In "The Red-Headed League," how does Sherlock Holmes contrast with Peter Jones, the police agent from Scotland Yard?

Sherlock Holmes and Peter Jones respect each other for particular reasons, but they also find flaws with the way the other man does his investigative work. We learn of Jones' opinion first, when he vouches for Holmes to Mr. Merryweather.

 “'You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir,' said the police agent loftily. 'He has his own little methods, which are, if he won’t mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly correct than the official force.'”

Jones acknowledges that Holmes gets good results, but he won't go so far as to say his methods are in keeping with the "correct" way of solving crimes.

In Sherlock Holmes' opinion, Jones is the one who performs badly on the job. However, he acknowledges Jones' good character, bravery, and perseverance.

"'He is not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we are, and they are waiting for us.'"

This respect for character rather than competency is a common sentiment Holmes expresses throughout the stories, always setting them up as the bumbling idiots forever falling short when compared to the brilliance and success of Holmes.

As for your second question about Holmes' outlook on life, early in the story he says to Watson, "'You will remember that I remarked the other day...that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more daring than any effort of the imagination.'" One might take from this statement that Holmes understands much strangeness can be found outside of crimes, and in fact can be found in every day life, because life events can sometimes be crazier than what one might dream up in one's head. He continues this seeming respect for the less exciting events of life, saying, "'You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique things are very often connected not with the larger but with the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for doubt whether any positive crime has been committed.'" Apparently, Holmes does not even need a definite crime to solve in order to be intrigued by an occurrence.

At the end of the story, Holmes sings a very different tune. After Watson congratulates him for once again putting together the pieces of the mystery so brilliantly, this conversation takes place:

“'It saved me from ennui,” he answered, yawning. 'Alas! I already feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little problems help me to do so.'"

Here, Holmes labels every day life as mundane, citing crime-solving as the only means of escaping such a boring prison. He needs crimes, because without them he could not put his brilliant mind to use and would be stuck in the drudgery of regular living. This view, of course, differs greatly with the one he seemed to take at the beginning of the story.

Having said this, I would like to note that the opinion of every day life Holmes expresses at the end is more in keeping with references to life in other Sherlock Holmes stories, so the apparent shift in perception is likely not influenced by anything that happens to him during this particular mystery.

One more difference between the beginning and the end of this story is what Holmes has to say about reputation. At the start, after he explains his methods to Mr. Wilson, Wilson says, "'I thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see that there was nothing in it, after all.'" In response, Holmes says, "'I begin to think, Watson...that I make a mistake in explaining. ‘Omne ignotum pro magnifico,’ you know, and my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I am so candid.'" The latin phrase he uses means "everything unknown [is taken] as grand." Holmes will appear more brilliant if he keeps his clients in the dark about his methods. At the very end of the story, however, Holmes has another foreign phrase to deliver to Watson; L’homme c’est rien–l’oeuvre c’est tout. This translates to "the man is nothing- the work is everything, but with this logic Holmes should not care one bit about his reputation, because it is his work that should speak for him.

How does Of Mice And Men's ending contribute to the meaning of the complete work?

I see this on two levels.  First off, the comment "what the hell ya suppose is eatin them two guys" shows that the majority of people still don't understand the bond between George and Lenny.  Even in the end, most of the men think the world is a dog-eat-dog world without room for human compassion.

Secondly, we get the feeling that this incident may soon be put behind all the men and it will be life as usual.  Much like how George and Lenny can't go into hiding but must get to the next job, these men don't have time to dwell on what's just happened.  They'll head into town, have a drink, and report to work in the morning.

What are five main events in "The Most Dangerous Game?"

I disagree that those are the 5 major events because your major events must establish your conflict as well as provide support to its development.  Also, a major event must include the climax of the story and represent how the character changed as a result.

That said the 5 major events would be as follows:

Rainsford and Whitney have a discussion about hunting.  The perspective of the hunter and the hunted. This is our first conflict man vs. self.  Right or wrong to hunt for sport.

Rainsford falls overboard in the darkness of night.  Man vs Nature.

Rainsford discovers the "palital chateau" of General Zaroff and is welcomed as a celebrated hunter.

Rainsford discovers the "new game" that General Zaroff has invented and chooses not to participate in the hunt.

Rainsford becomes the hunted rather than the hunter and understands the true meaning of fear.

Calculate the pH of a solution by mixing 40.0 mL of a 0.02 M HCl solution with 200.0 mL of 0.20 M HCN solution. Assume volumes to be additive.Ka...

HCl is a strong acid and HCN is a weak acid.

Given

Volume of HCl = 40ml = 0.04L

Molarity of HCl = 0.02M

Volume of HCN = 200ml = 0.2L

Molarity of HCN = 0.2M

First we have to find individual moles.

Moles = Molarity * volume.

Moles of HCl = 0.02 * 0.04 = 0.0008

Moles of HCN = 0.2 * 0.2 = 0.04

Total volume = 0.04 + 0.2 = 0.24

Total moles = 0.0008 + 0.04 = 0.0408

Total concentration = moles / volume = 0.0408/0.24 = 0.17

Ka = (x^2)/(0.17-x)

1.0x10^-10 = (x^2)/(0.17-x)

1.0x10^-10 = (x^2)/(0.17)

X^2 = (1.0x10^-10)(0.17)

X = 4.1 * 10^-6

Ph = -log(H+)

Ph = -log(4.1 * 10^-6)

Ph = 5.3.

Does The Kite Runner show that being hurt by the truth is better than being comforted by a lie?I'm practicing some essays on The Kite Runner and...

This statement is quite applicable to The Kite Runner because there are many secrets that characters keep from each other so that they are not hurt by the truth.  For example, Baba does not tell Amir that Hassan is his brother because he thinks that life will be difficult for both boys if the truth were known.  When Amir finds out this fact, he is hurt because the secret has been kept from him for so long; however, the fact that they are brothers is yet another reason for Amir to try to seek atonement.  So in this regard, it is better that Amir is hurt by the truth than that he remain comforted by Baba's lie.  Overall, the novel suggests that although the truth might be hard to bear, knowing the truth is ultimately better for the character because it leads to his personal development.

In what ways are Montresor and Fortunato alike and different in "The Cask of Amontillado"?

An interesting question. Montressor and Fortunato are alike in a number of ways. First and most simply—always start with the basics—they live in the same place and time. This allows them to engaged in odd behavior and excuse it by the idea that it is carnival time, and is essential for the plot. They share an interest in wine, and have highly developed senses of  pride. They share secrets. They are both masons, though this is somewhat of a pun (one is a literal mason; one is a Mason, a member of a secret society).

 

They differ in that Montressor narrates the story (again, start with the basics) and so we see his side of things, but never Fortunato's. After that, they differ in the type and nature of deception. Montressor deceives Fortunato regarding his intent, actively lying to him; if we believe Montressor, Fortunato pretends not to know he's given offense. Finally, of course, Montressor is a killer.

