In The Cay by Theodore Taylor, how did Philip's return affect his family?

In The Cayby Theodore Taylor, young Philip is finally rescued when an American destroyer spots smoke from the island. The crew takes Philip to a naval station in Panama, and there he is reunited with his parents. Of course they are overjoyed to have their son back because they thought he had died at sea. Philip's mother keeps apologizing to him as she feels she is at fault. Philip is more man than boy...

In The Cay by Theodore Taylor, young Philip is finally rescued when an American destroyer spots smoke from the island. The crew takes Philip to a naval station in Panama, and there he is reunited with his parents. Of course they are overjoyed to have their son back because they thought he had died at sea. Philip's mother keeps apologizing to him as she feels she is at fault. Philip is more man than boy at this point due to his experiences on the cay with Timothy. Though Philip tries to tell his parents about those experiences, he doesn't feel that they really understand what he went through. Philip sees that his mother has changed a lot and no longer wants to leave Curacao like she had at the beginning of the book. Not only has Philip's relationship with his parents changed, it has also changed with his friends back home. Henrik seems like a child to him now, and Philip prefers spending time with the black people on the bay and in the market because they remind him of Timothy, and many of them had been Timothy's friends. 

Can The Importance of Being Earnest be regarded as trivial comedy?

Oscar Wilde was an important dramatic and literary figure of his age, and many of his works, like The Picture of Dorian Gray and Salome, dealt with weighty themes. The Importance of Being Earnest is not one of them.

Earnest is a light piece of fluff about two men, Algernon and John, who affect the name "Ernest" and two women, Gwendolen and Cecily, each involved with a man they think is named "Ernest." They...

Oscar Wilde was an important dramatic and literary figure of his age, and many of his works, like The Picture of Dorian Gray and Salome, dealt with weighty themes. The Importance of Being Earnest is not one of them.

Earnest is a light piece of fluff about two men, Algernon and John, who affect the name "Ernest" and two women, Gwendolen and Cecily, each involved with a man they think is named "Ernest." They believe they are both in love with the same man. An over-the-top fight could ensue here, but all four parties are genteel blue bloods and the fight between the ladies is amusingly polite and restrained.

Oscar Wilde is an important social figure in addition to his writing. While he didn't exactly found the Gay Rights movement, its history inevitably runs straight through him. Imagine someone with the gravitas of Vaclav Havel or James Baldwin writing an episode of Laverne and Shirley, and you can envision the disconnect between the writer and the finished work. The fact that Earnest remains his most popular and most frequently-performed work compounds this disconnect. For further irony, it was Wilde's last comic work, as he became embroiled in a prosecution for his affair with the son of the Marquess of Queensbury, a legal issue that led to his imprisonment and, shortly afterwards, his death.

Does Eckels think he will find that he has "done nothing" when he gets back to the present in "A Sound of Thunder"?

Because of the tirade that Eckels's having stepped off the Path triggers in Travis and the guide's further treatment of him, Eckels must doubt that he will find that he has "done nothing" when he returns to the present.

There are certainly indications that Eckels fears somewhat that his having gone off the anti-gravity path will have negative consequences when he returns in the Time Machine to Safari, Inc.:

• Eckels is well aware that Travis...

Because of the tirade that Eckels's having stepped off the Path triggers in Travis and the guide's further treatment of him, Eckels must doubt that he will find that he has "done nothing" when he returns to the present.

There are certainly indications that Eckels fears somewhat that his having gone off the anti-gravity path will have negative consequences when he returns in the Time Machine to Safari, Inc.:

• Eckels is well aware that Travis is insistent that he not go off the path, and when this guide discovers that Eckels has mud and moss on the bottom of his shoes, he becomes extremely irate:

It’s his shoes! Look at them! He ran off the Path. That ruins us! We’ll forfeit! Thousands of dollars of insurance! We guarantee no one leaves the Path. He left it.

Weakly, Eckels, aware of his offence, tries to defend himself by mitigating what he has done, 

“Just ran off the Path, that’s all, a little mud on my shoes— what do you want me to do—get down and pray?”

