Were the sailors right to punish the ancient mariner? Who has the right to punish sinners in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"?

The ship has been drawn toward the South Pole. They are surrounded by ice. When the Albatross arrives, they treat it as a good omen. They feed the Albatross and the ice breaks, allowing them to continue on their way back north. 

The mariner kills the Albatross, seemingly for no reason. The sailors are upset because the Albatross seemed to be a good omen and they think the bird had brought them luck. After all, the ice breaks after they feed it and the wind picks up and sends the ship back to the north: 

And it would work'em woe: 

For all averr'd, I kill'd the bird

That made the breeze to blow. 

However, the fog and mist arrives and the sailors think it was right that the mariner killed the bird that brought the fog and mist. Then, the ship becomes stranded and the men are dying of thirst. Again, they put the guilt back on to the mariner, this time hanging the dead Albatross on the mariner's neck. 

It seems that they condemn the mariner for destroying their luck and/or killing an omen from God. It is not necessarily clear that they disapprove of the killing itself. In this case, they would be right to disapprove of, and perhaps even right to punish the mariner, but they do it for superstitious reasons. This calls into question the justification for their punishment of the mariner. 

The question of who has the right to punish sinners supposes that there are people in positions of righteousness who have the ethical and objective perspectives with which to make good judgments. The sailors punish the mariner for somewhat selfish reasons. They determine that their rotten luck is caused by the mariner's sin. In general, people often think of the phrase from the Bible, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." In other words, only those who have never sinned can punish or condemn others. This implies that no one has the right to punish another. Taking this notion with the fact that the sailors punish the mariner for selfish reasons, one could argue that their punishment is unjustified because of their reasoning. 

Had the sailors condemned the act of killing itself, their punishment would seem more just. The lesson of the poem is not the simple notion that it is bad to kill something. It has a more existential and ecological context. To be sure, it is wrong to kill for no reason. We are all part of the world, so when we damage the world, we inevitably damage ourselves. (This is the ecological, karma-themed, notion that we are all connected.) If the sailors did in fact punish the mariner for this more philosophical, ecological reason, his punishment seems more justified.

In the end, he is punished appropriately by "Life in Death." This is the punishment that actually serves a useful purpose. He must repeatedly tell his story and thus, he becomes a living lesson for others to learn. It is therefore a more logical punishment that hanging the bird on his neck. This addresses the general question about who has the right to punish others. If the punishment is appropriate in this way, the punisher would be justified. 

A punishment is more appropriate if it is done to improve the world in some way. Simple vengeance or revenge is a reactionary way to punish. This seems to be a lesson of this poem: that the punishment should serve to make things better. The mariner must become a living (in death) lesson, teaching others the hard lesson that he has learned. 

How did the decisions of President Madison, related to protecting American ships and settlers, affect the United States?

President Madison made some decisions related to American shipping and settlers that affected our country. The United States was getting tired with the British interference with our shipping rights. As a neutral nation, we had the right to trade with any country. However, the British interfered with our trade with France as a result of the war Great British and France were fighting. The British not only interfered with our shipping, but they also impressed...

President Madison made some decisions related to American shipping and settlers that affected our country. The United States was getting tired with the British interference with our shipping rights. As a neutral nation, we had the right to trade with any country. However, the British interfered with our trade with France as a result of the war Great British and France were fighting. The British not only interfered with our shipping, but they also impressed our sailors. They seized American crews and forced them to serve in the British navy.

At the same time, attacks by Native Americans continued. The Native American tribes were attacking our settlers in the west. Tecumseh was trying to unite the Native American tribes by attempting to form a confederation with Tecumseh as the leader.

As a result, there was growing pressure to go to war against Great Britain and the Native Americans. There were many Americans who continued to believe the British were encouraging the Native Americans to attack us. A group of young senators from the South and West got elected to Congress in 1810. They were called the War Hawks because they believed we needed to stop the Native American attacks and the interference with our shipping rights. They believed we should go to war to stop these attacks from occurring.

We attacked the Native Americans while Tecumseh was away trying to organize this confederation. As a result of the Battle of Tippecanoe, the Native Americans were defeated, ending Tecumseh’s dream of uniting them and leading this confederation. As pressure continued to grow against Great Britain, the United States went to war in 1812 in what is known as the War of 1812. While the issues we had with Great Britain eventually subsided because the war Great Britain was fighting against France ended, we did prove that we would stand up for our rights as a result of the War of 1812.

The actions by President Madison regarding trade and our settlers impacted our country with its dealings with the Native Americans and with Great Britain.

Name 2 possible ways an organism maintains homeostasis.

Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to maintain its internal environment at optimal levels, in spite of changes in the external environment. There are a number of ways an organism can achieve homeostasis. One of the primary ways is to control the entry and exit of material into the body. In the case of cells, the cell membrane is the selective barrier that controls the entry and exit of materials. In the case of...

Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to maintain its internal environment at optimal levels, in spite of changes in the external environment. There are a number of ways an organism can achieve homeostasis. One of the primary ways is to control the entry and exit of material into the body. In the case of cells, the cell membrane is the selective barrier that controls the entry and exit of materials. In the case of human beings, we can decide on what to eat, what to inhale (through controlled environment, by use of technology) and what we come in contact with, thus controlling what goes inside our body. We also body systems to discard the useless materials from our body.

Another way organisms maintain the homeostasis is by responding in wake of a change in external or internal environment. For example, when the outside temperature is low, our body starts generating heat. When it is warm outside, we sweat and lose heat through perspiration and thereby control our internal temperature. Similarly, we maintain blood glucose levels.

Hope this helps. 

What gave Vera confidence to weave her story about the tragedy in "The Open Window"?

If the tragedy Vera intends to tell Framton Nuttel had actually happened, it would certainly have been known about and talked of all over the county. She has to establish that Framton is a complete stranger to the area; otherwise, he might wonder why he never heard anything about the incident. If Vera's aunt had been driven insane by the gruesome tragedy, that would also be the talk of the families for years. Vera first...

If the tragedy Vera intends to tell Framton Nuttel had actually happened, it would certainly have been known about and talked of all over the county. She has to establish that Framton is a complete stranger to the area; otherwise, he might wonder why he never heard anything about the incident. If Vera's aunt had been driven insane by the gruesome tragedy, that would also be the talk of the families for years. Vera first has to establish that Framton knows nothing of any consequence. She does this by asking him two leading questions:

 "Do you know many of the people round here?"

"Then you know practically nothing about my aunt?"

Framton's answers to these two questions give Vera the assurance she needs to go ahead with her story. His sister stayed at the rectory some four years ago, and the tragedy Vera describes supposedly occurred about three years ago. Framton's sister is presumably not very well informed herself. She would not have given her brother a letter of introduction to the Sappletons if she had heard Mrs. Sappleton was crazy. Framton's sister shows her own ignorance of the people in the area when she tells her brother:

"I shall just give you letters of introduction to all the people I know there. Some of them, as far as I can remember, were quite nice."

Saki invents the question-and-answer dialogue between Vera and her visitor in order to inform the reader that Framton is the perfect victim for Vera's prank.

In "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, how has Charlie changed since the operation? What has he gained and what has he lost?

In Daniel Keyes' story "Flowers for Algernon," a mentally handicapped man named Charlie is given an operation to increase his intelligence. Charlie has worked at Mr. Donnegan's factory for some years at this point, and he feels as though he has many friends there. As his intelligence increases though, he realizes that what he took for friendship was really one sided. He loved his co-workers, but what they loved about Charlie was the fact that...

In Daniel Keyes' story "Flowers for Algernon," a mentally handicapped man named Charlie is given an operation to increase his intelligence. Charlie has worked at Mr. Donnegan's factory for some years at this point, and he feels as though he has many friends there. As his intelligence increases though, he realizes that what he took for friendship was really one sided. He loved his co-workers, but what they loved about Charlie was the fact that they could make fun of him and use him. Even though he now knows that many of them never really were his friends, he misses what he believed was a certain camaraderie with them. The workers also begin to resent Charlie because he is now so much smarter than they are. He comes up with ways to save the factory money, but instead of being happy for Charlie, his co-workers dislike him more and more. Charlie also eventually becomes even more intelligent than his doctors. His intelligence far surpasses his teacher, Miss Kinnian, and the relationship he once hoped for with her becomes impossible. 

Who is the best character in the story "The Last Leaf," and why?

There are only three main characters in "The Last Leaf." Johnsy is either listless or asleep most of the time, so she cannot be considered the best character. Sue and Old Behrman are both good characters, and it is interesting that O. Henry made them such strong contrasting types in so many ways. Behrman is an old man, Sue is a young woman. She is a native-born American, he speaks broken English with a thick...

There are only three main characters in "The Last Leaf." Johnsy is either listless or asleep most of the time, so she cannot be considered the best character. Sue and Old Behrman are both good characters, and it is interesting that O. Henry made them such strong contrasting types in so many ways. Behrman is an old man, Sue is a young woman. She is a native-born American, he speaks broken English with a thick German accent. Of the two, Behrman seems to be the most unique and complex character. O. Henry had to introduce a painter who liked the two girls, but the author did not want to jeopardize his surprise ending. He misleads the reader by bringing the German painter into the story because Sue needs him for a model; and O. Henry has Behrman express his contempt for the notion that Johnsy could die simply because she identifies with the last ivy leaf on the nearby vine.

