In "The Scarlet Ibis", what three things does Doodle's brother make him do, and why does he make Doodle do them?

Doodle was small and misshapen at birth. He did not crawl until he was two; he showed no signs of walking. Brother was given the task of pulling him around in a cart. Brother loved Doodle, but he also resented him and sometimes was mean to him. He took Doodle into the barn loft one day and made him touch the little coffin stored there. Doodle did this only after his brother threatened to leave him in the loft. Traumatized, Doodle clung to his brother. “Don’t leave me,” he cried. Brother later called his meanness “a knot of cruelty.”

Because Brother was embarrassed by Doodle, he set out to teach Doodle to walk before school started. He pushed him to perform many physical feats that were extremely difficult or impossible for him—standing up, then walking, swimming, boxing, rowing, and climbing rope vines in Old Woman Swamp.

Doodle frequently exhausted himself, trying to earn approval. Brother “made him swim until he turned blue and row until he couldn’t lift an oar.” Brother walked very fast on purpose, making Doodle walk fast to keep up with him.

Brother made Doodle do things out of cruelty, resentment, pride, and selfishness. Brother did not take pride in Doodle’s accomplishments. He took pride in being such a good teacher. When Doodle “failed” at the end of the story, his brother left him, another act of cruelty.

What role does irony play in "The Jewelry"?

The story that you refer to is "The False Gems," in which the main character M. Lantin is married to a woman that he truly loves, he adores her, as the years pass in their marriage he loves her more and more.  There are only two things that he does not like about her.  She loves to attend the theater and has a passion for fake jewels.

The irony of the story, situational irony, where an outcome is completely different that what is expected is evidenced in the "false gems."  Also, verbal irony, M. Lantin's wife knows that the gems are real, but she pretends that they are fake.

After his wife dies, his life is miserable.  He can't stand the sight of the gems that his wife brought home constantly.  By now he is poor, destitute.  So he decides to sell the gems.

The irony is that when he tries to sell them, he learns that the gems, the jewelry is in fact real and very valuable.  M. Lantin sells the gems for a great sum, now he is wealthy.

His wife must have had an admirer, a rich one, who gave her the gems as gifts.  So in fact, his loving, attentive wife, was probably having an affair.  Yet he never knew it, he was shocked.

M. Lantin decides to remarry, his second wife is very virtuous, she will be a faithful wife. 

The irony is twofold, M. Lantin never knew that the gems were real and that his first wife was technically, false.

The second wife, who should make him happy with her fidelity, makes him miserable.  

In "The Scarlet Letter" what is the symbolism/significance of isolation/imprisonment?

When Herman Melville, author of "Moby Dick," read Hawthorne's works, he was exposed for the first time to what he called the "power of blackness."  Hawthorne writes of this power in "The Scarlet Letter," as he portrays the dark side to human existence in its secret sin.  This dark side of is portrayed in the opening setting of a prison door, gray-garbed Puritans, and the scaffold upon which Hester Prynne stands alone; alone before the condemning matrons who enjoy maligning her.The red letter upon her breast alienates her in the "prison" of being outside the circle of accepted society.  She and her imp-like Pearl must live on the outskirts of the village.  Even when she is later accepted into homes for her charitable deeds, she is yet isolated, being identified by the A that acts as a label to identify her whether it be as "angel" or another label. Always her sin isolates Hester; after she goes to England with her grown daughter, Hester returns to her Puritan colony and takes up her A, for her identity has become one with this isolation.

The Rev. Dimmesdale's secret sin is cause for his spiritual isolation because he cannot reveal the sin torturing him with guilt.  Only with Hester can he be himself; when he tries to tell the townspeople of his sin, they refuse to accept his claims of lowliness in his sermons as anything but piety and humility.  Symbolically, he stands on the scaffold alone. 

