Discuss the theme of family and its effect on the characters of Divergent.

Family is central to the Divergent story. In the book, Roth examines how family dynamics affect the heroine, her allies, and her enemies. During Visiting Day, Tris notes that Drew’s and Molly's families are absent, demonstrating the extent of the social stigma transfers endure. Meanwhile, Al's parents voice a superficial support for the status quo but privately expect their son to defy social expectations. The combination of parental and societal pressures eventually drives Al to despair and...

Family is central to the Divergent story. In the book, Roth examines how family dynamics affect the heroine, her allies, and her enemies. During Visiting Day, Tris notes that Drew’s and Molly's families are absent, demonstrating the extent of the social stigma transfers endure. Meanwhile, Al's parents voice a superficial support for the status quo but privately expect their son to defy social expectations. The combination of parental and societal pressures eventually drives Al to despair and suicide. During Visiting Day, Will's elder sister, Cara, gets into an altercation with Natalie (Tris's mother) about Abnegation's hoarding of fresh foods. The exchange highlights the burgeoning distrust and ensuing estrangement between the factions.

Additionally, Tris and Tobias have markedly different relationships with their fathers. Tris's relationship with her father matures as the story progresses. In the beginning, Andrew's investment in the five-faction system leads him to withhold his approval from his daughter. However, he is soon forced to confront his bias and readjust his expectations when Erudite sends Dauntless soldiers to execute Abnegation civilians. Andrew then accepts his daughter's leadership and supports her in her mission to defeat Jeanine. The experience leads Andrew to relate to Tris as an adult, and the dynamic between them changes. Conversely, Tobias keeps Marcus at arm's length because of Marcus's tendency to dominate the space between the two. Marcus's abuse and Abnegation's unilateral rule is the catalyst for Tobias's defection to Dauntless. Their relationship remains emotionally stagnant throughout the story.

What events and or actions pushed us down the road to civil war and at what point did the war become inevitable?

Undeniably, slavery was the major cause of division in the United States at this time. The controversy began soon after the United States declared independence from England; in 1777, Vermont became the first state to ban slavery. Other Northern states, such as Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, soon adopted their own policies that sought to end slavery, whether immediately or over time. (Pennsylvania, for instance, passed a Gradual Emancipation Act, which slowly gave more...

Undeniably, slavery was the major cause of division in the United States at this time. The controversy began soon after the United States declared independence from England; in 1777, Vermont became the first state to ban slavery. Other Northern states, such as Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, soon adopted their own policies that sought to end slavery, whether immediately or over time. (Pennsylvania, for instance, passed a Gradual Emancipation Act, which slowly gave more freedoms to African American people over an extended period of time.) 

Another contributing factor toward the Civil War was the debate about slavery and government representation. Did slaves count as people that needed to be represented in the House of Representatives? Many southern states, though wanting to keep the institution of slavery, also wanted slaves to be counted to increase their representation. In 1787, the Three-Fifths Compromise was adopted, to try to appease all parties everyone involved in the Constitutional Convention. Under this policy, three out of five slaves counted for representation and tax purposes. This Constitutional Convention presents yet another disagreement among northern and southern states.

Many people believe that the Civil War was primarily fought to end slavery. Many are surprised to learn that  President Lincoln's central concern during the war was not abolition. Though he disagreed with slavery, he believed that it was his  "sacred duty as President of the United States to preserve the Union at all costs." Though he opposed slavery and declared a consistent anti-slavery position in his presidential campaigning, he was even more concerned with the disunity and separation that the country faced after his election. Lincoln was elected as the 16th United States President in 1860. As more and more northern states declared slavery to be illegal, division escalated between northern and southern slave holding states. Many southerners were upset over the election of President Lincoln because of his antislavery platform. Over a period of months, several states, starting with South Carolina, seceded from the United States, starting the Confederate States of America. Lincoln's election was a significant contributing reason for their secession. 

Even after states began to leave the Union, Lincoln desired a peaceful reunification. However, this became impossible when the Confederate Army attacked Fort Sumter in April of 1861. This is considered the first major battle of the Civil War.

What literary devices does Aphra Behn use in Oroonoko?

Oroonoko, written by Aphra Behn, is about a prince who was taken from Africa and forced from his high position into ultimate powerlessness; he was enslaved, moving from a position of highest esteem to a position of lowest esteem in a moment. Behn, a white female author, attempts to share his story in a realistic manner, though she often romanticizes his life through her lavish descriptions. One of these descriptions is seen as she uses imagery to present Oroonoko's physical appearance. She writes,

His face was not of that brown rusty black which most of that nation are, but of perfect ebony, or polished jett. His eyes were the most awful that cou'd be seen, and very piercing; the white of 'em being like snow, as were his teeth. His nose was rising and Roman, instead of African and flat. His mouth the finest shaped that could be seen; far from those great turn'd lips, which are so natural to the rest of the negroes. The whole proportion and air of his face was so nobly and exactly form'd, that bating his colour, there could be nothing in nature more beautiful, agreeable and handsome. There was no one grace wanting, that bears the standard of true beauty. His hair came down to his shoulders, by the aids of art, which was by pulling it out with a quill, and keeping it comb'd; of which he took particular care.

Upon meeting Oroonoko, she describes his appearance with vivid diction choices, employing words such as "polished jett," "nobly and exactly form'd," and "no grace wanting," to show Oroonoko's majestic appearance. In this passage, we also see Behn employing a simile, describing the white of his eyes (and his teeth) as being "white . . . like snow." Additionally, she employs hyperbole, or extreme exaggeration, in describing him as "so nobly and exactly form'd . . . there could be nothing in nature more beautiful, agreeable and handsome." These similes and hyperboles offer readers more clarity about Oroonoko's appearance and heighten his grandeur. Her description makes him out to be so perfect in appearance that he seems almost holy, despite her admission that his culture behaved differently than her Christian culture. For instance, she writes of Imoinda, the beauty of Oroonoko's homeland, who fell in love with Prince Oroonoko but was loved by the king and forced to become his concubine. Through this we learn of Oroonoko's culture's practices of marrying multiple women, something Behn would have opposed. Even though Oroonoko's culture follows "pagan" practices, the narrator speaks highly of the culture, using a positive tone to describe Oroonoko and his life accomplishments, despite his immense struggles.

Another literary device seen in the text is Behn's use of allusions. For instance, she alludes to Imoinda, Oroonoko's great love, as "black Venus." Oroonoko is called "black Mars." These allusions to Roman gods once more magnify Oroonoko's power and majesty. This is seen in the following passage introducing Imoinda:

This old dead hero had one only daughter left of his race, a beauty, that to describe her truly, one need say only, she was female to the noble male; the beautiful black Venus to our young Mars; as charming in her person as he, and of delicate virtues. I have seen a hundred white men sighing after her, and making a thousand vows at her feet, all in vain, and unsuccessful. And she was indeed too great for any but a prince of her own nation to adore.

Not only does this passage contain allusions, but it once more includes hyperbole, in describing the "hundred white men sighing after her, and making a thousand vows at her feet, all in vain." This is a clear exaggeration made for dramatic effect to emphasize her point that Imoinda was a great beauty.

Is there a sense of justice in Bronte's Jane Eyre? If so, in which parts of the novel is there justice or injustice?

In Brontë's Gothic romance, Jane Eyre, justice is a theme that runs throughout the story.

Jane Eyre, an orphan, lives with her aunt, Mrs. Reed; she is taunted by her cousins, deceitfully blamed by her cousin John for his misbehavior, and treated harshly by her aunt—who unfairly accuses her of having the worst sort of character flaws.

It is not without irony that the reader recognizes justice for Jane—even though her character seeks none. The Gateshead coachman tells Jane of John's fate:

"Why, you see, Miss Eyre...[John's] life has been very wild: these last three years he gave himself up to strange ways, and his death was shocking [...] he ruined his health and his estate...he got into debt and into jail: his mother helped him out twice, but as soon as he was free he returned to his old companions and habits. [...] How he died, God knows!—they say he killed himself."

Eventually, Mrs. Reed comes to express her regret for her behavior toward Jane, on her deathbed.

Well, I have twice done you a wrong which I regret now. One was in breaking the promise which I gave my husband to bring you up as my own child; the other— 

Mrs. Reed has kept a letter from Jane's uncle, hidden from her niece:

I took my revenge: for you to be adopted by your uncle, and placed in a state of ease and comfort, was what I could not endure. I wrote to him; I said I was sorry for his disappointment, but Jane Eyre was dead...

Mrs. Reed's punishment is not in death, but in her realization that all she had done against Jane was wrong. Facing imminent death, she recognizes how much she hated Jane and how much she resented her late husband's care of the child, as well as Mrs. Reed's broken promise. Despite Mrs. Reed's hatred of her niece—alone in the world—Jane not only survived her years at Lowood and made something of herself, but she also now had an uncle who very much wanted to have Jane in his life.

As a young child, Jane is taken from Gateshead, rejected by Mrs. Reed and her children, to the Lowood Institution, a school for poor girls. There, Jane recalls how badly she was treated at the Reed household. Helen, Jane's best friend, points this out to her.

...but how minutely you remember all she has done and said to you! What a singularly deep impression her injustice seems to have made on your heart! 

Helen acknowledges the injustice, but tries to convince Jane to let these feelings go.

At Lowood, the children struggle terribly. They are punished harshly for the smallest infractions. They walk two miles to church during the winter, almost "paralyzed" by the cold, from which they have too little protection. Jane struggles because she is always so hungry: the older girls, also famished, bully food from the younger children. The school's patron, Mr. Brocklehurst, is formidable and cruel. Early in their association, Jane hears him explain his ideologies with regard to raising these young girls, telling Miss Temple:

You are aware that my plan in bringing up these girls is, not to accustom them to habits of luxury and indulgence, but to render them hardy, patient, self-denying.