“Vass!” he cried. “Is dere people in de world mit der foolishness to die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded vine? I haf not heard of such a thing. No, I will not bose as a model for your fool hermit-dunderhead. Vy do you allow dot silly pusiness to come in der prain of her? Ach, dot poor leetle Miss Yohnsy.”

The dialect and broken English make it a little hard to understand Berhman's thoughts and feelings. This is an advantage to the author because it makes it easier for him to mislead the reader about the old man's intentions.

Behrman is the best character because he is more complex than the two girls. He is much older and experienced. He has accepted his failure. He drinks to excess. He pretends to despise fantasies and feelings, and yet he sacrifices his life because of his feelings for both Sue and Johnsy. He is a failure as an artist, and yet he creates a masterpiece when he climbs the tall, steep ladder in the icy weather and paints a single leaf on the well as a gift which imparts his courage to the sick girl who has been watching and waiting for it to fall.

What do these lines from King Lear mean? "A credulous father, and a brother noble, / Whose nature is so far from doing harms / That he suspects...

At the end of Act 1, Scene 2, Edmund is revealing some of his villainous thoughts in a brief soliloquy. He is succeeding in driving a wedge between his father, the Duke of Gloucester, and his half-brother Edgar, who is the legitimate heir to Gloucester's title and estate. Edmund considers himself fortunate in having a credulousfather--that is, a father who is easy to deceive. Edmund has forged a letter to make their father think...

At the end of Act 1, Scene 2, Edmund is revealing some of his villainous thoughts in a brief soliloquy. He is succeeding in driving a wedge between his father, the Duke of Gloucester, and his half-brother Edgar, who is the legitimate heir to Gloucester's title and estate. Edmund considers himself fortunate in having a credulous father--that is, a father who is easy to deceive. Edmund has forged a letter to make their father think that Edgar is plotting against his life in order to succeed him immediately.

Edmund does not consider Edgar "credulous" or "gullible," but he thinks Edgar is so noble that he naturally assumes other people have similar noble motives. Edmund contemptuously calls Edgar's integrity "foolish honesty." This attitude is also characteristic of Goneril and Regan, as it is of many people living today. They do not believe that honesty is the best policy but that selfishness is the best policy. Shakespeare is showing through these three characters that we should not be too trusting. Some people have integrity, and some people only pretend to have integrity. Even the most wicked people can pretend to be totally honest. 

Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.
                      --Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Edmund is a consummate hypocrite. He is always scheming to advance himself by wicked practices, but always pretending to be the soul of honesty. He manages to advance so far in life that he seems on his way to becoming one of the rulers of England. Regan, whose husband was killed by a wound he received in Act 3, Scene 7, is in love with Edmund. She loves him because he is so much like herself--selfish, crafty and unscrupulous. She inherited half of her father King Lear's kingdom early in the play by lying to the credulous old king about how much she loved him. No doubt Edmund plans to get the whole kingdom by practicing his villainy against Albany, who is married to Lear's other daughter Goneril. But Edmund is thwarted at the end of the play when Edgar appears and challenges him to a "trial by combat" in which Edmund is mortally wounded. 

The word "credulous" means being too ready to believe. It seems likely that Shakespeare intended for his audience to understand that Gloucester was only easy for Edmund fool because he was growing old and perhaps succumbing to senile dementia. Many old people in our times are victimized by swindlers because they are easy to deceive. 

Another example in Shakespeare of a younger man who, like Edmund's half-brother Edgar, is easy to fool because of his noble nature is Brutus in Julius Caesar. Brutus' worst mistake is in trusting Marc Antony. As Shakespeare sees Brutus, he is easy to deceive because he is noble and assumes that everybody is like himself. Cassius also manipulates Brutus easily until Brutus finally realizes that Cassius is a totally different kind of person, and they have their violent quarrel in the famous tent scene in Act 4, Scene 2.

 

`y = x^2, y = 4x - x^2` Sketch the region enclosed by the given curves and find its area.

You need to determine first the points of intersection between curves `y = x^2 ` and `y = 4x - x^2` , by solving the equation, such that:

`x^2 = 4x - x^2 => 2x^2 - 4x = 0`

Factoring out 2x yields:

`2x(x - 2) = 0 => 2x = 0 or x - 2 = 0`

Hence, the endpoints of integral are x = 0 and x = 2.

You need to decide...

You need to determine first the points of intersection between curves `y = x^2 ` and `y = 4x - x^2` , by solving the equation, such that:

`x^2 = 4x - x^2 => 2x^2 - 4x = 0`

Factoring out 2x yields:

`2x(x - 2) = 0 => 2x = 0 or x - 2 = 0`

Hence, the endpoints of integral are x = 0 and x = 2.

You need to decide what curve is greater than the other on the interval [0,2]. You need to notice that `x^2 < 4x - x^2` on the interval [0,2], hence, you may evaluate the area of the region enclosed by the given curves, such that:

`int_a^b (f(x) - g(x))dx` , where `f(x) > g(x)` for `x in [a,b]`

`int_0^2 (4x - x^2 - x^2)dx = int_0^2 (4x - 2x^2)dx`

`int_0^2 (4x - 2x^2)dx = int_0^2 (4x)dx - int_0^2 (2x^2)dx`

`int_0^2 (4x - 2x^2)dx = 4x^2/2|_0^2 - 2x^3/3|_0^2`

`int_0^2 (4x - 2x^2)dx = 2x^2|_0^2 - 2x^3/3|_0^2`

`int_0^2 (4x - 2x^2)dx = 2(2^2 - 0^2) - (2/3)(2^3 - 0^3)`

`int_0^2 (4x - 2x^2)dx = 8 - 16/3`

`int_0^2 (4x - 2x^2)dx = (24-16)/3`

`int_0^2 (4x - 2x^2)dx = 8/3`

Hence, evaluating the area of the region enclosed by the given curves, yields `int_0^2 (4x - 2x^2)dx = 8/3.`

The area of the region enclosed by the given curves is found between the red and orange curves, for `x in [0,2]` .

In the novel The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, does Bruno demonstrate caring for others and thinking about someone other than himself? If so, how...

Yes. Throughout the novel, Bruno is a compassionate, sympathetic character who selflessly demonstrates kindness towards others. Despite Bruno's father being a Commandant in Hitler's Third Reich, he displays manners and kindness towards his family's servants. Maria, the maid, is treated with indignance by Gretel and is looked down upon by the rest of his family. Bruno demonstrates kindness towards Maria by speaking to her politely and even referring to her as part of their family. ...

Yes. Throughout the novel, Bruno is a compassionate, sympathetic character who selflessly demonstrates kindness towards others. Despite Bruno's father being a Commandant in Hitler's Third Reich, he displays manners and kindness towards his family's servants. Maria, the maid, is treated with indignance by Gretel and is looked down upon by the rest of his family. Bruno demonstrates kindness towards Maria by speaking to her politely and even referring to her as part of their family. Rather than bossing her around like the rest of his family, Bruno treats her with respect. Another example of Bruno demonstrating his selfless nature is depicted when he begins to bring food with him to his rendezvous with Shmuel. He can tell that Shmuel is hungry and suffers from malnutrition, and Bruno gives him cheese, bread, and meat. Also, Bruno agrees to help Shmuel find his father. Despite the terrible weather and the possibility of getting caught, Bruno selflessly climbs under the fence to look for Shmuel's father. When Bruno comes face to face with the harsh conditions of the concentration camp and wants to go home, he loyally decides to stay with Shmuel and continue looking. Bruno demonstrates his kindness towards Shmuel by disregarding his own feelings and choosing to continue searching throughout the camp.

In Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, what concessions does Viola manage to get from Olivia before delivering Orsino's message?

What a delicious scene! Viola, being dressed and presented as the servingman of Duke Orsino's, is asked to carry his message of love to Olivia, who is as dead-set against entertaining the Duke's professions of love as the Duke is somehow having Olivia as his own. Thus, Olivia's first barrier to speak with Olivia is to get an audience with her. She speaks with Malvolio at the gates and he refuses to let her in. He tells Viola that Olivia is sick, and Viola says she is aware of that, and that is why she wants to speak with her. Then Malvolio tells Viola that Olivia is asleep, but Viola knows better. Olivia says that Malvolio should tell "the young man" that he shall not speak with her, and Malvolio says he's already told "him" that, but "the young man" says he'll stand there until he is part of the furniture, if need be, but "he" will speak with Olivia. 

Second, when Viola gains entrance, Olivia has thrown on a veil and won't tell Viola if she is speaking to the lady of the house or not. Viola begins her speech, then stops and asks to be told if she's truly speaking to Olivia, since she's taken great pains to memorize the Duke's speech of love. Olivia admits she is. 

Next, Olivia tells her to skip over most of the speech and get to the point, but Viola protests that she has studied it and it is "poetical." She finally gets permission to deliver the whole thing, but doesn't get around to it. When the maid offers to oust Viola, she tells Olivia that her speech is for Olivia's ear alone and would be "profane" to another, so she succeeds in having the maid dismissed. 

She begins again, she asks to see Olivia's face. Olivia objects, but draws her veil aside anyway. When she does, Viola says she is beautiful indeed, if "God made all," suggesting that Olivia might use artificial means to enhance her beauty. To this jab, Olivia responds sarcastically, then asks whether "he" was sent to her to praise her. It seems, then, that she is now asking to hear Orsino's speech, but Viola won't tell it. Instead, she accuses Olivia of being too proud. 

In the course of this conversation--because Orsino's "man" will not take no for an answer and because "he" treats Olivia like a regular person, Olivia falls in love with "him." 