Profoundly isolated by "the power of blackness" is Roger Chillingworth who seeks revenge upon the minister.  In this evil act, Chillingworth loses his own soul as he becomes "a fiend" by his own admission.  When Hester and Dimmesdale and Pearl finally stand together on the scaffold, united in the past sin of passion and bonded by love, Chillingworth is isolated from them because of his evil secret sin--"He will be mine"==against God. 

In The Tragedy of Macbeth, why is Macbeth reluctant to kill the king?Think about ideas of right and wrong, loyaly, kingship, and trust.

Macbeth finds the idea of killing King Duncan to be repugnant for several reasons. As Duncan sleeps in Macbeth's castle, shortly before his murder, Macbeth thinks of all the reasons Duncan should not be slain. There are matters of honor and responsibility. Macbeth says that Duncan is "here in double trust." This means, as he explains, that Macbeth is King Duncan's subject and also his "kinsman," suggesting a family tie. He continues that he is also Duncan's host "[w]ho should against his murderer shut the door, / Not bear the knife myself." In other words, Duncan trusts Macbeth without question and sleeps peacefully, unaware of his impending death.

After examining his responsibility in the matter, Macbeth also speaks of Duncan's many personal virtues and what an excellent king he has been. Killing him will be a "deep damnation," so terrible that "tears shall drown the wind."

Despite these strong feelings against what he is about to do, Macbeth does it anyway, murdering Duncan in his sleep.

How does meeting with Sonny's old school friend affect the narrarator in "Sonny's Blues"?

After Sonny's brother reads in the paper about Sonny's arrest, and an old friend of Sonny's meets him in the school parking lot, he is reminded of how he has given up; how he made a promise to their mother; how he feels helpless; and he sees someone else express the same despair about helping Sonny. The brother's response to all these memories, to Sonny's arrest, to the friend's remarks is one of anger, but his anger is laced with despair and probably desperateness at his helplessness.

It has been a year between the last time the brothers met and Sonny's arrest. The incident with the old friend in the parking made Sonny's brother recall a conversation with his mother during which she told him about their father's brother who was gunned down by drunken whites, but it was an object lesson to impress him with the truth that as brothers, they rely on each other. She extracted the promise that, as the older and more steady of the two brothers, he would always look after Sonny and help him. It is these recollections and the feelings of shock and horror at his brother's arrest coupled with helplessness that cause him to lash out in anger at the friend.

What does this line in the poem mean: "How charged with punishments the scroll"? See "anything else" box below. It matters not how strait the...

In "Invictus," William Ernest Henley creates a speaker who refuses to give in to the dictates of any other body, whether it be another man or an ideal created by society or religion. The "scroll" in the line that you mentioned is the rules and laws that men must follow. The speaker, in this case, refuses to live by the laws, no matter how much punishment would come at the hands of the law.

The tone of the poem is not one of anarchy or unlawfulness however. This person wants to live the life of a human being and enjoy his own humanity. He "thank[s] whatever gods may be/
For [his] unconquerable soul." We can assume then, that his life or his society or his religion is one that he sees as oppressive. He refuses to be oppressed and this specific line illustrates that he is not scared of the punishments that may come as a result of his refusal.

Does Odysseus meet the Cyclops before or after he lands on the island of Phaeacia, and where does it say this in the text?

Odysseus lands on Phaeacia after he has met the Cyclops, but the telling of the event takes place earlier in the text.  In Book 6, Odysseus lands on the island of Scheria, and is taken in by the king's daughter Nausicaa.  She brings him to Phaeacia, and he is welcomed in the palace of King Alcinoos and Queen Arete in Book 7.  It isn't until Book 9 that Odysseus tells the tale of his adventures after a feast in the palace to the assembled guests.  It is in this book that the story of the Cyclops is told:

At the Cyklopes' domain we gazed -- nearby were the people--
noticed the smoke of their fires and the bleating of goats and of sheep flocks.
Soon as the sun went down adn the shadows of night came upon us,
then we lay down to sleep on the tide-heaped sand of the seashore.
     Soon as the Dawn shone forth rose-fingered at earliest daybreak,
then I called an assembly and spoke among all the companions:
'All you others remain here now, my trustworthy comrade;
meanwhile, going ahead with my galley as well as my comrades,
I will learn something about these men, whoever they might be,
if they are bold and offensive and violent, lacking in justice,
or hospitable rather, possessed of a god-fearing conscience.'(9.166-76)