Of Mice and Men What sneaky thing does Lennie try to do?no

I agree with the first answer.  I think that you are talking about when Lennie accidentally killed the little puppy that he had gotten.  He takes the puppy and tries to hide it in the hay.  This happens in Chapter 5.

Lennie is afraid because he knows George will be mad at him.  This is a problem for Lennie because he relies on George so much.  He is worried, in particular, that George will not let him be part of their dream anymore.  He is worried that George will not let him take care of the rabbits.

What effect does Montag's rantings about their thoughtless world have on Mildred?

If you are talking about the rant that I am thinking of, it does not have much of an effect on Millie.  The one I am thinking of is the one at the beginning of Part II.

In that case, he is talking about how bad their world is and how little they think.  He is talking about how he watched her get the snake put in to pump out her stomach.  But she does not really react.

She does a couple of things.  First, she starts talking about the White Clown and the parlour walls and stuff.  Second, she thinks that he is just being silly.  One way or the other, it really doesn't make much of an impact on her.

Name 2 dramatic elements in "The Lottery".

Drama is created by conflict and suspense. Both are easily identified in "The Lottery".

The types of conflict involved in this story are man vs. society (every individual is potentially against the society, but in this case, Tessie Hutchinson ended up as the man), and man vs. system/rule/ritual... whatever you might want to define this as, but we see Tess in conflict with the ritual of the lottery.

Suspense is built as Tessie arrives late. I do find it ironic that she seems more nervous than the others and then ends up being the one. She criticizes the lottery before she is stoned.

How does the Suzanne Necker quote "Fortune does not change men, it unmasks them," relate to McCarthy's No Country For Old Men?

Fortune in mythology relates to the goddess Fortuna, who controlled fate, chance, and good luck.  She often teamed with with the goddess Nemesis, the back end of Fortune who checked against greed.  Together, the pair brought both prosperity and disaster, often in that order.

In No Country for Old Men, the good luck that Llewelyn finds is swiftly and relentlessly followed up by Anton Chighur, who plays the part of Nemesis.  He controls fate with money, the flip of a coin:

What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?

...You've been putting it up your whole life you just didn't know it. You know what date is on this coin?

...Don't put it in your pocket, sir. Don't put it in your pocket. It's your lucky quarter.

Carla Jean tries to deny him as an agent of fate:

The coin don't have no say. It's just you.

Anton replies:

Well, I got here the same way the coin did.

In the end, the coin catches up with everyone: Chighur wins.  He is an agent of fate and death, a constant reminder of inevitable suffering for those who come in contact with drugs.  Llewelyn has taken blood money, pried it from a dead man's hand.  Llewelyn is in denial that his hands are bloody too.

Indeed, fate unmasks Llewelyn--it is also a reckoning.  Like the previous editor said, Llewelyn arrogantly underestimates the effects of his own greed and its implications for his family.  To Chighur, Llewelyn says:

I don't need to talk to you.

Chighur: I think you do. Do you know where I'm going?

Why would I care where you're going?

I know where you are.

Yeah? Where am I?

You're in the hospital across the river, but that's not where I'm going.

Blood will have blood: Chighur even gets Carla Jean as recompense for Llewelyn's transgressions.  Chighur may be a ghost, as Sheriff Bell admits, and he may be injured, but he is still the coin relentlessly pursuing those who relentlessly pursue the big money.

Illustrate from the play Macbeth, Macbeth's openess, ambition and strong emotions

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the only person in the play Macbeth is open with is Lady Macbeth, but he is extremely open with her until after their plan works and after the revelation to Lady Macbeth that her husband has killed the grooms. 

Macbeth is not afraid to tell her anything.  Upon his return from killing Duncan, he tells her he was unable to join in on an overheard prayer by saying "Amen," he tells her he heard voices,  he tells her he can't handle the blood on his hands.  In short, he is not afraid to show weakness and shortcomings in front of her.

He is also open with Lady Macbeth during their first scene together after he is named Thane of Cawdor and predicted to be king.  They're both aware that Duncan is on his way to their castle to spend the night, and they both know what that means--an opportunity to assassinate him and claim the throne.  They are affectionate and endearing.

Of course, any openness ends soon after the successful assassination.  Macbeth does not consult her before ordering the deaths of Banquo, Fleance, and Macduff's family.  At one point he excuses her from his presence so he can be alone.  We barely see Lady Macbeth for most of the play, and when we do she is either berating Macbeth for being stupid, or suffering from her own guilt. 

The relationship that was once open, is closed for most of the play.

Can someone help with an essay ideas for Macbeth based on justice and morality? Thanks!

Concerning essay ideas for Shakespeare's Macbeth, most moral and justice issues are talked about often, and center on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  One that isn't often discussed, and is ambiguous (which makes for a good essay) is the question of Macduff's duty, or the shirking of it, when he leaves his family alone and exposed in Scotland.

Macduff goes to England to join forces with Malcolm against Macbeth.  This is probably something his sense of justice requires him to do, and it certainly is necessary for the good of Scotland.

But when he does so, he leaves his family alone and unprotected.  

Research questions might be:

• Is Macduff's leaving his family alone and exposed in Scotland immoral?


• Is Lady Macduff's condemnation of her husband as a traitor figuratively true (a traitor to his family)?


• Is Lady Macduff's reaction understandable, but misguided?  Or does her reaction demonstrate accurate judgment?

Any way, that's one idea for you.

How is The Necklace an example of economic determinism?

In addition to the excellent answer above, Mathilde in "The Necklace" is trapped in her situation.  If you think of her as an artist, for instance, she cannot afford the "beauty" around her that an artist craves.  As an uneducated poor woman, there is not much she can do about it.  The story demonstrates what drastic steps she has to take when she does really need money after she loses the necklace. 

Plus, her economic situation somewhat leads to her fall:  only a poor person who had never owned much jewelry would have been totally ignorant of the fact that the jewelry might be costume jewelry.  Her friend who loans her the necklace certainly would have considered the possibility.

This story raises the issue of poverty and certainly could be viewed as an example of fiction that treats economic determinism.  Of course, being poor is not the only obstacle Mathilde has to contend with.  She's also a woman in a patriarchy.

In Book 8 of the Odyssey, what does the blind poet Demodocus' presence and his singing do for the story?

Hello there!

The blind bard is very important to Homer's tale for several reasons. First, many researchers and readers alike believe the bard is supposed to represent Homer himself and his role in the society of the times. It is believed he was a blind bard, making a living by singing of the trials and tribulations of the upper class citizens.

To Book 8 however, he is important because of Odysseus' response to his song. Note Odysseus offers food and drink to the bard and is moved to tears by his songs of the Trojan War and of Odysseus' journey. Remember a King or person of Odysseus' status would not normally offer food or thanks to a bard. This emotional display on the part of Odysseus is what allows Alcinous to prod him for revelation of his identity, which in itself is a large reocurring theme in The Odyssey. So, the bard is a catalyst for major events in the book.