There is no kindness or philanthropy in Brocklehurst.

Brocklehurst is a clergyman, but his character is anything but Christian. It is only when typhus fever arrives at the school and so many die that the conditions under which the children have lived are finally exposed. For the next eight years, things greatly improve. Mr. Brocklehurst is relegated to treasurer, in which he has no control over, or access to, the girls. There is justice in this as Brocklehurst is removed from his position of oversight—where this man who insisted he was a Christian authority is now unable to do the girls harm. There is justice, too, in Jane's success at becoming not only a good student, but also a young woman of good character. The religious Brocklehurst has insisted that he knew what behaviors a young woman must exhibit to avoid the fiery pits of hell—and that Jane was a failure in this area. Justice is apparent in that Jane proves that Brocklehurst was wrong about her, as she grows to be the model of a godly woman, in direct contrast to Brocklehurst's hateful and misplaced accusations.

Edward tries to marry Jane while his first wife still lives (locked away in madness at the top of Thornfield). Perhaps justly, Edward loses the love of his life when Jane leaves, for she is unable to live in the same house while still loving him. Ultimately, Edward's wife, Bertha, escapes from her room and burns down Thornfield. Ostensibly as a result of Edward's lies, justice of a terrible magnitude is visited upon him. Not only has he lost his home, but also his sight and a hand in the fire. 

There is also, however, a merciful side to this justice. Edward knows why Jane had to leave and has suffered through it. He stayed at Thornfield where Bertha was, rather than running away—leaving England, as Jane had feared. He even attempted to save Bertha when she ran out on the battlements after creating the inferno surrounding her. In this, Edward receives symbolic redemption: a broken man, Edward is rewarded with a second chance—in that Jane loves him despite his broken state. Because he is willing to swallow his ever-present pride, Edward and Jane's love is requited. They had chosen to do the decent thing and live apart: he, in the face of his marriage vow, and both of them by being faithful in their love for one another.

Examples of justice are found throughout Jane Eyre. 

How does Romeo's character change in Act 1, scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet?

Up until this point, Romeo has been mooning around, suffering from unrequited love (or lust) for Rosaline. His father is worried about him, because he wanders around at night and stays in his room by day. His friend Benvolio persuades Romeo to go in disguise to the rival Capulet family ball, saying there will many beautiful ladies there to take his mind off of Rosaline. Romeo says that won't work, and he will never find...

Up until this point, Romeo has been mooning around, suffering from unrequited love (or lust) for Rosaline. His father is worried about him, because he wanders around at night and stays in his room by day. His friend Benvolio persuades Romeo to go in disguise to the rival Capulet family ball, saying there will many beautiful ladies there to take his mind off of Rosaline. Romeo says that won't work, and he will never find anyone to replace Rosaline, but agrees to go anyway. 

At the ball, in Act I, scene 5, Romeo meets Juliet and instantly falls in love, forgetting all about Rosaline. He changes from a moping, lovesick creature pining for Rosaline to a young man overjoyed, on top of the world, and ecstatic to have found Juliet. 

How can the negative impacts of tourism on the UK be reduced?

While it is impossible to stop all the negative aspects of tourism, one can at least curtail them.  First, providing tourists with ample places to get rid of their trash in public places is a good way to reduce litter.  Also, having security in public places helps ensure that the litter finds its proper place.  Certain sites, such as Buckingham Palace or Parliament, should (and do) have visiting hours for tourists.  The government can partner...

While it is impossible to stop all the negative aspects of tourism, one can at least curtail them.  First, providing tourists with ample places to get rid of their trash in public places is a good way to reduce litter.  Also, having security in public places helps ensure that the litter finds its proper place.  Certain sites, such as Buckingham Palace or Parliament, should (and do) have visiting hours for tourists.  The government can partner with tour groups in order to provide tour buses from which to see Britain.  This cuts down on foot traffic and the amount of foreigners getting lost.  While imposing a small tax on visitors may help pay for any damage caused by a large group of people coming to its cities, Britain should be careful because it has to compete with other tourist destinations in Europe.  During certain times of the year, Britain will always be crowded with tourists. This should be considered a good thing, as tourism dollars are a source of income for the small businesses of the United Kingdom.  

Immanuel Kant argued that we should evaluate people’s actions only in terms of the principles they choose to follow and not in terms of their...

According to Kant, the actions a person takes can either be moral or not moral. A person's actions determine his or her moral worth. One can only be considered moral if he or she is motivated by morality, not motivated by emotions. For example, if someone helps another person because the helper finds this action enjoyable, the action of helping is not necessarily moral. Instead, only if the person has the moral value of helping...

According to Kant, the actions a person takes can either be moral or not moral. A person's actions determine his or her moral worth. One can only be considered moral if he or she is motivated by morality, not motivated by emotions. For example, if someone helps another person because the helper finds this action enjoyable, the action of helping is not necessarily moral. Instead, only if the person has the moral value of helping others is the person truly moral. Doing good because it's fun is not necessarily moral, according to Kant.

In addition, Kant states that we should not judge the morality of one's actions on the consequences. For example, if two students intend to cheat but only one has the opportunity to see another person's paper and copy from it, the student who does not cheat is not moral. That student did not cheat only because he or she did not have the chance to do so. Therefore, it makes sense to judge others based on the principles they follow to guide their actions, rather than on their emotions (as, again, they may simply find it fun or rewarding to do good, rather than being truly ethical) or on the consequences of their actions (which are in part determined by the opportunity that they have to do good or not do good).

How is the cousin is presented in the book The Vendor of Sweets?

The cousin is presented as quite a complex character in some respects. He comes across as a bit of a drifter, someone without a job or any obvious means of support; he is something of a social parasite, shamelessly sponging off other people. When he goes to visit Jagan at the sweet shop every afternoon, he always helps himself to some sweets without permission. Respecting other people's property hardly seems one of his strong points.

...

The cousin is presented as quite a complex character in some respects. He comes across as a bit of a drifter, someone without a job or any obvious means of support; he is something of a social parasite, shamelessly sponging off other people. When he goes to visit Jagan at the sweet shop every afternoon, he always helps himself to some sweets without permission. Respecting other people's property hardly seems one of his strong points.

But Jagan knows about this and tolerates the cousin's behavior. Whatever his shortcomings in other respects, the cousin proves to be a very good listener, patiently sitting with Jagan as he regales him with his various travails, most of which revolve around his errant wastrel of a son, Mali.

The cousin also seems remarkably wise, someone who is good at giving advice. He provides a kind of bridge between the generations, between father and son, giving a much-needed detached perspective on things. Such a viewpoint is not only valuable to Jagan but also to us as readers. Thanks to the cousin's patient listening and sage advice, we develop a greater degree of empathy and understanding of the main characters in the story.

What happens to the piano at the end of "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan?

At the end of “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, the piano becomes a very special and symbolic gift.

The piano sits unused at Suyuan’s house for many years. On Jing Mei’s thirtieth birthday, her mother offers the piano to her as a gift. From the mother’s point of view, the gift can be viewed as a peace offering from mother to daughter.  

At first, Jing-Mei perceives the piano to be a prize in the...

At the end of “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, the piano becomes a very special and symbolic gift.

The piano sits unused at Suyuan’s house for many years. On Jing Mei’s thirtieth birthday, her mother offers the piano to her as a gift. From the mother’s point of view, the gift can be viewed as a peace offering from mother to daughter.  

At first, Jing-Mei perceives the piano to be a prize in the mother-daughter stand-off, and it remains at her parents’ apartment. After her mother’s death, she has the piano tuned, and during one of her visits she decides to play. When she opens the bench, she finds the piece she attempted to perform at the ill-fated recital that led to the irreconcilable differences between the mother and daughter. Jing-Mei sat down at the piano and realized she was able to play “Pleading Child” with relative ease. She then attempted to play the song on the other page of music. At that point, she comprehends the symbolism of how the two melodies were related.

It had a lighter melody but with the same flowing rhythm and turned out to be quite easy. "Pleading Child" was shorter but slower; "Perfectly Contented" was longer but faster. And after I had played them both a few times, I realized they were two halves of the same song.

Explain the relationship between racism and privilege.

Privilege is a certain sense of immunity, right, or freedom granted to a person, and this plays a major role in society. In an egalitarian society, privilege does not really exist because all members of the group are treated equally. In a stratified society, privilege is limited to a certain portion of society or at least made more difficult for some to attain. Race is an unfortunately common factor in "justifying" social stratification, especially in...

Privilege is a certain sense of immunity, right, or freedom granted to a person, and this plays a major role in society. In an egalitarian society, privilege does not really exist because all members of the group are treated equally. In a stratified society, privilege is limited to a certain portion of society or at least made more difficult for some to attain. Race is an unfortunately common factor in "justifying" social stratification, especially in cultures where there is a history of colonialism or slavery.

Racism is the devaluation and discrimination of people of a particular "racial" group, typically distinguished by physical characteristics like skin, hair, and eye color. While organizing people into certain groups based on shared physical characteristics is not an act of violence on its own, the conflation of arbitrary values and characteristics and the devaluation or preference for certain physical traits is. In societies where race is a factor in stratification or access to privilege, these physical characteristics can enable or hinder a person's agency in life. 

The allocation of privilege based on race relies on false justification through the conflation of arbitrary values with visible characteristics. To avoid using real racial myths, imagine you live in a society where people have wildly colored hair. Red, blue, purple, orange, green, any color you can think of. Now imagine it's really valuable in this society to go to flight school and become a pilot, but people with green hair are often denied entry into flight school based on the "justification" that people with green hair are naturally bad pilots. I understand this is a pretty ridiculous sounding example, but it demonstrates just how ridiculous it is to conflate arbitrary characteristics like job performance with someone's physical traits.