Odysseus speaks for such a long time -- for the entirety of books 9 through 12 -- that it is easy to forget that he is telling everything after the fact.  All the adventures before Phaeacia are told in "flashback", as a story to entertain the guests at Alcinoos' feast.  Homer, in order to provide some unity of time in the plot and a sense of urgency (for the preceding books have been concerned with what is happening to Penelope and Telemachus back on Ithaca, and it is meant to create a tension of time such that we believe these things are happening simultaneously) uses the method of switching back and forth between scenes of action. 

Source: Homer.  The Odyssey.  Rodney Merrill, trans.  Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2006.

What happened when the previous Receiver in Training failed in The Giver?

When the previous Receiver in Training failed, all the memories that the Giver had already transmitted to her reverted back to the people.  It was a terrible time for the community, because they had no idea how to deal with the onslaught of new, conflicting memories and feelings.  After a time, the intensity of the memories gradually faded away, but until then, the people had to endure a period of unprecedented chaos and suffering.

Rosemary, the previous Receiver in Training, was a brave child, but she was sensitive, and was finally overwhelmed by the memories the Giver transferred to her.  She understood her duty and insisted that the Giver not spare her, but in the end she could not handle the burden, and requested that she be released.  To the end, she retained a quiet dignity and stoic courage, even requesting that she be allowed to inject herself at her own release.  She could not live with the despair brought about by the memories, however, and so when she died, the memories returned to the people, who were completely unprepared for them.  The Giver himself was overcome with grief at Rosemary's failure, and could not help them with the turmoil that suddenly beset them.

Rosemary had trained for only a short time, and the number of memories she had received was much less than those Jonas already has.  If something were to happen to Jonas, and his memories should return to the people, the results could be devastating (Chapter 18).

In The Catcher in the Rye, why didn't Holden commit suicide even though he felt like it?

Holden goes to Central Park in New York City, and sits by the frozen pond where, in the Spring, the ducks would be swimming. He is despondent, having left the hotel because of his confrontation with Maurice. He sits there thinking that he could get pneumonia and die.

He starts to think about his death and his funeral, who would attend, then he remembers that his mother is still mourning the loss of her son, Allie. The thought of his sister Phoebe being sad at his death is what stops Holden from staying in the park and freezing to death.

It is his love for his sister that keeps Holden from committing suicide.

What kind of weather is "fruitcake weather"?

"Imagine a morning in late November, a cold, crisp morning in November my friend would exclaim, "Oh Buddy, it's fruitcake weather."  "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote is one of the best holiday stories ever written.  Fruitcake weather is a day in late November that reminds everyone that Christmas is around the corner, and the holiday season has begun.  My grandmother, my mom and I always made fruitcakes in November.  The best time is pretty close to Thanksgiving.  The cold weather doesn't really have anything to do with baking the cakes, except for the items that go into the cakes.  In the fall, after the nuts have fallen from the trees, after the harvest is the best time to get the ingredients for fruitcakes.  After the fruit, flour, suet, sugar and nuts and all the other ingredients are mixed, the fruitcakes bake.  They are cooled and then wrapped in cheese cloth.  The cakes are then soaked with Bourbon, rum, or whiskey.  After they are good and soaked, the cakes are put back and forgotten until around Christmas.  This gives them time to soak in the flavor of all the ingredients.  It takes about a month for fruitcakes to really gain their full flavor, thus, November is usually considered, "fruitcake weather."

I have read this to my English classes for 20 years and every group seems to enjoy the story.  If you haven't read it please do so.  You won't be sorry.

In Julius Caesar, what argument do Brutus and Cassius make regarding whether they should march to Phillipi to fight their enemies?