:)

In Hamlet’s soliloquy "To be or not to be," what side of the problem does Hamlet choose?

Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy in Shakespeare's Hamlet (Act 3.1) is not primarily about suicide.  The words to be mean to exist.  Hamlet is pondering the question of existence.  He's wondering whether or not existence is worth while. 

Suicide only comes in to play because that happens to be one of the ways a person can end existence.  He mentions suicide while he is making an analogy or giving an example.

Basically, Hamlet decides existence is not worth the trouble, but the alternative is too scary.  The alternative, of course, is the unknown afterlife.  Were it not for the unknown afterlife, existence would not be worth the trouble. 

Hamlet comes down on the side of existence, in the end, because he doesn't know what lies on the other side of death. 

improper integral [x^2/(9+x^6)dx] x= -infinite to infinite show steps by using the difinition

improper integral [x^2/(9+x^6)dx], x = -infinity  to x = infinity.

x^2/(9+x^6) = x^2/(9+(x^2)^3) is an even function. Therefore, the given integral is equal to  2*integral (x^2/(9+x^3)) dx, x =0 to infinity.

Let us have a transformation x^3+9 = t. Then,

x^2dx = (1/3)dt. When x= 0, t =9 and x= infinity, t = infinity.

Therefore, the given integral = 2Integral {1/t}(1/3)dt t= 9 to t= inf.

=(2logt), t = 0 to t=inf.

= 2 log (infinity) - 2log9

= infinity.

Is there a summary of Romeo and Juliet available?

Romeo , who is in love with Rosaline, goes to a party in an effort to forget her or to ease his broken heart. He later finds out that she is a Capulet, the rival family of the Montagues. He decides that he loves her anyway and they confess their love for each other during the very famous "balcony scene" in which they agree to secretly marry the next day. Friar Lawrence agrees to marry them in an effort to end the feuding between the families. Unfortunately, the fighting gets worse and Mercutio , a good friend of Romeo's, ends up in a fight with Tybalt , Juliet's cousin. Tybalt kills Mercutio, which causes Romeo to kill Tybalt in an angry rage. For this, Romeo is banished from Verona.

At the same time, the Capulet's are planning Juliet's marriage to Paris. Juliet does not want to marry this man so she arranges with Friar Lawrence to fake her own death with a sleeping potion that will make everyone think that she is dead. Friar Lawrence promises to send word to Romeo to meet her when the potion wears off and to rescue her to Mantua, where Romeo is currently staying. There they would live happily ever after. Unfortunately, Romeo does not receive this message on time and upon hearing of her "death" goes to Juliet's tomb where he drinks poison and dies. When Juliet's potion wears off, she awaken's to find her lover's corpse. She then proceeds to stab herself with Romeo's dagger. The two families find the bodies and their shared sorrow, finally make peace with each other.

What different challenges did the U.S. face fighting in the Pacific versus fighting in Europe?War In The Pacific

The biggest disadvantage the U.S. had in fighting the Japanese was the type of warfare that victory necessitated. With hundreds of islands under their control, Americans were faced with the daunting task of seizing each one. This was a unique challenge, because, frankly, this had never been done before in modern warfare. The U.S. needed to land troops on, sometimes, pieces of rock no bigger than a small city, amidst obstacles of corral reef, then advance into thick jungle conditions, all the while, fighting an enemy who enjoyed air support, and entrenched in bunkers, tunnels and caves.

Just figuring out which ilsands were key to victory presented a quandary to American war strategists--and this is evidenced by the U.S.s unique solution to the challenge. There were two strategies the U.S. used: Admiral Nimitzs take each island in the chain that approached Japans home islands, and General McArthurs wither on the vine approach, to capture on the important islands, and isolate the other islands.

Just that the U.S. would actually use two strategies tells you about the challenges the U.S. faced. It is almost as if the top commanders couldnt decided on a strategy--so they decided to use both. Yet that the U.S. could use two ways to fight the Japanese tells you something else. Once the U.S. industrial effort hits its stride in production, American warplanners were confident of victory over the Japan.

Who is the underlying real person in The Great Gatsby - Jay Gatsby or Jimmy Gatz?Did Jay completely disown his identity as the all american boy...

Your question highlights the main theme of The Great Gatsby: illusion and reality.  The answer to your question is probably, neither.  Or, it might be, both.  The point is that there may not be a "real," and if there is, readers don't know what it is. 

First, we know very little about Jimmy Gatz.  We don't know that he was an all-American boy, we don't know he was a hard worker, etc.  Whatever Gatsby reveals to Nick about his past could be illusion, as could be the list that his father shows Nick.  Notice that the father doesn't talk about how rigidly his son ever followed the schedule, just that he wrote it.  So we don't know much about Jimmy.  Keeping to the rigid schedule on the list could have been fantasy.

Concerning Gatsby, everything revealed about him is a carefully created persona, completely designed to win Daisy back.  The reader doesn't know what any "real" Gatsby might be like.  Not only does Gatsby reveal only his persona, but everything we get is filtered through Nick's eyes.

In addition to all this, Gatsby's dream of recapturing the past is illusion:  Daisy never loved him in the same, all-encompassing way that he loves her. 

Illusion dominates the play, and there's no way of knowing what any "real" Gatsby or Gatz might be like.  

What was the pardoner's purpose in The Canterbury Tales?

Okay, writing some questions for my class, I stumbled across this, and I really have to say that the idea that the pardoner is trying to get people to address their sins is an incomplete answer.  He is clearly trying to get people to purchase pardons and relics, and he isn't really concerned about their morality.  In fact, when he's telling the story of the three rioters, he mentions them and then goes off for three pages about sin in general.  His conclusions include the idea that because swearing comes before murder in the ten commandments, swearing is the worse sin.  He even claims that Paul condemns those who eat too much as 'dross' (trash).  He condemns these common sins far more explicitly than the more serious sins BECAUSE people are more likely to have committed them, and he can, therefore, get more people to buy pardons.  At the end, he goes so far as to tell people they can sin every mile of their trip, and he'll be there to absolve them as long as they can pay him coin or silver or brooches or wool.

Clearly, the pardoner's purpose is to drum up business and Chaucer's purpose is to show just how corrupt the church system had become.

Verify: cotx = (sin2x)/(1-cos2x)

The right side is sin2x/(1-cos2x)

But Sin (a+b) = sinacosb+cosasinb.

Therefore, sin2x = 2sinxcosx...........(1)

Also we know that cos(a+b) = cosacosb-sinasinb. S0 co2x = cos^2x-sin^2x = (1-sin^2x-sin^2x) = 1-2sin^2x.........(2)

So, RHS by virtue of (1) and(2)  is,

2sinxcosx/ {1- (1-2sin^2 x)} = 2sinxcosx/(2sin^2 x) = cosx/sinx = cotx equal to LHs

Verify: tan^2x - sin^2x= (tan^2x)(sin^2x)

We know the `sin^2+cos^x = 1` .

Therefore `sin^2x = 1-cos^2x` .

