I need help starting my essay in general. I know what I want to write about but I don't know how to start it. It has to be four pages. Only two...

Getting started seems like something that we all struggle with. There are a few approaches you can use to do this, and which you choose really depends upon which is most comfortable. 

While some people need to begin with an introduction, sometimes it is easier to begin in the "middle" of an essay and write a body paragraph or two first.  You say you know what you want to write about already, so you could write a body paragraph or more on your topic.  I see your assignment has something to do with law and politics. So, let's suppose for a moment you are writing a paper on the Democratic candidates for the presidency.  You may not even know what your main idea is about them, but if you write a body paragraph on each, that could be a good way to begin.  As you write, your thoughts on this subject will become clearer to you, and then you will be able to decide what your thesis statement should be. I had a professor who always said "Writing is a means of coming to know."  That has guided me in all of my writing, and it can guide you, too. The idea is that often when we sit down to write, our thoughts and ideas are not clear to us at all, but as we write, they really do fall into place.  Once you have settled on what your main idea is on your subject, you can then go back and write an introduction ending with a thesis statement and a conclusion. I have done this for many papers, and it can work really well. 

Some people really do best beginning with a thesis statement.  A thesis statement states your main idea and the points you will use to support that idea.  So, for example, if you were writing a paper on the decisions of the Supreme Court for the last few years, you may have a thesis statement like this:

The Supreme Court has made a decided tilt to the right in its decisions on campaign contributions, union rights, and eminent domain. 

That thesis statement, which should be the last sentence in your introduction, provides you with an outline to write three body paragraphs, one on campaign contributions, one on union rights, and one on eminent domain. 

How you get going is not important. It is that you do so that matters!  There is no one right way to get an essay started, so see which works best for you. I have used both ways in my own writing, and both work very well. 

Why is the outcome of Rikki-Tikki's fight with Nag uncertain?

Nag is a very large cobra, and Rikki is a very young mongoose. Nag was "five feet long from tongue to tail," but Rikki was such a young mongoose that he had never even "met a live cobra before." Nevertheless, when Rikki learns that Nag intends to kill the man, woman, and child, he is tingling with rage despite being afraid of the size of the snake. As Rikki surveys the sleeping cobra, he realizes...

Nag is a very large cobra, and Rikki is a very young mongoose. Nag was "five feet long from tongue to tail," but Rikki was such a young mongoose that he had never even "met a live cobra before." Nevertheless, when Rikki learns that Nag intends to kill the man, woman, and child, he is tingling with rage despite being afraid of the size of the snake. As Rikki surveys the sleeping cobra, he realizes that if he does not break Nag's back the first time he jumps on him, and if Nag is able to fight, his chances will not be good. The very thickness of the snake's neck under its hood is beyond the ability of Rikki's young teeth to effectively pierce, and biting the snake near the tail will only make the cobra violent. Rikki realizes he must bite the snake on the head above the hood, and that when he does so, he must not let go, no matter how hard the snake thrashes. 

This is exactly what Rikki does, and Nag whirls him "round in great circles." For a time it seems as though Rikki will be bashed to death by the snake's thrashing. Rikki determines to hang on even in death in order to bring honor to his species, so he clamps down even harder, despite the pain and dizziness he experiences. Thankfully the noise awakens the man and he comes with his shotgun. Rikki believes he is dead, but the man credits the mongoose with saving their lives. Rikki goes to sleep that night after "shaking himself tenderly to find out whether he really was broken into forty pieces, as he fancied." 

Because of the cobra's large size and Rikki's inexperience and youth, the battle between Nag and Rikki is not at all certain to go Rikki's way. But between the mongoose and the man, the snake met his match. 

How does President Kennedy justify that he believes the United States is "...our last best hope"?

In John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, given on January, 20, 1961, he actually calls the United Nations "our last best hope." Here is the excerpt from the speech, taken from the website of the JFK Library (www.jfklibrary.org; the link is below):

"To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge...

In John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, given on January, 20, 1961, he actually calls the United Nations "our last best hope." Here is the excerpt from the speech, taken from the website of the JFK Library (www.jfklibrary.org; the link is below):

"To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support--to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective--to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak--and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run."

In this portion of the speech, Kennedy said that the United Nations was a way to prevent war, and he renewed our nation's commitment to the United Nations as a way to protect weak nations. He hoped to end the use of the United Nations as "a forum of invective," or a place merely for nations to air their grievances.

Much of the rest of the speech is a promise to fight communism, as the United States was then involved in fighting the Cold War against the Soviet Union and other nations. Kennedy said, "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." Although he does not mention communism directly, no one in the audience at the time would have had any doubt that he was referring to fighting the Cold War.

Kennedy's inaugural address is perhaps, however, best remembered not only for its eloquence and fine delivery but also for its call to social action. At nearly the end of the speech, Kennedy said, "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." In other words, Kennedy was calling, in words that have often been re-quoted, for Americans to give of themselves to their country to make it great. 

In your opinion, why did Desiree avoid the main road leading to the Valmondes’ and turn to the Bayou? Why did she choose the attire she did? What...

In Kate Chopin's short story "Desiree's Baby," Desiree Aubigny walks into the bayou with her infant son after being accused of being black and rejected by her plantation-owner husband, Armand.

Although Desiree's adoptive mother, Madame Valmonde, writes and offers her a new home, Desiree instead wanders into the marshlands and consequentially drowns with her child. Desiree chooses death over a new life away from Armand because she views Armand's rejection as a rejection from society. We...

In Kate Chopin's short story "Desiree's Baby," Desiree Aubigny walks into the bayou with her infant son after being accused of being black and rejected by her plantation-owner husband, Armand.

Although Desiree's adoptive mother, Madame Valmonde, writes and offers her a new home, Desiree instead wanders into the marshlands and consequentially drowns with her child. Desiree chooses death over a new life away from Armand because she views Armand's rejection as a rejection from society. We learn at the beginning of the story that Desiree is an orphan, born without an identity. As a motherless child, she means nothing in the high society of plantation life until Armand falls for her: 

Armand looked into her eyes and did not care. He was reminded that she was nameless. What did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana?

Armand, as a male and a prosperous plantation owner, gives Desiree an identity by marrying her. Her name now carries prestige because of this marriage, so when she gives birth to a child of darker complexion and is angrily cast out by her husband, she no longer has a place in society. She believes she might as well die, because her reputation––marred by what society views as her inferior race––is also dead. Shedding her white gown symbolizes Desiree's role as a social outcast.

Who wrote to Lyddie? |

Lyddie’s mother wrote to her to tell her that her baby sister died and to ask for money.

The family’s hopes pretty much rested on Lyddie.  She was determined, intelligent, and hard-working.  Although she got fired from Cutlers Tavern, she got a new job quickly that was more suited to her.  Working in the factory meant long, hard hours, but Lyddie could make more money and gain skills.

Lyddie gets a letter from her mother,...

Lyddie’s mother wrote to her to tell her that her baby sister died and to ask for money.

The family’s hopes pretty much rested on Lyddie.  She was determined, intelligent, and hard-working.  Although she got fired from Cutlers Tavern, she got a new job quickly that was more suited to her.  Working in the factory meant long, hard hours, but Lyddie could make more money and gain skills.

Lyddie gets a letter from her mother, and immediately feels guilty for not having sent her money.  For the time she has been working, Lyddie has had to use what little money she gets to pay her own bills, such as board and clothing.

The letter, which revealed that her mother could barely write, told a sad tale.

I was exceding surpriz to get your letter consern yr mov to Lowell. I do not no to say. if you can send muny it will be help to Judah and Clarissa. They fel a grate burdun. Babby Agnes is gone to God. Rachel is porely. (Ch. 12)

Her mother is surprised at the move to factory work, and doesn't really seem supportive.  Lyddie’s baby sister died, and her other younger sister Rachel was sick.  Her mother also asked for money to send to Lyddie’s aunt and uncle, because having her mother and sisters living with them was a burden on them.

At this time, Lyddie was getting paid $2.50 a week and her room at the boardinghouse cost $1.75.  That did not leave much left over.  Lyddie was also teaching herself how to read, and reading had become a sanctuary.  She never had a chance to get much of an education, because she had to leave school when her mother left.  She had not felt comfortable leaving the younger children with her unstable mother.

The letter gives Lyddie new resolve.

She must work harder. She must earn all the money to pay what they owed, so she could gather her family together back on the farm while she still had family left to gather. (Ch. 12)

Lyddie feels guilty for not helping her family more.  She has to support her mother, pay off the family debts, and continue to support herself.  That is quite a burden for a young girl.  As much as Lyddie wants to help, she also does not like parting with her hard-earned money, and wishes she could afford little luxuries such as books.  Lyddie has nothing for herself.

In what way did Krogstad and Nora face a similar moment of decision in the past?

Krogstad and Nora faced a similar moment of decision in the past when they both committed the same crime: forging a signature.

After Torvald (Nora's husband) becomes ill, it becomes imperative that he travel to a location with a fairer climate to recover. The trouble is that the family cannot afford this trip. Desperate to protect the fleeting health of her loved one, Nora chooses to illegally borrow money, forging her father's signature as the...

Krogstad and Nora faced a similar moment of decision in the past when they both committed the same crime: forging a signature.