William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar features two strong-willed characters, Brutus and Cassius, who attempt to form a conspiracy to oppose what they see as the increasingly tyrannical Julius Caesar.

As the post above noted, Cassius wishes to hang back and let the enemy come to them, while Brutus wants to go on the offensive.

It is significant to note that at this point in the play Cassius and Brutus have just concluded a serious argument (about whether or not Cassius was taking bribes) which nearly ended their friendship. At the end of the argument Cassius learned that Brutus had just found out about his wife Portia’s suicide.

It is possible that this makes Cassius more likely to give in to Brutus in the matter of war strategy. He knows that Brutus is grieving and less likely to be amenable to suggestions or differences of opinion than he might be otherwise.

Brutus, for all of his talk about honor, makes several tragic mistakes in judgment in this play. The first was allowing Mark Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral. Antony turned the Roman populace against them and they had to flee. Brutus’ decision to march to the enemy will prove equally disastrous.

What do the turtles represent in "Life Of Pi"?How are they a form of symbolism? I know they represent protection and security. Any other...

You are right that they represent protection and security; not only do they protech Pi from starvation at times, but  he uses their shells as a "shield' from Richard Parker.  Not really needed, but a comforting back-up plan if needed.

The turtles also represent Pi's forbearance, endurance, and triumph over difficulties.  In chapter 66, Pi describes the huge feat it is to pull a turtle overboard.  It takes almost a full page just to describe the endeavor.  But Pi fashions a way to do it; it takes perserverance as it took a while.  One turtle "hung from the side of the lifeboat for two days".  After catching one, Pi would "fall back, exhausted but jubilant."  Then, killing them required him to overcome his aversion to blood and violence.  All of this asks Pi to forbear, endure, and triumph over difficulties. 

Also, they represent a form of pleasure and happiness not often found out on the sea-Pi states that "Turtles...became my favorite dish."  He goes on to describe the unparalelled joy-he "whiled away many a pleasant hour"- that eating a turtle became.  He also used their shells for bowls, cutting boards, and shelter from the sun.  So they provided him with great resources and pleasure too.

Briefly explain what happens in chapter 8 of "The Hound of the Baskervilles".

In Ch.6 Sir Henry Baskerville, Dr. Mortimer and Dr.Watson leave for Baskerville Hall in Devonshire. Holmes who has come to see them off at the station instructs Dr. Watson to closely observe all the people in the neighbourhood and their activities and report to him regularly through letters while he continues to  stay in London.

Ch.8 "First Report of Dr. Watson," is a detailed description of all the important people in and around Baskerville Hall and their activities written in the form of a letter dated October 13th by Dr. Watson to Sherlock Holmes who is in London.

He begins the letter in a chatty tone complaining about the deolateness of the moor in Devonshire and then conveys him the following important information:

1. It is a fortnight since a convict has escaped from Princetown and he may or may not be hiding somewhere on the moor.

2. Sir Henry Baskerville is attracted to Stapleton's sister which is objected to by her brother.

3. Stapleton shows them the place "where the legend of  the wicked Hugo is supposed to have had its origin."

4. Dr. Mortimer takes them to Yew Valley so that they could visualise for themselves how Sir Charles met his tragic end.

5. There is a description of Mr.Frankland of Lafter Hall, an eccentric person who wastes all his fortune on needlesss litigation.

6. A description of Mr. and Mrs. Barrymore. Barrymore is seen walking around mysteriously with a candle at 2 A.M.

What is a short summary to the short story "Young Goodman Brown"?

Goodman Brown sets off from his home in Salem one evening on a mysterious errand.  His wife, Faith, pleads with him to put it off until morning, but he says he cannot. 

As he travels the road he encounters a dark traveler, who seems to be expecting him.    The two have a meeting, yet at the last minute, Goodman Brown wants to return home.  He is constrained by the dark traveler, and they go on together.  They meet a few neighbors on the way, who seem to be familiar with the dark traveler.  It is soon apparent that the traveler is the devil in disguise, and Brown is on his way to sell his soul to the devil.