What is meant by the expressions "rules of inheritance" and "gender bias"? How do they apply to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?

"Gender bias" refers to treating people unfairly because they belong to a certain gender; traditionally, women and girls are given less credibility than boys and men (though this type of bias is starting to change).

In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lucy, the youngest child and a girl, finds Narnia first. After she returns from the magical world that she finds by passing through the wardrobe, the others hardly notice that she...

"Gender bias" refers to treating people unfairly because they belong to a certain gender; traditionally, women and girls are given less credibility than boys and men (though this type of bias is starting to change).

In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lucy, the youngest child and a girl, finds Narnia first. After she returns from the magical world that she finds by passing through the wardrobe, the others hardly notice that she was missing. She tells her older siblings, a sister and two brothers, "But I've been away for hours and hours." Her older brother, Edmund, says, "Batty!" He then taps his head and says, "Quite batty." Her sister, Susan, says, "Don't be silly, Lucy.... We've only just come out of that room a moment ago, and you were there then." And Lucy's older brother, Peter, says, "She's not being silly at all...she's just making up a story for fun, aren't you, Lu? And why shouldn't she?" No one believes Lucy, perhaps in part because she is the youngest and a girl, and this situation makes Lucy quite miserable: 

"But Lucy was a very truthful girl and she knew that she was really in the right; and she could not bring herself to say this. The others who thought she was telling a lie, and a silly lie too, made her very unhappy."

Lucy lives in a state of misery because no one believes her, in part because of her gender and in part because of her age. Her siblings consider little girls prone to making up stories. Edmund then enters the wardrobe and sees that Narnia is a reality; only then does he believe Lucy. However, when he leaves Narnia, he lies and tells Susan and Peter that Lucy imagined Narnia to play a cruel trick on Lucy.

The "rules of inheritance" define who can inherit titles and property when someone dies. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the White Queen tells Edmund that she will bring him up to be a prince. She tells him:

"You are to be the Prince and--later on--the King; that is understood. But you must have courtiers and nobles. I will make your brother a Duke and your sisters Duchesses."

In reality, the Queen's election of Edmund to be king goes against traditional laws of inheritance, as the oldest boy, Peter, would be king before Edmund. According to traditional rules of inheritance, boys inherited the throne before girls did, which also shows gender bias.  

What are the duties of the Executive Branch?

The President of the United States is the Executive Branch per the Constitution. The president is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and he makes the decision to use nuclear weapons in war. He also has the authority to send troops into war, though Congress is the only branch that can formally declare war. The president also enforces treaties and shapes federal policies. He prepares a budget for Congressional approval. He also appoints federal officials,...

The President of the United States is the Executive Branch per the Constitution. The president is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and he makes the decision to use nuclear weapons in war. He also has the authority to send troops into war, though Congress is the only branch that can formally declare war. The president also enforces treaties and shapes federal policies. He prepares a budget for Congressional approval. He also appoints federal officials, though some, such as Supreme Court Justices, require Senate ratification. The president selects his own cabinet, which consist of his advisers. The president can veto an act of Congress, but Congress can override his veto with a two-thirds majority vote. If the president does not take action on the bill within ten days, it becomes a law provided that Congress stays in session during those ten days. The president can also issue pardons. The most famous presidential pardon happened when Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon after Ford took office.

Sal says that her story is hidden behind Phoebe’s. What does she mean by that?

Sal draws an analogy between Phoebe's story and an old brick fireplace uncovered by her father on the night her mother left. Sal's father had gradually chipped away at a plaster wall in the farmhouse until he made his unexpected discovery. Just as the old fireplace was hidden behind a wall, so Sal's story is hidden behind Phoebe's. What Sal means by this is that her own story is intimately related to that of Phoebe....

Sal draws an analogy between Phoebe's story and an old brick fireplace uncovered by her father on the night her mother left. Sal's father had gradually chipped away at a plaster wall in the farmhouse until he made his unexpected discovery. Just as the old fireplace was hidden behind a wall, so Sal's story is hidden behind Phoebe's. What Sal means by this is that her own story is intimately related to that of Phoebe. The memories that she has of Phoebe will always be there, never to be forgotten. At the same time, though, Sal can choose to build her own life, just as someone once built a wall over the old fireplace. It's her own life, but it wouldn't be possible for her to build it without the foundations provided by her relationship with Phoebe.

In Hatchet, how did Brian's relationship with nature change?

Gary Paulsen's Hatchet is one of the great survival stories in literary history, and arguably the most famous featuring a young adult protagonist. The novel tells the story of 13-year-old Brian Robeson, who is on a flight to northern Canada when his plane crashes down, forcing him to survive for 54 days in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a hatchet. 

This type of literary conflict is classically referred to as "Man vs. Wild," distinguished...

Gary Paulsen's Hatchet is one of the great survival stories in literary history, and arguably the most famous featuring a young adult protagonist. The novel tells the story of 13-year-old Brian Robeson, who is on a flight to northern Canada when his plane crashes down, forcing him to survive for 54 days in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a hatchet. 

This type of literary conflict is classically referred to as "Man vs. Wild," distinguished from the other standard conflicts of "Man vs. Man," "Man vs. Society," and "Man vs. Self." In some ways, this is the simplest type of conflict; a hero tries to survive amidst a chaotic and unfeeling natural world that has the potential to kill them. 

Hatchet follows familiar plot points in this world. First, the hero adjusts to his completely alien environment (Brian takes in the utter and total silence of the woods, something that never existed back home). Next, the wilderness begins to throw challenges at the hero as they struggle to achieve their basic needs for water, food, and shelter. After some embarrassing and/or painful mishaps, the hero begins to learn the lay of the land and achieve calm mastery over their environment. 

Though Brian is in the woods for less than two months, his mastery is undeniable as he successfully creates shelter, hunts small animals, makes fire, etc., strengthened by the fact that he goes on to star in four more novels with similar settings. And as he learns to navigate the "Wild," we see his relationship move from fear to respect, from fumbling to grace, and from anxiety to calmness. Their is a spiritual transformation that often takes place in any "Man vs. Wild" narrative, in which the hero comes to inadvertently love the land that he battles, and to create victory through symbiosis. 

what is dramatic irony in the machine that won the war

In Asimov’s ironically named “The Machine That Won the War,” three leaders reflect on their recent military success in a war against the Deneb. We are initially led to believe that this militaristic success is due to Multivac, a supercomputer that aggregates data from countless other sources to identify the best strategies. As the story progresses, we learn that this is anything but the case. Suspecting that the data has been falsified, Henderson takes certain...

In Asimov’s ironically named “The Machine That Won the War,” three leaders reflect on their recent military success in a war against the Deneb. We are initially led to believe that this militaristic success is due to Multivac, a supercomputer that aggregates data from countless other sources to identify the best strategies. As the story progresses, we learn that this is anything but the case. Suspecting that the data has been falsified, Henderson takes certain measures to correct the data using little more than his intuition. As Swift puts it, “the material handed to guide me in my decision-making capacity was a man-made interpretation of man-made data.” We learn that Multivac is anything but a war hero.

The short story revolves around a series of ironies that culminate in a final display of dramatic irony produced by Swift. Although Henderson believes that he knows more than the other characters around him, the narration and description foreshadow the ending. This gap—between what Henderson believes and what the reader suspects to be true—can be referred to as dramatic irony.

The title of the story suggests that Multivac is a savior of sorts. But this title only produces the conditions necessary for a series of ironic reversals. The first reversal is produced by Henderson’s explanation as he reveals the truth about Multivac. But there is a dramatic irony that is slowly produced in conjunction with the title and the narrator’s description. Although Henderson believes himself to be a stoic figure and a keeper of the war’s great secret, the narration suggests something else is at play. Swift is described as looking older and more tired, and his demeanor and description hints to the reader that Henderson is unaware of what is truly occurring. This dramatic irony comes to fruition in the closing moment of the story, as we learn that Swift has kept the greatest secret of all: his decisions were not based on Multivac’s data, but instead on the result of a coin flip.

Discuss the meaning and significance of the modern slave trade for the development of human rights.

Slavery is an ancient practice that continues to this day in many forms, including slavery as it is understood in the context of pre-Civil War America, sex trafficking involving children and adult women, forced marriage, and forced labor. Each of these forms of slavery are present across much of the world. In wealthy Persian Gulf countries like the United Arab Emirates, desperately poor foreign laborers from Pakistan, Philippines, India and other countries are attracted to...

Slavery is an ancient practice that continues to this day in many forms, including slavery as it is understood in the context of pre-Civil War America, sex trafficking involving children and adult women, forced marriage, and forced labor. Each of these forms of slavery are present across much of the world. In wealthy Persian Gulf countries like the United Arab Emirates, desperately poor foreign laborers from Pakistan, Philippines, India and other countries are attracted to the Gulf fiefdoms by promises of well-paid work—only to find themselves caught in a trap involving forced servitude under abysmal conditions. In the United States, sex trafficking involving young women is a serious and omnipresent problem. In northern Africa, slavery—mostly involving the victimization of blacks from sub-Saharan Africa by avaricious “businessmen” in the northern Maghreb region of the continent—has grown exponentially worse with the increased migration of immigrants from the south to the north (namely, those seeking refuge across the Mediterranean Sea in Europe). In short, slavery remains a very prominent problem in the twenty-first century.

The meaning and significance of the modern trade for the development of human rights is dismal. In the aftermath of the horrific devastation of World War II and the Holocaust, the newly-established United Nations passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article IV of which reads as follows:

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

The preamble to this seminal if less-than-successful declaration emphasized the primacy of human dignity in international relations and, obviously, the universality of its intentions. The opening passages of this preamble reads:

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. . .

