What does Holmes learn when he starts to question Mr. Wilson about his assistant?

During the interview, Holmes learns that the assistant's name is Vincent Spaulding. That he is around thirty years old. That he has a avid interest in photography and is always diving down into Wilson's cellar to develop his pictures. That he came to work for half-wages to learn the business. That it was he who called Wilson's attention to the ad for red-headed applicants to the fictitious league.

Towards the end of their interview, Holmes...

During the interview, Holmes learns that the assistant's name is Vincent Spaulding. That he is around thirty years old. That he has a avid interest in photography and is always diving down into Wilson's cellar to develop his pictures. That he came to work for half-wages to learn the business. That it was he who called Wilson's attention to the ad for red-headed applicants to the fictitious league.

Towards the end of their interview, Holmes brings up his most important questions.

“What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?”

“Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead.”

Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. “I thought as much,” said he. “Have you ever observed that his ears are pierced for ear-rings?”

“Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he was a lad.”

Holmes already feels sure that Vincent Spaulding is really a notorious criminal named John Clay. The detective is excited because he has been trying to capture Clay for a long time, and he knows that Scotland Yard would also like to get their hands on him. Holmes feels sure that Clay is working for Wilson for an ulterior objective and is probably going down to the cellar because he is digging a tunnel.

Watson describes Wilson as a "stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman." This is to forestall any reader's question as to why Wilson never goes down into his own cellar to see what his assistant is doing. The "florid face" suggests high blood pressure. He would not want to venture down a steep flight of wooden stairs and climb back up again just out of curiosity. If he had ever done so, he would have ended up buried in his own cellar, because Clay would have no compunctions about murdering him.

When Holmes and Watson inspect the vicinity of Wilson's pawnshop, Holmes deduces that the tunnel is being dug in the direction of the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank. Since the Red-Headed League had been dissolved that very day, Holmes further deduces that the thieves are planning to break into the bank's basement strong room and loot all its stored gold via their tunnel that very night. He sets up a trap and both are caught. Clay will hang for this and previous crimes.

What is an example of imagery "The Cask of Amontillado"?

As a literary device, imagery is: "descriptive language that can function as a way for the reader to better imagine the world of the piece of literature and also add symbolism to the work. Imagery draws on the five senses, namely the details of taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. Using imagery helps the reader develop a more fully realized understanding of the imaginary world that the author has created." (literarydevices.com)

Essentially this means that the author is describing a scene very well, and the reader can visualize it. Edgar Allan Poe does this in two ways in "The Cask of Amontillado." First, he has the narrator himself describe visuals. For instance, the description of Fortunado:

"The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells."

Or the descriptions of the dungeons:

"I took from their sconces two flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato, bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into the vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together upon the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors."

The second way Poe uses imagery is when he has the characters themselves describe things. For instance, the narrator Montresor tells his enemy how cold and damp the vaults will be, saying: "'The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre.'"

Later, Montresor continues to describe to Fortunado how the catacombs are infested with damp and mold:

"'It is farther on,' said I; 'but observe the white web-work which gleams from these cavern walls.'"

These are examples of imagery in "The Cask of Amontillado" through both the narrator and the characters' dialogue.

What are some traits in Julie of the Wolves, part 1?

As a character in part one ("Amaroq, the Wolf"), Julie exhibits the character traits of determination, patience, and brotherhood.

First, Julie exhibits determination.  Even though Julie is lost on the Alaskan tundra with winter approaching, Julie is determined to live.  She builds a sod hut for shelter and immediately begins relying on her wits in order to find food.  Seeds and grasses, however, are not enough.  Julie, again, is determined to find more sustenance.  It...

As a character in part one ("Amaroq, the Wolf"), Julie exhibits the character traits of determination, patience, and brotherhood.

First, Julie exhibits determination.  Even though Julie is lost on the Alaskan tundra with winter approaching, Julie is determined to live.  She builds a sod hut for shelter and immediately begins relying on her wits in order to find food.  Seeds and grasses, however, are not enough.  Julie, again, is determined to find more sustenance.  It is at this point that Julie finds the wolf pack and begins to exhibit the next character trait of patience.

In her observation of the wolf pack, Julie must be very patient.  Of course, the wolves are not of Julie's same species, so it takes time to learn the subtle nuances of their behaviors.  Julie simply hides, for days and days, watching wolf ear-movement and other postures.  Through this patience, Julie learns that flattened ears mean friendship while pointed ears mean aggression. Julie patiently learns to use her hands as wolf ears.  It is also patience that allows Julie to determine the structure of the wolf pack.  There is a leader, a wife, a second, an outsider, and pups.  Julie, through her patience, decides to become a "pup."  Julie finally is brave enough to go belly-up in submission to Amaroq and becomes part of the pack which introduces Julie to her last trait of brotherhood.

In conclusion, we cannot neglect the character trait of brotherhood.  Julie becomes part of the pack, first accepting regurgitated food for sustenance and eventually accepting raw meat at the end of a kill.  Julie eventually returns the many favors by nursing Kapu back to health after he is shot by  hunters.  Through it all, Julie remembers her father's advice:

Wolves are brotherly. ... They love each other, and if you learn to speak to them, they will love you too.

Was the Cold War avoidable? Why or why not?

You can, of course, argue this either way.  I will give an argument for each side and you can decide which you think is the better argument.

We can say that the Cold War could not have been avoided because communism and democracy/capitalism were incompatible ideas that could not coexist.  Communists believed, as a matter of faith, that their system was destined to take over the world.  This made them believe in policies that tried...

You can, of course, argue this either way.  I will give an argument for each side and you can decide which you think is the better argument.

We can say that the Cold War could not have been avoided because communism and democracy/capitalism were incompatible ideas that could not coexist.  Communists believed, as a matter of faith, that their system was destined to take over the world.  This made them believe in policies that tried to extend communism to other countries.  The West felt threatened by this expansion because they knew that communism believed it would take over the world.  The West inevitably fought back against what they saw as aggressive communism.

On the other hand, we can say that anything in human history could have been avoided.  The US and the USSR were allies during WWII.  They did not have to start distrusting one another.  The US could have been more understanding when the Soviets wanted to control Eastern Europe.  The US could have realized that it, itself, wants to control its own neighbors and it could have not felt threatened by the Soviets’ attempt to do the same thing.  The Soviets, in turn, could have been less paranoid about the West.  They could have believed that the West only wanted to contain communism, not to destroy it where it already existed.  If people had seen things in these ways, the Cold War could have been averted.

Which of these arguments do you find more convincing?

I have to type up a report about prey and predator populations but that isn't the problem. The problem is I cant write the report in first person...

Scientific reports are often confined to the third person perspective. Sometimes the style of writing is even further restricted to just the 'past tense' and the 'passive voice'. Writing in the third-person past tense gets easier with practise, but here are a few tips.

Just write!

Having something on the page is better than nothing, and you can always fix the tense later. For example, just write dot points of the method.

This might be:

...

Scientific reports are often confined to the third person perspective. Sometimes the style of writing is even further restricted to just the 'past tense' and the 'passive voice'. Writing in the third-person past tense gets easier with practise, but here are a few tips.

Just write!

Having something on the page is better than nothing, and you can always fix the tense later. For example, just write dot points of the method.

This might be:

I went to the library and looked up the populations of big cats over the last 200 years. 
The electronic records only went back 50 years, so I had to look in some historical records as well.
I recorded all the information for lions and jaguars.

The above paragraph is neither third person, but it is in past tense. Now we just have to change the tense:

Population statistics for lions and jaguars were recorded from electronic and historical records.

Other transformations include:

"I found that" becomes "It was found"
"I poured 200mL of water into the beaker" becomes "200mL of water was poured into the 500mL beaker"

Check for third person (no I, we, etc.), check for past tense (no 'will investigate' or 'investigating').

The purpose of writing in the third person is to demonstrate the factual nature of the information. A single person, for example, shouldn't change the nature of the data.

What are the similarities and differences between the three plans for Reconstruction? (Lincoln’s, Johnson’s, and Congress’s Plans.) Why were...

There were several plans for Reconstruction. I will explain each plan so you can identify the similarities and differences. The plans were different because each person or group proposing the plan had different objectives. For example, President Lincoln want to heal the country yet be sure some of the factors leading to the Civil War didn’t occur again. President Johnson was from the South. Some people felt that impacted his plan. Congress wanted to have a plan that was harsher on the South. Some in Congress, the Radical Republicans, really wanted to punish the South.

Lincoln’s Plan was known as the Ten Percent Plan. It required ten percent of the voters to pledge to be loyal to the United States. New constitutions would have to end slavery. Forgiveness would be offered to white southerners who agreed to be loyal to the United States. This provision didn’t include the former leaders of the Confederacy.

The Wade-Davis Bill was a plan proposed by Congress. It required 50% of white southerners to be loyal to our country. In the new state constitutions that would be written, slavery would be illegal. Former leaders of the Confederacy couldn’t hold office.

President Johnson had a plan because he believed the President should direct the Reconstruction process. Southerners would be forgiven and get their property back if they agreed to be loyal to the United States. The leaders of the Confederacy had to ask the President directly for forgiveness. New state constitutions would be written. Slavery would be illegal, and secession wouldn’t be allowed in these newly written constitutions.

The Radical Republicans in Congress had a plan that was quite harsh on the South. They wanted to give African-American males the right to vote. They wanted to prevent the former leaders of the Confederacy from voting. They also planned to give slaves land by taking it from the plantation owners. They also provide funding for schools. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were part of their plan. Slavery was illegal with the 13th amendment. All people born in the United States would be citizens of the United States was part of the 14th amendment. With the 15th amendment, people couldn’t be denied voting rights based on their race or color. The military was also in charge of Reconstruction in the South.