`Tanx = sinx/cosx.` We use these identities in the course of the solution.

RHS:  `tan^2 x * sin^2x = tan^2x (1-cos^2x)` ,

`=tan^2x-(tan^2x)*cosx^2` .

`=tan^2x-(sinx/cosx)^2*cos^2x.`

`=tan^2 x - (sin^2x/cos^2x)cos^2x`

`=tan^2x - sin^2x*cos^2x/cos^2x`

`=tan^2x - sin^2 x `  which is LHS.

What are the similarities between F.Scott Fitzgeralds "Babylon Revisited" and The Great Gatsby?

To a correspondent, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that he had announced the birth of his illusions in his novel This Side of Paradise and the death of these illusions in the story "Babylon Revisited." 

Concerned with the illusions of those of the Jazz Age and their "utter irresponsibility," the settings of both works share some similarity.  Likewise, the characters of Charlie and Jay Gatsby are eager to regain what they feel they have lost, and return to regain love and purpose to their lives.  However, both characters are disillusioned in their expectations.

Themes that the two stories share are greed and the envy of money, love, abandonment of traditional Amerian values, the irrevocability and burden of one's past, sin, guilt and retribution, and self-mastery.  

What is the significance of the letter "A" on Hester's gown?

The simple answer is that the "A" simply stands for adultary. However, I believe it stands for the conflict within the story between Puritan society (rigid/does not allow for emotional flexibility) and Hester's natural beauty and dignity.

The "A" is supposed to have a negative stigma attached to it. However, many of the same people who believe this see the "A" formed by the meteor as meaning Angel. The two A's are not only the same letter but similar in color.

 The contradictions in the society and in Hester herself continue through the book and are exemplified in this letter "A".

Does Shylock suffer injustice in the court scene in The Merchant of Venice?

The question is very complex. Shylock asks for "justice" in his demand for the pound of flesh, but Portia (disguised as a lawyer) advises him that mercy is a higher value than justice, and that he should show Antonio mercy. When Shylock refuses, Portia tricks him, telling him he may have only the pound of flesh, no blood, which in effect renders his plea worthless. Thus, Portia holds him to the very strict letter of the law that Shylock asks for: "Thou shalt have justice more than thou desir'st" (4.1.330). She also holds him accountable to another law, that of, as an alien (for Jews were not citizens), threatening the life of an Venetian citizen (4.1.363-370). His punishment, decreed by Antonio, is to convert to Christianity and give up his money (in different ways). To Shakespeare's audience this would be justice (indeed, such a conversion might to that audience save Shylock's soul), but we might think how enormous this sentence is: Shylock loses his religion as well as his livelihood, not to mention his daughter. He has already suffered humiliation for being a Jew, which prompted his behavior to begin with. So, from our point of view, the mitigating circumstances are such that perhaps Antonio could have shown a bit more of the mercy Portia spoke of in her famous speech.

Who is John Proctor?

John Proctor is one of the residents of Salem, but unlike almost everyone else, he does not succumb to the madness that consumed Salem, Massachusetts during the time of the Puritans.  John lives by convinction, although admittedly (and for a time, begrudingly) makes grave errors in judgment.  Still, he refuses to be railroaded into false confession in the end, and chooses death over dishonor.   

John is married to Elizabeth, herself accused as a witch, and has an affair with the malicious Abigail, instigator of the whole gruesome affair. 

What is an advertisment slogan for the element Chromium (Cr)?need ideas by 2/13/2010

How about "How did this ruby get so red?", accompanied by a photograph of a brilliant ruby? One of the things that jumped out at me while I was reviewing the properties of chromium is that very small amounts of this element give intense colors to other materials. Chromium is often used in the making of pigments. Another sexy use of chromium, of course, is in making the chrome plating on automobile parts.

If I were designed an advertsiing campaign for this element, I wouldn't focus on the scientifc aspects, such as its antiferromagnetic or anticorrosive properties. Big concepts that noone understands won't sell a product, right? Instead, I'd focus on the very real and visually appealing aspects of the element.

Why is Rat Kiley's foot being shot off central to "The Things They Carried"?

It's important a) because it is true to life (many young soldiers really did this) and b) because it shows just how desperate the soldiers were. Here they were, trained members of the American military, and they were so unhappy with their situation and the war they were fighting that they were willing to shoot themselves to escape it. That's pretty bad. Since he also shoots a baby animal, not for food but just to hurt it, we can also assume that one is symbolic of the other: to live through Vietnam you have to hurt innocent things.

McCandless' life "hummed with meaning, but the meaning he wrested from existence lay beyond the comfortable path." Do you agree?

I do agree.  In Chapter 17, the author goes on to explain that McCandless distrusted things that came easily, demanding "much of himself - more, in the end, than he could deliver".  McCandless wasn't a philosopher despondent over the meaningless of life.  Although he rejected the traditional lifestyle and values espoused by his parents and society, he found meaning in his journey, in his challenge to himself to live on his own in the wild.  He was living his dream, and so his life really did "hum with meaning", and as his last messages evidence, he did find peace and fulfillment.  He was, however, unable to physically survive the rigors of the challenge.

In the book Snow in August, what does Micheal Devlin learn about heroism in the course of the book?

The major characters of the novel meet during a snowstorm on their way to their respective churches. The Rabbi and Michael agree to help each other. Michael will give the Rabbi English lessons and the Rabbi will teach Michael Yiddish. Their language lessons evolve into a friendship. Michael learns the history of Judaism. Rabbi Hirsch learns the way of the Brooklyn Streets. However, their friendship does not come easy. They feel the pressure of prejudice felt against the Jews. This was an era following WWII and the Holocaust, an era in which Hitler had sought to annihilate the Jewish race and nearly succeeded. The persecution of the Jews in Europe during the mid 1940's seems to have had a contagious effect on other parts of the world, including America.  In spite of adversity, however, their friendship does not waver.
     The story is shadowed with impending doom. The main source of these problems is a local gang named The Falcons. The Falcons are the most racist and troublesome gang around. The leader and the main source of evil in the book is Frankie McCarthy, an anti -Semitic man. Frankie beats up the Jewish proprietor of a candy store, putting the old man in a coma. Michael and his friends have the bad luck to witness this. This is where the nature of heroism is explored. Michael knows that if he acts as a witness this gang will cause him physical harm. As the story unfolds it becomes certain that Frankie will come after him. Through the friendship of Rabbi Hirsch Michael learns that not reporting Frankie is as bad as committing the crime himself.It is a difficult and painful lesson about the nature of heroism. Finally, Frankie and his gang become too big a threat. The only thing that can help Michael is the Kabbalah Magic he learned from Rabbi Hirsch. Even though Michael and the Rabbi face great peril they overcome and defeat evil.

Why do the rich mineral deposits of Siberia pose a problem?

A real brake in the new rush after gold is even Siberia, with it's impossible climatic conditions. This is affirmed by people who have worked in such difficult weather conditions, the Atacama Desert, in Chile, or above 5000 meters altitude, in Indonesia.