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. . .

The fact that slavery remains a seemingly intractable problem in the modern era is a testament to the failure of humanity to abide by these basic principles. If it were only isolated incidents or individuals guilty of human trafficking, slavery, indentured servitude, and so on, then the relationship of slavery to the development of human rights would not be as consequential. There is a very real limit (short of military intervention) on how more “civilized” nations can address these problems in developing countries. The continued prevalence of various forms of slavery in much of the world, however, is a blemish on the record of the civilized world in virtue of its failure to adequately address the problem of human rights abuses. The meaning and significance of the modern slave trade to the development of human rights is substantial and troubling. Slavery in the twenty-first century is an indication that the primacy of the individual and his or her right to freedom has failed to find a sufficiently wide audience to prevent its recurrence.

`sum_(n=0)^oo (n+10)/(10n+1)` Determine the convergence or divergence of the series.

`sum_(n=0)^oo(n+10)/(10n+1)`

For the series `a_n=(n+10)/(10n+1)`

`a_n=(1+10/n)/(10+1/n)`

`lim_(n->oo)a_n=lim_(n->oo)(1+10/n)/(10+1/n)`

`=1/10!=0`

As per the n'th term test for divergence,

If `lim_(n->oo)a_n!=0` , then `sum_(n=1)^ooa_n` diverges

So, the series diverges.

`sum_(n=0)^oo(n+10)/(10n+1)`

For the series `a_n=(n+10)/(10n+1)`

`a_n=(1+10/n)/(10+1/n)`

`lim_(n->oo)a_n=lim_(n->oo)(1+10/n)/(10+1/n)`

`=1/10!=0`

As per the n'th term test for divergence,

If `lim_(n->oo)a_n!=0` , then `sum_(n=1)^ooa_n` diverges

So, the series diverges.

How did Flannery O'Connor's life and beliefs influence her writings in "Good Country People?"

Flannery O'Connor is an American author whose writings were heavily influenced by her life and beliefs. O'Connor was a devout Catholic who expressed the tenets of her faith through many of her writings, including "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "Good Country People."

Flannery O'Connor's Life

O'Connor was raised in Savannah, Georgia until her family relocated to Milledgeville, Georgia when she was a teenager. She grew up in a well-known Roman Catholic family...

Flannery O'Connor is an American author whose writings were heavily influenced by her life and beliefs. O'Connor was a devout Catholic who expressed the tenets of her faith through many of her writings, including "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "Good Country People."

Flannery O'Connor's Life

O'Connor was raised in Savannah, Georgia until her family relocated to Milledgeville, Georgia when she was a teenager. She grew up in a well-known Roman Catholic family and remained Catholic throughout her life. Her father suffered from a serious medical condition that led to the family having to leave their home for his wife's small, rural hometown. These experiences, coupled with her own medical issues, led O'Connor to focus her work on themes of alienation, man's relationship with God, and salvation.

"Good Country People"

"Good Country People" is one of Flannery O'Connor's better known short stories and it not only exemplifies her mastery of form but her personal worldview as well. This story is set in the rural South and focuses on themes of religious corruption and human goodness. The story truly begins with a Bible salesman who cons the main character by stealing her prosthetic leg and leaving her trapped in a loft. The salesman preys upon Hulga's pride in her own intelligence and uses it against her. After he seduces Hulga and steals her prosthetic, she is left humbled and wiser about the world, if deeply humiliated. Through this story, O'Connor expresses both the Southern and Catholic identities that can be found throughout her body of work.

A particle moving in one dimension (`q` ) has the following Lagrangian: `L=1/2 A ((dq)/(dt))^2-Bq^2` Where `A` and `B` are constants. What is the...

The equations of motion is to find the Euler-Lagrange equations. These equations have the form:

`d/dt (dL)/(d (dq)/(dt))=(dL)/(dq)`

First,

`(dL)/(d (dq)/(dt))=(d)/(d (dq)/(dt)) [ 1/2 A ((dq)/(dt))^2-Bq^2]`

`(dL)/(d (dq)/(dt))= A (dq)/(dt)`

Now,

`(dL)/(dq)=(d)/(dq) [1/2 A ((dq)/(dt))^2-Bq^2]`

`(dL)/(dq)= -2Bq`

Now simplify the Euler-Lagrange equation.

`d/dt (dL)/(d (dq)/(dt))=(dL)/(dq)`

`(d/(dt))A (dq)/(dt)=-2Bq`

`A (d^2q)/(dt^2)=-2Bq`

`(d^2q)/(dt^2)=(-2Bq)/A`

This is the equation of motion. The acceleration is proportional to the position. The exact equation for the position of the particle as a function...

The equations of motion is to find the Euler-Lagrange equations. These equations have the form:

`d/dt (dL)/(d (dq)/(dt))=(dL)/(dq)`

First,

`(dL)/(d (dq)/(dt))=(d)/(d (dq)/(dt)) [ 1/2 A ((dq)/(dt))^2-Bq^2]`

`(dL)/(d (dq)/(dt))= A (dq)/(dt)`

Now,

`(dL)/(dq)=(d)/(dq) [1/2 A ((dq)/(dt))^2-Bq^2]`

`(dL)/(dq)= -2Bq`

Now simplify the Euler-Lagrange equation.

`d/dt (dL)/(d (dq)/(dt))=(dL)/(dq)`

`(d/(dt))A (dq)/(dt)=-2Bq`

`A (d^2q)/(dt^2)=-2Bq`

`(d^2q)/(dt^2)=(-2Bq)/A`

This is the equation of motion. The acceleration is proportional to the position. The exact equation for the position of the particle as a function of time can be found from solving this differential equation.

The solution to this equation has the general solution of

`q(t)=q_0Cos(sqrt((2B)/A) t+phi)`

This is the Where `q_0` and `phi` can be found from initial conditions.

Could someone share some personal impressions, to help me understand the key points of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)? And, how does it...

A key feature to the Every Student Succeeds Act is that it gives individual states new flexibility on how to exactly improve education in various districts.  For example, states can pick which long term and short term goals to work on; however, the goals need to address test proficiency, English language proficiency, and graduation rates.  The focus is to require that "all students in America be taught to high academic standards that will prepare them to succeed in college and careers." 

Another key point of the Every Student Succeeds Act is that it increases focus on lower performing schools.  States are required to "identify and intervene" in a high school that has a graduation rate of 67% or lower.  What's good about the focus is that the ESSA allows individual school districts to figure out and implement a plan to help the struggling schools.  States will monitor the progress of the school, and if no improvements are made, the state can take over the school to implement its own plan. 

Standards based education is still a priority with the ESSA in that states are required to adopt "challenging" academic standards; however, individual states are free to pick their own set of standards.  In fact, the ESSA expressly prohibits the Secretary of Education from even encouraging a state to pick one set of standards over another. For example, no state would be required to adopt the Common Core State Standards.  

The ESSA has an increased focus on English Language Learners.  This is evidenced by the fact that ELLs' accountability has been moved from Title III to Title I. By a student's third year in the country, his/her test scores are treated no differently than any other student's test scores. 

As for students with learning disabilities, the ESSA maintains its focus on high standards.  Only 1% of students (overall) are going to be allowed to take alternative tests.  A consequence of this 1% cap is that the testing needs of many students with learning disabilities could be ignored. 

Regarding Advanced Learners and Economically Disadvantaged Learners, a provision in the ESSA allows states to use up to 3% of their Title I money to create new programs.  The aim is for money to go to schools and districts in lower income areas, which should help those students reach higher levels of achievement.  Some of those students are likely Advanced Learners; therefore, the ESSA is attempting to spread funding around so that more students can be Advanced Learners.  Michael Magee, the CEO of Chiefs for Change, says the following about the ESSA.

 ". . . it will help a great many schools create new tutoring programs or Advanced Placement classes, or devise new ways to use technology."

Why were most slave revolts on ships unsuccessful?

Though African slaves outnumbered their captors by a large margin on slave ships, there are many factors to consider as to why they were unsuccessful in capturing the ships. First, the Africans were packed in quite tightly and were unarmed. Secondly, not all of the Africans spoke the same language; Africa is a culturally diverse land with many languages.  While there are some linguistic similarities in Africa, it would have been difficult for these Africans...

Though African slaves outnumbered their captors by a large margin on slave ships, there are many factors to consider as to why they were unsuccessful in capturing the ships. First, the Africans were packed in quite tightly and were unarmed. Secondly, not all of the Africans spoke the same language; Africa is a culturally diverse land with many languages.  While there are some linguistic similarities in Africa, it would have been difficult for these Africans to understand one another, especially in the heat of a battle against armed slave captains. There was also the issue of slaves being malnourished and weakened, especially towards the end of the voyage. Even if the slaves did overthrow their slave captains, there was the question of steering the ship. Most slaves lacked the skill needed to sail such a large vessel, and in open water it would have been hard to locate a port that would provide refuge for a ship full of captives.

What are the conflicts faced by Esther in The Endless Steppe?

The Endless Steppe follows ten-year-old Esther Rudomin and the challenges she is forced to face at such a young age. It is a coming-of-age story that truly showcases Esther's strength and resilience.

Esther is in fact taken away from her home and is forced to endure a very difficult journey without knowing where she is being taken. She arrives, after many troubles, in a village in Siberia which is far from hospitable.

However, despite being...

The Endless Steppe follows ten-year-old Esther Rudomin and the challenges she is forced to face at such a young age. It is a coming-of-age story that truly showcases Esther's strength and resilience.

Esther is in fact taken away from her home and is forced to endure a very difficult journey without knowing where she is being taken. She arrives, after many troubles, in a village in Siberia which is far from hospitable.