How does the author use imagery in "The Lottery"?

Shirley Jackson uses imagery by selecting vivid stamps of daily life in a typical community to make the story more realistic. She uses a bright day in June, when the sun is out, the air is warm and crisp, and the people are out and about, as the happy setting of a shockingly morbid story. This imagery inspires an ironic sense of tranquility, comfort and joy. It conveys the message that "everything is alright", and that the members of that community are quite lucky to be a part of such an idyllic place; a place where things seem to be in complete harmony

The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day [...]in this village, where there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery took less than two hours, so it could begin at ten o’clock in the morning and still be through in time [...] for noon dinner.

Imagery is also used to describe the intonation that some characters use when they speak. You will notice that, on several occasions, we need to know this in order to ascertain whether the words being said are part of the overall ironic tone that Jackson infuses throughout this macabre tale, or not.

For instance, when the villagers discuss the origins of the lottery, we find out that they do not even know the exact beginning of it, nor the actual rationale behind it. Hence, Jackson describes the expression made by Old Man Warner as follows: 

Old Man Warner snorted. “Pack of crazy fools,” he said. “Listening to the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them. [...] Used to be a saying about Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon. ‘ First thing you know, we’d all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There’s always been a lottery,” he added petulantly.

This is how we know that Warner was quite set in his ways regarding the lottery and that, to him, it made total sense. 

On the other hand, imagery is also used to describe the reactions of the villagers regarding the savage tradition that they follow so blindly. The expression of terror and fear in Tessie's face upon her name being called is juxtaposed to that of the villagers, who pick up stones in a nonchalant way and, with all the normalcy in the world, proceed to stone Tessie to death, just because her name came up as the "lottery winner". All of this, they want to do quick enough in order to get back to supper on time. (?!)

These small descriptors make a big difference with imagery in the way in which the story is read. These snippets of visualization convey irony, terror, shock, and fear while making the reader realize how all of these negative emotions can easily take place on a "bright day in June" where all things look like they are in perfect order. 

What is the difference between a play and play text?

This question explores the relationship of one means of communication – written language – with another – stage language. At its simplest level, we can say that a play text is the written “recipe” for “making a play,” that is, a performance. When actors “recite” the text’s lines, three things happen: First, the actors supply a paralinguistic support system to language – voice inflections, pauses and phrasing, gestures, etc., including acting out any “stage directions” called...

This question explores the relationship of one means of communication – written language – with another – stage language. At its simplest level, we can say that a play text is the written “recipe” for “making a play,” that is, a performance. When actors “recite” the text’s lines, three things happen: First, the actors supply a paralinguistic support system to language – voice inflections, pauses and phrasing, gestures, etc., including acting out any “stage directions” called for in the play text. Secondly, the actors add several physical “languages” to the words themselves (generally called “stage language"): facial expressions, proxemics, body “language,” the “language of costume and set design” (placing the play text in a social, financial, temporal setting). Finally, the actors transform the spoken lines – the dialogue – into speech acts (questions, demands, requests, statements of fact, etc.) as parts of a conversation, an exchange of thoughts, beliefs, etc. rather than simply utterances. In conclusion, a play text when read by a single reader differs from a play in that the reader must “stage” the play text in his/her mind’s eye.  

Why would Martin Luther support the Reformation?

It was the actions of Martin Luther, namely his public criticism of the Church practice of selling indulgences, that sparked the Protestant Reformation. So perhaps we should address Luther's criticisms of the Church and why he supported the reforms that would eventually explode into the Protestant Reformation. 

As a clergyman and a professor of divinity, Luther became convinced through his reading of the Bible that justification, or salvation, could only be based on faith. No...

It was the actions of Martin Luther, namely his public criticism of the Church practice of selling indulgences, that sparked the Protestant Reformation. So perhaps we should address Luther's criticisms of the Church and why he supported the reforms that would eventually explode into the Protestant Reformation. 

As a clergyman and a professor of divinity, Luther became convinced through his reading of the Bible that justification, or salvation, could only be based on faith. No amount of good works, including receiving the sacraments of the Church, could guarantee one's salvation. This was an idea that had been professed by prominent theologians before, notably Jan Hus (who was burned at the stake) in Bohemia. But Luther's criticism was more trenchant, attacking the sale of indulgences by greedy church representatives as emblematic of an abandonment of proper practices by the Church. His 95 theses, published in 1517, raised this point, and many others in a broad-ranging critique. Luther's criticisms found an eager audience in the German states, many of which were lead by princes and nobles eager to assert their independence from the Holy Roman Emperor and thus the Pope. The important point here is that Luther's emphasis on the importance of Scriptural authority in Church practice would become the foundation of the Protestant churches that formed in the wake of the Reformation. Luther's many other reforms, which included an end to celibacy by church officials (he himself married), the emphasis on a community of believers, and on lay literacy, all stemmed, in Luther's mind, from Scriptural authority, the only source for correct doctrine.

In "The Bet," while listing the things he despises, why does the lawyer put “freedom” ahead of “life and health”?

Between "freedom and life and health," which would be the first wish of a prisoner who has been under rigorous solitary confinement for fifteen continuous years? Most probably, it would be "freedom." Freedom should be the most valuable and significant to him after his years long imprisonment. 

But by putting "freedom" ahead of "life and health" in the list of things that he despises, the lawyer wants to make it...

Between "freedom and life and health," which would be the first wish of a prisoner who has been under rigorous solitary confinement for fifteen continuous years? Most probably, it would be "freedom." Freedom should be the most valuable and significant to him after his years long imprisonment. 

But by putting "freedom" ahead of "life and health" in the list of things that he despises, the lawyer wants to make it clear to the banker that even though "freedom" should have been his first wish, he values it least.

This implies that the lawyer no longer wishes to attain anything under the sun, even the ones considered to be of utmost significance to any living man.

The wisdom that he has acquired from intense reading is so great and deep that it has uprooted each of his instinctive desires for anything that binds him to the world. 

The wealth of inner peace that he has found has made him so content that even the wish to attain "freedom" appears despicable to him. Why talk about "life," "health" or the prize money of two million roubles? He says,  

“... I despise wisdom and the blessings of this world. It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage.”

Why did George order Lennie to leave Curley's wife alone?

There are two reasons why George ordered Lennie to stay away from Curley's wife. 

First, Lennie does not know how to interact with people.  Therefore, people can misunderstand him, which could cause trouble.  This is especially important, because Curley is the boss's son.  We should also note that George and Lennie had to flee in the past, because of a misunderstanding between Lennie and another woman.  In connection with this, Lennie does not know his...

There are two reasons why George ordered Lennie to stay away from Curley's wife. 

First, Lennie does not know how to interact with people.  Therefore, people can misunderstand him, which could cause trouble.  This is especially important, because Curley is the boss's son.  We should also note that George and Lennie had to flee in the past, because of a misunderstanding between Lennie and another woman.  In connection with this, Lennie does not know his own strength.  So, an accident can happen. 

Second, George does not trust Curley's wife.  For example, the men were saying that she had the eye.  Here is the dialogue:

“Yeah? Married two weeks and got the eye? Maybe that’s why Curley’s pants is full of ants." “I seen her give Slim the eye. Slim’s a jerkline skinner. Hell of a nice fella. Slim don’t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team. I seen her give Slim the eye. Curley never seen it. An’ I seen her give Carlson the eye.”

George does not want any trouble.  Hence, it is better if Lennie stays away.  He was right. 

What are the descriptions of each important place on the island in Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

There are four main locations where important events take place in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.  The meeting place, referred to by Golding as “the palm terrace,” represents the boys’ attempts to form a civilized society, since this is where they initially gather and where they hold their meetings.  It is “roughly a triangle; but irregular and sketchy, like everything they made.”  Located on a sandy, grassy ledge, it faces the lagoon, near...

There are four main locations where important events take place in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.  The meeting place, referred to by Golding as “the palm terrace,” represents the boys’ attempts to form a civilized society, since this is where they initially gather and where they hold their meetings.  It is “roughly a triangle; but irregular and sketchy, like everything they made.”  Located on a sandy, grassy ledge, it faces the lagoon, near the bathing pool. Past storms have toppled palm trees, which the boys use to sit on. The chief’s log sits nearest the edge, so that Ralph faces the reality of the jungle during meetings, and the boys face the immense antagonist, the ocean.

The next important spot is the mountain top.  It is a place that always seems to give the boys a dose of reality, from the first time Ralph and Jack climb it and discover that they’re on an island, to the time Piggy scolds them for acting “Like a pack of kids!” when they burn down part of the island and a littlun goes missing, to their failed signal fire and the first real argument between their leaders. The mountain rises out of the jungle in roughly the middle of the boat-shaped island.  The back side of it angles down sharply into jungle.  The front side is rocky, which the boys use to climb up.  On top there is one area that is rather flat, on which they build their signal fire. The mountain, like the rocky ledge on the beach, is made of pink-toned granite. It is very beautiful, but also looms over the boys as though mocking their attempts at rescue.

Less seen but equally important is Simon’s hiding place in the jungle.  He goes there to escape the other boys when he feels overwhelmed by their mocking or all the arguing and dissension.  In chapter three we get a detailed description of it.  “[T]he creepers had woven a great mat that hung at the side of an open space in the jungle; for here a patch of rock came close to the surface…The whole space was walled with dark aromatic bushes.” The fact that Simon goes here sometimes at night shows his deep intuition that it isn’t the jungle they should fear, but each other. It is from within this little nook that Simon witnesses Jack and his hunters savagely murder the mother pig, hack off her head, and put it on a stick as a sacrifice to the beast, resulting in Simon's famous interview with the Lord of the Flies in chapter 8.