Eventually, it was the harsher Radical Republican plan that prevailed and became the plan of Reconstruction in the South.

What are valence electrons and how do you find them?

Valence electrons are the electrons in an atom's highest energy level, farthest from the nucleus. These are the electrons that are lost, gained or shared when the atom forms chemical bonds to other atoms. The number of valence electrons an atom has can be determined from its position on the periodic table.

There are two ways to number the groups of the periodic table. One is number from 1 to 18. The other is to...

Valence electrons are the electrons in an atom's highest energy level, farthest from the nucleus. These are the electrons that are lost, gained or shared when the atom forms chemical bonds to other atoms. The number of valence electrons an atom has can be determined from its position on the periodic table.

There are two ways to number the groups of the periodic table. One is number from 1 to 18. The other is to number the main group elements, which are the s and p blocks with the Roman numerals I-VIII and the letter A. The transition metals are then numbered with Roman numerals and the letter B. For the main group element IA-VIIIA, the main group number equals the number of valence electrons:

• Group IA - alkali metals - 1 valence electron


• Group IIA - alkaline earth metals - 2 valence electrons


• Group IIIA - 3 valence electrons


• Group IVA - 4 valence electrons


• Group VA - 5 valence electrons


• Group VIA- 6 valence electrons


• Group VII - halogens - 7 valence electrons


• Group VIII - noble gases - 8 valence electrons

The valence electrons of transition metals are more complicated. In general, they're the highest level s and d electrons, which is usually the number of spaces that the element is from the left. Some transition metals have electron configurations that are exceptions to the aufbau principle and their valence electrons might include only one or no s-electrons. 

From Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, what are some of Captain Beatty's conflicting traits?

Captain Beatty assumes the role of the antagonist for Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Some of the best-written villains are those who are not solely evil, but who also encompass human qualities also expressed in the protagonist. This is the case between Beatty and Montag. They are both firemen, whose job it is to go out and destroy people's homes along with their books; and, they both gain interest in books because they wonder what they are missing in life. The conflict between the two is Beatty does not find any satisfaction from reading books, so he assimilates with society, forgets books altogether, and never looks back. Montag, on the other hand, finds the value of books and risks his life to escape the book-burning society. 

Bradbury does a wonderful job unveiling Beatty's conflicting traits. First, Beatty shows concern for Montag by showing up to his house when he calls in sick. Then, Beatty breaks down the history of book burning and seems to give Montag a redeeming chance for going a little wayward from the values of the society. In this case, it seems as if Beatty is good and cares about Montag. Unfortunately, Beatty is a product of the society and ultimately has Montag burn his own house down when neighbors report him for having books. 

Another conflicting quality is that Beatty shows Montag in a later verbal smack-down that he is in fact well-read! Beatty isn't just some ignorant follower of the government, he had doubted at some point in his life, too. He read probably more than Montag because he is knowledgeable and clever with his arguments. Thus, he uses passages and quotes from literature to refute any claims Montag might have to preserve books. In the process of showing off his mental library, Beatty brags:

"Oh, you were scared silly, . . . for I was doing a terrible thing in using the very books you clung to, to rebut you on every hand, on every point! What traitors books can be!" (107).

In summary, Beatty's conflicting traits are that he seems to care about Montag, but does not flinch when it is time to burn Montag's house. Beatty is well-read and understands books, but has chosen to fight against their preservation because he didn't find any redeeming quality; if anything, Beatty seems to have gotten more confused by reading books, which is the complete opposite of what should happen.

`int x^3 (2 + x^4)^5 dx, u = 2 + x^4` Evaluate the integral by making the given substitution.

You need to evaluate the indefinite integral by performing the indicated substitution `u = 2+x^4` , such that:

`u = 2+x^4, => du = 4x^3 dx=> x^3dx = (du)/4`

`int x^3*(2+x^4)^5 dx = (1/4)*intu^5 du`

Using the formula `int u^n du = (u^(n+1))/(n+1) + c` yields

`(1/4)*int u^5 du = (1/4)(u^(5+1))/(5+1) + c`

`(1/4)*int u^5 du = (1/24)(u^6)+ c`

Replacing back  `2+x^4`   for u yields:

`int x^3*(2+x^4)^5 dx =(1/24)*(2+x^4)^6+ c`

Hence, evaluating the indefinite integral yields `int x^3*(2+x^4)^5 dx =((2+x^4)^6)/24+...

You need to evaluate the indefinite integral by performing the indicated substitution `u = 2+x^4` , such that:

`u = 2+x^4, => du = 4x^3 dx=> x^3dx = (du)/4`

`int x^3*(2+x^4)^5 dx = (1/4)*intu^5 du`

Using the formula `int u^n du = (u^(n+1))/(n+1) + c` yields

`(1/4)*int u^5 du = (1/4)(u^(5+1))/(5+1) + c`

`(1/4)*int u^5 du = (1/24)(u^6)+ c`

Replacing back  `2+x^4`   for u yields:

`int x^3*(2+x^4)^5 dx =(1/24)*(2+x^4)^6+ c`

Hence, evaluating the indefinite integral yields `int x^3*(2+x^4)^5 dx =((2+x^4)^6)/24+ c`

What are the disadvantages of the fourth generation of computer?

The fourth generation computers are characterized by microprocessors, which contain a large number of integrated circuits (IC). The first microprocessor chip, Intel 4004 chip, was developed in 1971. Very large scale integration (VLSI) allowed a large number of ICs to be squeezed onto a single chip, resulting in microprocessors that power these computer and a large number of other devices. The computers that we use today are all fourth generation systems.

The disadvantage of these...

The fourth generation computers are characterized by microprocessors, which contain a large number of integrated circuits (IC). The first microprocessor chip, Intel 4004 chip, was developed in 1971. Very large scale integration (VLSI) allowed a large number of ICs to be squeezed onto a single chip, resulting in microprocessors that power these computer and a large number of other devices. The computers that we use today are all fourth generation systems.

The disadvantage of these computers is that the microprocessor design and fabrication is very complex and requires expensive setup and highly skilled staff for manufacturing. This has limited the design and fabrication to very few companies (Intel, AMD, etc.) and made everyone dependent on them. Another disadvantage is susceptibility to large-scale attack on networked system. Smaller computers meant that they could be networked, paving the way for internet. This also leaves the possibility of a virus attack on the entire system, making everyone vulnerable. 

Hope this helps. 

I need to write a paper based on the style and structure of Alain de Botton, on the wedding of the future and how to invent a new way of doing...

I think people want to get married to end their emotional uncertainty. In a way, they want to end powerful feelings, or certainly the negative ones. (Alain de Botton).

The quote above perfectly exemplifies Alain de Botton's style and structure of writing, especially on the subject of love and relationships. On love, he states that our modern age has given birth to the idea that we can center all our hopes for romance, eroticism, and familial security on one person. Additionally, we shy away from our negative feelings instead of using the feelings as a springboard for discussion and personal discovery within our relationships. Alain de Botton's honest analysis of marriage is refreshing and intriguing.

While the Troubadours of 12th century France and the Libertines of 18th Century France both viewed sensual dalliances as separate from familial entanglements, de Botton states that our modern culture has largely sought to combine elements of eroticism with the mundane, with often disastrous consequences.

He cites the novels of Jane Austen as the point of emergence of the modern conception of romance.

Like Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice or Fanny Price in Mansfield Park, we too long to reconcile our wish for a secure family with a sincerity of feeling for our spouses.

Yet, Elizabeth Bennett's later predecessors, Madame Bovary and Anna Karenina, both failed to realize their dreams of making over their spouses into 'husbands, troubadours and libertines.' Hence lies the conundrum of the modern romance. How do we combine all three successfully in one person?

Source: A Point of View: What's in a marriage? by Alain de Botton.

Alain de Botton displays a style of writing that is compassionate, honest, and open. He notes that it is possible to infuse romance and eroticism into a familial construct, but warns that the odds are stacked against us unless we change what is familiar for what is efficacious. He recommends a new paradigm for the wedding of the future.

The problem is that the wedding day is – in its current form – an appallingly badly designed ritual. It needs a thorough overhaul, guided by a mature, modern understanding of the underlying purpose of the occasion, which is simply to help a marriage go better.

Here's an interesting and sometimes tongue-in-cheek approach: Utopia Series: The Wedding of the Future.

1)The need for new vows.

The wedding day is so infused with optimism that it leaves no room for lapses in human judgment after the ceremony and within the new marriage. A new way of doing things would be to invent vows which account for the diversity of human emotion within a relationship. In other words, feelings of sadness and anger within a marriage should not automatically lead to one concluding that the relationship is headed for divorce.

2)The guests.

Although big weddings are still popular, smaller weddings are becoming more important to many couples. Whether the wedding of the future trends towards big or small events, one thing still stands: the inclusion of guests who support and welcome the union of each couple. A fresh perspective would welcome the idea of weddings as encompassing a larger societal stability rather than the preservation of the couple's happiness alone.

3)Useful presents, especially those delineating the struggles of real couples who have endured the challenges of life together.

4)Reception speeches which not only extol the good qualities of the bride and groom but also their less than stellar ones.

5)A certificate of marriage worthiness to represent the couple's year long training in the 'psychology of relationships' prior to the wedding day.

6)Fitting symbols to enable a newly married couple to cope with life's vicissitudes.

In the Utopia, the couple would accept small sealed boxes from each other. The box would represent the idea that there will be parts of the other person one will not understand – or perhaps even know – and yet one will have to accept. 

7)Wedding photos which answer pertinent questions as time commences in the marriage:

(i) Why did we get together?