However, despite being only a little girl, she is inquisitive and rather brave. She confronts the Russian soldiers when they reach her house, demanding an explanation for her family's arrest. In other situations, she continues to ask questions, confronting some authority figures while also making new friends.

Esther remains inquisitive, curious, and brave throughout the novel. She fearlessly adapts to any situation and refuses to be subjugated, even during such a difficult time as World War II. At school, she studies hard and reads anything she can get her hands on, encouraged by her literature teacher; on top of that, she uses her knitting skills to get a job in order to earn more money for her family.

Esther is proud and determined and learns to have hope and be happy even in the face of adversities.

Discuss the notion of metaphor, including metaphors and cultural knowledge, linguistic metaphors, conceptual metaphors, cognitive metaphors, and...

Metaphors, Cultural Knowledge and Linguistic Metaphors

Metaphors are inherently connected to cultural knowledge in the sense that some knowledge of a culture and its linguistic quirks is necessary to properly understand and use most metaphors. Conceptual and poetic metaphors are both connected to cultural knowledge such as language, the cultural meanings and interpretations of words, and the poetic use of certain phrases. In general, metaphors allow us to communicate abstract ideas in terms that are...

Metaphors, Cultural Knowledge and Linguistic Metaphors

Metaphors are inherently connected to cultural knowledge in the sense that some knowledge of a culture and its linguistic quirks is necessary to properly understand and use most metaphors. Conceptual and poetic metaphors are both connected to cultural knowledge such as language, the cultural meanings and interpretations of words, and the poetic use of certain phrases. In general, metaphors allow us to communicate abstract ideas in terms that are more concrete and thus easier to understand. All metaphors are linguistic elements, so a linguistic metaphor simply refers to the use of a comparison to express an abstract idea through more concrete language without the use of simile.

Conceptual/ Cognitive Metaphors

A conceptual metaphor is a rhetorical device that requires an understanding of one concept in the context of a different concept. These metaphors revolve around words that take on somewhat ambiguous associations or concepts. For example, saying that someone is "feeling up" today or that his or her spirits have "risen" is a conceptual metaphor. While up in its most literal sense applies to the concept of direction, it has also become associated with the concepts of happiness or improvement. Cognitive metaphor is another name for conceptual metaphor.

Poetic Metaphors

Metaphors are common devices in poems and literature. Keats used metaphors such as "beauty is truth, truth beauty" to communicate a comparison between two poetic concepts without the use of simile. Shakespeare is another poet who was famous for his use of poetic metaphors. A Shakespearean example of a poetic metaphor would be, "marriage of two minds."

Why would the society in Gathering Blue be classified as dystopian?

There are many characteristics of the society in Gathering Blue that make it dystopian, and perhaps one that breaks the rules for a typical dystopia. 

A dystopian society is usually understood as a future society in which the effort to create an ideal society, or utopia, has backfired, creating a culture that suppresses freedom and personal achievement, often in favor of a bland, homogeneous citizenry. The community in Gathering Bluefits this description, except for...

There are many characteristics of the society in Gathering Blue that make it dystopian, and perhaps one that breaks the rules for a typical dystopia. 

A dystopian society is usually understood as a future society in which the effort to create an ideal society, or utopia, has backfired, creating a culture that suppresses freedom and personal achievement, often in favor of a bland, homogeneous citizenry. The community in Gathering Blue fits this description, except for the part about the ideal society. It doesn't seem that anyone in the community is under the impression that their society is in any way ideal. They live in the shadow of the "Ruin," so they know they are a fallen culture. Even the Council of Guardians does not seem to promulgate the view that they represent any ideal way of life. 

Beyond that discrepancy, however, the Gathering Blue culture is dystopian in many ways:

The society uses propaganda to control the society, particularly in the ritual of the Annual Gathering with its singer's robe and song.

They restrict independent thought. Women are not allowed to read, and when Annabella says there are no beasts, she is presumably killed by either Jamison or the guardians.

Their worship is meaningless; they revere a "worship object," which is a cross left over from before the Ruin, yet they don't seem to even understand what it represents. 

Citizens are controlled by fear of the outside world; they are kept inside the community by fear of beasts, which no one has ever seen.

Citizens live less than fully human lives; they fight and bicker, and there are no uplifting roles in society, such as pastors, educators, or philosophers. The only artists are taken by the oligarchy and used for their purposes; they aren't allowed to use their gifts freely.

Citizens conform mindlessly to the desires of the leaders. Even though the leaders live in the modern Council Edifice while the citizens live in mud huts, the people don't display jealousy or rebellion toward the oligarchy.

Lois Lowry has portrayed a future dystopian society that complies well with the standard definition of a dystopia.

Please summarize and explain Jared Diamond's overall message and theme of his book, Guns, Germs, and Steel?

The general theme of Guns, Germs, and Steel is human development.  Diamond is interested in the different levels of development in different societies.  In other words, he wants to know why some societies became so much more wealthy and powerful than others.  Diamond’s overall message is that these differences are caused by geographic factors, not by any factors that are innate to the people or cultures of the various societies.

In our world today, countries...

The general theme of Guns, Germs, and Steel is human development.  Diamond is interested in the different levels of development in different societies.  In other words, he wants to know why some societies became so much more wealthy and powerful than others.  Diamond’s overall message is that these differences are caused by geographic factors, not by any factors that are innate to the people or cultures of the various societies.

In our world today, countries populated by people of European descent are, on average, stronger and richer than others.  This was even more true a few decades ago when Diamond started to think about the issues that he explores in this book.  Many people have attributed this difference to inherent qualities of the people and cultures involved.  They have said that Europeans dominate because they are genetically superior or because their culture is more conducive to progress.  Diamond disagrees.  Diamond says that Europeans came to dominate through geographical luck.  He says that Eurasia was more suited to agriculture than any other region in the world.  Therefore, agriculture arose there first and spread more easily in Eurasia than elsewhere.  Because this area got agriculture first, it also developed civilization and technology first.  It had a longer time in which its civilizations could grow and develop.  Therefore, by modern times, Europeans and their descendants had come to dominate the world.

Diamond argues, then, that differences in human development around the world are caused by geographical luck rather than by any factors that make the people of one society superior to the people of another.

Why is Mr. Nuttel the perfect victim for the plot in the story "The Open Window"?

Framton Nuttel is the nervous type. In fact, he is spending some time in the country on doctor's orders to try and help cure his strained nervous system. At the same time, his sister does not want him to become isolated; she wants him to go out and meet new people. It sounds like sensible advice, but it leads to Framton's already frayed nerves ending up almost completely shattered.

Vera could not have wished for...

Framton Nuttel is the nervous type. In fact, he is spending some time in the country on doctor's orders to try and help cure his strained nervous system. At the same time, his sister does not want him to become isolated; she wants him to go out and meet new people. It sounds like sensible advice, but it leads to Framton's already frayed nerves ending up almost completely shattered.

Vera could not have wished for a better victim of her terrifying shaggy-dog story. Framton is already nervous when he meets her, even though she is a fairly ordinary teenage girl. As well as having a nervous condition, Framton is rather shy, so meeting new people is a bit of a chore. Vera quickly establishes that Framton does not know anyone in the area, so her tall story will sound much more plausible. Everything is now set up to provide Vera with the ideal opportunity to spring her cruel little prank. 

To what extent is Abigail Williams a villainous character? How does she use her power to her advantage?

Abigail falsely accused John’s wife Elizabeth of hating her and being the cause of the rumors (which were later confirmed as true) going around town about her relationship with John when she worked for the family.

Abigail: She hates me, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. It’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman!

When she realized that the consequences for...

Abigail falsely accused John’s wife Elizabeth of hating her and being the cause of the rumors (which were later confirmed as true) going around town about her relationship with John when she worked for the family.

Abigail: She hates me, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. It’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman!

When she realized that the consequences for her action in the forest were going to be grave, she accused Tituba and Ruth for her own participation in the dance.

Parris, to Abigail: Then you were conjuring spirits last night.

Abigail, whispering: Not I, sir - Tituba and Ruth.

Abigail framed Elizabeth by informing the court officials about a poppet in her house, which was allegedly used to bewitch her. The poppet was made by Mary, Elizabeth’s servant, while they were sitting in court. Elizabeth was arrested and charged with witchcraft after the doll was found in her house.

Danforth, turning to Abigail: A poppet were discovered in Mr. Proctor.’s house, stabbed by a needle. Mary Warren claims that you sat beside her in the court when she made it, and that you saw her make it and witnessed how she herself stuck her needle into it for safe-keeping. What say you to that?

Abigail, with a slight note of indignation: It is a lie, sir.

Abigail used her influence on the girls to ensure they did not say the truth. She threatened them with violence and they all complied with her directives. At one point Mary made an attempt to state the truth but Abigail turned the other girls against her. Mary eventually turned against John, accusing him of working for the devil and rescinded her confession.

Abigail - now she takes a backward step, as though in fear the bird will swoop down momentarily: Oh, please, Mary! Don.’t come down.

Susanna Walcott: Her claws, she’s stretching her claws!

After the hanging of several members of the Salem community and the incarceration of John, Abigail ran away after stealing money from her uncle’s safe.

Parris: Excellency, I think they be aboard a ship. Danforth stands agape. My daughter tells me how she heard them speaking of ships last week, and tonight I discover my - my strongbox is broke into. He presses his fingers against his eyes to keep back tears.

Hathorne, astonished: She have rob

What is the quote that shows Ponyboy being thoughtful?

I would, I would help her and Randy both if I could. "Hey," I said suddenly, "can you see the sunset real good from the West Side?" 

Here, Ponyboy realizes that both the Greasers and Socs are just kids going through different challenges presented by their circumstances. He also demonstrates his desire to help everyone regardless of their backgrounds, and this aspect draws him closer to Cherry Valance.

Cherry finds Ponyboy different because of how...