• He also tries to "pay anything" to the guides and pulls out his checkbook.


• Travis is so disturbed and angry at Eckels's violation that he orders him out of the Time Machine: "Get out of here!" Then, a calmer Travis makes Eckels retrieve the bullets from inside the dead Tyrannosaurus Rex, instead. Fearfully, Eckels complies.

The anger of Travis at Eckels's mistake and Eckels's efforts to mitigate his offense and to pay off Travis suggest that he does not believe that he will find everything the same when he returns to Safari, Inc.

Is the narrator of Edgar Allan Poe's "Cask of Amontillado" also a murderer?

In Poe's short story "Cask of Amontillado" the narrator, Montresor, makes his intentions clear in the first paragraph. He has been insulted by Fortunato and views the man with complete disdain. Because of this unnamed insult Montresor vows to punish Fortunato, but makes it clear that any punishment must go undiscovered and that Fortunato should be the only one to know that Montresor has punished him. The narrator says,

"I must not only punish, but...

In Poe's short story "Cask of Amontillado" the narrator, Montresor, makes his intentions clear in the first paragraph. He has been insulted by Fortunato and views the man with complete disdain. Because of this unnamed insult Montresor vows to punish Fortunato, but makes it clear that any punishment must go undiscovered and that Fortunato should be the only one to know that Montresor has punished him. The narrator says,

"I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong."

Montresor has devised a plan for murder which will not only go undetected by any outside entity but as the murder unfolds, Fortunato will be quite aware of who is responsible for his demise. Montresor chooses the perfect setting for his crime, the Carnival season. Carnival (literally a farewell to meat), as its name suggests, was a time of excess and extreme (picture the annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans) in anticipation of the Christian observance of Lent, a forty day period of fasting and abstinence prior to Easter. Costumes and alcohol are in abundance during this festival. 

Not only is Fortunato inebriated but he is also dressed in costume as he comes under Montresor's plot of retribution. Montresor lures the drunken man to his villa with the excuse of needing his opinion on a rare spirit called Amontillado. Because of the festivities Montresor's servants are all out of the house enjoying themselves.

As was the custom of the wealthy in those days Montresor keeps his wine collection underground in what were once catacombs, or underground cemeteries, which is, of course, a fitting place to perpetrate his crime. As he and Fortunato descend deeper into the vault Montresor continually praises his victim about his knowledge of good wine to make it look as though this is simply two friends indulging in a common interest. Montresor is also plying Fortunato with more drink so that by the time Fortunato realizes what is happening it will be too late.

Finally toward the bottom of the incredibly creepy vault Montresor chains Fortunato to the wall and proceeds to actually wall him in, thus gaining retribution for the unnamed insult without a trace of evidence. Fortunato will eventually die in the catacomb and his bones will mix with the others buried in this underground tomb. The narrator concludes, "For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them." As Montresor predicted his plan works perfectly and only Fortunato realizes the true identity of his murderer. 

I'm filling out an internship application, but it asks me why I should be chosen to become a Leader in their team (its a leadership internship),...

There may be ways in which you have been a leader without really having thought of yourself that way.  Do you have any younger siblings whom you have led in one way or another?  Perhaps you have been a role model for them or planned their activities.  You might be a leader amongst your friends.  If you are the person who makes the plans and suggestions that they follow, that is leadership, too.  If your...

There may be ways in which you have been a leader without really having thought of yourself that way.  Do you have any younger siblings whom you have led in one way or another?  Perhaps you have been a role model for them or planned their activities.  You might be a leader amongst your friends.  If you are the person who makes the plans and suggestions that they follow, that is leadership, too.  If your friends rely upon you for good advice, that is another facet of leadership.  Another possibility is that you have done some volunteer work in which you have had a leadership role, perhaps for a religious or community organization. If you have helped plan, organize, or otherwise manage a volunteer activity, for instance, a teen activity, a church supper, or fund-raiser, you have been a leader.  Remember that leadership is not simply a matter of telling others what to do. It is also a matter of inspiring and guiding others.  Most of us are called upon to be followers and leaders in our lives, and my guess is you have done some leading without even realizing it. 