(ii) What virtues did we see in one another when we got married?

(iii) What impact does each person’s family have on the relationship?

(iv) How normal are marital problems in society at large?

Source: Utopia Series: The Wedding of the Future

Hope this helps!

In what ways does Jane Austen present Elizabeth's feelings towards Darcy in Pride and Prejudice?

In Pride and Prejudice, author Jane Austen uses her characterization of Elizabeth Bennet to depict Elizabeth's initial sentiments towards Darcy as well as the progress of her feelings.

Elizabeth is extremely frank in expressing her disapproval of Darcey, a frankness that Darcy actually finds very attractive since her frankness is so very different from the way other women behave. Besides being frank, Elizabeth is characterized as being a very playful person who has no qualms about laughing either at herself or at others. Her frankness in combination with her playfulness is first observed when she is insulted by Darcy, who openly refused to ask her dance at the Meryton assembly. Other women might feel deeply mortified by such an insult, but Elizabeth laughed it off and openly ridiculed Darcy's character, as we see in Austen's following description:

She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous. (Ch. 3)

Other instances of frankness are seen when, while staying at Netherfield during Jane's illness, she openly accuses him of trying to insult her by asking if she felt like "dancing a reel," openly asserts his excessive pride is a fault, and in her very direct response to his proposal later at Rosings.

Austen even uses verbal irony to paint Elizabeth's initial negative feelings towards Darcy. For example, when Sir William pushes Darcy to ask Elizabeth to dance at Lucas Lodge in Chapter 6, Elizabeth sarcastically replies, "Mr. Darcy is all politeness." Since we already know that Elizabeth has judged Darcy to be the exact opposite of polite, we know Elizabeth means the exact opposite of what she is saying, making it a perfect example of verbal irony.

As the novel progresses and her feelings for Darcy change, she is also very frank about her change in feelings, as seen in her forthright display of gratitude towards what Darcy did to save Lydia and the Bennet family and in her direct statement that her feelings had changed a lot since Rosings.

In Louis Sachar's novel, Holes, why did Kate Barlow shoot the sheriff?

To answer the question, one needs to scrutinise the context in which the event occurred.

Kate was the local school teacher and much loved by the children. She fell in love with Sam, 'the onion man', so called because he grew onions across the lake which he would come to sell in town. His onions were very popular since they were believed to have healing properties. He regularly did favours for Miss Katherine (as she was called then) and fixed up the schoolhouse. Whatever task she gave him, he would always assert, 'I can fix that.'

Charles Walker (aka Trout), Sam's competition, had an eye on Miss Katherine and would attend her evening classes just to get her attention, but she was not interested in him even though he was the son of the richest man in the county. Trout was loud, arrogant and stupid.

When one of the residents in the town (Hettie Parker) saw Miss Katherine and Sam kiss, the news spread like wildfire through the town. The townspeople did not allow their children to attend school the next morning. In its place was a lynch mob led by Trout Walker. They came to destroy the schoolhouse. The townspeople were clearly racist and found it unacceptable that Ms Katherine should have a relationship with someone of a different racial persuasion.

Ms Katherine ran to the sheriff, begging for help: "They're destroying the schoolhouse," she said, gasping for breath. "They'll burn it to the ground if someone doesn't stop them!"
"Just calm your pretty self down a second," the sheriff said in a slow drawl. "And tell me what you're talking about."
He got up from his desk and walked over to her.
"Trout Walker has— "
"Now don't go saying nothing bad about Charles Walker," said the sheriff.
"We don't have much time!" urged Katherine. "You've got to stop them."
"You're sure pretty," said the sheriff.
Miss Katherine stared at him in horror.
"Kiss me," said the sheriff.
She slapped him across the face.
He laughed. "You kissed the onion picker. Why won't you kiss me?"
She tried to slap him again, but he caught her by the hand.
She tried to wriggle free. "You're drunk!" she yelled.
I always get drunk before a hanging."
"A hanging? Who— "
"It's against the law for a Negro to kiss a white woman."
"Well, then you'll have to hang me, too," said Katherine. "Because I kissed him back."
"It ain't against the law for you to kiss him," the sheriff explained. "Just for him to kiss you."
"We're all equal under the eyes of God," she declared.
The sheriff laughed. "Then if Sam and I are equal, why won't you kiss me?"
He laughed again. "I'll make you a deal. One sweet kiss, and I won't hang your boyfriend.
I'll just run him out of town."
Miss Katherine jerked her hand free. As she hurried to the door, she heard the sheriff say, "The law will punish Sam. And God will punish you."
She stepped back into the street and saw smoke rising from the schoolhouse.

The extract clearly shows that the sheriff was not intent on doing his job. In fact, it seems as if he was in cahoots with the rest of the townsfolk. The eventual outcome was that Miss Katherine warned Sam and the two of them tried to escape in his boat by crossing the river. Unfortunately, they were run down by Trout in his father's much faster boat. Sam was shot and killed in the water and when Miss Katherine returned to the shore, she found that Sam's beloved donkey, Mary Lou, had been shot in the head.

Three days later Miss Katherine shot the sheriff and gave him the kiss he had asked for. She killed him to avenge the murder of her dearest love. The sheriff had been complicit in his killing for he did not lift a finger to help. He had abandoned his duty because of his prejudice and the obviously corrupt relationship he had had with the Walkers.  

Who does the poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" address? What is the speaker saying?

The poem is addressed to the speaker's father.  In the last stanza, the speaker says, "And you, my father, there on the sad height, / Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray" (lines 16-17).  The "you" in this line, then, is the narrator's father, a man who is, evidently, about to die; the narrator wants his father to fight against death and to remain alive as long as possible.

The "good night"...

The poem is addressed to the speaker's father.  In the last stanza, the speaker says, "And you, my father, there on the sad height, / Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray" (lines 16-17).  The "you" in this line, then, is the narrator's father, a man who is, evidently, about to die; the narrator wants his father to fight against death and to remain alive as long as possible.

The "good night" in the poem is a symbol for death, and the speaker spends the majority of the poem detailing the ways and the reasons why all different kinds of men "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" (3).  Despite the fact that these men might understand death to be natural, in the end, none of them want or feel ready to go.  There is more they want to do, some past mistakes they want to rectify, etc., and so they "Do not go gentle into that good night" (1).  The speaker explains the way all these men refuse to go to death quietly in order to show his father that he should also resist death and fight to remain alive, that it is actually the natural and right thing to do.  In the final stanza, he implores his father to do this.

In "The Pit and the Pendulum," how does the beginning contribute to the meaning of the story?

The beginning paragraph, after the Latin quatrain, serves the purpose of providing an ambiguous reason for the man to undergo the tortures he experiences in the story. Poe's obvious main interest in the story is describing the psychological effects of diabolical torture on its victim. Yet for the story to be somewhat plausible, the perpetrators of the torture must be introduced. The beginning of the story merely needs to establish the rationale, the antagonist, the...

The beginning paragraph, after the Latin quatrain, serves the purpose of providing an ambiguous reason for the man to undergo the tortures he experiences in the story. Poe's obvious main interest in the story is describing the psychological effects of diabolical torture on its victim. Yet for the story to be somewhat plausible, the perpetrators of the torture must be introduced. The beginning of the story merely needs to establish the rationale, the antagonist, the inciting incident, and the mood so that the man's emotional struggle for survival can begin. Having the man being sentenced to death at the beginning creates the rationale for the torture; the narrator knows his life is at stake. The antagonist is introduced in the vaguest of terms. The words "Spanish Inquisition" are not used in the first paragraph, only the adjective "inquisitorial" to describe the voices. The mysterious black-robed judges with their grotesquely thin white lips stand for an institution rather than a single person who wants the man dead. The death sentence is the inciting incident, the event that begins the action of the story. With such a dramatic inciting incident, the reader becomes quickly involved, knowing the conflict is life or death. The primary way the beginning contributes to the meaning of the story, however, is by setting the mood. Since the story's meaning is all about how the man reacts to his torture, the gripping descriptions of his emotions in the beginning create the pattern for the rest of the story. The narrator shudders, he experiences "delirious horror," he is overcome with "deadly nausea," and he "felt every fibre in my frame thrill as if I had touched the wire of a galvanic battery." These descriptions and others clue the reader that intense emotions are in store while creating mystery and suspense. If he is feeling this way just at the sentencing, how will the man bear up under what is to come? Thus the first paragraph introduces the rationale for the torture and the antagonist as it describes the inciting incident, but more importantly, it establishes the psychological setting where the bulk of the story will occur. 

What are the sins of Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter? Why I can say that he has committed the greater sin?

The biggest sin that Dimmesdale commits, aside from the adultery and fornication he already has committed with Hester, is the fact that he does not own up to what he does and continues to lie to his flock. He does this while secretly inflicting private punishment upon himself. He does this by perpetuating the image of the "young divine" that the villagers have bestowed upon him.

Not only does he do this to his flock, but he also does this to Hester. He never supports her, and the only times that Hester and Dimmesdale get to speak and make "plans" for the future are at the times when she orchestrates the meetings. To add to the shocking nature of his behavior, he is neither loving of nor entirely accepting of his own daughter, Pearl, even as he is not entirely loving, forgiving or accepting of himself as we learn at the end of the novel when his chest and back are bared.

The reason why you can say that Dimmesdale commits the greatest sin (if "greater sin" means as between his and Hester's sins) is because Dimmesdale, worldly, educated, sophisticated, in a position of leadership, not only should be setting the example but is bound to know much better than to do what did.

As her minister, Dimmesdale was in a position to comfort and support Hester upon her arrival at the village and considering the knowledge that her husband could have died in a shipwreck. He was not, however, in a position to consider her as a potential love interest. He did just that.

