper is 1.25 m (height of balcony above his hand) and is given as:

y = u_y t -1/2 gt^2

where, u_y is the vertical component of velocity = u sin (35) = 14.34 m/s

substituting all the values, we get: t = 0.09 s and 2.83 s.

The two times correspond to newspaper reaching a height of 1.25 m on its way to maximum height and on its way down. 

The time of flight = 2.83 s (as the other time is too small to need the type of velocity we have here).

e) The horizontal distance traveled by the newspaper is

x = 20.48 x 2.83 = 57.96 m

Hope this helps. 

Can the GOP legally block Obama's appointment to the Supreme Court?

The short answer to this question is "Yes." This is not exclusive to the Republican party, though. The Senate can block a Supreme Court candidate no matter which party is in the majority. The Constitution provides in Article II that the President appoints with the "advice and consent" of the Senate. This does not require that the Senate approve an appointment, merely that the Senate must consent to the candidate in order for that person to actually become a Supreme Court Justice. Additionally, there is no mandate for the Senate to even hold hearings on a candidate, much less to approve one. Historically, the Senate has declined to approve twelve candidates, most recently in 1987, when it refused to approve President Reagan's candidate, Robert Bork. In fact, this led to a new verb in the English language: to "Bork" someone was to orchestrate an unfair campaign to prevent a justice from being approved by the Senate. Whether that campaign was actually fair or unfair is a judgement that rests in the eye of the beholder.

Whether or not the Senate maintains its present position on this issue, declining to even hold hearings, is going to be a very carefully calculated political position. As it stands now, there are four conservative justices and four liberal justices.  This means that many issues are likely to result in a tie vote. When this happens, whatever the court below has decided stands as the law in that circuit. Only when there is a tie-breaking vote does a decision of the Supreme Court become the law of the land and have precedential value.  Those of a conservative bent in the Senate will be concerned about more liberal decisions at the circuit level standing as good law, so that is one part of the political calculus.  Another aspect Senators must consider is the public's perception of its unwillingness to act, something that has plagued the Senate in recent years and has contributed to the unfavorable ratings it gets from the public, historically, I believe, the lowest of all time. Still another political consideration is the voters back home for each senator.  What will their responses be to a failure to consider or appoint a replacement? All of these are what the Senate will consider. I would like to think that they might also consider what their ethical obligations are to the people who elected them as representatives meant to do the work of the United States government. Sadly, that seems to be a rapidly disappearing consideration.

One interesting thing to consider is what would happen if this issue, the legality of the Senate's refusal to act, were to end up in court. The first problem would be the question of standing. Standing is the concept that one must be able to show harm in order to sue in court, so the first question would be who has standing to sue the Senate for this. It might be that the only person who would have standing would be the candidate not acted upon by the Senate. Then we need to ask whether that person would need to sue the Senate as a body or individual senators. Certainly, not all Senators have refused to consider a nominee. It would be difficult to make a case that all American citizens can sue the Senate. These taxpayer suits are usually thrown out for lack of standing, the harm alleged being far too amorphous.  Supposing that a nominee were to have standing, this case would go to a federal district court, be appealed to a circuit court, and then end up at the Supreme Court, with its equally divided justices. It is difficult to contemplate how all of this would turn out, particularly because there has been no constitutional violation that could be alleged, and I'm not certain if there is any other legal theory on which a case like this could proceed. Nevertheless, it's an interesting thought experiment!

What is Sinclair Lewis's topic in the third and fourth paragraphs of The Jungle? What is the message of the two paragraphs?

In the third and fourth paragraphs of The Jungle, Lewis focuses on the bride Ona Lukoszaite, an innocent young Lithuanian woman who has just turned 16. Lewis describes her joy at being married, calling it the "supreme hour of ecstasy in the life of one of God's gentlest creatures." He takes some time to describe Ona in her white muslin wedding dress and "stiff little veil." She wears new white cotton gloves and has exactly...