After Torvald (Nora's husband) becomes ill, it becomes imperative that he travel to a location with a fairer climate to recover. The trouble is that the family cannot afford this trip. Desperate to protect the fleeting health of her loved one, Nora chooses to illegally borrow money, forging her father's signature as the security for the debt. She tells Torvald that she has received the money directly from her father so that he will not fret over their financial concerns. Although Nora faithfully makes payments on the loan, Krogstad discovers that the loan documents were signed by Nora's father three days after his death, an impossibility which leads him to realize the crime Nora has committed. 

Krogstad comments quite observantly that Nora's act "was nothing more and nothing worse that made [him] an outcast from society" and that "[t]he law takes no account of motives." Nora shortly thereafter discovers that the deed that Krogstad has been so thoroughly punished for is, in fact, forgery. Torvald claims that, "...Krogstad has been poisoning his own children for years past by a life of lies and hypocrisy--that's why I call him morally ruined." Little does he know that his wife has done the very same thing.

This epiphany at the conclusion of Act One--that she is no better than the man her husband detests most--is what ultimately drives Nora's crisis of self throughout the rest of the play.

In Orwell's 1984, what is Winston's relationship with Syme? Why does he believe that Syme will be vaporized?

In 1984, Syme is one of Winston's colleagues at the Ministry of Truth. Winston describes him as a "friend" and as a person whose company he genuinely enjoys. Winston is concerned, however, that Syme will be vaporized by the Party because he is "too intelligent." Specifically, he feels this way because Syme "sees too clearly and speaks too plainly."

Syme is a language specialist who is working on the newest edition of the Newspeak dictionary. It is his job to oversee the "destruction" of the English language and the development of Newspeak, the language of the Party, in which true expression is replaced by political and social orthodoxy. But Syme is so intelligent that he sees beyond orthodoxy: he can envision a time in which the Party's slogans, like "freedom is slavery," must be eliminated because Newspeak has destroyed those very concepts, like freedom, on which they rely. For Winston, it is Syme's ability to think for himself and to express his thoughts openly which puts his life in jeopardy. 

What is a good visual exercise to demonstrate the fright, fight or flight response in dementia?

The fight or flight response refers to the biological process related to the autonomic nervous system. Specifically, the body’s sympathetic system is activated in the face of a threat. This system mobilizes the body for action: either standing one’s ground and fighting, or fleeing from the threat, hence the phrase fight or flight. When the threat has passed, the parasympathetic system kicks in and begins to return the body to normal.

Dementia can be caused...

The fight or flight response refers to the biological process related to the autonomic nervous system. Specifically, the body’s sympathetic system is activated in the face of a threat. This system mobilizes the body for action: either standing one’s ground and fighting, or fleeing from the threat, hence the phrase fight or flight. When the threat has passed, the parasympathetic system kicks in and begins to return the body to normal.

Dementia can be caused by many diseases. Its most common form is Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms and progression of dementia depend on the specific cause of the dementia. Very general symptoms might include forgetfulness especially with short term memory (e.g., forgetting where you put your car keys or forgetting someone’s name you know well). In Alzheimer’s disease people generally progress through stages beginning with mild symptoms and impairment, progressing to moderate, then severe. In severe stages of the disease the person has often wasted significantly and may even be in a non-communicative vegetative state. A great website to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease http://www.alz.org/ and dementia.

A visual exercise for autonomic arousal (i.e., fight or flight response) in the average person would be to present the person with some sort of threat. Think about childhood games where you yelled out “boo!” to scare your friend, which then resulted in your friend being scared (autonomic arousal). It is not really possible to provide an example specific to someone with dementia without knowing how far along in the disease process they are, but the same general concept can be applied. To induce this response one would present a threat or something frightening and they may respond in the same manner a well person would (i.e., startled, fearful, screaming). Ethically, I would advise against intentionally exposing someone to this situation. If you are looking for fight or flight responses that already exist in the demented person, you might consider the following situation. Imagine you have dementia and have been removed from your home for nursing home care. You no longer have familiar surroundings and might easily become lost or confused in your new environment full of people you do not know well. You might observe in this individual many behaviors and signs of autonomic arousal (fight or flight) ranging from looking fearful or crying to elevated blood pressure. 

Why is Genral Zaroff glad that Rainsford has come to the island?

General Zaroff is excited about Rainsford's being on his island because he has become jaded and finds no challenge in the "prey" he has been hunting. Now, he expects Rainsford to offer him excitement and challenge both.

When General Zaroff welcomes Rainsford it is with enthusiasm and praise:

"It is a very great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Sanger Rainsford, the celebrated hunter, to my home...I've read ;your book about hunting snow leopards...

General Zaroff is excited about Rainsford's being on his island because he has become jaded and finds no challenge in the "prey" he has been hunting. Now, he expects Rainsford to offer him excitement and challenge both.

When General Zaroff welcomes Rainsford it is with enthusiasm and praise:

"It is a very great pleasure and honor to welcome Mr. Sanger Rainsford, the celebrated hunter, to my home...
I've read ;your book about hunting snow leopards in Tibet, you see...."

As they dine, Zaroff explains to Rainsford that he lives for the hunt and for danger. Further, the general remarks that he has hunted almost every kind of game there is and has become satiated with hunting animals. So, now he has invented "a new sensation," he tells Rainsford, who is appalled when he learns the meaning of Zaroff's phrase, "the most dangerous game."

Therefore, with Rainsford as his "dangerous game" to hunt, Zaroff is thrilled since such an expert hunter as Rainsford himself will offer new and exciting challenges to him. In fact, this love of the challenge becomes Zaroff's undoing as he allows Rainsford to live another day after he has trailed this new prey to a tree.

The general was saving him for another day's sport. The general was the cat; he was the mouse.

And, just as many a cat has done in its deadly play with a mouse, the mouse escapes. For, it is Rainsford who ends up the victor of the dangerous hunt.

Please help me interpret the poem's meaning. What lines are particularly striking in "The Nature of an Action" by Thomas Gunn?

In this poem, Gunn describes a search for meaning and selfhood, using images of rooms. In the first stanza, he leaves a room that he is "fond" of, but which he also describes using heavy, confining, static images: "heavy-footed chairs," a glass "loaded" with "wax pears and grapes" (wax fruit is static). A polished table is described as "holding down" brackets, a mantelpiece and a "marbled" book. The word marbled refers to a type of paper that once lined books, but also doubles as yet another image of heaviness: marble is a heavy stone, a stone used for headstones. 

So following the desires of his heart, the poet leaves the room, but only steps into a "corridor," another confining space. The corridor is "narrow" and he finds himself in it for twenty years. It is "bare, dusty and hard," all unpleasant images, but the real problem, the poet recognizes, lies not with the corridor but within himself. His "habits" have made him an "obstacle" to his own quest for meaning and fulfillment. He finds himself running up against the "great obstruction of himself." 

During his time in the corridor, he finds a "passive illness" in himself that is characterized by self-doubt. Significantly, he repeats the word "doubted" twice: he "doubted" the corridor was real, and more importantly, he "doubted" himself. Doubt saps his will.

In the third part of the poem, he finally musters the will to act. The most significant part of the poem is the couplet that opens this final section: 

"My cause lay in the will, that opens straight/Upon an act for the most desperate."

He finally, though this act of will, has found the sense of selfhood that enabled him to open a door instead of wandering full of doubts in a hallway.

He finds the room he enters almost identical to the room he left twenty years before: it has the same heavy-footed chairs, wax fruit and marbled book. But even though it has not changed, the poet has changed:"Only my being there is different," he writes. The word "only" is ironic in this context: his change is the all-important crux that changes everything else.

In the end, Gunn says, our outward environment matters far less than our inward self. At the same time, the poet leaves uncertain as to what exactly has changed internally for him. We take his word that life will now be different--and perhaps his word is all that matters. 

How would you characterize the story's level of diction? Is this level appropriate for a story about a young boy's experiences?

The level of diction is very obviously high. There are many words and references which might be difficult for some readers to understand. For example:

Among these I found a few paper-covered books, the pages of which were curled and damp: The Abbot, by Walter Scott, The Devout Communicant and The Memoirs of Vidocq. 

It is obvious, however, that the narrator is not a young boy but an educated and sophisticated older man writing about...

The level of diction is very obviously high. There are many words and references which might be difficult for some readers to understand. For example:

Among these I found a few paper-covered books, the pages of which were curled and damp: The Abbot, by Walter Scott, The Devout Communicant and The Memoirs of Vidocq. 

It is obvious, however, that the narrator is not a young boy but an educated and sophisticated older man writing about an event from his childhood. He is able to describe feelings the boy could never have put into words himself. And, as a matter of fact, the boy would never have confessed his feelings to anyone at the time. It is the choice diction that makes the story worth reading. After all, it is an extremely simple story about a cheap trinket. James Joyce makes this little memoir take on much larger proportions.

We have all experienced young love and know how foolish and all-important, how painful and pleasurable it can be. James Joyce must be writing from his own experience, The diction gives dignity to the emotions the young boy was experiencing. For example:

These noises converged in a single sensation of life for me: I imagined that I bore my chalice safely through a throng of foes. Her name sprang to my lips at moments in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand. My eyes were often full of tears (I could not tell why) and at times a flood from my heart seemed to pour itself out into my bosom. 

But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires.