Additionally, Dimmesdale's job in the village is offering moral and spiritual guidance to the flock. He continued to do so while still hiding the truth about Hester. He also allowed Hester to suffer the wrath of the village alone while Dimmesdale himself continued to enjoy his reputation and the respect of the people.

The worst part is that there is a side of Dimmesdale that Hawthorne only touches upon briefly in the novel. It is a part of him that seems to succumb quite easily to the practice of evil even while calling the practice holy. If we were to make a deeper study of Dimmesdale, we might conclude that he is actually a very bad man who forces himself to be or appear to be good in a nearly supernatural way. Thus, Dimmesdale has more trouble abiding by the true Christian way of life than many people. We can only wonder about him, though, as Hawthorne is never specific about Dimmesdale's inner thoughts and just focuses on the man's emotions post-Hester, even though both the narrator and hester intimate that Dimmesdale's sin of adultry was spurred by real love (suggesting it is real love betrayed that drives him secret evil against himself and public repudiation of Hester).

Chillingworth's excuses for his wrath against Dimmesdale are jealousy and his bruised ego. Hester's excuse for her doings is the lack of love and passion in her young life. What are Dimmesdale's excuses for all of his actions toward Hester? Lust? Desire? Ego? True love betrayed by his own cowardice? Which ever is settled upon, his is certainly not the behavior of a true man of God (Hawthorne's suggestion is that Dimmesdale knows this and that this is the root of his cowardice and self-torture).

Who recognizes Romeo's voice beneath his mask in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?

The answer to this question can be found in Act I, Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet.It is Tybalt, Juliet's hot-blooded cousin, that recognizes Romeo's voice (his face is hidden by a mask, like the other partygoers at the Capulet family ball). When Tybalt realizes that the voice behind the mask belongs to Romeo, a Montague, he flies into a rage, and orders his servant to bring him a rapier so that he can...

The answer to this question can be found in Act I, Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet. It is Tybalt, Juliet's hot-blooded cousin, that recognizes Romeo's voice (his face is hidden by a mask, like the other partygoers at the Capulet family ball). When Tybalt realizes that the voice behind the mask belongs to Romeo, a Montague, he flies into a rage, and orders his servant to bring him a rapier so that he can kill him. Only Lord Capulet, who does not want to cause a scene at his own party, stops him from challenging Romeo to a duel. Tybalt, after being chastised by Capulet, reluctantly agrees to withdraw, but adds ominously that "this intrusion shall / Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt'rest gall." This is an important moment in the play, as Tybalt's rage will prove to be a force that destroys Romeo and Juliet's marriage. He challenges Romeo to a duel which Mercutio, Romeo's good friend, takes up. When Mercutio dies at Tybalt's hands, Romeo kills him, an act which sees him banished to Mantua. Thus Tybalt's hatred, which first rears its head at the Capulet family ball, contributes to the destruction of Romeo and Juliet.

How did Gulliver and his race differ from the Yahoos?

On the one hand, the Yahoos have, as Gulliver puts it, a "perfect human figure." Their physical differences chiefly lie in the amount of hair on their bodies and in some other features--flat, broad faces, coarseness of skin, and some other essentially cosmetic differences. The main difference is that the Yahoos are enslaved by the horse-like Houyhnhnms. They are, as described by Gulliver, dumb brutes. He is repulsed by their smell, shocked by the fact...

On the one hand, the Yahoos have, as Gulliver puts it, a "perfect human figure." Their physical differences chiefly lie in the amount of hair on their bodies and in some other features--flat, broad faces, coarseness of skin, and some other essentially cosmetic differences. The main difference is that the Yahoos are enslaved by the horse-like Houyhnhnms. They are, as described by Gulliver, dumb brutes. He is repulsed by their smell, shocked by the fact that they live in kennels, and disturbed by the fact that the Houyhnhnms seem to discern no difference between himself and the Yahoos. The Houyhnhnms, indeed, cannot believe that in Gulliver's society, the roles are reversed. Eventually Gulliver, despite the disturbing implications of the fact, is forced to accept that he is a Yahoo, and that only circumstances differentiate him from what he views as an "accursed race." Most disturbing of all is what becomes evident over time--Gulliver is not objectively superior in intellect to the Yahoos. Moreover, he is clearly inferior to the Houyhnhnms.

In "Kabuliwala," is Rahmun dynamic or static?

In "Kabuliwala," Rahmun is a static character. He does not change. 

Rahmun is depicted as the happy-go-lucky Kabuliwala. He visits Mini each day, "bribing" her with nuts and almonds while cracking inside jokes with her about visiting "her father-in-law." To readers and to Tagore as the narrator, the Kabuliwala is simply an old man who has made friends with little Mini.  

When the Kabuliwala comes back to visit her, he is affected by her...

In "Kabuliwala," Rahmun is a static character. He does not change. 

Rahmun is depicted as the happy-go-lucky Kabuliwala. He visits Mini each day, "bribing" her with nuts and almonds while cracking inside jokes with her about visiting "her father-in-law." To readers and to Tagore as the narrator, the Kabuliwala is simply an old man who has made friends with little Mini.  

When the Kabuliwala comes back to visit her, he is affected by her change. She is now a bride-to-be, who clearly understands a different meaning regarding going to her "father-in-law's place." The Kabuliwala gains depth when he confesses to Tagore that he has a little girl "in my own home" and that when he brings fruits to Mini, he thinks of his own girl. He forged the friendship with Mini because of a desire to be close to his own girl. The Kabuliwala was not light-hearted. Rather, he was mournfully sad because he left his daughter in Kabul in order to pursue his career in Calcutta. With so much time having passed, it is clear he will not recognize his daughter. She will be more of a stranger to him than Mini. Just like Tagore, we have acquired a deeper understanding of the Kabuliwala.

It is important to stress that the Kabuliwala never changed. He carried the emotional weight of separation from his daughter from the story's start. When he takes out the "small and dirty piece of paper" of his daughter's handprint, it was clear that he carried it in his heart throughout the story. He never changed, remaining a static character.

In our increasing understanding about the Kabuliwala, we, like Tagore, are dynamic in our change. The ending of the story is not about Mini or about her wedding. It is about Tagore being able to unite a father and daughter "in a distant land." The change that he and we experience underscores the strikingly consistent sadness of the Kabuliwala.

Reflect on Chapter Seven, "As Long as Grass Grows of Water Runs," in Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.

Chapter Seven of A People's History of the United Statesdeals with the troubled relationship between the United States and Native peoples. Its specific topic is, as Zinn writes, "Indian removal, as it has been politely called." Analytically, Zinn wants to show how the removal of Native peoples east of the Mississippi was essential to American expansion. Thus the growth of the United States and the development of Jacksonian Democracy that accompanied it was contingent...

Chapter Seven of A People's History of the United States deals with the troubled relationship between the United States and Native peoples. Its specific topic is, as Zinn writes, "Indian removal, as it has been politely called." Analytically, Zinn wants to show how the removal of Native peoples east of the Mississippi was essential to American expansion. Thus the growth of the United States and the development of Jacksonian Democracy that accompanied it was contingent upon the oppression of other peoples. This policy had the support of both ordinary whites and wealthy Southern planters, both of whom benefited from it. The focal point of the chapter is the removal of the Southeastern Indians, especially the Cherokee. These peoples, who had in many cases adopted some cultural and political practices of white society, were nevertheless forced off of their lands by Jackson and his followers, who Zinn portrays as relentless in their greed and racism. The consequences for the Cherokee, in particular were tragic, as thousands perished on the "Trail of Tears" to Indian Country in modern Oklahoma. Zinn cites estimates that over 4,000 died, and sums up Indian policy in the following way:

The Indian, not needed--indeed, sometimes an obstacle--could be dealt with by sheer force, except that sometimes the language of paternalism preceded the burning of villages.

What appears to happen to the moon as it goes through its cycles?

The moon appears to change shape or get lighter and darker as it passes through its cyclic monthly phases. However, the moon does not actually produce any light of its own or ever change shape. The moon appears light because it reflects light from the sun. The moon appears to be lighter or darker at different times of the month because of the relative positions of the moon, sun, and Earth. The moon orbits, or...

The moon appears to change shape or get lighter and darker as it passes through its cyclic monthly phases. However, the moon does not actually produce any light of its own or ever change shape. The moon appears light because it reflects light from the sun. The moon appears to be lighter or darker at different times of the month because of the relative positions of the moon, sun, and Earth. The moon orbits, or revolves, around the Earth. As the moon orbits the Earth, it reflects different amounts of light due to the angle at which it receives sunlight. For example, a “new moon” is when the moon appears completely dark. During a new moon, the moon is between the earth and the sun. Therefore, during a new moon, the side of the moon that is facing the Earth does not reflect any sunlight. Waning is a term that is used to describe the moon’s reflected light decreasing. Waxing is the term used to describe when the moon’s reflected light increases.

The moon chart displays each of the moon’s monthly phases. This diagram also depicts the relative positions of the moon, sun, and Earth during each phase of the moon.

What do you think is the meaning of the writing on the rocks in Bud's suitcase?

In Chapter 8, Bud takes the five rocks out of the tobacco bag that he keeps in his suitcase to make sure they are all still there. Bud mentions that someone had taken a pen and wrote a secret code on each of them, and he does not understand what the writing means. The rocks say, "kentland ill. 5.10.11, loogootee in. 5.16.11, sturgis m. 8.30.12, gary in. 6.13.12, and flint m. 8.11.11" (Curtis 79). ...