Are tropical rain forests carbon sinks? Why or why not? Be sure to include a definition of carbon sink in your answer.

Yes. A tropical rainforest would be considered a carbon sink.

 A carbon sink is a natural environment, such as an ocean or forest, that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases into the atmosphere. A carbon sink is the opposite of a carbon source. A carbon source is something that releases more carbon than it absorbs.

 According to the Maine Climate News of the University of Maine, the soils of tropical rainforests...

Yes. A tropical rainforest would be considered a carbon sink.

 A carbon sink is a natural environment, such as an ocean or forest, that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases into the atmosphere. A carbon sink is the opposite of a carbon source. A carbon source is something that releases more carbon than it absorbs.

 According to the Maine Climate News of the University of Maine, the soils of tropical rainforests contain nearly 30% of total global soil carbon stocks. Additionally, tropical rainforests contain many trees and other plants. Plants use carbon dioxide to photosynthesize. Photosynthesis is the process by which autotrophs use sunlight energy to convert carbon dioxide gas and water into a sugar that is called glucose and oxygen gas.

 In the same article published by the Maine Climate News, a scientist by the name of Sayer cautions that rainforests may not continue to be the world’s reservoir of carbon. Sayer suggests that the increased carbon emission by fossil fuels increases the rate of photosynthesis in trees. Thus, trees produce more leaves that add to the litter on the base of a rainforest’s floor. This litter is then decomposed by decomposing microbes. Carbon dioxide is released as a result of this decomposition. As Sayer explains, “this ‘priming’ of the microbes with an influx of easily decomposable material could disproportionally increase the net amount of carbon dioxide emitted from a given stand of trees.”

 Additionally, a tropical rainforest would no longer be able to absorb as much carbon if its trees have been cut down or killed by natural means such as a drought.   

What are some quotes that show that Friar Lawrence is a father figure to Romeo?

Just as we should consider the Nurse a parental figure to Juliet the same could be said for the Friar and Romeo. Friar Lawrence not only shows his affection for Romeo but he also gives him fatherly advice on more than one occasion.

In Act II, Scene 3, the Friar, as a father would, chastises Romeo for being out all night and for falling in love with another girl after so soon being in love...

Just as we should consider the Nurse a parental figure to Juliet the same could be said for the Friar and Romeo. Friar Lawrence not only shows his affection for Romeo but he also gives him fatherly advice on more than one occasion.

In Act II, Scene 3, the Friar, as a father would, chastises Romeo for being out all night and for falling in love with another girl after so soon being in love with Rosaline. The Friar comments:

Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.

The Friar is often giving guidance to Romeo (unfortunately Romeo doesn't listen) about how the young man should handle his new love for Juliet. In the marriage scene, Act II, Scene 6, he urges Romeo to take things slow and to be patient. He says,

Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so.
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.

The Friar is at his most fatherly after Romeo has killed Tybalt and is distraught over being banished. Romeo is acting quite immaturely as he cries to the Friar about having to leave Verona and lose access to Juliet. The Friar reminds Romeo that he is actually fortunate. The Prince could have sentenced Romeo to death for fighting in the streets, as he promised in Act I, but instead he exiles Romeo.

The Friar tells Romeo to be patient and to go to Mantua and let things calm down. Once some time has healed a few wounds, the Friar tells Romeo the two lovers can once again be reunited. In Act III, Scene 3:

Go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed.
Ascend her chamber. Hence and comfort her.
But look thou stay not till the watch be set,
For then thou canst not pass to Mantua,
Where thou shalt live till we can find a time
To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends,
Beg pardon of the Prince, and call thee back
With twenty hundred thousand times more joy
Than thou went’st forth in lamentation.

As with a father (Friar means father), Lawrence loves Romeo and wants what is best for him. This love, however, blinds the Friar to the true consequences of his indulgence of Romeo's impetuous actions. The Friar should have consulted with the parents at some point to avert the final tragedy.