I would, I would help her and Randy both if I could. "Hey," I said suddenly, "can you see the sunset real good from the West Side?" 

Here, Ponyboy realizes that both the Greasers and Socs are just kids going through different challenges presented by their circumstances. He also demonstrates his desire to help everyone regardless of their backgrounds, and this aspect draws him closer to Cherry Valance.

Cherry finds Ponyboy different because of how he perceives the situation between the Socs and the Greasers. Additionally, during a conversation between Ponyboy and Cherry, Ponyboy clarifies some misconceptions that Cherry has against Dally. He is also receptive to Cherry’s explanation of issues that the Socs go through and tries to relate.

Ponyboy is caught up in the cycle of violence not out of choice but out of circumstance. He is a Greaser, and this puts him on a warpath with the Socs. He has no choice but to participate in rumbles. At some point, he is also forced to defend himself from an attack by the Socs. However, he does not support all his own actions and hopes for a peaceful resolution to their conflicts.

What is the set of four quantum numbers for last electron of aluminum and beryllium?

Quantum numbers are theoretical expressions representing certain quantum mechanical properties of sub-atomic particles, atoms, or molecules. 

In atoms and electrons, quantum numbers are used to describe the orbitals in atoms, mathematical representations of the likelihood of finding electrons in a given space. There are four quantum numbers:

• Principal quantum number (n) - is generally related to the size of the orbital, or the distance of the electron from the nucleus. This also correspond to the energy level. Allowed values from n are 1, 2, 3, ... and where an increasing number of n refer to an increasing size or distance.


• Angular quantum number (l) - describes the shape of the orbital. Orbitals can be spherical (s), can contain two lobes with a node in the middle (p), or four equally-spaced lobes with a node in the center (d), among others. These shapes correspond to a number: s is 0, p is 1, d is 2, f is 3, g is 4, ... Allowed numbers for this quantum number are 0 up to n-1. Hence, if the principal quantum number is 1, the only allowed shape is an s-orbital.


• Magnetic quantum number (ml) - describes the orientation of an orbital in space, and may take on values from -l to +l. The d orbital, with l=2, can therefore have 5 different orientations each represented by a magnetic quantum number of -2, -1, 0, 1, 2.


• Spin quantum number (ms) - describes the spin state of an electron in this case, and can only take on values of +1/2 and -1/2.

These quantum numbers may be derived from the electron configuration corresponding to an electron - for instance, the last electron. The electron configuration of aluminum is:

[Ne] 3s2 3p1,

Hence, the last electron is in 3p1. The n quantum number then is 3, as this is the 3rd energy level. The l quantum number is 1, which corresponds to the p orbital. The p orbital has three orientations - -1, 0, +1, and there is only one electron - the -1 orientation is conventionally filled out first (though these have equal likelihood to be filled out and these numbers are simplified representations). Moreover, if it is the first electron in a sub-shell, +1/2 is typically assigned. Hence, the last electron of aluminum will have the following QN:

n = 3, l = 1, ml = -1, ms = +1/2

Meanwhile, the last electron of beryllium has the following electron configuration:

[He] 2s2,

Hence, the n quantum number is 2, and the l quantum number is 0. There is only one possible ml for the s orbital and that is 0 - there are no other possible unique orientations for a sphere in 3D space. There are two electrons in this orbital - the first gets +1/2 spin, and the second -1/2. Hence, the last electron will have the following QN:

n = 2, l = 0, ml = 0, ms = -1/2

In To Kill a Mockingbird, does all the evidence Atticus presents during the trial prove Tom Robinson did not rape Mayella? Was Tom killed because...

Throughout the trial, Atticus argues Tom Robinson did not assault or rape Mayella Ewell because he was physically handicapped. In addition to Tom's handicap, Atticus points out there was no circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution to convict Tom. Through his cross-examination of Mayella Ewell, Atticus also exposes her contradicting testimony. Atticus then suggests that Bob Ewell assaulted his daughter because he witnessed her kiss Tom, then decided to fabricate the story to cover up...

Throughout the trial, Atticus argues Tom Robinson did not assault or rape Mayella Ewell because he was physically handicapped. In addition to Tom's handicap, Atticus points out there was no circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution to convict Tom. Through his cross-examination of Mayella Ewell, Atticus also exposes her contradicting testimony. Atticus then suggests that Bob Ewell assaulted his daughter because he witnessed her kiss Tom, then decided to fabricate the story to cover up the fact that he beat Mayella. The location of Mayella's bruises to the right side of her face and all the way around her neck were obviously inflicted by Bob since Tom was not physically capable of causing the injuries. Unfortunately, Tom becomes the victim of racial injustice after the prejudiced jury wrongly convicts him. There was no evidence presented during the case that suggested that Tom assaulted or raped Mayella. Tom was essentially guilty before he stepped into the courtroom simply because he was a black man. The racist jury members dismiss Atticus's arguments and convict Tom because of his race. Atticus knew going into the case that Tom would not win because of the community's prejudiced beliefs. Tom's wrongful conviction depicts the hate and bitterness toward the black community of Maycomb.

I am trying to write a literary analysis on Susan Glaspell's Trifles, and I need a good thesis and direction to begin.

A good focus area for an essay on Susan Glaspell's Trifleswould be the difference between how the male characters and the female characters investigate the crime scene. The male characters, as policemen and town officials, take a traditional approach, looking for evidence of someone breaking into the house or weapons used in the crime (Mr. Wright's murder). The women do not go to the Wright home to help investigate the murder, but rather end...

A good focus area for an essay on Susan Glaspell's Trifles would be the difference between how the male characters and the female characters investigate the crime scene. The male characters, as policemen and town officials, take a traditional approach, looking for evidence of someone breaking into the house or weapons used in the crime (Mr. Wright's murder). The women do not go to the Wright home to help investigate the murder, but rather end up doing so sort of accidentally; Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are invited by their husbands to come along and help collect some items requested by Mrs. Wright, who is being held in the local jail. 

The women make astute observations as they look around the Wright home. They notice how Mrs. Wright was in the middle of a couple of kitchen tasks that she wasn't able to finish due to some unexpected event. They also look at a quilt that was in progress and see that Mrs. Wright made a few flawed stitches (Mrs. Hale actually redoes them for her, effectively tampering with evidence). The women infer that Mrs. Wright was upset by something that made her stitching erratic. They then realize that her birdcage door is broken and find a dead bird with a broken neck in one of Mrs. Wright's supply boxes. Using these details and their previous interactions with Mrs. Wright (Minnie Foster, before she was married), the women figure out that Mr. Wright killed Mrs. Wright's bird and she retaliated by killing him. They decide to hide this evidence so Mrs. Wright cannot be found guilty. 

While the women are the ones who solve the crime, the men never pay attention to the kitchen nor the quilt, because those scenes seem like "trifles" that only concern women. The daily activities of the home, mostly taken care of by women, are passed over by the men. In this case, though, the scenes of the home are the ones that reveal the truth behind Mr. Wright's murder. 

Analyze the following text in terms of audience, purpose, and context: "Mr. President, Members of the International Olympic Committee. I'm Denise...

To analyze the audience, purpose, and context of this speech, we actually need a bit more background information. We can find this speech both published and analyzed in Jon Steel's book Perfect Pitch: The Art of Selling Ideas and Winning New Business.

Through some basic research, we can discover both the context and purposeof this speech. Olympic champion Denise Lewis gave this speech as part of a lobbying effort to win the bid to...

To analyze the audience, purpose, and context of this speech, we actually need a bit more background information. We can find this speech both published and analyzed in Jon Steel's book Perfect Pitch: The Art of Selling Ideas and Winning New Business.

Through some basic research, we can discover both the context and purpose of this speech. Olympic champion Denise Lewis gave this speech as part of a lobbying effort to win the bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. In terms of more specific context, the speech was given at the Raffle City Convention Centre in Singapore on July 6, 2005. Lewis was chosen to seek in order to establish "ethos" (or credibility) for London's bid, as she had participated (as she states) in the Games in Atlanta, Sydney, and Athens and knows what athletes want. Lewis uses her time in the spotlight to discuss London's plan for giving future Olympic athletes the best possible experience by centralizing the location of the Olympic Village. This establishes London as a great geographic candidate for hosting. 

We can note that Lewis identifies her audience right at the beginning of the speech by directly addressing the President and Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who was responsible for voting on who would host the 2012 Olympics. 

Finally, the good news is that this was obviously an effective speech! The IOC did indeed choose London to host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. 

`sum_(n=1)^oo 1/(n+3)` Confirm that the Integral Test can be applied to the series. Then use the Integral Test to determine the convergence or...

`sum_(n=1)^oo1/(n+3)`

The integral test is applicable if f is positive, continuous and decreasing function on infinite interval `[k,oo)` where `k>=1` and `a_n=f(x)` . Then the series `sum_(n=1)^ooa_n` converges or diverges if and only if the improper integral `int_1^oof(x)dx` converges or diverges.

For the given series `a_n=1/(n+3)`

Consider `f(x)=1/(x+3)`

Refer to the attached graph of the function. From the graph,we observe that the function is positive, continuous and decreasing for `x>=1`

Let's determine whether function is decreasing by finding...

`sum_(n=1)^oo1/(n+3)`

The integral test is applicable if f is positive, continuous and decreasing function on infinite interval `[k,oo)` where `k>=1` and `a_n=f(x)` . Then the series `sum_(n=1)^ooa_n` converges or diverges if and only if the improper integral `int_1^oof(x)dx` converges or diverges.

For the given series `a_n=1/(n+3)`

Consider `f(x)=1/(x+3)`

Refer to the attached graph of the function. From the graph,we observe that the function is positive, continuous and decreasing for `x>=1`

Let's determine whether function is decreasing by finding the derivative f'(x),

`f'(x)=-1(x+3)^(-2)`

`f'(x)=-1/(x+3)^2`

`f'(x)<0`  which implies that the function is decreasing.