In Chapter 8, Bud takes the five rocks out of the tobacco bag that he keeps in his suitcase to make sure they are all still there. Bud mentions that someone had taken a pen and wrote a secret code on each of them, and he does not understand what the writing means. The rocks say, "kentland ill. 5.10.11, loogootee in. 5.16.11, sturgis m. 8.30.12, gary in. 6.13.12, and flint m. 8.11.11" (Curtis 79). One can surmise that the names written on the rocks are locations in the United States, and the numbers are specific dates. Whether or not Bud's mother visited those places to watch Herman E. Calloway and his band play is unclear. The locations and dates could also be places where Herman E. Calloway performed. He could have possibly given the rocks to Bud's mother as a keepsake.

Later on in Chapter 18, Herman asks Bud to pick up a rock, and when Herman opens his glove compartment, Bud sees a bunch of rocks with similar names and dates written on them. Later on, Miss Thomas tells Bud that Herman picks up rocks wherever he performs for his daughter, who is actually Bud's mother. When Bud's mother was four or five, she asked her dad, Herman Calloway, to bring her back a rock from Chicago. Ever since then, Herman picks up a rock for his daughter wherever he travels to perform.

How is Macbeth seen after his death? Meaning, is he seen as a tyrant, as a noble soldier, as a deranged human?

The audience and reader does not see Macbeth die. We learn of his death when Macduff enters the stage to show Malcolm, Ross, and Siward what he calls "the usurper's cursed head," which he has severed after their battle. Malcolm's speech in response demonstrates that the title character is viewed as a wicked tyrant that everyone seems relieved to be rid of. He refers to "the dead butcher and his fiend-like queen," and looks forward...

The audience and reader does not see Macbeth die. We learn of his death when Macduff enters the stage to show Malcolm, Ross, and Siward what he calls "the usurper's cursed head," which he has severed after their battle. Malcolm's speech in response demonstrates that the title character is viewed as a wicked tyrant that everyone seems relieved to be rid of. He refers to "the dead butcher and his fiend-like queen," and looks forward to bringing home the ministers and officials who fled Scotland upon Macbeth's ascent to power. Throughout Macbeth, the reader or audience is invited to consider profound questions involving fate and free will and the corrosive nature of unlawful ambition. Some have argued that Macbeth is a more nuanced character than he appears on the surface, even that he was to some extent the victim of the machinations of others. But the characters do not view him this way at the end of the play. To them he was simply evil incarnate, and Malcolm is grateful to Macduff for killing him.

Where does the overwhelming amount of seismic activity occur on Earth's surface?

Most of the seismic activity on Earth is found on (or near) the boundaries of tectonic plates. Earth's lithosphere is divided into a number of fragments, known as tectonic plates and these plates are in constant motion. The interaction of plates, with each other, gives rise to three types of boundaries: convergent (where plates are coming towards each other), divergent (where plates are moving away from each other) and transform (where plates are moving horizontally,...

Most of the seismic activity on Earth is found on (or near) the boundaries of tectonic plates. Earth's lithosphere is divided into a number of fragments, known as tectonic plates and these plates are in constant motion. The interaction of plates, with each other, gives rise to three types of boundaries: convergent (where plates are coming towards each other), divergent (where plates are moving away from each other) and transform (where plates are moving horizontally, past one another). Divergent boundaries (such as, mid-ocean ridges) are associated with small earthquakes, while convergent (such as, Nazca plate and South American plate) and transform (such as, Pacific plate and North American plate) boundaries are associated with large earthquakes. Some of the major earthquakes of recent human history, such as the one in Indian Ocean in December 2004 have taken place near plate boundaries. In fact, if one were to plot the location of major earthquakes in last few hundred years on Earth's map, most of them would coincide with plate boundaries.

Hope this helps. 

What are some quotes that show that Victor was reckless to create the creature, his neglect of the creature caused it to build up rage, and that...

In the book, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, some iconic moments occur, such as Victor's creation of the creature, his neglect of the creature, and Victor’s refusal to accept responsibility for his actions.

Foremost, Victor reveals his arguably obsessive need to make the creature. In chapter four, on page 50, Victor illustrates this by stating:

“The astonishment which I had first experienced on this discovery [about the creation] soon gave place to delight and rapture. After so...

In the book, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, some iconic moments occur, such as Victor's creation of the creature, his neglect of the creature, and Victor’s refusal to accept responsibility for his actions.

Foremost, Victor reveals his arguably obsessive need to make the creature. In chapter four, on page 50, Victor illustrates this by stating:

“The astonishment which I had first experienced on this discovery [about the creation] soon gave place to delight and rapture. After so much time spent in painful labour, to arrive at once at the summit of my desires was the most gratifying consummation of my toils.”

Subsequently, his feelings of elation and joy are quickly eradicated and he feels the need to flee and ignore the creature. In chapter five, page 55, he shows that he now feels that he must ignore the creature’s existence.

“Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room”

Finally, Victor seems to refuse to accept responsibility for his creation of the creature. Although he recognizes that he made the creature, he left the creature alone without food or care to experience personal joys in his own life. In chapter six, page 69, Victor shows:

"We returned to our college on a Sunday afternoon: the peasants were dancing, and every one we met appeared gay and happy. My own spirits were high, and I bounded along with feelings of unbridled joy and hilarity."

Consequently, Victor quickly advances through his stages of making the creature, neglecting the creature, and refusing to take responsibility for his actions. This misconduct is only furthered after the creature begins to act unlawfully and his creator continues to fail at handling the situation.

Source

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein. Ed. Karen Karbiener. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.

What effect did America's entry in World War I have?

The entrance of the United States into World War I was a major factor in determining the outcome of the war. Prior to the Americans entering the war, the Allies were, at best, in a stalemate with the Central Powers. Germany was convinced it was close to winning the war. They knew that by resuming the sinking of American merchant ships without warning, the United States would enter World War I on the side of...

The entrance of the United States into World War I was a major factor in determining the outcome of the war. Prior to the Americans entering the war, the Allies were, at best, in a stalemate with the Central Powers. Germany was convinced it was close to winning the war. They knew that by resuming the sinking of American merchant ships without warning, the United States would enter World War I on the side of the Allies. Germany believed they could win the war before the United States would become a factor in the fighting and in the war itself.

The entrance of the United States into World War I brought a fresh set of troops into the conflict. Unlike the troops from the Allies and the troops from the Central Powers, our troops hadn’t been fighting since 1914. We were able to supply the Allies with rested troops. We were able to provide the Allies with needed supplies and military materials. The entrance of the United States into World War I was the decisive factor in bringing victory to the Allies over the Central Powers.

Do animals have human qualities?

This first and foremost a philosophical/linguistic question:  first, "Human qualities" must be circumscribed by some limitations.  Is locomotion a human quality?  How about thinking?  How about actions for the collective good? etc.  The question of "human nature" often reduces to a discussion of whether altruism (thinking and acting for others) has contributed more to the survival of the species "homo sapiens" or whether pure self-consideration "(let us say "selfishness") is more conducive to our survival.

Secondly, the term "qualities" is ambiguous at best.  Are we speaking of social "persona" or ethical/moral "values," etc.? What are "human qualities, then?  In the Grerman language, the word "Eigenshaften" is used to denote those features of our actions and choices that give us our "personality," our distinct persona.

However, after this sort of erudite discussion, your real inquiry is about whether animals share human "emotions" such as disappointment, loneliness, worry, joy, anticipation, etc. -- those emotions that we call "feelings" Does my dog "miss" me when I'm gone?  Does my cat "wish" I would fill up her bowl?  Is my parakeet singing because he's happy the sun is shining? etc.  Scientists would divide these responses to outward stimuli into two kinds:  Shared mental phenomena (a subject on which there is very little research), and the human "quality" of personifing the outside world:  We imagine our dog is smiling when he quivers his muzzle; we take our cat's haughty posture as disdain for our pets, we see a face in the moon, etc.  Consequently, our own human imagination accounts for much of what appears to be "human qualities" in the animals near us.   

If the mass of the bob of a pendulum is increased by a factor of 3, the period of the pendulum motion will ? A) increase by a factor of 2 b)...

The time period of a pendulum is a function of its length only and does not depend on the mass of its bob. Mathematically, the time period of a pendulum can be written as:

`T = 2pi sqrt(L/g)`

where T is the time period of the pendulum, L is the pendulum length and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Hence, time period of a pendulum is independent of the mass of its bob.

Thus,...

The time period of a pendulum is a function of its length only and does not depend on the mass of its bob. Mathematically, the time period of a pendulum can be written as:

`T = 2pi sqrt(L/g)`

where T is the time period of the pendulum, L is the pendulum length and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Hence, time period of a pendulum is independent of the mass of its bob.

Thus, if we increase the mass of the bob of a pendulum by a factor of 3, its time period will remain unchanged. Option (b) is correct.

On the other hand, if we changed the length of the pendulum by a factor of 3, say increased it by a factor of 3, its time period will increase by a factor of `sqrt (3)` .

Hope this helps.

How do Hamlet and Polonius affect the outcome of the downfall of Denmark in Shakespeare's Hamlet?

In short, Denmark does not “fall” in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  In fact, Denmark still exists today.  (In Hamlet, it is the continued life of Horatio that secures Denmark's ability to thrive further.)  However, the King of Denmark, Claudius, certainly does fall.  Perhaps this is what you mean by “the downfall of Denmark.”  Both Polonius and Hamlet play a part in Claudius’ downfall, but Hamlet plays a much bigger part than Polonius. 

Polonius plays an...

In short, Denmark does not “fall” in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.  In fact, Denmark still exists today.  (In Hamlet, it is the continued life of Horatio that secures Denmark's ability to thrive further.)  However, the King of Denmark, Claudius, certainly does fall.  Perhaps this is what you mean by “the downfall of Denmark.”  Both Polonius and Hamlet play a part in Claudius’ downfall, but Hamlet plays a much bigger part than Polonius. 