The young protagonist could have have expressed his feelings in such terms at the time, but he is able to do so now. We never forget these things. We understand that a long time has elapsed since the event the author is writing about. He might not even recognize Mangan's sister if he were to run into her after all these years. She would be married and have several children. But he can actually relive the feelings he had for this pretty Irish girl whose unaffected femininity enchants him.

Her dress swung as she moved her body and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side.

The author's choice of diction is perfect for his story, not only because of the importance of the event and his subsequent disillusionment, but because of the indelible nature of his memories. He is not seeking to rid himself of memories by writing about them, as creative writers often do, but he is seeking to recapture and savor them, not unlike the great French novelist Marcel Proust in his masterpiece À la recherche du temps perdu (Remembrance of Things Past).

Analyze the factors and impacts of the Industrial Revolution in American society after the Civil War?

In the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States experienced a level of industrial expansion that was unprecedented. It impacted society in a number of different ways. Let us look at a few of them.

First, the rapid expansion of industry placed the United States among the world's leading industrial powers, rivaling Great Britain and the newly united Germany. American business interests became an important factor in world affairs, especially in the Western Hemisphere.

Second, the new capital requirements of heavy industry as well as the virtual nonexistence of regulations allowed for the expansion of large monopolies, or "trusts," as they were known in the late nineteenth century. Wealthy tycoons like Andrew Carnegie (steel), John D. Rockefeller (oil), James Buchanan Duke (tobacco) and many others each established a virtual stranglehold on their respective industries. This also had the effect of accumulating an extraordinary amount of money in the hands of a relatively small group of people. The benefits of industrial expansion, in short, were not equally distributed--the so-called "Gilded Age" featured an enormous degree of income inequality.

Third, a lack of regulation of business also allowed for very difficult, even dangerous working conditions for industrial workers. This, combined with low pay, led to the growth of a large working class, bolstered by the millions of "new" immigrants that poured into the nation from Eastern and Southern Europe. Working class people mobilized into labor unions, aimed at securing higher wages and better conditions, along with more radical reforms. The late nineteenth century was plagued by sporadic labor violence. While working class people made industrialization possible, but in many ways they found themselves worse off as a result.

Another change, among many others, was the emergence of a middle class. Massive corporations gave rise to "white collar" jobs that had never existed before, like office managers, foremen, researchers, and many others. These middle class jobs required a degree of education, and many universities, colleges, and technical schools popped up during the late nineteenth century to meet the demand. Advertisers also began marketing to these people, creating the beginnings of a new middle-class national consumer culture.

As you can see, there were very many profound changes resulting directly and indirectly from industrialization. 

Why might Lee describe the group of students as a "delegation"?

When Lee refers to the children as a "delegation" it's meant to be subtle humor or sarcasm in describing the school and the children's social groups as like politics. Delegates or a delegation are usually political terms referring to people who come from the same place or represent the same interests within a political body.

So, if we consider Scout's first-grade class to be that political body, it's made up of different groups of kids...

When Lee refers to the children as a "delegation" it's meant to be subtle humor or sarcasm in describing the school and the children's social groups as like politics. Delegates or a delegation are usually political terms referring to people who come from the same place or represent the same interests within a political body.

So, if we consider Scout's first-grade class to be that political body, it's made up of different groups of kids from different parts of town, including the ones who live in town and close enough to walk to school and those who are far enough out into the country that they have to ride the bus. When Miss Caroline (who grew up in a different part of the state and doesn't understand local customs) tries to get Walter Cunningham to borrow lunch money from her, the class looks to Scout to explain.

"I turned around and saw most of the town people and the entire bus delegation looking at me. Miss Caroline and I had conferred twice already, and they were looking at me in the innocent assurance that familiarity breeds understanding" (Lee 22).

Here, several factions of children (the town people and the bus delegation) have casually united to appoint Scout as their spokesperson.

Lee is following a pattern that she set up earlier in the chapter by describing the political nature of school. When Scout mentions that Miss Caroline is from North Alabama, she mentions that:

"North Alabama was full of Liquor Interests, Big Mules, steel companies, Republicans, professors, and other persons of no background" (Lee 18).

Describing children as delegates is a way to continue this subtle humor and political metaphor.

Why is sympathetic activation less discrete than parasympathetic activation? What are three reasons?

The sympathetic nervous system is that part of the autonomous nervous system that is most often associated with the "fight or flight syndrome."  The parasympathetic nervous system is that part of the autonomous nervous system that helps the body regulate homeostasis.  It is most often associated with the body's need to "rest and digest" and "feed and breed."

Three reasons the sympathetic nervous system is not as discrete in it's activation as the parasympathetic nervous...

The sympathetic nervous system is that part of the autonomous nervous system that is most often associated with the "fight or flight syndrome."  The parasympathetic nervous system is that part of the autonomous nervous system that helps the body regulate homeostasis.  It is most often associated with the body's need to "rest and digest" and "feed and breed."

Three reasons the sympathetic nervous system is not as discrete in it's activation as the parasympathetic nervous system are:

1.)  The activation of a fight or flight response is not a gradual response to a perceived threat.  The response requires action of some sort, and in a rapid delivery to the perceived threat.

2.) The activation is used as a survival adaptation, such as waking from sleeping to respond to a perceived threat.

3.)  The activation is used to divert energy away from non-essential systems, such as the digestive system, and to essential systems used for heightened threat perception, such as the cardiovascular system.

The parts of the body regulated by the parasympathetic nervous system have more time to deliver the response needed, so the activation is more subtle.

Please provide a critical appreciation of William Blake's poem, "On Another's Sorrow."

The poem "On Another's Sorrow" by William Blake deals with empathy and compassion for others. This poem tackles an interesting psychological question and answers it through religious content. It opens by questioning how one could not feel troubled when seeing another person in pain. What is it about sadness that is so infectious? Why do we feel the troubles of others so deeply? Blake considers the compassion he has for others in general and goes on to employ the very powerful examples of mothers and fathers feeling the pain of their children. Blake even mentions the sorrows of little wrens and how God feels their pain, too.

The poem expresses that human empathy is an extension of God's empathy. God has compassion for all beings, from little birds to babies to grown men. God has made us (the living beings) and so he feels our joys and sorrows. Humans share in this compassion for one another and for other living beings, especially those we are related to. Compassion is a Godly feeling and is evidence of God's presence within us and nearby us.

The AABB rhyme scheme of the poem establishes a pattern which encourages us to read further. We are drawn on by the language and rhythm of the poem until we conclude with the ninth stanza. Much of the poem is phrased in a questioning nature--is it possible to feel another's sorrow? Does God not feel the sorrow of even the tiniest creature? The ninth stanza establishes a coda, reaffirming the earlier content of the poem--that God has empathy for all and we share in this empathy. Most importantly, the poem concludes with God's empathy for us as the readers. We are assured that even when we are in troubled times, it is not without the empathy of God and those around us.

How did a family's social class status impact their experiences during the war?

Because this question doesn’t reference a specific war, I will answer how a family’s social status impacted their war experiences with examples from three wars.

In the Civil War, the wealthy people had an easier time getting out of being drafted. In the North, a person could buy his way out of fighting by paying $300.00 to the government. In both the North and the South, a person could also hire a substitute to fight...

Because this question doesn’t reference a specific war, I will answer how a family’s social status impacted their war experiences with examples from three wars.

In the Civil War, the wealthy people had an easier time getting out of being drafted. In the North, a person could buy his way out of fighting by paying $300.00 to the government. In both the North and the South, a person could also hire a substitute to fight for him. A wealthy person would be more likely to be able to afford this than a poorer person would be. In the South, a white southerner was exempt from the draft if the plantation had 20 or more slaves. Plantation owners were generally wealthy.

During World War II, the government instituted a system of rationing of essential supplies. Products like meat, bread, and gasoline were rationed, or limited, each month. Since the demand for these products didn’t drop significantly, an underground market or the black market developed where people could get more than their allotted share if they were willing to pay higher prices. Those who were wealthy could afford to do this.

In the Vietnam War, a person could get their draft status listed as deferred if they were attending college. Those who were wealthier than others would be able to afford college and get the draft status listed as deferred.

There were several ways a family’s status impacted their war experience.

Should sex education be part of education? Support your answer.

This is an opinion question about which you'll have to decide what you believe. Many educators believe that sex education is needed in our school system. Research conducted by the School of Public Health at the University of Washington found that sex education reduced teen pregnancies for those who had comprehensive sex education. The same study showed that students who received comprehensive sex education were actually less likely to have sex compared to those who...

This is an opinion question about which you'll have to decide what you believe. Many educators believe that sex education is needed in our school system. Research conducted by the School of Public Health at the University of Washington found that sex education reduced teen pregnancies for those who had comprehensive sex education. The same study showed that students who received comprehensive sex education were actually less likely to have sex compared to those who had abstinence-only sex education. 

Others believe that sex education has no place in schools. Many religious and conservative leaders believe that schools are not the place to discuss these elements of sexuality. Some people believe that these conversations should be had between a student and their parents. Additionally, sex education discusses gay, lesbian, and transgender issues, which some parents object to. 

This question should be answered with your opinion, but do not forgot to back up your opinion with facts. 

Discuss how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's feelings are portrayed in Act 2 of the play Macbeth.

The first scene deals with Macbeth's thoughts as he ponders the terrible act he is about to perform. He has spoken to Banquo who told him that he had dreamt about the witches and Macbeth had asked him that they speak about them at an opportune time. Macbeth also informed Banquo that he will bring him great honour should Banquo support him. Banquo tells him that he will maintain his love and allegiance to his king, if he should be involved in any discussion. This implies that he might suspect that Macbeth is up to no good.