In the third and fourth paragraphs of The Jungle, Lewis focuses on the bride Ona Lukoszaite, an innocent young Lithuanian woman who has just turned 16. Lewis describes her joy at being married, calling it the "supreme hour of ecstasy in the life of one of God's gentlest creatures." He takes some time to describe Ona in her white muslin wedding dress and "stiff little veil." She wears new white cotton gloves and has exactly five pink paper roses "twisted" into her veil and eleven green rose leaves. She twists her hands together from nervousness. Lewis paints a detailed picture of her to humanize her for the reader so that she is not simply a faceless immigrant. 

The purity of little Ona and her white wedding clothes contrast with the locale of her wedding reception, the back room of a saloon behind the stockyards where livestock is slaughtered in filthy conditions. While immigrants like Ona and her new husband and their families are brutally exploited in a number of ways by American society, Lewis wants us to know from the very start of the novel that they are people like us full of hopes, joys and a desire for a better life, no matter how poor and foreign they might be. 

What does the reader learn about Tom's wife in "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket"?

In Jack Finney's story "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket," the reader learns that the wife of protagonist, Tom Benecke, is affectionate, pleasant, considerate and concerned, well-loved and important to her husband, but neglected by him. 

As the narrative begins, Tom sits at his small desk in the living room in order to begin the completion of his sales project; he types on a sheet of paper designated as "Interoffice Memo." After spending...

In Jack Finney's story "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket," the reader learns that the wife of protagonist, Tom Benecke, is affectionate, pleasant, considerate and concerned, well-loved and important to her husband, but neglected by him. 

As the narrative begins, Tom sits at his small desk in the living room in order to begin the completion of his sales project; he types on a sheet of paper designated as "Interoffice Memo." After spending three week-ends on this project, Tom wants to give it to his boss, who, hopefully, will read it over the coming weekend before the others submit their projects on Monday. Feeling rather warm and uncomfortable, Tom goes to the window and yanks it open. Afterwards, he calls to his wife, "Clare?" and when she answers, he asks, "Sure you don't mind going alone?" She answers "No." Then, she hurries from the bedroom in her slip, and while fastening an earring,

...her prettiness emphasized by the pleasant nature that she showed in her face. "It's just that I hate you to miss this movie; you wanted to see it, too."

When Tom says that he must "get this done though," she nods in acceptance; however, she does add, "You work too much, though...and too hard." Tom counters by telling her that she will not mind that he has worked so much when "the money comes rolling in" as he earns a promotion. Clare smiles and answers, "I guess not," but she turns back toward the bedroom to finish dressing and soon departs.

Later, her absence becomes a crucial factor in Tom's life after he goes out onto the eleventh floor ledge to retrieve his yellow information sheet that has blown out the opened window with a draft. It is in these moments of crisis that Tom realizes just how much Clare means to him and how insignificant his yellow sheet of paper is in comparison. Further, as he makes his bold attempt to break the window that has slammed shut, Tom shouts "Clare!" reaffirming his love for his wife. For, he has realized the absurdity of having based his life upon his materialistic goal. After successfully gaining entry into the safety of the apartment, Tom hurries to catch his dear wife at the movies and spend the rest of the evening with her. 

What is the positive and negative legacy of the New Deal programs still active today?

Many of the New Deal programs created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt are still around today. For example, Social Security still provides payments to elderly people, and our bank accounts are still protected by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, is still in charge of policing Wall Street to make sure banks and other financial institutions do not violate the law (though the vigor with which they investigate...

Many of the New Deal programs created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt are still around today. For example, Social Security still provides payments to elderly people, and our bank accounts are still protected by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). The Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, is still in charge of policing Wall Street to make sure banks and other financial institutions do not violate the law (though the vigor with which they investigate Wall Street varies at times). In addition, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) still provides loans to homeowners, and there are several other New Deal agencies still in existence today. The positive legacy of these institutions is that they provide a safety net for Americans who are the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, and they are, at least theoretically, supposed to prevent another great economic collapse such as the Great Depression.

Many people do not like these programs, however, because they believe that they have made our federal government too large and too powerful. In addition, the cost of some of these programs, such as Social Security, is enormous, meaning that people have to finance these programs through high taxes. About one quarter of the federal budget goes to Social Security payments. 

What does the ghost request of Horatio and Marcellus in Hamlet?

While the ghost of King Hamlet appears to Horatio and Marcellus, two officers who are on guard, it does not actually speak to either of them. The next evening the ghost speaks to Prince Hamlet, asking him to avenge his death because he was murdered.