Polonius plays an indirect role in Claudius’ murder while Hamlet plays a direct role in that murder.  Polonius is simply the fool of the play while Hamlet is the protagonist.  This relates directly to their involvement in the downfall of Claudius.  Polonius does agree to spy on Hamlet for Claudius.  This really is not a good idea and leads to Polonius’ death behind “the arras” due to Hamlet mistaking Polonius for Claudius.  Hamlet, however, directly affects Claudius’ downfall.  Hamlet does spend the entire play stalling and/or over-thinking the matter.  However, Hamlet (finally) kills Claudius at the end of the play with the same poisoned rapier that Laertes used on Hamlet.  One could also say that the poisoned cup (meant for Hamlet) also results in Claudius’ death.  Of course, it is Hamlet that forces Claudius to drink from the cup he meant for Hamlet to drink.  In this way, Polonius indirectly leads to Claudius’ downfall while Hamlet directly leads to Claudius’ downfall.

Which literary device is employed in this quote from Macbeth? "Oh, I could play the woman with mine eyes and braggart with my tongue! But,...

The literary device most effectively used in this quote is juxtaposition. In this technique two opposing ideas are placed side by side for dramatic effect. In this particular example it is used to indicate Macduff's anger at Macbeth having had his entire family remorselessly murdered. He is sworn to revenge and will stop at nothing to come face to face with Macbeth and exact his vengeance. One needs a closer look at the text to identify the contrast:

O, I could play the woman with mine eyes
And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens,
Cut short all intermission; front to front
Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself;
Within my sword's length set him; if he 'scape,
Heaven forgive him too!

In the first part of his rhetoric, Macduff states that he could be soft and gentle as a woman and be overcome with sadness and weep copiously for the death of his family or he could proclaim loudly and openly about how he was going to punish Macbeth for his evil.

The word 'but' introduces the contrast. Instead of doing just this, he wishes that there be no break or pause in time. He wants to immediately confront the fiendish Macbeth and face him, man to man, and thus engage him in direct battle so that he may avenge the cold-blooded murder of those he loved. This is the manly and courageous thing to do, in contrast to just crying and bragging about what he is going to do to Macbeth.

Macduff's resolve is clearly emphasized in this extract. He is determined and has the courage to confront the malignant tyrant and destroy him, as soon as possible.  

What is the setting in Theodore Taylor's The Cay, and how does the setting relate to Phillip's mother's uncharacteristic behavior? What does...

In Theodore Taylor's The Cay, there are two ways in which Phillip's mother behaves uncharacteristically in direct relationship with the setting of the story.

The story is set on the Dutch-owned island of Curacao in the Caribbean Sea, near Aruba and Venezuela. Phillip specifically lives on a section of the island called Scharloo. The story opens the morning after German submarines, in the middle of the night, torpedoed the oil refinery on Aruba at which Phillip's American father works. The year is 1942, just three years after the start of World War II and one year after America became involved in the war.

Phillip's mother is described as a very nervous person, the sort who is always worrying about dangers and trying to protect Phillip. Phillip, the narrator, describes his mother's nervous state, especially after the German torpedoes hit, in the following passage:

She seemed very nervous. But then she was often nervous. My mother was always afraid I'd fall off the sea wall, or tumble out of a tree, or cut myself with a pocketknife (p. 14).

Characteristically, the morning after the torpedoes hit, Phillip's mother tells him to stay near the house that day. But when she discovers Phillip went off to play at the old fort with Henrik and check out the view of the sea from the Queen Emma pontoon bridge, she does something very uncharacteristic. She tells her husband that she and Phillip will go back to Norfolk, Virginia. The problem is, as her husband warns her, "There's more danger in the trip back" than staying on the island since the Caribbean waters are infested with enemy submarines, and it is unlikely the Germans will target Scharloo. Hence, due to the terror she experiences as a result of the torpedoes, Phillip's mother does something uncharacteristic by making a decision to head towards danger rather than run away from it.

Sadly, his mother's decision is a mistake, and the ship they sail on is also torpedoed. It's during the attack that she again behaves uncharacteristically. When the ship is hit, Phillip notes that, as she gives him instructions for getting ready to go out to the lifeboats, she does not behave with the same nervousness as at home:

My mother was very calm, not at all like she was at home. She talked quietly while she got dressed ... . Her hands were not shaking. (p. 28)

Hence, Taylor creates a direct relationship between the novel's setting and the behavior of Phillip's mother. Since the novel is set in the Caribbean during World War II, the setting allows us to see Phillip's mother behave uncharacteristically in the face of danger. In one moment when danger is near at hand, she behaves uncharacteristically by deciding to head towards more danger in an effort to protect herself and her son. When faced with danger head on, she uncharacteristically behaves very calmly as she strives to rescue both herself and her son. Phillip emulates her behaviors as the novel progresses.

When an object is between a converging lens and the focal point of the lens, the three rays appear to diverge. Why is the lens still considered to...

Hello!

A converging lens is called converging because any beam of light becomes less divergent (or more convergent) after going through that lens then it was before.

When an object is beyond the focal plane of a lens, a diverging beam of its rays becomes convergent. When an object is at the focal plane, divergent beam becomes parallel, also less divergent. And in the situation you mentioned a beam remains divergent but less divergent than the initial...

Hello!

A converging lens is called converging because any beam of light becomes less divergent (or more convergent) after going through that lens then it was before.

When an object is beyond the focal plane of a lens, a diverging beam of its rays becomes convergent. When an object is at the focal plane, divergent beam becomes parallel, also less divergent. And in the situation you mentioned a beam remains divergent but less divergent than the initial beam.

The possibility of a lens to compress a beam of light is called optical power. And yes, this power is finite for any given lens.

As an analogy, when some light goes through a sheet of paper, it (light) dims but remains visible. And we may say that a sheet weakens any beam, although complete darkness isn't achieved.

In A People's History of the United States, why did the mass emigration by blacks from the South occur in the 1920's rather than the Reconstruction...

"Lincoln got the praise for freeing us, but did he do it? He gave us freedom without giving us any chance to live to ourselves and we still had to depend on the southern white man for work, food, and clothing, and he held us out of necessity and want in a state of servitude but little better than slavery."  Ex-slave Thomas Hall, Federal Writer's Project

The limitations for freed slaves after the Civil War...

"Lincoln got the praise for freeing us, but did he do it? He gave us freedom without giving us any chance to live to ourselves and we still had to depend on the southern white man for work, food, and clothing, and he held us out of necessity and want in a state of servitude but little better than slavery."  Ex-slave Thomas Hall, Federal Writer's Project

The limitations for freed slaves after the Civil War is documented in Chapter Nine:  Slavery Without Submission, Emancipation Without Freedom. Although the Civil War provided African-Americans with the hope of freedom, the reality of the situation was that they were still bound to the land like serfs. Zinn outlines the limited autonomy of the freedman that was the actuality and he blames it on black codes.  Black codes were passed in all of the former Confederate states.  They limited the movement of black people and tied them to their former positions on the plantations.  Black laws provided for complete separation of the races.  There were black codes that actually stated freedmen could be placed in "forced apprenticeship" programs under certain circumstances.  Forced apprenticeship was tantamount to the chattel slavery that existed before the war.  Even if the freeman had the resources, education, and means for moving to the North, black codes made it legally impossible for them. Zinn also briefly mentions at the beginning of the paragraph that racist attitudes were also prevalent in the northern states, which would suggest that migrating north was not a viable option.

would there be a way to keep the surface area of the house the same but make the volume significantly smaller

It is not clear if you have a specific building in mind. The general answer is yes, you can have the same surface area with significantly less volume.

For example, suppose the house was in the form of a parallelpiped (a rectangular prism), with a flat roof. If we include the floor in the surface area we have the volume enclosed is l*w*h, and the surface area is 2(lw+lh+wh).

Let l=60,w=20, and h=10. Then the...

It is not clear if you have a specific building in mind. The general answer is yes, you can have the same surface area with significantly less volume.

For example, suppose the house was in the form of a parallelpiped (a rectangular prism), with a flat roof. If we include the floor in the surface area we have the volume enclosed is l*w*h, and the surface area is 2(lw+lh+wh).

Let l=60,w=20, and h=10. Then the volume is 12000 cu units and the surface area is 4000 sq units.

If we adjust the length and width so that l=70 and w=16.25, the surface area remains 4000 sq units, but the volume is reduced to 11375 cu units.

The question then becomes, how do you define significantly. We can maintain the same surface area and reduce the volume to virtually zero, but the result is no longer a "house". At some point, if the width is reduced too much it is impossible to live in the home.

A 90x11x10 house has a surface area of 4000 sq units and a volume of 9900 cu units.

A 100x9.09x10 house has an approximate SA of 4000 and an approximate Volume of 9091 cu units.

In Animal Farm, why did the animals prefer Mr. Pilkington over Mr. Frederick?

You can get a hint towards this answer in Chapter VIII of Animal Farm, (p. 36 in my copy of the book).  There, the narrator is discussing the relations between the animals and Mr. Frederick and Mr. Pilkington.  The narrator tells us that

The animals distrusted Pilkington, as a human being, but greatly preferred him to Frederick, whom they both feared and hated.

From this, we can see that the animals prefer Pilkington to...

You can get a hint towards this answer in Chapter VIII of Animal Farm, (p. 36 in my copy of the book).  There, the narrator is discussing the relations between the animals and Mr. Frederick and Mr. Pilkington.  The narrator tells us that

The animals distrusted Pilkington, as a human being, but greatly preferred him to Frederick, whom they both feared and hated.