Once Banquo has gone to bed, Macbeth, in at the beginning of a soliloquy, mentions that he is waiting for the signal from Lady Macbeth to proceed to Duncan's chamber and murder him. It is at this point that he imagines seeing a dagger float in front of him. Macbeth is clearly in a terribly anxious state and the hallucination he sees is, to him, 'a dagger of the mind, a false creation proceeding from the heat oppressed brain.' He realizes that it is an optical illusion, but it becomes more defined for he then sees gobs of blood on its blade. He realises that it is the horror of the moment - the silence and the terrible act he is about to commit - that creates this ocular fantasy. He asks for the cobblestones in the courtyard to hide the sound of his footsteps in the eerie silence. He then states that as long as he is only a threat, Duncan remains alive, meaning that he has to kill him soon.

When the bell rings, he responds and mentions that once he goes, the deed will be done. He asks that Duncan not hear its sound because it is the last thing he will hear - the sound that signals his departure to either heaven or hell.

Scene two opens with Lady Macbeth's thoughts in which she expresses that she had done her part and that she was inspired by the drink that she had given Duncan's guards to make them drunk. she mentions the owl's cry which is a portent of Duncan's death Lady Macbeth has left the doors to his chamber open and she realizes that her husband is committing the heinous deed. She has also drugged the guards drinks which could even kill them - death or nature will determine if they survive.

The tense atmosphere leads to Lady Macbeth getting a fright when she hears her husband. She fears that the guards have awoken and that they had not been successful. She hopes that Macbeth had found the guard's daggers which she put at the ready and declares that she would have killed Duncan herself if he did not resemble her father so much.  

When Macbeth arrives he tells her that he had killed the king and anxiously asks her if she did not hear a noise. She says that she only heard the owl shriek and the crickets cry. The two are very tense and nervous. When Macbeth looks at his bloody hands he comments on what a sorry sight they are and Lady Macbeth quickly corrects him, saying that it is a foolish thought. Macbeth shows how truly distraught he is by mentioning that he could not say 'Amen' and that he had heard voices after killing Duncan. His wife seems to be more in control and tells him that he is acting cowardly.

Lady Macbeth tells him to wash the blood off his hands and asks why he had brought the guards' daggers with him and that he should return them. Macbeth refuses to go back and she offers to return the daggers and smear them with Duncan's blood to implicate them. Macbeth is obviously unnerved and when he hears knocking, he wishes that it could wake Duncan. He is clearly disgusted with himself for what he had done.

When Lennox and Macduff enter, Macbeth tells them at some point that it had been 'a rough night' - clearly an ironic statement. when Macduff discovers Duncan's bloodied corpse and cries out to awake everyone, Lady Macbeth acts the innocent and enquires what is causing the uproar. Macduff kindly tells her that it is not for her gentle ears to hear. Macbeth makes quite a speech about how wonderful Duncan was and that all that was important to him had ceased to exist, the moment Duncan died.

Macbeth then confesses that he had killed both of the guards out of anger and when Macduff wants to know why, he makes a speech about how he could not help himself to see the guilty guards lying there with Duncan's blood all over them. He suggests that no man who was loyal to Duncan could have resisted from lashing. He had slain them as a matter of honor and duty. To distract attention away from her husband, lady Macbeth seemingly faints and is carried away.

During the Era of Good Feelings: a. James and Dolly Madison restored the White House. b. the Whig Party disappeared. c. the Democratic...

The correct answer to this question is E. This, in fact, is why the decade or so following the end of the War of 1812 became known as the "Era of Good Feelings." A major effect of the war was the decline of the Federalist Party, which had opposed it. The country experienced a surge of nationalistic sentiment, and the Democratic-Republicans, led by President James Monroe (whose tour of the nation during this period occasioned...

The correct answer to this question is E. This, in fact, is why the decade or so following the end of the War of 1812 became known as the "Era of Good Feelings." A major effect of the war was the decline of the Federalist Party, which had opposed it. The country experienced a surge of nationalistic sentiment, and the Democratic-Republicans, led by President James Monroe (whose tour of the nation during this period occasioned the phrase "Era of Good Feelings" by a newspaper editor) dominated national politics. This turned out to be a bit of a misnomer, as old rivalries involving sectionalism, the size and scope of the federal government, and other issues emerged. The latter part of the 1820s was characterized by bitter partisan strife and the expansion of American democracy and the "market revolution". These forces, along with the divisive presidency of gave rise to what historians call the "Second Party System" as the Whigs formally split from the Democratic-Republicans. So the "Era of Good Feelings," if such a thing ever existed, was quite short-lived.

What are 10 reasons prostitution should be illegal?

There are many reasons why some people might think that prostitution should be illegal.  Not everyone will agree with all of these reasons.  These reasons include:

• Prostitution is immoral. People should not have sex outside of marriage and so we should not condone an activity which is, by definition, improper and immoral.


• Prostitution spreads disease. Prostitutes can be infected with sexually-transmitted diseases and can spread those diseases to their other customers.


• Prostitution is usually involuntary. We may think that prostitutes voluntarily enter the profession, but they are typically coerced in some way.


• Prostitution is degrading. It forces people to sell their bodies for money, which is contrary to human dignity.


• Prostitution is dangerous. Prostitutes are in danger of being victimized by violent clients.


• Prostitution promotes human trafficking. People often buy and sell prostitutes across countries.


• Prostitution weakens families. It encourages people to have sex outside of marriage, thus weakening their commitment to their families.

These are some reasons that people might give for thinking that prostitution should remain illegal.  Please follow the link below for other views on this question.

What was Hester's punishment?

Hester's punishment was to spend a little time in jail; she is released three months after the birth of her child, the child her Puritan community believes was conceived in sin since Hester's husband has been missing for two years. Because they have no proof that her husband is living, she is not punished more harshly, but because they have no proof that he is dead, she is considered to be an adulteress.

In addition...

Hester's punishment was to spend a little time in jail; she is released three months after the birth of her child, the child her Puritan community believes was conceived in sin since Hester's husband has been missing for two years. Because they have no proof that her husband is living, she is not punished more harshly, but because they have no proof that he is dead, she is considered to be an adulteress.

In addition to the few months of jail time, when Hester is released, she is obligated to stand on the public scaffold in the town center, holding her baby, so that she can be publicly questioned by the town clergymen as to who her partner in sin was. However, the longest part of her punishment requires her to wear a scarlet "A" (for adultery) on her bodice any time she leaves her home. She had to make it herself while in jail, and as she stands on the scaffold, the

Scarlet Letter [appeared], so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself.

The letter renders her distinct, different from everyone else, and thus its appearance on her breast isolates her from all the townsfolk.  She becomes a cautionary tale in church services, an object of ridicule to the local children and some of the local goodwives, and town magistrates even consider removing her child from her care. The letter comes to be synonymous with Hester's identity in a way that can never be disentangled, not even by Hester herself.

What images and figures of speech might have helped Edwards' listeners to feel the peril of their sinful condition?

A fire and brimstone preacher, the Reverend Jonathan Edwards employs fear to motivate his congregation. He creates images to make his listeners feel the horror of the sinful condition in which their souls dwell. Here are some of the imagery and figures of speech that the minister employs:

Edwards tells his listeners that they have provoked God with their sins and they are done nothing to appease the Lord.

• Hell is gaping with "the dreadful...
  

A fire and brimstone preacher, the Reverend Jonathan Edwards employs fear to motivate his congregation. He creates images to make his listeners feel the horror of the sinful condition in which their souls dwell. Here are some of the imagery and figures of speech that the minister employs:

Edwards tells his listeners that they have provoked God with their sins and they are done nothing to appease the Lord.

• Hell is gaping with "the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of God's wrath." There is nothing to stand on or hold onto; it is only the "power and mere pleasure of God" that keeps them from falling into the pit.


• The sinners are weighted down by their "wickedness" which makes them "as heavy as lead" and it is only "the hand of God" that keeps them from falling.


• The "wrath of God" is further compared to "great waters" that are dammed'; these waters increase and gain strength and set water speed.


• God's wrath is then compared to a bow in which an arrow is poised; it is only the hand of God that holds the arrow back from striking people.


• These sinners are "ten times more abominable in God's eyes than the "most hateful venomous serpent." 


• Hell is described as a "great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit." This pit is filled with fire, with the flames of divine wrath flashing all around.


• The sinners hang over this fiery pit, held only by "a gossamer thread."
  

Edwards also uses repetition effectively. For instance, he repeats the word nothing to impress upon people that they cannot be saved by their actions, but only through acceptance of grace.

How do both Golding and Conrad display human nature?

In Lord of the Flies and Heart of Darkness we watch as formerly civilized people fall into a state of violence, barbarism, and evil. In Lord of the Flies the boys become superstitious of the beast, split into fighting groups, and eventually even burn the island in their quarrels. In Heart of Darkness, a man of great civilization becomes a murderer and a savage.

Both novels explore the lurking dark side of human nature....

In Lord of the Flies and Heart of Darkness we watch as formerly civilized people fall into a state of violence, barbarism, and evil. In Lord of the Flies the boys become superstitious of the beast, split into fighting groups, and eventually even burn the island in their quarrels. In Heart of Darkness, a man of great civilization becomes a murderer and a savage.