Russia has the largest proven gold reserves in the world, after South Africa, while Russia's gold production, in 2008, was only the fifth in the world, between Australia and Peru, representing 8% of global production.

The poor development of gold mining industry in Russia has a simple explanation. Most of the large gold deposits are located in eastern Siberia, a remote area, nearly untouched in terms of infrastructure.

In the '30s of the last century, the first massive gold mining in the region was due to the Soviet Gulag. Visarionovici Joseph Stalin sent thousands of prisoners of war or political condemned to dig for gold, with their bare hands, in the icy soil. Most mines were abandoned after the Second World War and the Soviets have given a relatively small importance to the Siberian gold mining, because of the huge costs. But the crisis came, and the price of gold jumped to $ 1,000 per ounce, in the spring of 2008, after long years in which the price of gold has moved between 400 and $ 500 per ounce.

Russia's gold production increased by 13% in 2008, the first time, after five years of decline. Much of this increase is due to an investment,the new Kupol mine,from Chukotka region, where -in every winter - a 400 km of ice road connects the world to the one of the most remoted gold mines.

What is the setting of "The Gift of the Magi?"

This lovely short story takes place in the apartment of the two main characters, Della and Jim. Their apartment is small, with only two windows and the looking glass (mirror) mentioned. The narrator actually states, "Furnished rooms at a cost of $8 a week. There is little more to say about it." Other than that, the only other detail we get about the apartment is that even their mailbox is very small.

Really, the physical setting is not that important. What's more important about the setting is the time, which is Christmas Eve. This is necessary because it shows us the desperation that these two have when it comes to buying a gift for one another - they've saved until, literally, the last minute. Now's the time to buy the gift, and they're each still short. This is why Della sells her beautiful hair and Jim sells his precious watch. 

Why would Two-Bit think Dally, Johnny and Pony were heroes all along, even before they saved the kids?

Like all the boys, Two-Bit does not have the best home life.  Because the boys lack a sturdy family foundation, they rely on each other to get through the trials of life.  Ponyboy talks about the importance of friendship, of allowing friends to sleep on couches, of being able to fight with friends but still call on them when needed.  In Two-Bit's eyes, Dally, Johnny, and Pony all stuck together.  They helped each other out when needed; they were loyal and behaved selflessly.  Their adherence to the code of friendship makes them heroes.

In Of Mice and Men, what is an example of foreshadowing in Chapter 3?

Foreshadowing as a literary device refers to the author providing the reader with a clue as to what will happen later in the story. This obviously piques the reader's interest and encourage him/her to read further.

In chapter three, three events foreshadow what is to happen at the end of the novel. The first is when Candy's old dog and companion is shot and killed by Carlson. Carlson wanted to get rid of the dog because he believed it was a nuisance and smelled bad. Candy initially refused to have the animal destroyed in this manner. It had been his friend for such a long time and was the only thing he actually really cared about. As a broken and lonely old man, caring for the animal provided him with a sense of purpose and comforted him. Its sudden and brutal demise at the hands of an uncaring Carlson was something he found distasteful.

Unfortunately, Carlson got his way. Candy reluctantly agreed to the dog's execution and Carlson used his gun to kill it. This vile act traumatised Candy and he drew into himself and could not speak for some time. 

The second incident is when George speaks about Curley's wife and mentions the following:

"She's gonna make a mess. They's gonna be a bad mess about her. She's a jail bait all set on the trigger. That Curley got his work cut out for him. Ranch with a bunch of guys on it ain't no place for a girl, specially like her."

He furthermore relates an incident in which a ranch hand got into trouble at another ranch where he and Lennie had worked previously. The ranch hand was arrested and found guilty and is serving time in San Quentin.

The third incident is when Lennie breaks Curley's hand after the latter attacked him. Lennie, who has huge hands, enfolds Curley's hand with his and exercises a vice-like grip from which Curley cannot escape. In the process, he breaks all the bones in his hand. The text reads:

Curley's fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it. The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie's big hand. George ran down the room. "Leggo of him, Lennie. Let go." But Lennie watched in terror the flopping little man whom he held. Blood ran down Lennie's face, one of his eyes was cut and closed. George slapped him in the face again and again, and still Lennie held on to the closed fist. Curley was white and shrunken by now, and his struggling had become weak. He stood crying, his fist lost in Lennie's paw.

These three events all foreshadow the death of Curley's wife at Lennie's hand. The incidents illustrate firstly, that just as the dog is a mere object in Carlson's eyes that can be conveniently disposed of, so is it with Curley's wife. She is a mere possession to him. He does not truly love her and the result is that she turns to the ranch hands for attention. It is this which brought her into contact with Lennie and lead to her unfortunate demise. Furthermore, references to Carlson's gun are repeated at the end as well. They would shoot Lennie as if he were a dog.

Secondly, George's reference to her being a danger is precise. Once Lennie had accidentally killed her, he was in exactly the same situation as the ranch hand that George referred to. His prediction about Curley's wife in this instance was accurate.

Thirdly, Lennie's altercation with Curley is an almost precise depiction of his dilemma with Curley's wife, as the following extract illustrates:

He shook her then, and he was angry with her. "Don't you go yellin'," he said, and he shook her; and her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck. 

In Pygmalion, why does Shaw attach the labels rather than names to the characters, and what is the social class of the three main characters?The...

As part of Shaw's intent to instruct while he entertains, he introduces the three principle characters by labels rather than by names, as well as introducing Mrs. Eynsford Hill and Miss Clara Eynsford Hill by their labels of The Mother and The Daughter. The minor characters are also introduced by their labels, such as "Bystander," but it is not an uncommon practice to have minor characters designated as Girl 1, Girl 2, Shopkeeper, etc. The only character to get a name in Act I is Freddy, and perhaps he gets a name because he misbehaves by treading underfoot some of The Flower Girl's flowers then running off without paying for them. Perhaps Mrs. Eynsford Hill and Clara go without names because they provide the benchmark comparison to Liza's inner qualities and future achievements.

It may be that The Gentleman, The Note Taker (who are both upper class), and The Flower Girl (who is lower class) go without names at first so that the character development that occurs over the course of the play will be more dramatically pointed out and to emphasize their roles in life so that associations between them will be put into sharper relief (given sharper contrasts) . For instance, when Higgins changes from a note taker to an interacting human as he notices Liza for her true qualities and then falls in love with her, his development is more pronounced because all he was at first was just The Note Taker, nothing more human than that. A similar principle holds for The Gentleman but points out the idea that the supposed noblest in the land turn a blind eye to the humanity of the individuals in classes lower than their own. The Flower Girl is so called to point out how society views her--just a girl who sells flowers--and to emphasize the dramatic changes that unfold in her as the play progresses.

How would you write a conclusion on how the relationship of John and Elizabeth changes throughout the play?