A final place of importance in the novel is Castle Rock. The boys first discover it while searching the island for the beast. Jack describes it as “’The tail-end part, where the rocks are all piled up…The rocks make sort of a bridge.  There’s only one way up.’” It is located on the very tip of the island, a 15-foot rock ledge that sticks out into the ocean. On one side is the calm lagoon; on the other is the violent Pacific Ocean, crashing into the rocks below.  Such a contrast is perhaps symbolic of the good and evil we see in the boys themselves.  This outcropping becomes the convenient location for Jack’s tribe, since it is easy to defend.  It’s where Piggy dies when Roger levers a rock down onto him, and it's the place where the murderous hunt for Ralph begins.  This “castle,” then, represents the lair for the evil inside the boys, which savagely spills out during their time on the island.

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, what are Jem's thoughts during the time Mrs. Dubose died, and how does her death affect him? What are some...

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem at first feels as tormented by Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose in death as in life.

In Chapter 11,  Atticus explains that Mrs. Dubose had asked Jem to read to her to distract her from her withdrawal symptoms as she weaned her way off of her morphine addiction. Atticus then hands Jem a box from Mrs. Dubose; it is a box of candy containing a Snow-on-the Mountain camellia nestled in cotton. Even after Atticus's explanation, Jem's response at seeing the camellia is rather violent and displays how tormented he had felt by Mrs. Dubose: Jem immediately screams, "Old hell-devil, old hell-devil ... Why can't she leave me alone?" and flings the box and flower down to the floor. However, once Atticus further explains why he saw her as a "great lady" and the "bravest person [he] ever knew," Jem begins seeing her differently and significantly changing as a result of his insights.

As Atticus explains, Mrs. Dubose was brave because she decided that she would die "beholden to nothing and nobody," not even to morphine despite the fact that the pain from her illness made the use of morphine understandable. Once Jem begins to see Mrs. Dubose as having been a great and brave lady, he begins wanting other girls around him to emulate her, such as Scout. Hence, one way in which we see Jem change as a result of Mrs. Dubose's death is that he begins to frown upon Scout's tomboyishness, shouting at her, "It's time you started bein' a girl and acting right!," making her cry (Ch. 12).

In addition, Scout describes Jem as having "acquired a maddening air of wisdom" since he now can understand and explain things she cannot.

All in all, Jem's experience with better understanding Mrs. Dubose after her death helped Jem to mature.

What is the definition of energy?

In simplest terms, energy can be defined as the ability of a body to do some work. For example, flowing water in a river has energy which erodes land or is converted to electrical energy. The SI unit of energy is the joule (abbreviated as J). The most commonly used non-SI unit of energy is the calorie. 

There are several forms of energy that we encounter in our day to day life. These include

• potential...

In simplest terms, energy can be defined as the ability of a body to do some work. For example, flowing water in a river has energy which erodes land or is converted to electrical energy. The SI unit of energy is the joule (abbreviated as J). The most commonly used non-SI unit of energy is the calorie. 

There are several forms of energy that we encounter in our day to day life. These include

• potential energy: such as that of stored water behind a dam, which is used to generate electricity.


• kinetic energy: such as that of flowing water, which can result in floods and destruction of property, etc.


• electrical energy: is used to run a large number of appliances, such as laptops, water heaters, electrical vehicles, etc.


• mechanical energy: such as that used to grind grains (in watermills), or that used by us to walk, etc.


• chemical energy: stored in chemical reactions, such as that released during the breakdown of food in our body


• thermal energy: or heat energy, such as that generated when we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity or run our vehicles (for examples, gasoline or diesel to run cars, etc.).

There are several other forms of energy as well.

Hope this helps. 

What is it about the cottagers that the monster believes causes them to suffer in Frankenstein?

In the story, the creature witnesses the French cottagers and feels sympathy towards them. Although the creature is at first unable to understand how they could also not be happy (similar to the creature), he investigates further and even tries to help the family. The creature discovers the cause of the family’s distress relates to their poverty and desires to help them.

After the creature studied the family for a bit, he realized that they...

In the story, the creature witnesses the French cottagers and feels sympathy towards them. Although the creature is at first unable to understand how they could also not be happy (similar to the creature), he investigates further and even tries to help the family. The creature discovers the cause of the family’s distress relates to their poverty and desires to help them.

After the creature studied the family for a bit, he realized that they were not happy and believes it was due to their poverty. As the creature illustrates, the family only had one cow and a small garden to feed the family. The creature further states that:

They often, I believe, suffered the pangs of hunger very poignantly, especially the two younger cottagers; for several times they placed food before the old man when they reserved none for themselves.

As a result, the creature tries to help the cottagers by finding firewood for them or contributing in anyway to the family. His compassion for them grows and he begins to relate more and more with their sufferings.

What does the whirligig symbolize in chapter 6, "Bellevue, Washington," in the book "Whirligig?"

The whirligig comes to symbolize, at first, the constant pressure to succeed that Tony feels from his parents, and then, later, the need for rest. Tony, a Korean boy, feels under tremendous pressure, not only from his parents and teacher to succeed at violin, but tremendous cultural pressure, as an Asian, to be hard-working, polite, and deferential. In this way he resembles Brent; just as Brent was driven by his ambition to be accepted by the popular kids at school, eventually leading to his breakdown and suicide attempt, the pressure Tony is under could also lead him to a similar breakdown—you could think of his disastrous recital as a kind of expression of frustration at this pressure to perform, or as a symptom of approaching mental and emotional exhaustion. Either way, the whirligig he discovers symbolizes his struggle, and permits Tony to "learn" from Brent's experience in that his violin teacher uses the whirligig as a metaphor to explain why taking a break from practice is so important.

What did Scout learn in Chapter 11?

In Chapter 11 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout learned what true courage looks like. After Mrs. Dubose insulted Atticus to the children, Jem “simply went mad” and beat the tops off of her camellia bushes with the baton he had just bought Scout with his twelfth birthday money, and then snapped the baton. As a punishment, Jem is charged to read to the old lady six days a week for a month, for a...

In Chapter 11 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout learned what true courage looks like. After Mrs. Dubose insulted Atticus to the children, Jem “simply went mad” and beat the tops off of her camellia bushes with the baton he had just bought Scout with his twelfth birthday money, and then snapped the baton. As a punishment, Jem is charged to read to the old lady six days a week for a month, for a couple of hours after school. Scout tagged along, giving our narrator a front row seat to the condition of the ailing woman. Toward the end of each of their sessions, Mrs. Dubose would fall into “fits”, unable to focus on her surroundings or control her face. Every day, the sessions grew longer and longer, and her fits eventually passed. About a month after Jem was released from his duties, Mrs. Dubose passed away. Atticus explains to the children that her fits were caused by her morphine addiction. Scout learns that Mrs. Dubose knew she was going to die, and painfully, but she wanted to go according to her values, “beholden to nothing and nobody”. The old woman lived her last few months fighting her addiction, suffering greatly, even though she knew that she would soon pass anyway. Atticus explained:

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.”

Why didn't Kino sell his pearl for the offered fifteen hundred pesos?

Kino did not sell his pearl for fifteen hundred pesos because, as an experienced pearl diver, he knew that his pearl was worth much more. The pearl merchants, however, are working for one main buyer who pays them a salary rather than a portion of the profit. Therefore, they have banded together to buy as low as possible, playing off each other’s valuation of the pearls. They have done this for quite some time and...

Kino did not sell his pearl for fifteen hundred pesos because, as an experienced pearl diver, he knew that his pearl was worth much more. The pearl merchants, however, are working for one main buyer who pays them a salary rather than a portion of the profit. Therefore, they have banded together to buy as low as possible, playing off each other’s valuation of the pearls. They have done this for quite some time and so are good at it. They have evidently communicated with each other after hearing the rumor of Kino’s find, deciding on a range within which they will pay. They describe the pearl as too big to be of value, as only a curiosity. They also claim to have found flaws with the pearl itself, making it worth even less than they have stated they are willing to pay. Kino, shaken by these excuses, begins to doubt himself and his judgment of the pearl, but decides he wants to take it to the merchants in the city, hoping for a better price. He leaves, and the merchants realize that they pushed too hard; their employer will not be pleased.

What is the topic of the first sermon Mr. Hooper gives while wearing the veil in "The Minister's Black Veil"?

The topic of the Reverend Mr. Hooper's sermon is secret sin.

Since the Calvinists (such as the Reverend Jonathan Edwards) of the Puritan era are sin-obsessed, at the center of their theology is an uneasy mixture of certainty and doubt. Certainly, because of Adam and Eve's grievous sin of disobedience, most humanity would be damned for eternity. Of course, doubt centers on whether a particular individual is one of those who will be saved (the...

The topic of the Reverend Mr. Hooper's sermon is secret sin.

Since the Calvinists (such as the Reverend Jonathan Edwards) of the Puritan era are sin-obsessed, at the center of their theology is an uneasy mixture of certainty and doubt. Certainly, because of Adam and Eve's grievous sin of disobedience, most humanity would be damned for eternity. Of course, doubt centers on whether a particular individual is one of those who will be saved (the Elect), or one who will be damned (Unregenerate). Since the Puritans do not know to which group they belong, they all try to live an exemplary life; they also try to hide their sins lest they be thought to be among the Unregenerate.