Both novels explore the lurking dark side of human nature. The heart of darkness, as it is described in Conrad's title is something evil in our nature that lurks just below the surface. Without the tempering of society and with the stresses of danger we will often revert to our darker nature. The terror of Heart of Darkness isn't what the men find among the Africans in the Congo; it is the darkness they discover lurking within themselves, particularly in Kurtz. This darkness was there long before traveling to the Congo, hiding beneath the surface. The same darkness exists to varying extents within all of us, including the characters in Lord of the Flies.

Left to their own devices, the same darkness that we see in Conrad comes forward in Golding. The boys turn to savage tactics to survive and gain control of one another.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, what did Atticus say in his closing argument that helped his case and what did he say that didn't?

The worst about the Tom Robinson case overall is that it is based on hearsay and racsim. A case like that should never have gone to trial because there were no secondary witnesses or evidence to support the Ewell claims. The only reason it did go to trial is because a white man accused a black man in Alabama in 1935. Atticus does his best to provide the best defense for Tom, but even he knows the odds are stacked against him from the get-go. After a grueling trial, Atticus gets up for closing arguments and does a fabulous job reviewing the findings of the case. The best argument that supports the defense goes as follows:

"The state has not produced one iota of medical evidence to the effect that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross-examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant" (203).

During the trial, Atticus proves that Mayella was mostly beat up on the right side of her body, which would have been done by a left-handed man. Atticus proves that Mr. Ewell is left-handed and Tom's left arm is mangled; therefore, Tom couldn't have beat her up. That alone should have ended the trial. 

What didn't help Tom's case, though, is when Atticus points the finger at Mayella Ewell and calls her the guilty one. However true this may be, this is irrelevant because Mayella isn't on trial. All Atticus needed to do what cite the evidence and prove his client innocent. If he wanted to go after Mayella, he would have had to file a counterclaim. Atticus says the following:

"The defendant is not guilty, but somebody in this courtroom is. . . I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the state, but my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man's life at stake, which she has done in an effort to get rid of her own guilt" (203).

Clearly, Atticus is taking this chance to teach a long-delayed lesson to the people in his community, and to the Ewells, but it is unnecessary and does not help the case. He is appealing to the Jury's sense of right and wrong, though. He is trying to get them to think a little bit deeper into the real issues at hand. Sadly, when talking to an all-white-male jury in twentieth-century Alabama, it's not going to do much good for a black man's case.

What hazards do humans face when they are in space? What technologies have been developed in response to these hazards? Have these technologies...

There are obvious problems for humans trying to survive in space, and some that are not as obvious. Obvious issues include those associated with simply having the necessary substances for life--air, water, and food. These do not exist in space and must be transported from Earth. When astronauts live for extended periods on the International Space Station air and water are conserved and recycled; food must be continuously brought from Earth. Wastes are ejected from...

There are obvious problems for humans trying to survive in space, and some that are not as obvious. Obvious issues include those associated with simply having the necessary substances for life--air, water, and food. These do not exist in space and must be transported from Earth. When astronauts live for extended periods on the International Space Station air and water are conserved and recycled; food must be continuously brought from Earth. Wastes are ejected from the ISS.

Health issues that are not as apparent are those associated with extremely low gravity (I'll refer to this as 0g, though it is not exactly that), and the exposure to radiation. Scientists know that extended time in 0g results in loss of bone density and changes to the cardiovascular system. Bones are not working against the usual 1g of Earth; the lack of typical stress leads to loss of mass. The heart and blood vessels have evolved to work in Earth's gravity; when that is not present there can be loss of muscle tissue, including heart muscle. Blood pressure takes time to re-adapt back on Earth. Heart problems have been noted in returning astronauts. One unexpected issue that has appeared is the effect of 0g on the eye and vision, with swelling of the optic nerve and increase in far-sightedness--see the Times article below for more detail. Efforts to limit the effect of 0g include having the astronauts run while strapped down to a treadmill, in an effort to simulate the effect of gravity. Possibilities in the future could include spinning part of a spacecraft to simulate gravity. But at this time, when they return to Earth after an extended time in space, astronauts need to rest while their bodies readjust to 1g.

Exposure to cosmic radiation in the form of high-energy, ionizing cosmic ray (HZE) nuclei is a huge problem for humans in space. The shielding of shuttles and the ISS is an attempt to limit the amount of radiation to which the astronauts are exposed, but it is not currently the same as the shielding effect of Earth's atmosphere. Cancer of various types is a risk, as are effects on the immune system; other long-term effects are currently not known, and studies on both the ISS astronauts and other life forms taken to the ISS have been on-going. It has been difficult to produce shielding that is both effective and light enough to launch into space. This is a problem currently being worked on as a manned flight to Mars is being planned. NASA guidelines are that the level of exposure to HZE should at most double an astronaut's life-time cancer risk, but we do not yet have shielding that could protect astronauts at that level for the several years it will take for a Mars mission.

What kind of person is Anne and and how does the reader feel about her? In Scene 1 why has Otto Frank returned to the "secret annex" and what does...

"The Diary of Anne Frank" is one of the most important books written during World War II. It tells the story of a young girl and her family as they spend two years in hiding from the Nazis who occupied the Netherlands during most of the war.

Anne Frank is in many ways a very typical 13 year old girl when she begins her diary. She is also very intelligent and a good writer. The...

"The Diary of Anne Frank" is one of the most important books written during World War II. It tells the story of a young girl and her family as they spend two years in hiding from the Nazis who occupied the Netherlands during most of the war.

Anne Frank is in many ways a very typical 13 year old girl when she begins her diary. She is also very intelligent and a good writer. The thing that may strike the reader is her optimism in the face of a very brutal and depressing existence. For Anne, writing helped her overcome the days in hiding which were marked by long stretches of boredom interrupted only by fear in the thought of being captured. She wrote in her diary virtually every day until the family's capture in August of 1944. Her and her sister Margot died from typhus at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945 only a few weeks before the camp was liberated by the Allies. 

In the play, Otto Frank returns to the annex. While this probably never happened in real life it serves as a way to introduce Anne's diary as Miep Gies gives it to Otto and he begins reading. Otto was the only one of his family to survive the concentration camps.

The Franks and Van Daans go into hiding after they receive word that the Nazis are rounding up the Jews in the Netherlands and sending them to work camps in Germany. "Work" camp was just a polite way of saying concentration camp. The "secret annex" was located in the back of Frank's business. 

In Scene 3, the elderly dentist Mr. Dussel comes to live in the annex with the Franks and Van Daans. From the very beginning Anne and Mr. Dussel do not get along and Anne is quite harsh in her description of him. It must have been difficult for her to share such a small space with an older man who had little tolerance for children.

Do you think Ezinma really buried the iyi-uwa under the orange tree—or was it just a coincidence that the medicine man found a stone wrapped in...

One of the wonderful aspects of Things Fall Apart is that when it comes to depicting the power of the traditional Igbo gods and customs, Chinua Achebe leaves the effects of spells, curses, and medicine men ambiguous. There are likely “rational” explanations for most of the occurrences that the Igbo attribute to gods or magic; however, Achebe renders these same scenes ambiguous enough that native interpretations seem validated by the author. Ezinma finding her iyi-uwa ...

One of the wonderful aspects of Things Fall Apart is that when it comes to depicting the power of the traditional Igbo gods and customs, Chinua Achebe leaves the effects of spells, curses, and medicine men ambiguous. There are likely “rational” explanations for most of the occurrences that the Igbo attribute to gods or magic; however, Achebe renders these same scenes ambiguous enough that native interpretations seem validated by the author. Ezinma finding her iyi-uwa is one such occurrence. The way Achebe frames the scene, it appears that Ezinma is in fact an ogbanje and she correctly identifies her iyi-uwa. However, I argue that the evidence indicates that Ezinma buried a fake iyi-uwa herself. Ezinma is characterized as a bit mischievous, and she enjoys the attention that she receives when she is looking for her iyi-uwa:

“'But you said it was where they bury children?' asked the medicine man.

'No,' said Ezinma, whose feeling of importance was manifest in her sprightly walk. She sometimes broke into a run and stopped again suddenly. The crowd followed her silently” (81).

Additionally, after having the crowd follow her around for some time, she finally leads the medicine man Okagbue and the crowd to an orange tree next to her father’s obi:

“Ezinma led the way back to the road, looked left and right and turned right. And so they arrived home again.

'Where did you bury your iyi-uwa?' asked Okagbue when Ezinma finally stopped outside her father's obi (82).

Thus, with these two bits of evidence, I contend that it is likely that Ezinma buried a false iyi-uwa and made a game of finding it. This makes more sense to me than the hypothesis that Ezinma is an ogbanje and she magically finds her iyi-uwa.  

What are examples of metaphors and personification in Hamlet and how do they operate?

Personification appears in this line in Act IV, scene 1:

“Mad as the sea and the wind, when both contend/Which is the mightier."

The sea and the wind are here being personified as two angry men fighting to see which is stronger. This is an example of personification because the sea and wind are given human attributes of anger.

Here is one metaphor from Act I, scene ii: 

"This world...tis an unweeded garden, that grows...

Personification appears in this line in Act IV, scene 1:

“Mad as the sea and the wind, when both contend/Which is the mightier."