From this, we can see that the animals prefer Pilkington to Frederick because they only distrust Pilkington for being human whereas they also fear and hate Frederick as an individual.

But why is this?  The main reason is that Pilkington (who is meant to represent England), is a much more easy-going and friendly person than Frederick (who is meant to represent Hitler and Nazi Germany).  We are told on p. 15 that Frederick is “tough” and “shrewd” and that he is always involved in law suits with other people.  In other words, Frederick is a disagreeable person who seems to be much more menacing than Pilkington.  This refers to the way in which Hitler was much more aggressive in his anti-Soviet rhetoric and actions than England was.

The animals prefer Pilkington, then, because he is not aggressive, tough, and mean in the same way that Frederick is.  As you continue to read in Chapter VIII, however, you will find that the animals’ preferences are not always reflected in Napoleon’s policies towards the two humans.

What is the simile used in the first verse of the poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth?

The simile of course is the the poet’s comparison of himself to a cloud. The simile has a double purpose: on the one hand, it assigns a human emotion (loneliness) to an inanimate object (the cloud), but on the other hand, it assigns the attributes of a cloud (floating, aimless, unconfined by earthly obstacles) to the poet’s activity (wandering). In this way poet and nature are combined poetically.

This is important when we consider the...

The simile of course is the the poet’s comparison of himself to a cloud. The simile has a double purpose: on the one hand, it assigns a human emotion (loneliness) to an inanimate object (the cloud), but on the other hand, it assigns the attributes of a cloud (floating, aimless, unconfined by earthly obstacles) to the poet’s activity (wandering). In this way poet and nature are combined poetically.

This is important when we consider the rest of the poem. The poet sees a “host of golden daffodils” “fluttering and dancing” beside a lake. The flowers, like the cloud, are assigned a human activity (dancing), as are the waves of the lake (“The waves beside them danced; but they / Out-did the sparkling waves in glee"). The entire scene – flowers, water, and the cloud/poet witnessing it -- is one of delight and harmony, inspiring a similar feeling in the poet (“A poet could not but be gay, / in such a jocund company”).

Wordsworth is not arguing that he “is” a cloud or that the flowers really are “dancing,” but the shift in tone (and scene) at the end of the poem – “when on my couch I lie / In vacant or in pensive mood” – underlines the importance of his vision nevertheless. It “flashes on his inward eye” – his imagination – and recalls him from his cares.

Where is Homer Barron from? And why does he come to Jefferson in "A Rose for Emily"?

In part III of "A Rose for Emily" we learn for the first time about Homer Barron, Emily's love interest. 

Homer Barron came to Jefferson as the foreman of a Northern construction company.This is the reason why he is dubbed "a Yankee". The epithet "Yankee" is associated to anyone who is originally from any of the U.S. Northern states, or from the area of New England. For more information on the etymology of this...

In part III of "A Rose for Emily" we learn for the first time about Homer Barron, Emily's love interest. 

Homer Barron came to Jefferson as the foreman of a Northern construction company. This is the reason why he is dubbed "a Yankee". The epithet "Yankee" is associated to anyone who is originally from any of the U.S. Northern states, or from the area of New England. For more information on the etymology of this word follow the link included. The story does not specify exactly which Northern state Homer comes from. 

The reason why the construction company was in Jefferson is because the town had a need to pave sidewalks and do work in the streets. The summer after the death of Emily's father, the company who got the contract came to Jefferson and started working in town. 

The construction company came with ni**rs and mules and machinery, and a foreman named Homer Barron, a Yankee--a big, dark, ready man, with a big voice and eyes lighter than his face. [...]. Whenever you heard a lot of laughing anywhere about the square, Homer Barron would be in the center of the group.

Emily had been very sick. She had recently emerged back into society looking quite differently, wearing her hair short, and looking quite youthful. It is during this time period that she meets Homer. As we can infer from Homer's description, he is quite different from Emily. He is brash, loud, and sociable. This does not mean that he is well-liked, as we will find out in the story. However, it is no surprise that a match between he and Emily would have been shocking to the people of Jefferson. 

Presently we began to see him and Miss Emily on Sunday afternoons driving in the yellow-wheeled buggy and the matched team of bays from the livery stable.

A lot of interesting things will occur from this point on. The lives of Emily and Barron, a man from the Northern states, are changed forever from the moment that they meet while he is there as foreman of the construction crew, and this will lead to the shocking, final discovery in the story.

Why, in the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," does the speaker consider the woods dark, deep, and lovely?

In "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," the speaker describes the way in which the "woods fill up with snow" (line 4).  There is nothing around him, no "farmhouse near" (6), and it is very, very dark because the poem is set on the "darkest evening of the year" (8).  All is quiet around him with only the sound of an "easy wind" gently blowing the "downy flake[s]" in the air (12).  The speaker...

In "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," the speaker describes the way in which the "woods fill up with snow" (line 4).  There is nothing around him, no "farmhouse near" (6), and it is very, very dark because the poem is set on the "darkest evening of the year" (8).  All is quiet around him with only the sound of an "easy wind" gently blowing the "downy flake[s]" in the air (12).  The speaker is arrested in his progress through the woods because the scene around him is so incredibly beautiful. 

When the speaker describes the woods as "lovely, dark and deep," it seems to be in recognition of all of these things (13).  It sounds like such a serenely peaceful moment, a moment when he simply pauses and takes in all the natural beauty of his surroundings.  Further, the next line helps to illuminate why he has been so struck by the woods tonight: he has "promises to keep" (14).  In other words, he has obligations to fulfill, things that he must do, and places that he must go.  The business of the "village," perhaps, or just of normal, daily life, is juxtaposed with the tranquility of the forest, and the woods seem that much more deep and lovely as a result of this contrast.  Moreover, he has "miles to go before [he] sleep[s]," an awareness of how much more he has yet to accomplish, and that makes the woods seem so very inviting as well (16).  He seems to wish that he could just stay there, where it is "lovely" and "dark" and he has nothing to consider but the night, but he cannot.

List 5 things you would preserve at King Duncan's murder scene in Macbeth.

King Duncan is murdered by Macbeth in Macbeth's castle. Of course, at the time in which the play is set there were no forensic capabilities, so it would be a lot harder to prove a murder than it is now. But, just of the sake of the question, if we assume that there are modern forensic tools available there are several things from the murder scene that might prove useful.

First, and most obviously, the...

King Duncan is murdered by Macbeth in Macbeth's castle. Of course, at the time in which the play is set there were no forensic capabilities, so it would be a lot harder to prove a murder than it is now. But, just of the sake of the question, if we assume that there are modern forensic tools available there are several things from the murder scene that might prove useful.

First, and most obviously, the daggers would need to be preserved and carefully analyzed. We would expect to find King Duncan's blood on them, but sometimes when someone is in the act of stabbing they also cut themselves on the blade, so you might try to find the presence the another person's blood. You could also check the daggers for fingerprints.

The glasses that were used to get the guards drunk could be preserved and analyzed. At one point Lady Macbeth says "I have drugged their possets." Maybe something in addition to the wine could be found in the residue in the glasses.

The door handle could be checked for fingerprints. 

The clothing that the guards are wearing should be checked for King Duncan's blood, since they are initially suspected of the murder. 

King Duncan's bedsheets should also be preserved and checked for hairs or DNA, since that could have been transferred from the killer in the act. 

What does Ivan conclude is the meaning and purpose of life?

In "Gooseberries," Ivan tells the story of his brother Nicholai, who worked for years and years as a government clerk and married a rich widow so that he could save enough money to buy a farm, where he immediately planted gooseberry bushes. The bushes are for Nicholai the symbol of the good life. However, the farm he has purchased lies between two factories, so the river that runs past it is polluted and the gooseberry...

In "Gooseberries," Ivan tells the story of his brother Nicholai, who worked for years and years as a government clerk and married a rich widow so that he could save enough money to buy a farm, where he immediately planted gooseberry bushes. The bushes are for Nicholai the symbol of the good life. However, the farm he has purchased lies between two factories, so the river that runs past it is polluted and the gooseberry bushes produce fruit that tastes bitter to Ivan. Ivan experiences a moment of revelation when he visits his brother and sees him lolling about in bed, more interested in acting the part of lord of the manor than actually helping the peasants on his estate. Ivan is so repulsed by what his brother has become, a person living well by turning a blind eye to the suffering around him, that Ivan decides the true meaning and purpose of life is to do as much good as possible for other people. Ironically, however, though he is capable of tramping around the countryside and deeply enjoying a swim in the rain, he decides he is "too old" to do good and delegates that task to the younger Aliokhin.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of liberalism and radicalism?

The answer to this depends on what you mean by radicalism and especially liberalism (which can have totally different meanings depending on the context). I will focus on the definition of liberalism that is most commonly used today in this answer. 

Modern liberalism tends to focus on the constructive role of the state in protecting the environment, promoting economic opportunities for people, and preserving human rights. While most liberals accept that free enterprise and capitalism...

The answer to this depends on what you mean by radicalism and especially liberalism (which can have totally different meanings depending on the context). I will focus on the definition of liberalism that is most commonly used today in this answer. 

Modern liberalism tends to focus on the constructive role of the state in protecting the environment, promoting economic opportunities for people, and preserving human rights. While most liberals accept that free enterprise and capitalism are to be promoted, they believe that there are some things that are best managed by the state, often because they are unprofitable for private business. Liberals also tend to promote government involvement to promote equal opportunity for minorities in ways that conservatives find inappropriate. Criticisms of liberalism often argue, in general, that it reflects too much optimism about what government is able to accomplish. They say that government programs are too expensive and often yield unintended consequences that actually worsen the social problems they were supposed to address. Many critics also say that liberalism involves excessive government intervention in things best left to the private sector, and that it stifles the economy by restricting free enterprise. 