It is within this anxious spiritual milieu that Mr. Hooper dons a black veil across the lower portion of his face, an act that causes immediate discomfiture and doubt on the part of his congregation. With the veil on his face, Mr. Hooper's sermon is linked personally to his topic. He suggests in this sermon that each person has secret sin, some shame that he or she wishes to conceal from others and even him/herself, forgetting, however, that the Almighty can detect any and all sins. 
In addition to this disturbing sermon, the symbolic and mysterious shame that the veil seems to communicate causes his audience to react personally, feeling that their own shameful veiled acts are threatened.  

After the service one of the women remarks, "How strange that a simple black veil...should become such a terrible thing on Mr. Hooper's face." And her husband observes that the veil, though it only covers the lower portion of Mr. Hooper's face, "throws its influence over his whole person, and makes him ghost-like from head to foot."
So disturbed are many in the congregation that they avoid the minister until he becomes alienated from all, even his own fiancee. Yet, he refuses to remove his veil, declaring even on his deathbed, "I look around me, and lo! on every visage a black veil!" implying that each man and woman hides something.

How was Josef Stalin manipulative? What are some examples of his manipulation?

You would be hard pressed to find a negative adjective that does not describe Josef Stalin and his reign of terror in the Soviet Union. For this reason, the obvious answer is yes, Josef Stalin was manipulative. In his defense, most despotic leaders tend to use manipulation to achieve their ends, so he has plenty of company in the manipulation hall of fame if such a place exists.

Ten years into his reign as the...

You would be hard pressed to find a negative adjective that does not describe Josef Stalin and his reign of terror in the Soviet Union. For this reason, the obvious answer is yes, Josef Stalin was manipulative. In his defense, most despotic leaders tend to use manipulation to achieve their ends, so he has plenty of company in the manipulation hall of fame if such a place exists.

Ten years into his reign as the leader of the Soviet Union, Stalin's manipulation was evident in German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact which was signed with Adolf Hitler in 1939. His actions were manipulative on a number of levels. First, he greatly disliked Hitler and fascism, (the feeling was mutual) and realized that he was going to be at war with Hitler as some point in time. Stalin also knew that an agreement with Hitler would give his people time to build up arms to defeat Germany when the time came. The manipulation was really brought to light when it was discovered that Stalin had secretly negotiated territories in Eastern Europe that he would receive after the war ended. Despite these arrangements, Stalin negotiated trade agreements with the Allied Powers of Britain and France, two countries trying to bring the Soviets into the fold. He conveniently forgot to tell these Western Powers of his future plans for Eastern Europe.

Another more concrete example of the manipulative nature of Josef Stalin was his skillful use of propaganda. What was he possibly promoting? Himself, of course. This was not difficult when his government controlled the media. Stalin built a cult of personality around himself in the Soviet Union in a bold attempt to make himself more powerful. He renamed cities in his honor and had the history books rewritten to make himself grander than he really was. He made every aspect of his life mythical in nature. He even had his name inserted into the national anthem. In a country that was stripped of its God by the Bolsheviks, Josef Stalin attempted to fill that void.

What are some Biblical allusions (including quotes) in Chapters 6 and 7 of the novel Lord of the Flies?

"There was a sudden bright explosion and corkscrew trail across the sky; then darkness again and stars. There was a speck above the island, a figure dropping swiftly beneath a parachute, a figure that hung with dangling limbs." (Golding 95)

At the beginning of Chapter 6, Golding describes the paratroopers decent from the sky following an aerial battle. This scene alludes to the Biblical account of Satan's fall from heaven. According to the Bible, Lucifer...

"There was a sudden bright explosion and corkscrew trail across the sky; then darkness again and stars. There was a speck above the island, a figure dropping swiftly beneath a parachute, a figure that hung with dangling limbs." (Golding 95)

At the beginning of Chapter 6, Golding describes the paratroopers decent from the sky following an aerial battle. This scene alludes to the Biblical account of Satan's fall from heaven. According to the Bible, Lucifer was a prideful angel who was kicked out of heaven by the archangel Michael. The paratroopers fall from the sky alludes to the Biblical event of Satan descending from heaven. The dead paratrooper is believed to be the "beast" which symbolizes Satan.

"Someone's got to go across the island and tell Piggy we'll be back after dark." Bill spoke unbelieving. "Through the forest by himself? Now?" "We can't spare more than one." Simon pushed his way to Ralph's elbow. "I'll go if you like. I don't mind, honestly." (Golding 117)

In Chapter 7, Simon volunteers to journey back to the basecamp to inform Piggy that the boys won't be back for the night. Simon travels alone in the dark forest to give this valuable information to Piggy. Simon's journey alludes to Peter's journey in the Bible. Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, spreads the gospel throughout ancient Rome, ministering to unbelievers. Simon, who interestingly shares the same original name as one of Jesus' leading disciples, selflessly volunteers to share the information, much like the disciples of the Bible shared the gospel. In the book of Acts, Simon, whose name was changed to Peter, travels from Jerusalem to Lydda, Joppa, and Caesarea preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

In Goethe's Faust, how do both Faust and Gretchen each express an attempt to exceed the limits of social norms and expectations that surround them?...

Let us base the answer to this question entirely on their relationship, specifically, the disparate nature of their origins, the goals that they both have in mind, and how everything ends.

In Daniel Wilson's introductory analysis of Faust (Yale University Press version of 2014), Part One of Faust is much more effective than Part Two, particularly for the social commentary that it elicits. This social commentary comes in the form of the challenging of social norms that is evident in the relationship that Faust wants to start with Margaret. Being that she comes from such a different social status than Faust, we can already sense that the relationship will not turn out so well.

In order to understand exactly how Faust attempts to push the social norms with Margaret, we must know where she comes from and who she is.

In Goethe's Faust Part I Margaret, or Gretchen, is a very pious and innocent woman, and daughter. She is not perfect; she does enjoy the occasional attention of males, and she is aware of her beauty. Nevertheless, she is a woman of good and well-meaning intentions who expects to be married one day.

The problem with Gretchen is not so much her character, but that of the people who surround her. Part of the social commentary discussed by Wilson is the criticism of the "small town mentality".

This is the idea that small town people are equally small in intellect. Hence, those who live with, or around Gretchen, are quite unlikely characters. Her brother, Valentine, is brash and uncouth, her mother is money-hungry, and her best friend Marthe is quite mature in the ways of the world.

That woman seems to me expressly made
To play the pimp or ply a gipsy’s trade.

Still, Margaret is aware of her social limitations and she has an inkling that Faust may be way above her status. This is not to say that Margaret is poor, for she is not; however, she is in no way a sophisticated woman of the world, either.

I am, in truth, of humble blood—
The gentleman is far too good—
Nor gems nor trinkets are my own

How does she push her social limitations? 

She does this by accepting Faust as a potential lover, even knowing what could happen if she gets carried away. Gretchen does get carried away. She accepts gifts, and she even trusts him enough to accept a "sleeping potion" to keep her mother away from her room while she lets Faust in. The potion was actually poison, her mother dies, and Gretchen ends up pregnant with the child of this man, whom she hardly knows that well.  

Still, Gretchen does not demand marriage from Faust; not even love. She could be seen as a modern woman by the modern reader, in that she shows a clear understanding of what is at stake by being a single mother in her society. It is despair that leads her to kill the child (we know that the baby drowns, but we are not told how exactly it happened), and she is eventually sentenced to be hanged.

Therefore, Margaret allowed herself to take a risk in becoming involved with a man who was beyond her "station", and also took another risk in trusting him enough to allow him in her bed. All backfires on her, but God ends up forgiving her.

How Faust pushes his limits:

Faust is not a stupid man, by any means. He is a greedy, narcissistic and self-absorbed man, but not an unintelligent one. When Faust sees Gretchen for the first time, he is aware of her station, and he gets to see the pious side of her. He has been at a higher level his entire life, and knows what is at stake at trying to seduce a less worldly woman. Moreover, he knows that she is a woman of limits. He, of course, wants her to give in and break away from her standards. It is because Gretchen has a truly beautiful character, and is not just a pretty shell of a woman, that Faust starts to develop true and sincere feelings for her.

Unfortunately, even though Faust aggravates Mephistopheles by feeling more than just lust for Gretchen, Faust never really makes his wrongs into "rights". This means that he never really offers Gretchen any solid foundation to the romance that he wants to establish with her. He may have the capricious want to be with a woman of lesser station, but he does not show any indication of being serious enough to change his life for her.

All this being said, which of the two may be considered "successful" at breaking with the social norms?

Arguably, the big winner (as Part Two will anticlimactically show) will be Faust, himself. Leave aside the fact that he faces no consequences for decimating almost an entire family (Gretchen's), nor for ruining the poor woman, nor for never even bothering with the child he had with her... and not even for having sold his soul. After a number of moral deaths, Faust is just "let go" easily from his negotiation and, in an ending that had angered many readers, he gets to just continue to exist despite of everything.

Gretchen, unfortunately, may have shown signs of strength as a woman of her time undergoing terrible circumstances, but she ultimately suffered every consequence that Faust was spared.

What does Juliet say that shows the depth of her feelings for Romeo?

I think this quote works quite well to show how deeply in love and attracted Juliet is to Romeo.  

Give me my Romeo, and when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.
O, I have bought the mansion of a love
But not possessed it, and, though I am sold,
Not yet enjoyed.