The sea and the wind are here being personified as two angry men fighting to see which is stronger. This is an example of personification because the sea and wind are given human attributes of anger.

Here is one metaphor from Act I, scene ii: 

"This world...tis an unweeded garden, that grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature possess it merely."

This metaphor compares the world, the court of Denmark, to an unweeded garden, thus characterizing it as a corrupt place, overgrown with 'weeds' (courtiers and possibly murdering uncles) that contribute nothing and choke out what is good and fruitful.

In Act I, scene ii we meet another metaphor: Here Hamlet uses the metaphor of his flesh melting into a dew to describe death. This expresses his wish at that death would be a form of disappearing, of nothingness, that would take away his pain. Later, thoughts of an afterlife in hell will disturb this pleasant image of dissolving:

O, that this too too solid flesh would

melt

 Thaw and resolve itself into a dew

And when Horatio speaks of the ghost as a speck of dust to irritate the mind's eye, he is saying that as a speck of dust in the eye is an irritant that won't go away until you do something about it, so the idea of the ghost will keep scratching and irritating Hamlet's mind until he does something about it. This makes a thought a physical attribute.  

Why does the family have to tell everyone when they take a bath in "The House on Mango Street?"

In Chapter One of Sandra Cisneros's House on Mango Street, the narrator, Esperanza, says that the family has moved into their own house but that the house is not the house of their dreams. There are many limitations to their house that symbolize the limitations on their lives. 

The narrator, Esperanza, says in this chapter:

"They always told us that one day we would move into a house, a real house that would be ours...

In Chapter One of Sandra Cisneros's House on Mango Street, the narrator, Esperanza, says that the family has moved into their own house but that the house is not the house of their dreams. There are many limitations to their house that symbolize the limitations on their lives. 

The narrator, Esperanza, says in this chapter:

"They always told us that one day we would move into a house, a real house that would be ours for always so we wouldn’t have to move each year. And our house would have running water and pipes that worked. And inside it would have real stairs, not hallway stairs, but stairs inside like the houses on T.V. And we’d have a basement and at least three washrooms so when we took a bath we wouldn’t have to tell everybody" (Chapter One).

Esperanza's parents have dreamed of a house that resembles what they have seen on television and that represents the fulfillment of the American Dream. In this dream, the family's needs will be completely met, and the family will have stairs, a basement, and several bathrooms.

However, the reality, as the narrator says later in Chapter One, is that "the house has only one washroom." That is why the family has to tell each other when they are taking a bath. Their dreams are not fully realized in their house because of its size and other limitations, and therefore their dreams have not yet been fully realized in the United States. Esperanza still hopes to have a real house, not just a house that falls far short of her dreams.

In Lois Lowry's The Giver, from whose point of view is the story narrated?

Lois Lowry's The Giveris written in the 3rd person Limited Omniscient point of view. This means that the narrator sees the story unfold through the eyes of the protagonist. However, if a story is written without this limitation, it is called 3rd person Omniscient point of view, which gives the narrator more freedom to tell the story from multiple characters' perspectives. In the limited version, though, the narrator can only tell the story from...

Lois Lowry's The Giver is written in the 3rd person Limited Omniscient point of view. This means that the narrator sees the story unfold through the eyes of the protagonist. However, if a story is written without this limitation, it is called 3rd person Omniscient point of view, which gives the narrator more freedom to tell the story from multiple characters' perspectives. In the limited version, though, the narrator can only tell the story from one perspective, unless of course the author decides to cheat a little and expands to other characters. Additionally, the limited omniscient view is closely related to the 1st person point of view where the protagonist narrates the story using words such as "I" and "we". In fact, many might think at first that The Giver is written in 1st person because of how well Lowry sticks to Jonas's perspective throughout the novel and provides wonderful 1st person-type descriptions of his experiences. The following is an example of colorful descriptions as written in the 3rd person Limited Omniscient view:

"Jonas learned, through the memories, the names of colors; and now he began to see them all, in his ordinary life (thought he knew it was ordinary no longer, and would never be again). But they didn't last. There would be a glimpse of green--the landscaped lawn around the Central Plaza; a bush on the riverbank. The bright orange of pumpkins being trucked in from the agricultural fields beyond the community boundaries--seen in an instant, the flash of brilliant color, but gone again, returning to their flat and hueless shade" (97).

How does conflict zones, natural and man-made disasters and over-cultivation contribute to reduction in usable land (land used by human)?

Land is a finite resource, and not all land is created equally. Land that is near a harbor, in a city center, or very fertile is worth more than land that is agriculturally useless or inaccessible. Let's look at how each factor reduces the utility of the land.

Obviously active conflict zones reduce the usability of land because no one wants to be in an area where bullets and bombs are flying. The long-run effects...

Land is a finite resource, and not all land is created equally. Land that is near a harbor, in a city center, or very fertile is worth more than land that is agriculturally useless or inaccessible. Let's look at how each factor reduces the utility of the land.

Obviously active conflict zones reduce the usability of land because no one wants to be in an area where bullets and bombs are flying. The long-run effects are also significant. After the conflict stops, people may not return, either because they have established themselves somewhere else or because their homes have been destroyed or seized. Infrastructure may also be damaged. Land is less accessible, and therefore less useful, if bridges, power stations, or other utilities have been destroyed.

Natural and man-made disasters also make land less usable, often for similar reasons. A wildfire or flood may destroy crops and buildings. Repeated terrorist attacks may reduce investment in an area. As with the effects of armed conflicts, the amount of land remains but its utility is diminished.

Some disasters, such as erosion and climate change, even destroy land altogether. Coastal developments and certain mountain properties have always been threatened by water and wind erosion. Given the projected rise in sea levels, many low-lying coastal lands are expected to soon be below sea level. In each case, we see a reduction in the amount of land.

Finally, over-cultivation is when land is used heavily for a relatively short time but then becomes infertile. This is most easily seen in Africa and other areas where agriculture is fueling desertification. Clearly the transition of land that was somewhat fertile to desert is a loss of usable land.

How does context shape Steinbeck's message in Of Mice and Men?

The context (the setting of place, time, and circumstances) in which Of Mice and Men takes place is that of a self-contained, homogeneous environment of working-class men. A character either belongs or he does not, being marginalized from the rest of the group. Steinbeck’s message concerns what happens to those who do not “fit in”? In that world, they are alienated or even destroyed. The idea of accommodation is not applicable.

Candy, who has lost his hand in an accident, is further ostracized by this dog, who is old, toothless, and smelly. While Candy is not destroyed, his dog (who can be seen as a symbol of those who are weak) is shot in order to “put him out of his misery.” Neither one has a place with the others, because they cannot work in the same manner as they have been doing.

Curley’s wife by the nature of her gender is outside of the group, even though she tries to push in. When she does, she is considered a “tramp” with only sex as the reason for her motive or existence. She is not seen as being on any level of equality in the context of the men.

Lennie proves himself a strong worker, even more than the other ranch hands, but this is not enough for the rest of the men to accept him. Though intellect is not necessarily a quality admired by the ranch hands, his limitations place him to the side. In the end, he is killed by George, much in the same way that Candy’s dog was put out of its misery.

The context thus mirrors a society burdened by the Great Depression, in which, not only do the weak not survive, even some of the strong do not either. In a world that has gone out of control, the ranch hands reflect the desire to somehow have some way to determine who “deserves” to have the few resources left.

Did Romeo and Juliet behave sensibly?

The obvious answer would be that Romeo and Juliet do not behave sensibly in Romeo and Juliet, but there are nuances that can be explored. Before going into the question, it may be helpful to look at the definition of the word "sensible":

- having or showing good sense or judgment

- designed to be comfortable, useful, etc., rather than stylish (Merriam-Webster)

It can obviously be argued that Romeo and Juliet do not show good...

The obvious answer would be that Romeo and Juliet do not behave sensibly in Romeo and Juliet, but there are nuances that can be explored. Before going into the question, it may be helpful to look at the definition of the word "sensible":

- having or showing good sense or judgment

- designed to be comfortable, useful, etc., rather than stylish (Merriam-Webster)

It can obviously be argued that Romeo and Juliet do not show good sense or judgment, as they rush quickly into their relationship. This impatience costs both families lives, including the lives of Romeo and Juliet. Many lives would have been saved if Romeo and Juliet took a different route and been more patient in the play. However, Romeo and Juliet's ages must be taken into consideration. Both of these characters are young teenagers, and their emotions are quite sensible for their immature ages. Furthermore, marriages were often quick and arranged during this time period. To a contemporary audience, Romeo and Juliet are humorously quick in advancing their relationship. Yet, their relationship exists in a classical framework, when relationships were extremely different than they are today. When taking their context and ages into consideration, it could be argued that Romeo and Juliet did behave sensibly and to the best of their cognitive ability.

What is a possible theme in "Roadways" by John Masefield?

The theme of a written piece is its implied message or meaning. Therefore a thematic statement generally states the author’s message and can include feelings about that message. An appropriate theme statement for John Masefield’s poem “Roadways” could be, different people find their God-given way in life by following different avenues. In the case of this poem, Masefield explains that for some their “roadways” lead to different cities by land. But, for the subject of...