We can apply the integral test, since the function satisfies the conditions for the integral test.

Now let's determine whether the corresponding improper integral converges or diverges,

`int_1^oo1/(x+3)dx=lim_(b->oo)int_1^b1/(x+3)dx` 

`=lim_(b->oo)[ln|x+3|]_1^b`

`=lim_(b->oo)ln|b+3|-ln|1+3|`

`=lim_(b->oo)ln|b+3|-ln4`

`lim_(b->oo)(b+3)=oo`

Apply the common limit:`lim_(u->oo)(ln(u))=oo`

`=oo-ln4`

`=oo`

Since the integral `int_1^oo1/(x+3)dx` diverges, we can conclude from the integral test that the series diverges.

What is Yeats' claim about the Second Coming?

In "The Second Coming," W.B. Yeats explores the Second Coming, a traditional Christian idea that prophesies the return of Christ and the salvation of all true believers. However, Yeats turns this idea on its head by claiming that the Second Coming will be a violent apocalypse, rather than a sign of salvation.

To understand Yeats' main claim in "The Second Coming," it's first important to understand the historical context in which the poem occurred. The...

In "The Second Coming," W.B. Yeats explores the Second Coming, a traditional Christian idea that prophesies the return of Christ and the salvation of all true believers. However, Yeats turns this idea on its head by claiming that the Second Coming will be a violent apocalypse, rather than a sign of salvation.

To understand Yeats' main claim in "The Second Coming," it's first important to understand the historical context in which the poem occurred. The poem was published in 1920, a significant year for all Europeans, and especially for the Irish. The chaos of World War I had recently ended, leaving Europe in a state of previously unimaginable ruin. To make matters worse, Ireland was in the middle of a war for independence that began in 1919 and would last until 1921. As such, it's easy to imagine that, for an Irishman like Yeats, the world must have appeared to be crumbling.

When Yeats envisions the Second Coming, he imagines a "blood-dimmed tide" (5) and a monstrous, beastly "nightmare" (20), a "rough beast" (21) slouching "towards Bethlehem to be born" (22). This vision is a far cry from Christianity's traditional vision of peace and salvation. Indeed, Yeats is basically claiming that the Second Coming will embroil the world in a bloody, apocalyptic event. In the face of the unprecedented chaos and violence of Yeats' day, such a grim assertion would have made sense, as it must have seemed as if the world was ending.

What were the causes for English colonial expansion into the West during the mid-1700s?

If we mean the American, or Trans-Appalachian West, then the reasons were fairly simple. American colonists desired more cheap land so that they could become independent landowners. This was the driving force behind westward expansion ever since the establishment of colonies along the North American coasts, and was a source of constant tension between British colonists and Native Americans. In the mid-eighteenth century, the main destination for settlers was the Piedmont of Virginia and the...

If we mean the American, or Trans-Appalachian West, then the reasons were fairly simple. American colonists desired more cheap land so that they could become independent landowners. This was the driving force behind westward expansion ever since the establishment of colonies along the North American coasts, and was a source of constant tension between British colonists and Native Americans. In the mid-eighteenth century, the main destination for settlers was the Piedmont of Virginia and the Carolinas and even as far south as Georgia. Settlers, mostly Scots-Irish, made their way down the so-called "Great Wagon Trail" from Pennsylvania into the region, where cheap land was to be had. In a little over a decade, settlers were already moving into the Ohio River Valley and Kentucky, defying a proclamation from King George III that lands west of the Appalachians were not to be settled. So expansion into the West was more the result of the desires of ordinary colonists (and wealthy land speculators) to gain cheap land than a concerted effort on the part of the British crown to colonize the region. In fact, the Crown sought to limit these settlements.

What are 5 details we might not notice when we first read the story because Roald Dahl is a master of subtlety?

Mary Maloney calls Patrick "darling" many times. He never responds with a similar term of endearment. In fact, he is dismissive and condescending. He breaks the news to her with no compassion whatsoever.

When Patrick gives Mary the news, she thinks that she can convince herself that it has not occurred.

Perhaps, if she acted as though she had not heard him, she would find out that none of it had ever happened. 

Later, after...

Mary Maloney calls Patrick "darling" many times. He never responds with a similar term of endearment. In fact, he is dismissive and condescending. He breaks the news to her with no compassion whatsoever.

When Patrick gives Mary the news, she thinks that she can convince herself that it has not occurred.

Perhaps, if she acted as though she had not heard him, she would find out that none of it had ever happened. 

Later, after killing him, Mary employs the same strategy. If she acts like she is innocent, it will appear as though she is innocent.

And now, she told herself as she hurried back home, she was returning to her husband and he was waiting for his supper. She had to cook it well and make it taste as good as possible, because the poor man was tired; and if she found anything unusual or terrible when she got home, then it would be a shock and she would have to react with grief and horror. Of course, she was not expecting to find anything unusual at home. She was just going home with the vegetables on Thursday evening to cook dinner for husband.

When the police arrive, she makes it a point to tell them that she's put the lamb in the oven. She says, "it's there now." She is telling them where the murder weapon is. Of course, this is part of the irony that is to come.

Jack Noonan refers to the killer as "he" and "him." He, and perhaps the other detectives, assumes that the killer is male. Mary's acting has worked.

As the detectives eat the murder weapon, one says "she wants us to finish it." Not one of them considers the lamb to be a weapon. None of them suspects Mary. Obviously, she wants them to "finish" the murder weapon, making it impossible for them to attribute the murder to Mary.

`int (x^3+3x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x) dx` Use partial fractions to find the indefinite integral

For the given integral problem: `int (x^3+3x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x)dx` , we may simplify  by applying long division since the highest degree of x is the same from numerator and denominator side.

`(x^3+3x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x) = 1+(4x^2-x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x)` .

Apply partial fraction decomposition on the expression `(4x^2-x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x)` .

The pattern on setting up partial fractions will depend on the factors of the denominator. For the given problem, the factored form of the denominator will be:

`(x^3-4x^2+4x) =(x)(x^2-4x+4)`

                            `=(x) (x-2)(x-2)`  or `x(x-2)^2`

For the linear factor `(x)` , we  will have partial fraction: `A/x`

For the repeated linear factor `(x-2)^2` , we will have partial fractions: `B/(x-2) + C/(x-2)^2` .

The rational expression becomes:

`(4x^2-x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x) =A/x +B/(x-2) + C/(x-2)^2`

Multiply both side by the `LCD =x(x-2)^2` :

`((4x^2-x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x)) (x(x-2)^2)=(A/x +B/(x-2) + C/(x-2)^2)(x(x-2)^2)`

`4x^2-x-4=A*(x-2)^2+B*(x(x-2)) + C*x`

We apply zero-factor property on x(x-2)^2 to solve for value we can assign on x.

`x=0`

`x-2 = 0` then `x=2` .

To solve for `A` , we plug-in `x=0` :

`4*0^2-0-4=A*(0-2)^2+B*(0(0-2)) + C*0`

`0-0-4 = A*(-2)^2 +0 +0`

`-4 =4A`

`-4/4 =(4A)/4`

`A =-1`

To solve for `C` , we plug-in `x=2` :

`4*2^2-2-4=A*(2-2)^2+B*(2(2-2)) + C*2`

`16-2-4 = A*0 +B*0 +2C`

`10= 0 + 0 +2C`

`10 =2C`

`(10)/2= (2C)/2`

`C=5`

To solve for B, plug-in `x=1` ,`A=-1` , and `C=5` :

`4*1^2-1-4=(-1)*(1-2)^2+B*(1(1-2)) + 5*1 `

`4-1-4= (-1)*(-1)^2+B(1*(-1)) +5`

`-1= -1-B +5`

`-1= -B+4`

`-1-4= -B`

`-5=-B`

`(-5)/(-1) = (-B)/(-1)`

`B =5`

Plug-in `A = -1` , `B =5,` and `C=5` , we get the partial decomposition:

`(4x^2-x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x) =-1/x +5/(x-2) + 5/(x-2)^2`

 Then the integrand becomes:

`(x^3+3x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x) = 1+(4x^2-x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x)` .

                    ` =1-1/x +5/(x-2) + 5/(x-2)^2`

 Apply the basic integration property:`int (u+-v) dx = int (u) dx +- int (v) dx` .

`int (x^3+3x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x) dx = int [1-1/x +5/(x-2) + 5/(x-2)^2] dx`

            `=int1 dx - int 1/x dx +int 5/(x-2)dx + int 5/(x-2)^2dx`

Apply basic integration property: ` int(a) dx = ax+C`

`int1 dx = 1x` or `x`

Apply integration formula for logarithm: `int 1/u du = ln|u|+C` .

`int 1/x dx=ln|x|`

`int 5/(x-2)dx= int 5/udu`

                  `= 5ln|u|`

                 `=5 ln|x-2|`

Note: Let `u =x-2` then `du = dx` .

Apply the Power Rule for integration: `int (u^n) dx =u^(n+1)/ (n+1) +C` .

`int 5/(x-2)^2dx=int 5/u^2du`

                    `=int 5u^(-2)du`

                     `= 5 * u^(-2+1)/(-2+1)`

                     `= 5* u^-1/(-1)`

                     `= -5/u`

                     `= -5/(x-2)`

Note: Let `u =x-2` then `du = dx`

Combining the results, we get the indefinite integral as:

`int (x^3+3x-4)/(x^3-4x^2+4x)dx =x-ln|x| +5 ln|x-2|-5/(x-2)+C`

Why did Montresor feel sick at the end?