What Juliet is saying is that Romeo is so awesome and perfect that if he were a star or a bunch of stars, people would worship him and his beauty instead of the sun.  Compared to Romeo, the star that gives the planet Earth its ability to sustain life is ugly and "garish."  Perhaps you could argue that the quote doesn't expressly show love.  You could argue that it is more descriptive of her physical attraction to Romeo, but I would argue that is a large part of being in love.  

Here is a different quote.  

O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris,
From off the battlements of yonder tower,
Or walk in thievish ways, or bid me lurk
Where serpents are. Chain me with roaring bears;
Or shut me nightly in a charnel house,
O'ercovered quite with dead men's rattling bones,
With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls.
Or bid me go into a new-made grave
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud
(Things that, to hear them told, have made me 
   tremble),
And I will do it without fear or doubt,
To live an unstained wife to my sweet love.

I think this one even more clearly illustrates Juliet's deep feelings for Romeo.  This time she argues that all of the things that she once thought super scary are now ridiculously silly compared to the fear of having to marry somebody other than Romeo.  In this case, that person is Paris, the man that her father is forcing her to marry.  

Why does Lennie become upset with Crooks in Of Mice and Men?

Realizing that he has the intellectual advantage, Crooks tries to rile Lennie, who is looking for George, by telling him that George is not returning. He upsets Lennie simply because he can; this behavior of Crooks demonstrates the tendency of men who are too often alone to become mean and resentful.

Thematic of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is the Fraternity of Men that provides individuals strength and companionship. Without this fraternity men become mean...

Realizing that he has the intellectual advantage, Crooks tries to rile Lennie, who is looking for George, by telling him that George is not returning. He upsets Lennie simply because he can; this behavior of Crooks demonstrates the tendency of men who are too often alone to become mean and resentful.

Thematic of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is the Fraternity of Men that provides individuals strength and companionship. Without this fraternity men become mean and defensive, and in their alienation they lose meaning in their lives, because meaning comes from sharing. And, so, there is another reason that Crooks taunts Lennie by saying that George may not return from the whore house in town.

Crooks' face lighted with pleasure in his torture...."Le's say he wants to come back and can't. S'pose he gets killed or hurt so he can't come back."

Lennie struggled to understand. "George won't do nothing like that...he's careful....Say, what you doin' anyways?....This ain't true. George ain't got hurt."

Crooks bored in on him."Want me ta tell ya what'll happen?They'll take ya to the booby hatch. They'll tie ya up with a collar, like a dog."

When Lennie becomes threatening, Crooks backs off, and he reassures Lennie that George is all right. Lennie "growled back," Crooks, then, asks him, "Maybe you can see now," meaning now, perhaps, Lennie understands what it is to be alone. Crooks tells Lennie that a man needs someone to be near him.

"A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody....I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an' he gets sick."

This companionship helps a man know what he thinks makes sense, or what he sees is really there. There is a necessity for man to have others around him, to have someone against whom he can measure himself. The fraternity of men, the dream of living together and looking out for one another, is thematic of the narrative, and nowhere is it brought to point than in the interchange between Lennie and Crooks in his room.

What does Holmes’ examination of the will indicate?

Holmes is gone until around one o'clock in the afternoon. When he returns to Baker Street he tells Watson what he has learned from reading the will of Helen Stoner's mother.

“I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he. “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750. Each daughter can claim an income of £250, in case of marriage. It is evident, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for standing in the way of anything of the sort.

Evidently Dr. Roylott could retain the capital from the inheritance but would have to pay either daughter 250 pounds a year out of the income. If both daughters married, he would be left with an annual income of only 250 pounds. This is strong evidence that he must have murdered Julia Stoner to keep her from being married and that he intends to murder Helen, who is engaged to be married very soon. Watson writes that Helen came to see Holmes in early April of 1883, and Helen tells them that she and Percy Armitage are to be married "in the course of the spring."

It would seem advisable for Dr. Roylott to wait at least a little while before trying to kill Helen after she has consulted the famous Sherlock Holmes, but he is under time pressure. He has no idea what Holmes might advise Helen to do. The detective has the option of moving Helen to the home of her aunt, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, where his client would be out of her stepfather's reach. This is why Holmes wants to go to Stoke Moran that very afternoon. He tells Helen, "Yet we have not a moment to lose." And he tells Watson, "...this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs." The whole case is wrapped up in one day. Helen arrives early in the morning, and Dr. Roylott is dead, bitten by his own poisonous snake at around three-thirty the next morning. 

The story shows the dependent position of women in Victorian times. Dr. Roylott can keep the entire income of 750 pounds a year while his stepdaughters are living under his roof. But once either girl marries she will have a man to handle her affairs, and her husband can see to it that Roylott pays him the one-third of his annual income. Helen's long story to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson indicates that Roylott's big house at Stoke Moran is not only heavily mortgaged but in bad need of repairs. He must be desperate. He couldn't sell the big place in its run-down condition, and he couldn't keep up with the mortgage payments. He is being forced to go ahead with his plan to kill Helen even though he should know it would be wise to lie low until the detective became involved with other affairs. Roylott tries to have his snake kill Helen that very night, but Holmes and Watson are waiting in her bedroom and have sent her to sleep in safety in her old bedroom at the end of the corridor.

Suppose Bella has already saved $60 and earns $15 per hour for summer job. Her boyfriend Edward has already saved $100, but only earns $10 per...

Hello!

We don't know how many hours they work a day, tberefore we can answer in terms of hours only. Also, i have to suppose that they work the same amount of hours.

"The same amount of money" may mean "the same for both persons" or "the same as needed for one iPod for both". Let's solve both variants.

1. Denote the number of hours when they will have the same amount of money as...

Hello!

We don't know how many hours they work a day, tberefore we can answer in terms of hours only. Also, i have to suppose that they work the same amount of hours.

"The same amount of money" may mean "the same for both persons" or "the same as needed for one iPod for both". Let's solve both variants.

1. Denote the number of hours when they will have the same amount of money as x. Then Bella will have 60+15x dollars and Edward will have 100+10x and these amounts were equal:

60+15x=100+10x.

Move 10x to the left and 60 to the right (changing the sign) and obtain

5x=40, or x=8 (hours).

So the answer is: they will have the same amount of money after 8 hours of simultaneous work.

2. In this case Bella again will have 60+15x dollars and Edward will have 100+10x dollars. They will have 60+15x+100+10x=25x+160 and this must be equal to 210.

25x+160=210 means 25x=210-160=50 or x=2 (hours).

For this problem the answer is: they will have enough money for one iPod after 2 hours of each person's work.

What does the title "Rules of the Game" mean?

This is a great question.  The title, "Rules of the Game," can be taken in a few different ways. 

First, on one level it deals with the game of chess. Waverly had to learn the rules of the game in order to play.  She learned the rules from her brothers. Then she learned more from Lau Po, who was a more advanced player.  After she learned these rules, she excelled. 

Second, the title can also...

This is a great question.  The title, "Rules of the Game," can be taken in a few different ways. 

First, on one level it deals with the game of chess. Waverly had to learn the rules of the game in order to play.  She learned the rules from her brothers. Then she learned more from Lau Po, who was a more advanced player.  After she learned these rules, she excelled. 

Second, the title can also refer to Waverly's relationship with her mother.  Waverly is growing older, and she wants more independence.  Her mother does not want this. So, conflict ensues.  Within this context, Waverly is learning how far she can push her mother and her mother is also probably feeling things out. 

Third, the idea of rules also applies to the immigrant experience. Mrs. Jong make this point very clear.  She, along with her children, need to learn the rules of American society well enough to survive and thrive.

"This American rules," she concluded at last. "Every time people come out from foreign country, must know rules. You not know, judge say, Too bad, go back. They not telling you why so you can use their way go forward.

Finally, the idea of rules applies to the art of invisible strength, which is defined as a way of winning an argument and respect.  In other words, you have to learn well to have power in society and get ahead.  

How do plant cells differ from animal cells?

There are a number of differences between plant and animal cells, especially with respect to the presence or absence of organelle.

•  Cell wall: is present in plant cell and is absent in animal cells.


• Vacuoles: Plant cells have a large vacuole, while animal cells contain multiple small vacuoles.


• Chloroplasts: Plants cells contain chloroplasts (which contain chlorophyll, essential for the process of photosynthesis by which plants make their own food), while animal cells do not.


• Flagella: is typically absent from plant cells.


• Shape: Plant cells have a more regular shape (generally rectangular), while animal cells have irregular shapes.


• Lysosomes: are generally present in animal cells, while they are absent in plant cells.


• Cilia: animal cells have cilia, while they are generally absent from plant cells.


• Plastids: are present in plant cells and are absent in animal cells.

Hope this helps.

What is one reader reaction during the climax in "After Twenty Years" by O Henry?

Most readers would agree that the climax of "After Twenty Years" evokes pathos and surprise. That is, readers are saddened to learn that Bob has been arrested as a rather significant criminal since his arrest marks the end of a long friendship, and Bob will probably go to prison. And, they are surprised at the ending because it does not fit the usual sentimental endings of O. Henry.

While readers of O. Henry would not...

Most readers would agree that the climax of "After Twenty Years" evokes pathos and surprise. That is, readers are saddened to learn that Bob has been arrested as a rather significant criminal since his arrest marks the end of a long friendship, and Bob will probably go to prison. And, they are surprised at the ending because it does not fit the usual sentimental endings of O. Henry.