The theme of a written piece is its implied message or meaning. Therefore a thematic statement generally states the author’s message and can include feelings about that message. An appropriate theme statement for John Masefield’s poem “Roadways” could be, different people find their God-given way in life by following different avenues. In the case of this poem, Masefield explains that for some their “roadways” lead to different cities by land. But, for the subject of the poem he is meant to find the meaning in his life by following his penchant for sea travel. He travels in all directions by sailing seas. For him, the sea is his roadway. As the poem states, for some sea voyages bring them back home but for him the sea is taking him “In quest of that one beauty, God put me here to find.”

What makes society fair and just in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451?

By leveling the intellectual playing field and burning books, the society in Fahrenheit 451 is able to achieve social equality. Captain Beatty does a really good job explaining the history of how their society came to accept life without books. He teaches Montag that books did not go away by some government-led censorship program. The fact of the matter is that books went away because people didn't want them anymore. Book publishers slowly had to dumb down books, shorten content, and publish more comic books in order to stay in business. Movies and TVs also helped to take over the entertainment medium, causing people to want to watch rather than to read for pleasure. Without serious buyers, the market for books declined. 

As far as informational books are concerned, Beatty explains that they caused more problems than they solved because they contradicted one another. With different authors claiming different philosophies to be true, people were divided into separate groups and minorities popped up everywhere demanding recognition. Arguments ensued and the solution was simple: Get rid of the books that cause the differences. If there are no differences, then no one gets offended and everyone can be equal and happy. Beatty explains the issue of minorities as follows:

"You must understand that our civilization is so vast that we can't have our minorities upset and stirred. As yourself, What do we want in this country, above all? People want to be happy, isn't that right?" (59).

Beatty goes on to explain that the way to keep everything fair and just in society is to give people what they want, which is fun and happiness. Then take away the things that aren't fun. The society took away funerals, for example, because they aren't fun. The best analogy used to explain this is when he says, 

"You can't build a house without nails and wood. If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none" (60-61).

Ultimately, the rejection of books leads to people understanding the world in one way. If everyone agrees with each other, then there's not fighting; if there's not fighting, then everyone can be happy; if everyone is happy, then everyone is equal and all is fair and just. 

How did The Giver transmit memories to Jonas?

The Giver transmits memories to Jonas through his Capacity to See Beyond.

We do not know exactly how the memories work.  We know that they are stored in people with the Capacity to See Beyond, and that they can also be transmitted to people who have that ability.  A Receiver of Memory also needs other traits, including intelligence, integrity and courage.  These traits help the Receiver deal with the memories and use them to the community’s advantage.

When The Giver transmits a memory to Jonas, all he does is touch him and think about a memory.  Then the memory is transmitted to Jonas, and he loses it himself.  The memory passes from one person to another.

The Giver tells Jonas to lie face down and remove his tunic.  Then he puts his hands on his back and transmits the memory.

"I am going to transmit the memory of snow," the old man said, and placed his hands on Jonas's bare back. (Ch. 10)

The Giver tells Jonas that just transmitting one memory lightens his load.  He continues to give Jonas a variety of memories, both positive and negative.  Jonas develops emotions, and learns to see and identify colors.  His life completely changes.

Jonas discovers that he has the ability to transmit memories as well as receive them when he accidentally sends a memory to Gabriel.

Still patting rhythmically, Jonas began to remember the wonderful sail that The Giver had given him not long before: a bright, breezy day on a clear turquoise lake, and above him the white sail of the boat billowing as he moved along in the brisk wind. (Ch. 14)

Jonas is not even aware that he is giving Gabe the memory, but the baby calms.  Like Jonas, Gabriel’s pale eyes indicate that he has the Capacity to See Beyond.

The Giver has all of the communities memories, given to him by his Giver.  His job is to advise the community based on the past, because the community has chosen to ignore the past except for the memories.  The Receiver of Memory protects the community from any strong emotions.  Only he or she knows pain, love, or fear.

From J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, how does Holden show exaggeration?

Holden is a funny and interesting character. He's a teenage boy who sees most adults as phonies and doesn't seem to fit in with many kids his age. Almost everything that Holden observes is exaggerated because he suffers from social anxiety, depression, and possibly bipolar disorder--all of which weren't even terms back in the 1940s and 1950s. As with many people, not just teenagers, situations and events generally seem worse than they really are. Holden is no exception. Therefore, one can pretty much turn to any page in the book and find a hyperbole--or exaggeration. Below is one of the best examples:

"One of the biggest reasons I left Elkton Hills was because I was surrounded by phonies. That's all. They were coming in the goddam window" (13).

The above example is great not only because is it a hyperbole, but the image is hilarious. Just picture Holden's overactive imagination looking at the school windows and "phonies" are jumping through them!

Another exaggeration Holden uses is when he is talking about his brother D.B. having served in the war. He said D.B. probably hated the army more than he did the war; but then Holden says the following which is the exaggeration:

"I swear if there's ever another war, they better just take me out and stick me in front of a firing squad. . . I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there's ever another war, I'm going to sit right the hell on top of it. I'll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will" (141).

Obviously no one is going to let Holden ride on top of a bomb, but he sure has a flare for the dramatic!

One last example of Holden exaggerating is when he describes his actions. He will tell about something he said or did and then follow up with a promise that it actually happened that way--as if he has to prove he isn't exaggerating.

"I got excited as hell thinking about it. I really did. . . But I really decided to go out West and all. All I wanted to do first was say good-by to old Phoebe. So all of a sudden, I ran like a madman across the street--I damn near got killed doing it, if you want to know the truth. . ." (199).

In the above passage Holden follows his pattern of getting excited about something and then spontaneously overreacting. Then, when he writes about it, he says he almost got killed running through the streets rather than simply saying he made it across the street.

Give two examples of parasitism found in plants?

Parasitism is a relationship in which one species benefits, while the other does not (unlike mutualism type of symbiosis). In case of parasitic plants, the parasite lives off of the host plant and obtains its nutrients and water from the host plant itself. An example of parasitic plant is Cuscuta sp., commonly known as Dodder. These are parasitic vines and are attached to their host through haustoria, small rootlike structure that allows it to bind...

Parasitism is a relationship in which one species benefits, while the other does not (unlike mutualism type of symbiosis). In case of parasitic plants, the parasite lives off of the host plant and obtains its nutrients and water from the host plant itself. An example of parasitic plant is Cuscuta sp., commonly known as Dodder. These are parasitic vines and are attached to their host through haustoria, small rootlike structure that allows it to bind itself to host plant, and directly obtain their nutrients, minerals and water from the host's vascular system. Another example of parasitic plants is juniper mistletoe or Phoradendron juniperinum. This plant lives off California juniper or Juniperus californicai. This parasitic plant covers the host plants to such an extent that it appears to be a part of the host. It is more commonly found in California, United States.

Hope this helps. 

Discuss the basic archaeological data used to divide Near Eastern antiquity into epochs such as Neolithic Period, Chalcolithic Period, Early Bronze...

The Neolithic is characterized by a wealth of specialized stone tools in the archaeological record. Stone technology originates with the Paleolithic, and these tool-making techniques were gradually passed from population to population until it was the general tool of choice. The Neolithic Revolution is heavily tied in with the Agricultural Revolution, and many of the new types of stone tools we see appearing in the record around 10,000 BCE are related to the practice of farming. Just as with the development of stone tool technology, the transition to using more specialized stone tools was not an instantaneous process, and it gradually moved from the Near East out into Europe and Asia.

The Chalcolithic is either considered to be a very early portion of the Bronze Age, or falling between the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. The date for the Chalcolithic is roughly from 5300-1700 BCE. This period is characterized by copper-working and craft specialization. The production of metal, ceramic, and stone goods was often a regional specialty, with these goods fetching a higher value farther from their production center.

The Bronze Age is characterized, as the name implies, by the widespread use of bronze tools. Bronze Age culture also has early features of urbanized civilization like proto-writing systems. The Bronze Age in the Near East dates from 3300-1200 BCE. The Early, Middle, and Late Bronze Ages are characterized by an increasingly urban and differentiated society, as evidenced by burials, architecture, and changes in pottery styles.

The Iron Age, similar to the Bronze Age, is defined by the most preferential or most advanced metalworking technique of the time. Bronze fell out of fashion as it required creating an alloy from two relatively hard to find materials which were not always in supply. Iron also had the advantage in the fact that it could be sharpened, whereas bronze required casting for any sort of fine edge. In the Near East, the Iron Age occurred between 1200 and 500 BCE.

The Hellenistic Period dates from the death of Alexander the Great in 323BCE to the beginnings of the Roman Empire in 31 BC. In this time, art and crafting were highly specialized, with the predominant styles being of Greek influence. Greek colonies were established in the Near East and Hellenistic culture, not just materials, were imported and became dominant. The Hellenistic Period is distinctive in the archaeological materials for the heavy influence of Greek material culture and the negotiation of identity through material goods.

The Roman Period is characterized by a prevalence of public works like roads and baths throughout the entire empire, including the Near East. Similar to the import-export relationship of Greek culture during the Hellenistic Period, Roman culture was effectively transplanted into the lives of Near Eastern peoples. The dates for the unified Roman Empire are from 27BCE to 395AD, though Roman culture persisted in the East for a much longer period through the Byzantine Empire.

Analyze how different factors affect the yield of making margarine.

Margarine is a product that was the answer to a substitute for butter, first discovered in France, by Hippolyte Meges-Mouries in response to a challenge by Emperor Napoleon III.  The original margarine was made from beef fat.  Margarine today is composed of vegetable oils and water.  Fats that are liquid at room temperature undergo a hydrogenation process that adds hydrogen to the carbon double bonds in the oil.  As the double bonds are broken, hydrogen...