Radicalism can also have many different meanings. Whether far-left or far-right, radicals argue that society is so deeply flawed that it must undergo a fundamental, revolutionary change. Criticism of radical positions might include the following. Many would argue that radicalism assumes the ability of people to overthrow natural human institutions, to make things anew in a way that is impossible. Others decry the violence that often accompanies radical movements. Still others would say that in a democracy, radicalism draws votes away from more realistic mainstream political movements. Finally, radicals alienate moderates, making it difficult to form the types of coalitions that make political action possible. 

Again, it is important to note that the definitions of these words change with time and place. What is radical at one point in history, or in one society, is mainstream in another.

What is a blood culture?

A blood culture is a test that may be ordered by a doctor when it is suspected that someone has an infection caused by either a bacteria or a fungus. The circulatory system is one of the few places in the human body where it is NOT normal to have either bacteria or fungus. Humans live in symbiotic relationships with various types of microbes; many are helpful, or at least not harmful. 

However, the blood...

A blood culture is a test that may be ordered by a doctor when it is suspected that someone has an infection caused by either a bacteria or a fungus. The circulatory system is one of the few places in the human body where it is NOT normal to have either bacteria or fungus. Humans live in symbiotic relationships with various types of microbes; many are helpful, or at least not harmful. 

However, the blood stream is one area where bacteria or fungus are potentially very dangerous. When an infection is suspected, a sample of blood is drawn using a needle inserted into a vein. The sample is placed in a culture dish and observed for growth of any foreign microorganisms. All equipment must be kept sterile, in order to ensure that if any bacteria or fungus is found that the only possible origin is from the blood of the patient. If bacteria or fungus is found in the blood, it is referred to as a sepsis, and is a very serious condition. The microbe may be tested further to determine exactly what type it is, and what treatment is required--for example, a speciic antibiotic. Unless treated with the proper drugs a sepsis can be fatal.

What happens in part 9 of The Book Thief?

In part nine of The Book Thief, Rudy and Liesel once again go to the mayor’s house this time to steal a book. Frau Hermann has left out cookies and it is at this point that Liesel starts to think that it is possible that the library does not belong to the mayor but instead to Frau Hermann. The story then moves to Hans who at the time is playing cards with other members of the air-raid unit. Reinhold Zucker, another member of the squad, accuses Hans of cheating. Death makes a point to interrupt here to point out that it is Zucker’s dislike of Hans that will result in Zucker’s own death.

The story jumps back to Liesel in Molching, who goes to read to Frau Holtzapfel but instead is greeted at the door by her son. Michael Holtzapfel has returned from fighting in Stalingrad where he had been shot in the ribs. He informs Rosa that his brother has died and that Hans and Rosa’s son was in Russia. Death once again interjects, this time explaining how Michael’s brother died. His brother Robert died after being taken to the hospital because he was caught in an explosion that resulted in the loss of his legs. Though Frau Holtzapfel is filled with grief, Liesel still reads to her.

Death goes on to describe an afternoon where Hans and the other men are returning to their camp. Zucker complains that Hans should trade places with him in the truck, soon after Hans does the truck drives off the road due to a punctured tire. Though Hans breaks his leg during the crash, Zucker breaks his neck and dies. The men returned to the camp and upon examination by a doctor Hans is told that he is going to be sent back to Munich to work in an office. Liesel tells Rudy the good news, and though Rudy is happy for her he also wonders about the fate of his own father. Due to his rage concerning the injustices of war, Rudy decides to rob the mayor’s house but ultimately does not do so. There is another air raid a few weeks later, this time Frau Holtzapfel refuses to go to the shelter even though Liesel threatens to stop reading to her and her son is going to the shelter. She does eventually end up in the shelter and Michael asks her forgiveness because he feels guilty for choosing to go to the shelter without her. When the air raid has ended the people leave the shelter and find that there is a burning plane in the forest. The enemy plane’s pilot is barely living be the time they arrive at the wreck. Death has come for the pilot’s soul, he recognizes Liesel from the train in which her brother died. Rudy gives a teddy bear to the pilot before Death takes his soul.

Hans returns after being discharge from the hospital and talks to Liesel about his time at war. This part of the book is mainly focused on the randomness of fate, the most notable example of this is the fact that Hans has survived the truck crash. Hans was only injured in the crash due to Zucker’s insistence in trading seats, which resulted from Zucker’s dislike of Hans. It was simply chance that Hans and Zucker switched seats in the truck, this furthers the idea of randomness being at fault. The outcome that resulted from the crash, Hans’s injury, was the best thing that could happen to him since it resulted in his returning home. Without his injury he would have continued his service in the air raid unit. The events in this section emphasize the chaos that war causes. Michael Holtzapfel also only survives the war due to chance, there is not a any particular reason that he survived while his brother died. Rudy must also deal with this randomness as his father remains at war while Hans is able to come home in one piece. Rudy does not blame fate though and instead places the blame on Hitler who in his eyes has stolen in father. As a result he becomes a thief to gain some sort of empowerment basing his logic for this on the idea that it would feel good to steal something back for himself.

What is the most significant part in the text where Rousseau comments on Nature or the Nature of Being?

Rousseau talks of man’s state of nature (nature of being) in the first and second sections of the first part of his discourse. The second part delves more into inequality by tying the state of nature and man’s activities.

According to Rousseau man is fundamentally an animal like any other, differing only with regard to perfectibility. Man, being exposed to nature, is able to learn and develop rational thinking, which guides man's activities. However, in...

Rousseau talks of man’s state of nature (nature of being) in the first and second sections of the first part of his discourse. The second part delves more into inequality by tying the state of nature and man’s activities.

According to Rousseau man is fundamentally an animal like any other, differing only with regard to perfectibility. Man, being exposed to nature, is able to learn and develop rational thinking, which guides man's activities. However, in the preceding state of nature, man is unaware of the concept of good and evil because of the diminished level of reasoning or rational thinking. In this regard, Rousseau invokes caution against Hobbes’s conclusion that man in a state of nature (and with the inability to perceive the concept of goodness) is thus “naturally bad”. He supports Mandeville’s assertion that man was accorded pity in order to reinforce morality and the ability to reason. This led to the conclusion by Rousseau that man is driven by pity and the need for mutual preservation in the quest to establish the nature of being.

It is therefore certain that pity is a natural sentiment, which, by moderating in every individual the activity of self-love, contributes to the mutual preservation of the whole species. It is this pity which hurries us without reflection to the assistance of those we see in distress; it is this pity which, in a state of nature, stands for laws, for manners, for virtue, with this advantage, that no one is tempted to disobey her sweet and gentle voice: it is this pity which will always hinder a robust savage from plundering a feeble child, or infirm old man, of the subsistence they have acquired with pain and difficulty, if he has but the least prospect of providing for himself by any other means: it is this pity which, instead of that sublime maxim of argumentative justice, Do to others as you would have others do to you, inspires all men with that other maxim of natural goodness a great deal less perfect, but perhaps more useful, Consult your own happiness with as little prejudice as you can to that of others. (Section II Part I)

From what does Framton Nuttel suffer?

Framton Nuttel is supposed to be undergoing a "nerve cure" by residing in the English countryside and avoiding all excitement or exertion. Nowadays he would be diagnosed as "neurotic" and would probably be referred to a psychotherapy for expensive consultations. The author does not describe Framton's symptoms, but they undoubtedly include nervousness, insomnia, nightmares, some degree of paranoia, depression, and apprehension. 

"The doctors agree in ordering me complete rest, an absence of mental excitement, and...

Framton Nuttel is supposed to be undergoing a "nerve cure" by residing in the English countryside and avoiding all excitement or exertion. Nowadays he would be diagnosed as "neurotic" and would probably be referred to a psychotherapy for expensive consultations. The author does not describe Framton's symptoms, but they undoubtedly include nervousness, insomnia, nightmares, some degree of paranoia, depression, and apprehension. 

"The doctors agree in ordering me complete rest, an absence of mental excitement, and avoidance of anything in the nature of violent physical exercise," announced Framton, who laboured under the tolerably widespread delusion that total strangers and chance acquaintances are hungry for the least detail of one's ailments and infirmities, their cause and cure. "On the matter of diet they are not so much in agreement," he continued.

The fact that he says, "On the matter of diet they are not so much in agreement," seems to be hinting that he wouldn't mind being invited to stay for dinner. He probably has a good appetite. His bad nerves are probably only imaginary. Mrs. Sappleton shows little interest in his health problems or his rest cure. She already plans to serve him tea and biscuits and hope never to see him again. Her attitude about this visitor reflects Saki's own attitude about weaklings with imaginary ailments. The reader does not have much sympathy with Framton either. This is at least partly because the reader doesn't approve of a complete stranger imposing on families all over the region with nothing to offer but letters of introduction from a woman they can barely remember. There has to be very little reader sympathy for Framton Nuttel in order to make the final scene truly funny.

Framton is made to order as a patsy for Vera's ghost story. He is a good example of how a competent professional fiction writer will create characters to suit his plot. Framton is a nervous wreck who is seeking "complete rest, an absence of mental excitement, and avoidance of anything in the nature of violent physical exercise." Instead he finds himself in a zany household where his hostess appears to be completely insane. He ends up getting plenty of mental excitement and violent physical exercise.

Framton grabbed wildly at his stick and hat; the hall door, the gravel drive, and the front gate were dimly noted stages in his headlong retreat. A cyclist coming along the road had to run into the hedge to avoid imminent collision.

The fact that he can run so fast and so far suggests that there is nothing seriously the matter with him.