While readers of O. Henry would not be surprised by the ironic reversal of the narrative at the climax because such irony is typical of his stories; on the other hand, that Bob is arrested and will be sent to Chicago where he will most likely do time in the state prison would surprise them as this is not the usual romantic ending.

Also, the ending is tragic for Bob and Jimmy, as well, since they sadly realize that their longstanding friendship has ended with disappointment and guilt. Bob experiences this tragic moment as he reads Jimmy's note:

....His hand was steady when he began to read, but it trembled a little by the time he had finished....I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn't do it myself.... 

Earlier, Jimmy has experienced this tragic moment when Bob lit his cigar, revealing his face with the white scar near his right eyebrow, a scar that identified him as "Silky Bob."

Is it true that assets are not shown in single entry bookkeeping making theft from business by employees more likely? If so, how?

Single-entry accounting is much simpler to use, but also much less reliable than double-entry accounting. Single-entry is generally only allowed for small businesses that cannot afford to hire full-time accounting staff.Single-entry accounting basically only keeps track of two things: How much money comes in, and how much money goes out. This makes it very simple to use, but also prone to a number of different errors and distortions.First of all, double-entry accounting has...

Single-entry accounting is much simpler to use, but also much less reliable than double-entry accounting. Single-entry is generally only allowed for small businesses that cannot afford to hire full-time accounting staff.

Single-entry accounting basically only keeps track of two things: How much money comes in, and how much money goes out. This makes it very simple to use, but also prone to a number of different errors and distortions.

First of all, double-entry accounting has a built-in error-correction mechanism: Debits and credits must balance. Single-entry accounting has no such mechanism.

Second, as you correctly note, asset values are not recorded in single-entry accounting. You record what you paid for them, and if you sell them later what you sold them for; but you do not mark their value to market while you own them as you would in double-entry accounting.

I'm not sure it's necessarily true that it is easier to steal from a company that uses single-entry accounting, but it might be, simply because there is no error-correction mechanism. If you forge a few figures on one balance sheet, there is no other balance sheet to check it against, as there would be with double-entry accounting.

Double-entry accounting is by no means a complete solution to fraud, however: A number of corporations (famously Enron) have used fraudulent double-entry accounting to inflate their value and extract wealth for their owners. In fact, most fraud is probably committed under double-entry accounting systems, because most fraud is committed in large corporations and most large corporations are required to use double-entry accounting.

What were three difficulties caused by the Articles of Confederation?

One difficulty was a major fiscal crisis confronting the new nation. Both the states and the national government had enormous debts from the Revolutionary War. The problem was that under the Articles of Confederation, the national government essentially lacked the power to tax. Therefore it could not raise enough money to service the national debt, and could not inspire much confidence among potential creditors among the nations of Europe. 

Another problem was the lack of...

One difficulty was a major fiscal crisis confronting the new nation. Both the states and the national government had enormous debts from the Revolutionary War. The problem was that under the Articles of Confederation, the national government essentially lacked the power to tax. Therefore it could not raise enough money to service the national debt, and could not inspire much confidence among potential creditors among the nations of Europe. 

Another problem was the lack of unity in dealing with foreign affairs. The British were quick to exploit this weakness by maintaining forts on the American frontier in contravention of the Treaty of Paris that had ended the Revolutionary War. Spanish influence among Western settlers was also seen as a problem, and farmers who moved west of the Appalachian worried that they couldn't ship their produce down the Mississippi River, as Spain controlled the city of New Orleans. There was little the national government, which couldn't really raise an army, and which totally lacked diplomatic clout, could do about it.

Finally, in the absence of a central authority with the sole power to regulate interstate commerce, many of the states levied tariffs on each other's goods, a potentially ruinous development. This created enormous animosity between many of the states, and was, in fact, was one of the reasons that the first meetings of state delegates was called at Annapolis, Maryland one year before the Philadelphia Convention. 

Why does Half Arrow watch quietly while the guard binds True Son's arms in Chapter 4 of The Light In The Forest?

In the story, John Butler was only four years old when he was abducted by Delaware Indians. Renamed True Son by his adopted Indian father, Cuyloga, John comes to love and to respect the Indian way of life. So, he is resentful when a new treaty between the Americans and Delaware Indians calls for the return of white captives.

In Chapter 4, all the white captives are on the march back to Fort Pitt in...

In the story, John Butler was only four years old when he was abducted by Delaware Indians. Renamed True Son by his adopted Indian father, Cuyloga, John comes to love and to respect the Indian way of life. So, he is resentful when a new treaty between the Americans and Delaware Indians calls for the return of white captives.

In Chapter 4, all the white captives are on the march back to Fort Pitt in Pennsylvania. True Son is so disheartened at this state of affairs that he tries to get a hold of the poisonous roots of the May apple, thinking that he will be better served by committing suicide. However, he is not successful and must march on to what he thinks is his doom. His cousin and friend, Half Arrow, marches alongside him. Another Indian friend, Little Crane, marches along to be near his white squaw.

When the captives approach the river near to Fort Pitt, the guard orders Half-Arrow to leave, citing safety issues. He warns that Half Arrow's life may be in danger, as they are very near the white settlements. To reiterate his order, he points his rifle at Half Arrow in order to force him out of the marching line. At the guard's directive, True Son is so upset that he lunges at the soldier. Because of his violent action, the guards bind his arms. In the meantime, Half Arrow watches impassively; he does nothing to help True Son but only asks for permission to give True Son some words of wisdom from his Indian father. With the guard's permission, he tells True Son that he must bide his time and move with wisdom if he is to win the war against the white settlers.

It is better to wait for your cause to be ripe like a persimmon on the snow before you fight back, True Son. It is wiser to be willing and be alive than be defiant and be dead so your father and mother and sisters have to mourn you.

True Son realizes that he must bear his disgrace with dignity and wait patiently until a favorable moment presents itself for success. In keeping with the wisdom of waiting until the right moment to rebel, Half Arrow displays little emotion when True Son's arms are bound. He realizes that to fight at such a moment, when he can have no victory, will prove a foolish waste of his time and life.

What is the plot of Machiaevelli's Mandrake?

Published in 1524, the Mandrake is a comedy by Niccolo Machiavelli. The book takes places over a 24-hour period and focuses on Callimaco, a man from Florence who has lived in Paris for 20 years. One day, Callimaco hears a fellow Florentine talking about a beautiful woman called Lucrezia who lives in Tuscany and who he becomes determined to meet. Having returned to his homeland, Callimaco encounters a few problems in his quest to be...

Published in 1524, the Mandrake is a comedy by Niccolo Machiavelli. The book takes places over a 24-hour period and focuses on Callimaco, a man from Florence who has lived in Paris for 20 years. One day, Callimaco hears a fellow Florentine talking about a beautiful woman called Lucrezia who lives in Tuscany and who he becomes determined to meet. Having returned to his homeland, Callimaco encounters a few problems in his quest to be with Lucrezia: she is already married (to an elderly man called Nicia) and is too virtuous to cheat on her husband.

Undeterred, Callimaco enlists the help of Ligurio, a marriage broker who is familiar with Lucrezia and her husband and, more importantly, knows that the couple are desperate to have a son. With this in mind, Callimaco disguises himself as a doctor and tells Nicia that he must drug his wife with a potion made from mandrake root in order for her to fall pregnant, though it will kill the first man that she sleeps with. Callimaco thus suggests that they find a man 'stupid' enough to sleep with Lucrezia. (This is, of course, completely false but all part of Callimaco's plan to be alone with Lucrezia.) After some persuasion from her mother and a friar, Lucrezia sleeps with Callimaco and the pair become lovers. 

Explain what happens to light when it travels through air and water.

When the light travels through the boundary between the air and water, it changes direction. This phenomenon is called refraction. It can be easily observed by filling a glass with water and putting a straw in the glass. The straw will appear to be broken.

The refraction occurs because the speed of light in air is different than the speed of light in water. The speed with which a light wave propagates in a...

When the light travels through the boundary between the air and water, it changes direction. This phenomenon is called refraction. It can be easily observed by filling a glass with water and putting a straw in the glass. The straw will appear to be broken.

The refraction occurs because the speed of light in air is different than the speed of light in water. The speed with which a light wave propagates in a given medium is determined by the electromagnetic properties of this medium, which are different for air in water. In the air, the speed of light is very close to the speed of light in the vacuum, `3*10^8` m/s. In the water, the speed of light is less. Thus, when the wavefront of propagating light hits the boundary between air and water, it sort of breaks and the ray of light travels in a different direction than the original. (Please see the reference link for a more detailed explanation, and also to learn how to determine the angle at which the light refracts.)

The phenomenon of refraction also explains why we can see rainbows. The various colors we can see correspond to different frequencies of the light waves. Normally the light is composed of waves of mixed frequencies and appears white. However, these waves with different frequencies refract at different angles when they pass the boundary between air in water. Then the light waves of different colors become separated, and we can see a rainbow.

For much of the history of the United States, A. the country has had greater economic “busts” than “booms”. B. economics is the concern...

The correct answer to this question is not completely clear.  Different people can interpret history in different ways and the answers given here generally call for interpretation.  I will narrow this down for you and give you the answer I think is best, but I strongly suggest that you consult your textbook and/or class notes to determine what answer you are supposed to give.

Option A is clearly wrong.  If we had had more “busts”...