Margarine is a product that was the answer to a substitute for butter, first discovered in France, by Hippolyte Meges-Mouries in response to a challenge by Emperor Napoleon III.  The original margarine was made from beef fat.  Margarine today is composed of vegetable oils and water.  Fats that are liquid at room temperature undergo a hydrogenation process that adds hydrogen to the carbon double bonds in the oil.  As the double bonds are broken, hydrogen atoms bond to the carbon atoms.  The final result is a product that is higher in melting point than the original oil.  This adding of hydrogen to the oil is called "saturated fat." 

Sometimes, the hydrogenation process is incomplete, limiting the amount of saturation that actually occurs.  Some of the carbon to carbon double bonds remains in the margarine.  This is called "trans fats," and has been the subject of study as it relates to coronary artery hardening. 

As limiting factors go, the amount of hydrogenation would be the chief determining factor on the amount of margarine produced.  The balance between the amount of fat used and water used would also have an effect on the final amount of margarine yield.  The type of metal used as a catalyst for the hydrogenation would also be a critical factor.  Nickel is traditionally used, but palladium has been substituted as well.

Who is Owl Eyes? What surprises him about Gatsby's library?

Owl Eyes was obviously, invited or uninvited, one of Gatsby's guests at one of the ostentatious parties he had at his mansion as part of an attempt to draw Daisy Buchanan nearer. In chapter three, Nick and Jordan Baker were attending one of these to-do affairs and wandered into Jay's 'high Gothic' library where they met this drunk, stout, middle-aged man who was wearing an enormous pair of owl-eyed spectacles, hence Nick's mocking pseudonym for him.

Nick only uses the pseudonym later in his narrative when he mentions an incident when he left the party. On his way out he discovered the man in a car which had had an accident. The car was a wreck and Owl Eyes was the one who stepped out of it, claiming that he did not know what happened, since he had not been the one driving. 

The man is mentioned again in the final chapter. He was one of only a few who came to attend Jay's funeral. Nick mentions the following about him:

It was the man with owl-eyed glasses whom I had found marvelling over Gatsby’s books in the library one night three months before.

I’d never seen him since then. I don’t know how he knew about the funeral, or even his name. 

The fact that Nick had three separate encounters with Owl Eyes somehow makes him significant. Firstly, he showed remarkable insight when he spoke about Jay and his books. He intuitively recognized that the books were there only for show but that Jay had gone a step further to enhance the illusion, he used real books. Owl Eyes was particularly impressed by the remarkable extent to which Jay had gone to create the impression of class and culture. The books had clearly not been read and he commented:

This fella’s a regular Belasco. It’s a triumph. What thoroughness! What realism! Knew when to stop, too — didn’t cut the pages. But what do you want? What do you expect?

The allusion to Belasco, a well-known theatrical producer, director, playwright and impresario of the period, makes his sentiment quite clear. Gatsby was putting on a show and he was doing it well. His rhetorical questions emphasizes the fact that one could not want or expect less from such a masterful diabolist as Jay Gatsby - the deception had to be perfect. 

Furthermore, Owl Eyes links with the huge eyes of Dr T.J. Eckleburg, staring down from a huge road sign onto the Valley of Ashes. Owl Eyes is the personification of what is seen on the large roadside banner. It symbolizes a constant awareness, epitomized by his acute observations in Jay Gatsby's library. In addition, Owl Eyes' observation also suggests that Jay Gatsby is under scrutiny as is illustrated by the countless rumors and gossip surrounding him.

Dr T.J. Eckleburg's eyes, likewise, suggest observation - the world is watching. It is particularly ironic that they should be looming over the Valley of Ashes, a place of physical and moral corruption. It is here that Myrtle Wilson, involved in an illicit affair with Tom Buchanan, lived and it is here that she died - a victim of her, Tom, Jay and Daisy's immorality. They were all, as in Owl Eyes' estimation, Belascos.

A further point is that the observant Owl Eyes is the only one of Jay's guests who attends his funeral. His presence d the end of Jay's charade. He was, probably, the only one of them all who saw Jay Gatsby for what he really was. His presence at Jay's final resting place indicates that the scrutiny, the gossip and the rumor has come to an end. Jay Gatsby had, ironically, in the most tragic manner, achieved peace. 

What does Scout think of current fashions in education? What do her opinions reveal about her character?

Scout is a smart girl for her age because she has been reading the newspaper with Atticus every night since she was very young.  In addition, Atticus treats both Scout and Jem as if they are young adults; he doesn’t treat them as children and understands that they are bright children who don’t always need to be protected from the world around them.  When Scout goes to school, she finds it boring because it is...

Scout is a smart girl for her age because she has been reading the newspaper with Atticus every night since she was very young.  In addition, Atticus treats both Scout and Jem as if they are young adults; he doesn’t treat them as children and understands that they are bright children who don’t always need to be protected from the world around them.  When Scout goes to school, she finds it boring because it is moving too slow for her.  Miss Caroline, her teacher, insists that Scout learn her way (the Dewey Decimal system that is all about order and rules) and dismisses Scout’s reading ability.  Scout sees the education system as strict and not flexible.  After the first day of school, Scout begs Atticus to not make her go back. 

Scout’s opinions about school show that she is not ready to conform to society’s values and beliefs.  She is an individual who will learn a lot about life through her experiences rather than through a strict educational system that stymies one’s abilities.  By writing scenes that show Scout going to school, Harper Lee is forming the character of Scout as an independent, free-thinking young girl who will learn and grow from the events that happen in the novel and not through sitting in a classroom.

Who are the Three Daughters of China? Jung Chang, Er-Hong, and who?

Jung Chang's grandmother, Yu-fang, was the first in the generation of three daughters.  This woman experienced severe hardship and turmoil at an early age.  When she was two, her feet were bound to keep them small in size.  Then as a young woman, Yu-fang was sold to the police chief of the large Chinese city of Beijing to be his concubine.  She became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, Bao Qin.  Bao Qin was the second...

Jung Chang's grandmother, Yu-fang, was the first in the generation of three daughters.  This woman experienced severe hardship and turmoil at an early age.  When she was two, her feet were bound to keep them small in size.  Then as a young woman, Yu-fang was sold to the police chief of the large Chinese city of Beijing to be his concubine.  She became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, Bao Qin.  Bao Qin was the second generation of the women in this story.  Her name was chosen by her biological father, though she was later called De-Hong.  Yu-fang fled with her baby daughter to escape from the man she served as a concubine to.  She later married a doctor, and she became his dearly loved wife.

De-hong/Bao Qin was the second of the three daughters.  She became involved with the Communist Party.  She met an official in the party and they married.  Then she gave birth to her oldest daughter, Jung Chang.  

Jung Chang was the third in the generation of daughters.  She saw a darker side of Communism and eventually left to live in England.  She was also called Er-Hong.

In conclusion, the daughters were Yu-fang, Bao Qin/De-Hong, and Jung Chang/Er-Hong.

What does the "JS" refer to ?

W.H. Auden's poem, The Unknown Citizen, begins with an interesting epigraph:

To JS/07 M 378
This Marble Monument
Is Erected by the State)

The meaning of the alphanumeric inscription on the marble monument of the unknown citizen has been a matter of great discussion. Some argue that the inscription mirrors our social security number scheme and that it contains identifying personal information. Others argue that the alphanumeric inscription means nothing more than a symbol of the power of a totalitarian state. Either way, the JS/07 M 378 inscription is interesting.

'JS' itself may stand for the initials of the unknown citizen's first and last name. The numbers '07' and '378' may well have been randomly allocated, while the letter 'M' may classify the unknown citizen as male. Yet, this is all a matter of conjecture. If you look at how the United States social security numbers were historically assigned, the first three numbers held geographical significance and were known as Area Numbers. The middle two were known as the Group Numbers, and the last four digits were the Serial Numbers. However, since 2011, the Social Security Administration has changed to a randomized system. You can read about it below:

The SSN Numbering Scheme.

The new SSN Randomization Scheme.

Myths about the SSN Numbering Scheme.

Yet, the numbers on the social security cards (past and present) never held identifying information about someone's date of birth, age, or even race. Likewise, the numbers used by the Nazis or other totalitarian regimes throughout history never did so either. Rather, the practice of using numbers and letters in place of names was a means of dehumanizing and marginalizing the populace the regimes were persecuting. So, when you look at JS/07 M 378, you are looking at Auden's commentary about totalitarian regimes; interestingly, he wrote this poem in 1939, at a time when the Nazis were preparing to unleash a full scale implementation of their ethnic cleansing program on an unsuspecting Jewish populace.

Auden's poem is also a satire criticizing the loss of individuality in a world focused on standardization and efficiency. Today's world, so focused on technology and mechanization, further erodes the identity of the individual. The unknown citizen in Auden's poem is praised because he never made waves when he was alive; in other words, he conformed in all things to the government-sanctioned image of a model citizen. We don't know his name, his personal goals, or anything specific about him; we only know him by letters and numbers. Likewise, our social security numbers contain no pertinent information about us; however, our ability to apply for certain work and travel documents and to collect social security benefits hinges on possession of these numbers. In other words, we have to conform to a standardized system in order to function in our world, the kind of system Auden criticized.