After these officers identify the ghost as that of King Hamlet, dressed in the armor which he wore when he was slain, they report to Hamlet what they have...

While the ghost of King Hamlet appears to Horatio and Marcellus, two officers who are on guard, it does not actually speak to either of them. The next evening the ghost speaks to Prince Hamlet, asking him to avenge his death because he was murdered.

After these officers identify the ghost as that of King Hamlet, dressed in the armor which he wore when he was slain, they report to Hamlet what they have seen. Prince Hamlet asks Horatio if he did not speak to this ghost. Horatio replies, 

My lord, I did,
But answer made it none. Yet once methought
It lifted up its head and did address
Itself to motion, like as it would speak.
But even then the morning cock crew loud,
And at the sound it shrunk in haste away
And vanished from our sight. (1.2.214-220)

When Horatio was with Marcellus and the ghost acted as though it would speak but the rooster crowed, it hurried away because, according to legend, the rooster awakens the god of day. This threat of the approach of dawn makes all wandering ghosts hurry to the places where they hide. And, the ghost of King Hamlet did what other wandering spirits do--he hastened to his hiding place.

Since King Hamlet's ghost has not spoken to anyone, Hamlet instructs Horatio and Marcellus that he will meet them on the guards' platform between eleven and midnight. At that time he will attempt to speak to this ghost of his father if he will reappear.

On the next night, Hamlet arrives as he has promised. The ghost does reappear, but he draws Hamlet away from the others. Nevertheless, Marcellus is determined to follow as he suspects "Something is rotten in Denmark" (1.4.90). After the ghost has led Hamlet away from the others, Hamlet tells the ghost he will go no farther. "Speak, I am bound to hear" (1.5.7). The ghost identifies himself as the spirit of King Hamlet, telling him he must hurry because he is under obligation to return to the fires of purgatory to atone for his sins until he can go to heaven. The ghost then asks Hamlet to "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" (1.5.25).

What products can beta particles and photon emitters be found in?

By using the terms "beta particles" and "photon emitters" we make these technologies sound very exotic and futuristic. But a beta particle is just an electron (or positron, which is an antimatter electron---whether those are different things is a surprisingly deep question) released at high energy, and a photon is something even more pedestrian: Light.

Normally we think of beta particles as being emitted in radioactive decay (i.e. beta decay), but the particles are the same even if they're emitted some other way.

Any product that uses high energy electrons and emits light therefore contains beta particles and photon emitters.

The best example of both I can think of is a tritium fluorescent light; the radioactive decay of tritium into helium-3 is a beta decay releasing an electron, and tritium lights use this effect to trigger photoelectric diodes that then emit photons we see as light. This is unambiguously both beta decay and photon emission. Tritium lights are often used in glow-in-the-dark watches; their long life and zero-maintenance reliability also makes them good lights for emergency exit signs.

Beta decay is often used to trace leaks in pipes and measure the thickness of metal sheets, because beta radiation is very easily shielded. Beta decay is also essential for radioactive dating, as one of the decay modes of carbon-14 is beta decay.

Another example of a consumer product with both beta particles and photon emitters is an old-style cathode-ray-tube (CRT) TV or computer monitor; inside the TV is a big vacuum tube where a beam of high-energy electrons is waved around by magnetic fields to hit the proper places on a screen, where the photoelectric effect converts them into photons of the appropriate color. All of this happens about 30 times per second across the whole screen, the cathode beam waving across and down the screen in a pattern that is usually interlaced so that they do all the even-numbered rows and then all the odd-numbered rows. Since it's not actually beta decay, this is arguably not beta particles; but the energies are the same.

Photon emitters are all over the place, from LCDs to lasers. Anything that produces light uses a photon emitter. (In some sense everything is a photon emitter, since even you and I emit infrared photons as blackbody radiation just from being warm.)

And of course if you include all electrons as beta particles (the distinction is somewhat arbitrary; electrons are electrons, in a very deep fundamental sense), they're also all over the place; there's a reason we call them "electronics". The electrons traveling through a computer or smartphone are at much lower energies than typical beta decay electrons; but they're the same fundamental particle.