The correct answer to this question is not completely clear.  Different people can interpret history in different ways and the answers given here generally call for interpretation.  I will narrow this down for you and give you the answer I think is best, but I strongly suggest that you consult your textbook and/or class notes to determine what answer you are supposed to give.

Option A is clearly wrong.  If we had had more “busts” than “booms” over time, we would not have increased our wealth as we have.  Option D is also wrong.  People care deeply about the state of the economy as it determines their ability to have a good standard of living.

The rest of the answers are at least somewhat plausible, based on how you define things like “much of” American history and “a strong role for government.”  I would pick Option E as the best answer, but others could see things differently.

Option B is plausible because there have been times in our country’s history when economic issues were left more to state governments than to the national government.  However, this question says “local governments,” which means city governments, and I do not think that is a strong answer.

Option C is a strong contender.  We generally say that the American government engaged in laissez faire for much of the 19th century.  If we accept that it was hands off during that time, we could say that was “much of” American history.  However, I would argue that even then, the government took a fairly strong role in the economy.  For example, the government subsidized the building of the transcontinental railroads, which helped contribute to a major economic boom after the Civil War.  For these reasons, I think Option E is the best answer.

How did World War II change the United States internationally, and domestically?

World War II produced the United States as global superpower and defender of capitalism and democracy in the world. European nations that were world powers before the war (Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and France) were totally destroyed by warfare. Their infrastructures, homes, economic systems, and social systems were destroyed. While the United States suffered over a million casualties throughout the course of the war, its economy was robust and its military largely unscathed. Many in...

World War II produced the United States as global superpower and defender of capitalism and democracy in the world. European nations that were world powers before the war (Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and France) were totally destroyed by warfare. Their infrastructures, homes, economic systems, and social systems were destroyed. While the United States suffered over a million casualties throughout the course of the war, its economy was robust and its military largely unscathed. Many in the American government felt that it was strategically important to help other countries to recover from the war. Internationally, the United States offered billions of dollars of aid to the countries of Europe and established an alliance of countries through NATO to ensure their security. There was a shift in thinking about America's role in global politics. The newly formed United Nations was located in New York City and the U.S. became a major player in the organization. Because of the Allied victory in World War II, there were only two superpowers that survived, and the United States was one of them.

World War II also had a dramatic effect on the United States domestically. The sense of confidence that existed cannot be quantified, but was very evident. There was a sense of prosperity as Americans moved to the suburbs and an interstate highway system was born. Nuclear power, which was developed for military use, was applied for a more peaceful purpose as electric companies built nuclear reactors to produce electricity. Many social changes were on the horizon in the United States. As an example, African-Americans, who had fought so valiantly in the Allied victory, pressed for their rights at on the homefront. The prosperity of the 1950's allowed the growth of popular culture as many Americans bought a television and listened to rock and roll on their radios.

While World War II had the effect of destroying many countries, the United States matured into a political and economic superpower because of it.

How does Mary Shelley use the hints and suspense before things happen? What are the techniques she uses?

Throughout the novel of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, hints and suspense are used to captivate the reader and allude to the events to come. Although there are numerous techniques utilized in the novel, some of the most significant are foreshadowing and flashbacks.

In the beginning of the novel, Shelley utilizes foreshadowing to illustrate and hint about the coming events with Victor and his creature. In the beginning, the Walton finds Victor. Victor sees how Walton...

Throughout the novel of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, hints and suspense are used to captivate the reader and allude to the events to come. Although there are numerous techniques utilized in the novel, some of the most significant are foreshadowing and flashbacks.

In the beginning of the novel, Shelley utilizes foreshadowing to illustrate and hint about the coming events with Victor and his creature. In the beginning, the Walton finds Victor. Victor sees how Walton is arduously pursuing the acquisition of knowledge and warns him about the pain this might cause. As a result, he begins to speak vaguely of his own experiences saying:

You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been.

With this, Shelley utilizes foreshadowing to hint to the readers about the agony that Victor experienced due to his zealous ambition with knowledge.

Additionally, Shelley utilizes the techniques of foreshadowing with the death of Justine. With this, Justine seems to realize that she will be convicted of the murder and already seems to accept her fate. As Justine herself states, "I commit my cause to the justice of my judges, yet I see no room for hope.” 

Lastly, Shelley also utilizes flashbacks to create suspense. After bring the creature to life, Victor abandons his creation. As the story progresses, we know little about what is happening to the creature until Victor and the creature finally converse and the creature reveals his previous experiences. With this, Shelley utilizes suspense in her novel by having readers question or wonder what happened to the creature during his time of absence from the novel.

Consequently, Shelley utilizes hints and suspense to incite the readers to be curious about future events. With these techniques, Shelley captivates and motivates her readers to continue reading due to their intrigue and interest.

In Nickel and Dimed, what rule does Ehrenreich break and why does she break it in the chapter "Scrubbing in Maine"?

In Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in AmericaBarbara Ehrenreich goes undercover to see how people living at minimum wage live. As she begins the project she sets three rules for herself. First, she could not use skills that came from her education or job experience. Second, she had to take the highest paying job she was offered and do her best to keep it. Finally, she had to take the cheapest housing...

In Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America Barbara Ehrenreich goes undercover to see how people living at minimum wage live. As she begins the project she sets three rules for herself. First, she could not use skills that came from her education or job experience. Second, she had to take the highest paying job she was offered and do her best to keep it. Finally, she had to take the cheapest housing she could find as long as she considered it safe and private enough.

Ehrenreich ends up breaking all of these rules at least once throughout the process. In Chapter 2, Scrubbing in Maine, it could be argued that she breaks two of her three rules, though it is mere a matter of degrees then a clearly broken rule. First, she does not take the cheapest housing she can get. The cheapest she can find is $65 a week. To be fair it does sound like the place was unsafe. She also turns down an apartment for $110 and settles on a place for $120 a week that meets her standards for safe and secure.

Another rule Ehrenreich stretches in this chapter is her rule about trying to keep a job. She works for a maid service. One day one of her coworkers falls and injures her ankle. When her boss tells the coworker to work through it, Ehrenreich screams at him. She fully expects to get fired and broke her rule to try to keep her job at all costs.

There are more specific examples of Ehrenreich breaking rules. At one point she chooses a lower paying job and she rarely chooses the cheapest housing. She also drew on her language skills a bit when interviewing to be a waitress. These things happen in other chapters.

What is the theme of "The Pedestrian" by Ray Bradbury?

"The Pedestrian" is a futuristic story about the threat of the then-new medium of television to human consciousness and human society. The protagonist is taking a walk in the evening, which is what people all over the country used to do. They would stop and chat with neighbors who were sitting on their front porches and thereby maintain a sense of community. In the time frame shown in "The Pedestrian" everybody except for the protagonist has become conditioned to stay indoors watching television shows. They never see nature anymore except for pictures of nature on their television screens. They are isolated from the world, except for the members of their own families--and the members of the families are isolated from one another because they are hypnotized by what they are staring at on the television screens. The pedestrian looks very suspicious because he is walking around in the dark. The robot car mistakes him for a possible burglar. After a grilling by a mechanical voice, he is taken off for psychiatric observation. If he isn't a burglar, then he must be some kind of a psycho to be walking around looking at things when he can see plenty of things on television in his own home.

"The Pedestrian" was published in 1951, in the very early days of black-and-white television, but Bradbury set the story about one hundred years ahead to the year 2053. This was what he thought was going to happen. He was wrong. Television, like so many other things, has proved to be a mixed blessing. It has been adopted into American homes and provided information and entertainment without turning people--at least most people--into zombies. It is not a monster. It has been mostly good for children--and children, of course, love it. It is a real blessing for people confined to their homes or to hospital beds.

Ray Bradbury was a freelance writer whose income derived from the print medium, from magazines and books. Naturally he felt threatened by a medium that competed with magazines and books. (Mark Twain once wrote: "Tell me where a man gets his corn pone, and I'll tell you where he gets his 'pions.") Perhaps Bradbury was not being entirely truthful in his vision of the world of 2053. He may have been trying to frighten people for an ulterior motive. He has a strong tendency to exaggerate. Sometimes he seems less imaginative than zany. In another work defending the printed word, Fahrenheit 451, he creates a fire department that spends most of its time burning books! In other words, it is a fire department that sets fires instead of putting them out.

At what time does Fahrenheit 451 take place?

The setting of the novel is in a large city in the United States in the 24th century.  Although the story takes place far in the future, Bradbury’s many predictions hold true for today.  He predicted the decline of reading and use of books, inventions such as ear buds, and the decline of a society who places fun and enjoyment over knowledge and learning.  Even the size of TV’s was predicted by Bradbury when he...

The setting of the novel is in a large city in the United States in the 24th century.  Although the story takes place far in the future, Bradbury’s many predictions hold true for today.  He predicted the decline of reading and use of books, inventions such as ear buds, and the decline of a society who places fun and enjoyment over knowledge and learning.  Even the size of TV’s was predicted by Bradbury when he wrote Fahrenheit 451 in the early 50’s.  Wall-size TV’s entertain Mildred and the population of this society much like our big screen televisions do today.  More importantly, Bradbury predicts the decay of society due to political correctness, censorship, and war.  In the book, there are two nuclear wars before the book takes place, and as we know, Montag witnesses the bombing of the city at the end of the novel.  Society has declined into a dystopia that gives up freedom and individuality for fast cars, advanced technology, and the thrill of entertainment.  It is interesting that Bradbury looked far into the future but predicted things throughout the novel that we see today.