John and Elizabeth Proctor's relationship evolves back into a respectful and loving marriage. At the start of the play, the marriage is a mix of anger and tension. John's infidelity has caused Elizabeth to be suspicious and unforgiving. John walks on eggshells in the hopes of keeping the peace, as seen in Act II, when he seasons the stew furtively so as not to hurt or anger her. At this stage of the play, the tension often gives way to arguments that center on Abigail. Elizabeth is angry and unforgiving for his affair, and John is equally angry that she will not move past it for the good of their family.

When the hysteria reaches their family, the past is let go. John and Elizabeth focus on each other, and both make desperate attempts to save each other. They come to the realization that each had a part in the breakdown of their marriage. John's decision to regain his name and integrity is eventually honored and respected by his wife, even though it means John will die. At the end of the play, they have made peace with the past and forgiven each other.

Explain each stanza in the sonnet 116?

In this poem, the first quatrain opens by saying that people who are in love should get married.  Then it goes no to start talking about what love really is.  It says that love does not really change according to the circumstances.

In the second quatrain, the speaker continues in this theme.  He says that love is like a lighthouse that does not move.  He also says that love is not something that you can put a value on -- it is beyond that.

In the last quatrain, the speaker finishes up by saying that love does not change over time.

In the couplet, he says that if he is wrong about this stuff, he will take back everything he has ever written and he will believe that no man has ever loved anyone.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, why does the Old Sarum bunch come to the jail?

In the South back in the days of the Tom Robinson trial it was not uncommon for justice to be taken into the hands of an angry mob resulting in the hanging of a poor black man or boy.  There was also very little consequences placed on the persons who would commit such a crime.  The mob that gathered at the jail had this intention when they first arrived.

Atticus was well aware that the people would probably behave in this manner and that was why he was at the jail that night.  Since the sheriff was not able to be there someone had to protect Tom from the mob.  In the end, it was Scout's words that dismantled the mob.

What is Holden's attitude toward religion in The Catcher in the Rye?

Holden lives constantly in the past. He seems to think that things were easier in the past, and he just can't face the present or the future. In chapter 14, Holden is depressed again. He is thinking of his younger brother, Allie, who had died of leukemia years ago. He admits to talking to Allie now and idolizes his lost brother. He says he sees himself as an atheist, but admits to liking Jesus. He says he doesn't like the other people in the bible, but he likes Jesus. He talks about how the world is not pure anymore, and this goes to show that he has form of knowledge of bible teaching.

Throughout the entire novel, we see Holden spiral out of reality. He struggles to stay focused on the present. He flunks out of school. He just kind of wonders through life aimlessly. He lives constantly in the past. He can't face the future. He doesn't have the ability to face he responsibilities. Holden questions everything. He questions people and their actions. He doesn't trust anyone. He questions religion. He admits to liking Jesus, but also claims to be an atheist. Nothing in Holden's life is making any sense to him. I think he is angry at God for the death of Allie. It seems his life just kind of stopped when his brother died. 

It is clear that Holden is struggling with some kind of mental disorder. He just wanders throughout life at the moment. He knows deep down, that something is wrong with him, but he is unwilling to get any help. The sadness that Holden faces, is a true disorder, and only with the help of other people can he truly embrace his future with hope.

What is the setting in The Midwife's Apprentice?

The Midwife's Apprentice is set in medieval England, most likely during the late thirteenth or early fourteenth centuries. The time period is not explicitly stated, but the author gives the reader clues as to the story's setting in time, mentioning the English king Edward Longshanks, and an old English song, "Summer Is a'Coming In," which was written during that period. Movement between geographical locations was very difficult during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, with ordinary citizens traveling from place to place mainly by walking, or, if they were lucky, on horseback. Because of this, the action in the story realistically takes place in one small village and its immediate environs, the distance which can be traversed comfortably in a short day's walk.

The setting is integral to the development of the narrative. The peasant people are closely tied to the land and the elements; their very survival depends on these things. The odious description of the dung heap on which Beetle sleeps because of its warmth at the beginning of the story is representative of the cyclical aspect of life, and the intimacy with which the characters are acquainted to the earth. The peasants depend on the land in growing their crops and raising their animals, and in the end, all things return from whence they came, to the earth. The vividly presented seasons also prescribe the movement of the peasants' lives, directing the ever repeating cycle of planting and harvesting, controlling everything, except for the all-powerful elements of birth and death.

In Chapter 6, why does Gatsby introduce Tom as "the polo player"?

Gatsby reveals his contempt for Tom Buchanan when he calls him "the polo player."  The men had met "two weeks ago," although clearly they knew one another in the scuffles for the affections of Daisy in the past.  However, when they were unknowingly "introduced" to one another, "Tom had accepted the introduction as a stranger."

As the small talk continues, Mrs. Sloan wishes Gatsby would accompany her to dinner in New York.  Gatsby remarks that he hasn't "got a horse.  I used to ride on int  the army but I've never bought a horse."

This is infomation is relevant to his later snide remark, calling Tom a "polo player."  When it is Gatsby's turn to "introduce" Tom to the party guests, he "took them ceremoniously from group to group:  "Mrs. Buchanan...and Mr. Buchanan --."  After a instant's hesitation he added, "the polo player."

Note the two digs Gatsby gets in here:  not only does he introduce Daisy first (and pauses before he is able to spit out Tom's vile name) but by calling him a polo player, he is implying that he is rich and soft, that his experience with horses did not parallel his own masculine experience of horses in the Army.  He is trying to make Tom look as ineffectual and impotent as possible to Daisy. 

How are Winston's character and Julia's character different and how are they the same?

Winston and Julia are both seeking freedom from the IngSoc society.  They both feel trapped and want to express their individuality.  They are both rebels, in other words.

However, while Winston's priorities are heartfelt, Julia's are not.  She is practical, more so than Winston who often asks rashly, but she does not have deep seated convictions.  She plays along with society by belonging to the Anti-Sex League, even though she doesn't believe in it.  She also betrays Winston quickly when put into danger.  Winston tries to maintain his convictions and rebellion, although his tragedy is an inability to stand up against the force of the new society.

Why will Curley keep quiet about what Leannie did to him and not try to get George and Leannie fired?no

When Curley attacks Lennie and he fights back at George's direction and crushes Curley's hand, it is Slim who convinces Curley not to turn Lennie in.  Slim tells him to say he got his hand stuck in a machine, and if he doesn't, he and the men will tell what really happened and Curley will be laughed at by everyone, something he fears a great deal.

Brenda

In Canto 4, what does Dante's attitude toward Virgil? In Canto 5, what is the logical relationship between the vice of lust and its punishment?

Dante is frightened by Virgil's paleness and worries that their trip is too much for him. Virgil responds to Dante by saying his pallor is a result of the pain and anguish within the pit and not from the stress of their journey.

Those who are in the second circle are convicted for sins of the flesh. Their punishment is to be thrashed about by strong winds without any relief. This is symbolic in that they were swept away by passion. Those sinners must relive their sin repeatedly, without any hope of peace or receiving forgiveness. This is symbolic in their disregard for consequences when they gave in to temptation.