Montresor does not experience satisfaction with the perfect crime he has committed. Instead he says:

My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so.

He has called to Fortunato several times without getting a response. He is now all alone in the Stygian catacombs. This is perhaps the first indication that he feels any guilt or pity. He does not appear to want to admit that he feels anything...

Montresor does not experience satisfaction with the perfect crime he has committed. Instead he says:

My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so.

He has called to Fortunato several times without getting a response. He is now all alone in the Stygian catacombs. This is perhaps the first indication that he feels any guilt or pity. He does not appear to want to admit that he feels anything but hatred for his victim and satisfaction for his accomplishment. So he attributes the heart-sickness he feels to the dampness of the catacombs. But the reader might feel that this is nothing more than a rationalization. Montresor has been down in these catacombs for a long while and didn't feel any such sickness before. It seems appropriate that Montresor should say that his heart grew sick, since the reader would be experiencing a similar feeling at this point in the story.

The author, Edgar Allan Poe, has achieved the "single effect" he was aiming for. Now it seems like he wants to end his story as quickly as possible. The "heart-sickness" he attributes to his protagonist enables Poe to "wrap up" his story in a few words. Montresor says:

I hastened to make an end of my labour. 

We might think that Montresor just wants to get away from the ghastly and oppressive scene of his crime. In only three more sentences he finishes the wall-building, plasters the entire wall over with mortar on the outside, and replaces the rampart of bones he had previously torn down. Then in only one more sentence he leaps forward fifty years and informs the reader that his victim's body has never been discovered. Did Montresor's own abhorrence at his crime cause his heart to become sick, and did that sickness motivate him to finish the job as quickly as possible? Or did he truly not feel guilt or remorse? Ultimately, it's up to the reader to decide.

What is the Wilson boy/narrator's first name in William Maxwell's novel So Long, See You Tomorrow?

William Maxwell's first-person narrator in his novel So Long, See You Tomorrow is never identified by name in the story. At no point in the narrative does another character address the narrator by his first name. The narrator is simply The Narrator, the grown man recounting the tragic events of his youth.

The key to understanding the mystery—to the extent one wishes to view the absence of a first name as a mystery—concerning the narrator's...

William Maxwell's first-person narrator in his novel So Long, See You Tomorrow is never identified by name in the story. At no point in the narrative does another character address the narrator by his first name. The narrator is simply The Narrator, the grown man recounting the tragic events of his youth.

The key to understanding the mystery—to the extent one wishes to view the absence of a first name as a mystery—concerning the narrator's name lies in the author's approach to his novel. So Long, See You Tomorrow is not an autobiography, but it is seriously inspired by Maxwell's life. Maxwell's mother died when he was a child, just as occurs with the narrator's mother in the story. In addition to the facts of his own childhood, Maxwell was inspired by stories of a real-life murder about which he had read. The novel's plot, involving the examination of one's life against the backdrop of the murder of the narrator's father by the father of the narrator's closest childhood friend, Cletus, departs considerably from the actual life of the author, but the book reflects Maxwell's spirit nonetheless. That Maxwell's novel was inspired by his own childhood as well as by stories of a murder help explain the reason for the narrator's failure to reveal his first name. Some insight into Maxwell's reasoning for cloaking his narrator in a degree of anonymity can be gleaned from an interview the author granted to The Paris Review [Issue 85, Fall 1982]:

"With So Long, See You Tomorrow I felt that in this century the first-person narrator has to be a character and not just a narrative device. So I used myself as the 'I' and the result was two stories, my own and Cletus Smith's, and I knew they had to be structurally combined, but how?"

In this quote, Maxwell provides a potential clue as to the narrator of So Long, See You Tomorrow's first name. The narrator, whose last name is, of course, Wilson (this, we know, is due to the references to the narrator's father, Lloyd Wilson), does not have a first name per se, but can presumed, perhaps, to be "William" due to the autobiographical element of Maxwell's novel.

What were the main disagreements between the Federalists (Hamiltonians) and the Jeffersonian-Republicans in the early years of the nation? Why were...

There was a lot of disagreement in the years following the American Revolution between the Federalists (Hamiltonians) and the anti-Federalists (or Jeffersonian-Republicans). Conflict arose in the wake of the Revolution, when the first attempt at forming a new government proved a failure. Hamilton argued in favor of a large central government, one that included a national bank. Hamilton envisioned a government strong enough to manage the development of an industrialized national and global superpower.

Anti-Federalists,...

There was a lot of disagreement in the years following the American Revolution between the Federalists (Hamiltonians) and the anti-Federalists (or Jeffersonian-Republicans). Conflict arose in the wake of the Revolution, when the first attempt at forming a new government proved a failure. Hamilton argued in favor of a large central government, one that included a national bank. Hamilton envisioned a government strong enough to manage the development of an industrialized national and global superpower.

Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, argued in favor of a small federal government. Remembering the abuses of King George III, Jefferson was very much against giving power (and tax money) to a large, remote government that didn't understand, or care about, the needs of the individual citizen. Jefferson envisioned a nation of yeoman farmers, where every family could be a royal family on their own plot of land. He imagined a rural, agrarian population liberated from the constraints of an overbearing government.

What are some of Odysseus's beliefs?

Odysseus is very much a product of his time and place. He is a great king and noble warrior who unhesitatingly subscribes to the dominant ethos of aristocratic Greek males. Yet he does so with a much greater degree of conviction than mere ordinary mortals. For one thing, he is incredibly loyal: to his wife, Penelope; to his kingdom; to his honor; and to the gods.

Loyalty is very important indeed to Odysseus, and he expects the same in return. When it isn't forthcoming, as for example with the suitors and the treacherous maidservants, then revenge is swift and bloody. Odysseus's slaughter of the suitors and Telemachus's hanging of the maidservants represent a defense of the prevailing moral code and the overriding importance of loyalty to one's king and master in ancient Greek society.

Self-control is another of Odysseus's guiding principles. When the beautiful Sirens try to tempt him off course, he orders his men to tie him firmly to the ship's mast so that he won't fall prey to their sweet, bewitching song. When he finally returns home to Ithaca, he takes on the disguise of a beggar and endures kicks and insults from the unfortunate Melanthius and the suitors. But Odysseus bides his time. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and his will have ice crystals all over it.

Talking of which, there's little doubt that Odysseus has a passionate belief in the power of vengeance. Some of us may be a little shocked by the sheer carnage that Odysseus unleashes upon those who've crossed him. But there is method to his apparent madness. Odysseus is a king, don't forget; his is the sole power and authority on Ithaca. So when, for example, the suitors take over his palace, pay court to his wife and later insult Odysseus, they are effectively attacking his throne. This isn't personal for Odysseus; he isn't like Achilles in this regard. His vengeance, though terrible, is totally in keeping with what any aggrieved Greek monarch of the time would demand.

And Ithaca is Odysseus's home. This is where his heart lies. At no point during his epic wanderings does Odysseus ever once consider not returning home to his kingdom. A sense of place and belonging was important for the ancient Greeks, perhaps more so than for us today. Despite their ceaseless journeys and sea voyages, Greeks were firmly rooted to the land of their ancestors. There was no sense of rampant individualism; one's identity was inextricably linked to the role one performed in society. Odysseus's role, as we have seen, is that of king. By returning to Ithaca, his beloved homeland, he has not just reaffirmed his kingship, but also recovered his true identity.

What result did poverty and unemployment bring to families?

Families are impacted by poverty and unemployment. Without the resources to provide for basic needs, families are forced to make choices. Many times, families choose not to have health insurance or to go to recommended doctors’ visits. As a result, family members, especially the children, in these situations may be less healthy. Sometimes, families can’t afford enough food, especially healthy food. Therefore, family members may be lacking in nutrition.

Poverty and unemployment put a stress...

Families are impacted by poverty and unemployment. Without the resources to provide for basic needs, families are forced to make choices. Many times, families choose not to have health insurance or to go to recommended doctors’ visits. As a result, family members, especially the children, in these situations may be less healthy. Sometimes, families can’t afford enough food, especially healthy food. Therefore, family members may be lacking in nutrition.

Poverty and unemployment put a stress on families. The family may be raised by a single parent because of divorce or separation. Financial issues may lead to disagreements that could lead to divorce. As a result, parents may not be able to take the time to further their education because the needs of the children must be met. Parents may also not be able to afford the cost of furthering their education. Children may not have enough of the proper school supplies. This could hinder their educational process. If education is lacking for parents and/or children, it will be more difficult to escape the effects of poverty and unemployment.

Poverty and unemployment may also lead to a life of crime. People turn to illegal actions to try to alleviate the harsh impacts of poverty and unemployment. Poverty and unemployment may have a devastating impact on families.

Do you think what is currently being done in your community adequately promotes social and environmental justice?What more could be done to...

My first response when I read this question was a simple "no." However, upon reflection, I'd have to say that I don't know, and that leads to the second half of my response. I follow politics, and am somewhat active in organizations and activities that try to make the world a better place. I should know if there is enough done in my community. Since I don't, I think it is important to reach an...

My first response when I read this question was a simple "no." However, upon reflection, I'd have to say that I don't know, and that leads to the second half of my response. I follow politics, and am somewhat active in organizations and activities that try to make the world a better place. I should know if there is enough done in my community. Since I don't, I think it is important to reach an agreement about what these things mean. What is social justice? What is environmental justice? A range of mediated and live discussion options exist to explore these questions, and I'd suggest using them all. I would definitely include some live town hall meetings, and would seek to facilitate shared understanding and agreement on these questions.

After that, the next goal would be to hold similar discussions about goals and methods. What should be done, and how should it be done? It seems that a consensus on the answers to these questions is ideal, and an agreement among a majority of the population is the minimum that must exist.

So, I don't know, let's find out, and talk until we reach agreements.