What is Beneatha's role in "A Raisin In The Sun"?

Beneathea occupies a unique place in Hansberry's play.  Consider the symbolism of her name, for one thing (the entire family's last name, too, is "Young," symbolic, in part,  of their quest for a new position in American life) .  She is "beneath" in the fact that she is indeed the younger of the siblings; she is Walter's little sister.  She struggles to maintain both her place in the family and her identity as an adult.  She can at times be sort of annoying and obnoxious, as younger sister's (and brothers) are wont to do. 

Beneatha is also at a crossroads in terms of her heritage:  is she an African, like Joseph?  Or an American, all she has ever known?  At the time Hansberry was writing her play, (1959), racial separatism in America was a prominent theme, both culturally and politically.  Beneathea's role, therefore, is to occupy that "squishy" place in the literal terms of the play, and in African-American identity in the larger realm. 

What are the neo classical elements or aspects that Alexander Pope used in an essay on man?discuss essay on man concerning neo classicism...

Yes, the 'place of man' was an important Neo-Classical theme. I would review concept of "Great Chain of Being" as Pope alludes to this quite a bit in Essay. In this chain, harmony and order must be maintained and if one element is out of place, virtue becomes vice. He includes the belief that humans were PART of an ordered word, a world maintained by reason. Reason and virtue were inseparable to Pope. Pride, in particular could lead man away from his place of "right reason." So, man should not overreach by trying to over-reach Nature. Thus, copy nature as did the ancients, becasue "all nature is but art, unknown to thee" anyway and "Whatever is, is right." The Essay on Man supports a hierarchical view of the world, a view later attacked by the Romantic poets.

I have to write two editorials that reflect on and or develop conflicts and issues in The Woman in White.

The majority of this book is taken up with a plot of conflict -- particularly a veiled and very tense conflict between Laura Fairlie, Marian Halcombe, and Walter Hartright on the one hand, and Sir Percival and Count Fosco on the other.  The conflict between the two groups starts out as subtle, unsaid, and indirect, but eventually devolves into direct conflict.  The conflict is over the money, person, and rights of the youngest person of the five:  Laura Fairlie.  Sir Percival marries her specifically for her money, so that he may benefit, and the English wife (an aunt of Laura) of his friend Count Fosco may get some money, too.  By isolating Laura and playing on her already weak mind, Percival is able to put Laura into an asylum against her will, and to pass off her disappearance as a death by the elaborate use of the real death of her lookalike (and long-lost illegitimate half-sister) Anne Catherick.  Percival is the principal beneficiary, but the mastermind behind all of this is Count Fosco.

There is also a very interesting conflict between Fosco and Marian.  Marian is at least Fosco's equal (and, since she and Hartright defeat him, perhaps his superior) in intellect, though she cannot match him in cunning.  The two recognize each other as great intelligences, but they are diametrically opposed to each other morally.  Nevertheless Fosco conceives a passion for Marian, which is only ever expressed to her in a letter.  Marian feels nothing but loathing for the man who was responsible for putting her sister Laura in an asylum and faking her death.

Percival, an illegitimate pretender to his baronetcy, is not only consciously in conflict with his wife's protectors, but with his friend Fosco as well.  Percival is not nearly as intelligent as Fosco, and is always wanting to rush in headlong and make mistakes.  But even more interesting is Percival's own self-hatred; he knows that he is illegitimate, and, because he is ashamed, is hateful to everyone around him. 

Marian, the plainer sister who is also poor while Laura is rich, is the least conflicted main character after the almost simple-minded Laura.  She is single-minded in her goodness and devotion to Laura, and her sense of justice never wavers.  When she is able to get Walter Hartright to help her in matters which no woman of her time would have been allowed to do, she is truly unstoppable.  This kind of integrated and steadfast personality was necessary for the heroic lengths she had to go to to save Laura.

There are more minor conflicts -- with Frederick Fairlie, for example, Laura's absent-minded and invalid uncle, who is so feeble-minded that he cannot recognize Laura when she is presented to him.  His character, as well as most of the minor characters, is generally played for a somewhat grim comic effect.

What part of Doctor Faustus do you think reflects key themes of the Renaissance?

Two themes of the Renaissance are clearly evident in Faustus.

First, the time prior to the Renaissance was dominated by strict church doctrine; however, people of the Renaissance began seeking other types of knowledge.

Faustus lusts after knowledge, even-though he has mastered the medical and scientific world, which a “Renaissance Man” of the time would have. Unlike the people of the Middle Ages, Faustus is not complacent with just accepting church doctrine and blindly following along. He seeks knowledge and power. The Renaissance was known for questioning and seeking new kinds of answers. Of course, Faustus resorts to any means necessary to acquire this knowledge, which leads him to the dark arts and Mephistopheles.

A second theme is the Protestant Reformation, where people began to break away from the Catholic church.

The Protestant Reformation, and its distrust of the Catholic Church, is seen several times during the play. Initially, Faustus conjures a demon, but it is hideous, so he demands that it return in a more appealing form. Of course, it arrives dressed as a Franciscan Friar - obviously this is Marlowe's way of ridiculing the Catholic church. Later in the play, Faustus commands Mephistopheles to take him to the Vatican. Once there they play pranks of the Pope and mock Catholic beliefs. Again this is Marlowe's way of mocking the Catholic church.

What is the correct pronunciation of "Antonia" from the novel My Antonia?

I just finished reading the book, after intending to for several decades. It was good! I, too, was always troubled by how to pronounce "Antonia" with that accent over the 1st "A," and reading that the Simon & Schuster ed. footnote compares it to "Anthony" gives me little comfort. Pronouncing "Anthony" on the first syllable is easy; "Antonia" on the first is impossibly awkward. I agree with Antonia Bowman, and her being named after the book surely must give her some authority on this issue!

This reminds me of the lovely flower "clematis," whose pronunciation is also on the 1st syllable, and it's not hard to say, either. However, I've found that very few people KNOW the correct pronunciation, so I'm left with the choice of saying it wrong, or seeming weird.

Is Hamlet a good king ? Justify.looking for good answers

Hamlet never was a king, unless you are referring to his father, whom we know only as "the Ghost."  The Ghost, according to Hamlet, was a good king, a great father, and a terrific husband to Gertrude.  The kingdom is mourning him when Gertrude marries Hamlet's uncle, and it is immediately clear that King Hamlet was a benevolent and beloved King.

If you're asking, would Prince Hamlet have made a good king, then, in my opinion, I would say perhaps, with time.  Prince Hamlet is the epitome of a youth struggling with inner turmoil, indecision, and the deeper themes of life.  While no one quite knows Prince Hamlet's age, scholars speculate he had to at least be in his late twenties (Yorick's decomposed skull being the clue).  This is the age when many of us begin to delve into the mysteries of life, expressing ourselves with poetry, art, or other expressive forms. 

Had Hamlet became King at the time of his father's death, we can certainly assume that his mind would have been consumed with the same questions he expresses throughout the play.  He had a good head for revenge, but in the end he was not able to carry out his life's goals.  This does not a good king make.

To further complicate Hamlet's hypothetical kingdom, his love for Ophelia and his rash actions would both hinder his level-headedness. 

Had Hamlet lived, he may have grown into being a thoughtful and powerful King.  That would have taken many years, however, for we meet Hamlet as he begins to ask life's difficult questions.  Imagine if he had lived!  Those questions, especially if we presume Ophelia had still died, would have only intensified. 

It's very possible that Hamlet's experiences: losing his father, killing his uncle, the accidental death of his mother, the suicide of Ophelia, and his murder of Polonius - not to mention meeting his father's ghost! - would have filled his head with enough worry to truly drive him mad. 

This is such a fascinating question, and I can imagine talking about the possibilities for hours!  Harold Bloom's essays are indispensible for Shakespeare fans and students, and I recommend the link below.

Can you explain the different sides of Claudius's personality in the play Hamlet?Need to know about his curruption and how he displays it. Also...

Like many members of the royal family throughout the years, Claudius is a multi-faceted human being.  On the one hand, he is cold, cruel, calculating, and ambitious.  He has proven he will do anything to get the throne (including murderering his own brother and marrying his wife) and anything to keep it (he has launched several plans to murder young Hamlet and he succeeds!)  One thing that is unforgivable in him is that he brings others into his evil machinations, sullying their reputations in the process.  Evil people are never happy just being evil...they are happiest when they drag others down into the mud along with them to suffer in company.

On the other hand, he seems to be a good leader and politician. Gertrude and other officials accept him as rightful husband and leader of the land.  He makes decent decisions where Fortinbras is concerned and has good relations with England, as illustrated by the quick carrying out of Claudius' request to dispose of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. 

He is also quite loving to Gertrude which is commendable, all things considered.

Regardless of his good points, like Macbeth, Claudius goes down as a villain in the books since he does not live long enough to illiminate the good qualities he possesses.

When Montag gets out of the river, why are his senses so acute?

I think that there are at least a couple of reasons why Montag's senses are so acute in this situation.

First, it is often said that your senses get more acute when you are in a dangerous situation.  I do not know if it is true or if you just feel that way.  At any rate, he is in a very dangerous situation and will therefore be more aware of things.

Second (and this seems more important to me) he is now really alive for the first time in a very long time.  He has crossed the river and has been reborn in the country.  This is a place that is so different from the city and its society.  So he is experiencing all these things for the first time.  He has gotten out of the stifling society he wants to destroy and is now free.

In "A Rose for Emily," did Emily and Homer really have an affair? Is there any evidence that Homer is gay?

I believe that they did.  Homer is described as very popular.  Faulkner writes,  "Whenever you heard a lot of laughing anywhere about the square, Homer Barron would be in the center of the group.  Presently we began to see him and Miss Emily on Sunday afternoons driving in the yellow-wheeled buggy and the matched team of bays from the livery stable."

I think he uses his magnanimous personality to lure Emily to bed, and once he has the notch on his bedpost, he dumps her.  The argument can be made that once again, Emily has been severly underestimated and this betrayal pushes her over the edge. 

As for the gay thing, I have never considered this a possibility; I still don't see it despite a brief once-over of the story.  Perhaps someone else can comment on this angle. 

In The Odyssey, does Athena help Penelope and Telemachus out of respect for Odysseus or because she deems both worthy?

Athena most assuredly respects Odysseus and helps him throughout The Odyssey, but she also demonstrates that both Odysseus' wife and son are worthy of aid as well.

After many years of Odysseus' absence, Penelope began being courted by all the available Suitors from the neighboring kingdoms.  At the point the Suitors began arriving, Odysseus had been gone for seventeen years.  Still, Penelope clung to the belief that her husband would return to her, and she devised schemes to put off making a choice of a new husband.  First, she plays the trick of the shroud that she is supposedly weaving for Laertes by unravelling all of her work every night.  She had said that upon its completion, she would select a new husband.  Second, she offers the challenge of Odysseus' bow that whomever can string the bow and shoot an arrow cleanly though twelve axe handles will be her husband.  Athena is impressed by Penelope's cleverness as well as her devotion to Odysseus.

When Athena arrives in Ithaca after the meeting in which Zeus decided to free Odysseus from Calypso's island, she comes there disguised as a beggar.  It is Telemachus who makes sure that the beggar is fed and well cared for as his guest.  Because Telemachus honored the ancient code of hospitality, he is also deemed worthy of Athena's approval and aid.

What are causes in the story "A Hanging" by George Orwell?

The simple title, "A Hanging," lends a solemn, matter-of-fact tone and lack of emotion to the descriptions. The title itself implies no judgment, just as Orwell in this essay makes none explicit. However, one is left with little choice but to wonder at the shallowness of the people responsible for the hanging. The narrator sees clearly that the prisoner has a life "in full tide" (10) when the prisoner avoids a puddle. The narrator feels, as noted in paragraph 10, that somehow he is connected with all the men there, "together, seeing, hearing, feeling, understanding the same world." But the larger issue, to Orwell, involves the morality of capital punishment and the colonial rule that imposed it, as well as the small value placed on one Indian life.

What is implied about England's government when Dickens has Joe tell Pip that Mrs. Joe does not want him to be able to read and write?In Chapter...

In this passage, Mrs. Joe is being compared to the government of England.  By doing this, Dickens is saying that the English government does not want its lower classes to be educated.  Dickens is saying that the government fears that an educated lower class will be more likely to rise up and rebel against the government.

In this passage, Joe (and to some extent Pip) represents the lower classes.  They are to be kept ignorant so they will not want to rebel and so that if they do want to rebel they will be too ignorant to do so.

In The Lady, or the Tiger?, for what crime was the young man thrown into prison?

The young man made the serious mistake of falling in love with the king's daughter and engaging in a passionate love affair with her. 

Among his courtiers was a young man of that fineness of blood and lowness of station common to the conventional heroes of romance who love royal maidens....This love affair moved on happily for many months, until one day the king happened to discover its existence. He did not hesitate nor waver in regard to his duty in the premises. The youth was immediately cast into prison, and a day was appointed for his trial in the king's arena.

What the king apparently objected to was not the love affair itself but the fact that the young man had too low a "social station" to dare to engage in such a relationship with his daughter. There may not have been any law against doing what the young man was doing, but the barbaric king could make his own laws. And that was what he was doing. At least the king was giving the poor fellow a fifty-fifty chance to stay alive and even to marry a beautiful girl if he chose the right door. 

The fact that there is a beautiful girl behind one of the two doors is what causes the problem. The princess knows which door conceals the tiger, and she would undoubtedly direct her lover to the other door if it did not conceal a beautiful girl whom her lover would immediately marry. Whatever was going to happen happened a long, long time ago. The story opens with the words:

In the very olden time there lived a semi-barbaric king...