They enter a clearing where Brown finds more people, some of whom he knows.  They are all there to worship the devil.  Suddenly Brown recognizes one of the other worshipers--it is his wife, Faith.    She also is involved in the ceremony.

In the morning, Brown awakens in the forest to find himself alone.  He returns home, not sure if it was reality or a dream.  However, for the rest of his life, he lives as a man apart emotionally from others.  At his death, he is buried with "no hopeful verses" to cover his grave.

How much would it cost to protect the environment?

What will cost how much - environmental conservation or your project? The project cost will depend on the nature of projects you take up. It is possible to undertake very simple project like writing an essay on environmental protection, or a very elaborate one. A better way to settle the question of project cost will to first finalize the effort, time and money you are willing to put in, and then look for a project which fits the bill.

If you are asking about about cost of environmental protection, again there are no simple answers. There are no clear guidelines on what is environmental protection, and what is just a normal industrial or economic activity. For example, whether the cost of garbage collection and disposal system should be included in the cost of environment protection.

Also we need to look at the cost of not protecting the environment. It costs additional money to control emission of gases that cause summerhouse effect leading to global warming, but if we do not spend the money the cost of damage caused to the humanity will be many times more.

Just to give you a rough idea of money spent by various countries on specific programs for environmental protection will definitely be much more than a few billion dollars, but perhaps not as high as trillions of dollars.

What is Bradbury’s main message in "Fahrenheit 451"?

Bradbury, as well as many science fiction writers, wrote his book in response to his observations of societal changes happening around him.  The number of cars on the roads had increased greatly, as had the number of TVs in people's living rooms.  Bradbury became increasingly concerned that we were becoming a numb society - interested in only what we could get faster and easier, interested in filling up our headswith meaningless noise.  If you research the time period he was writing in, you'll be able to make many connections to what he projected for the future in "Fahrenheit 451." 

Beyond societal commentary, I believe he is also making points about individuality and the person vs. society conflict.

What is the best way to divide inheritance monies without paying taxes? gift and or what... how. thank you.

This is a complicated question, and only a general response is possible without knowing more information.

For Federal tax purposes, if the person dies in 2009 the first $3,500,000 of an estate is not taxable. If they die in 2010, there is no federal tax. However starting in 2011 the tax will kick back in and only the first $1,000,000 will be sheltered unless Congress acts in the meantime.

Note that lifetime gifts of more than $10,000 a year to one person are taxable, and the total of lifetime gifts are added back into the value of the estate at death to figure out taxes. The point of this is to keep people from avoiding tax by giving away their property before they die. Lifetime gifts of more than $1,000,000 will incur tax during life.

Any money given to or left at death to a surviving spouse (husband or wife) is not taxable for federal purposes.

NOTE: All this is only Federal gift and estate taxes. The state in which the person lives when they die will have its own gift and estate tax laws, which vary quite a bit from state to state.

There are many possible strategies to reduce taxes on very large estates. However, these are complex and more information would be needed.

What is this number? if I divide it by 2, the remainder is 1. If I divide by 3, the remainder is 2.

It can be anything.  You know it cannot be a even number, as if it is divided by 2 , then there would be no remainder, so it must be a odd no.  Also, it is not divisible by 3 like 3,6,9,12,15,18..... as it also won't have a remainder or also by 2 as it would not abide with the conditions stated above, {remainders when divisible by 2 and 3}.

The odd numbers are here: 3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,33,35,37 and so on.

From this list, cancel out those that are multiples of 3.

So, 3,9,15,18,21,27,33 are all out

To test out the rest of the numbers fulfil those conditions:

5= 2R1, 1R2 (passed)

7= 3R1, 2R1 (failed)

11= 5R1, 3r2 (passed) and so. You should know by then which are the odd one out.

What does the darkness symbolize in "The Devil and Tom Walker"?

Since in the Bible the Devil is referred to as "The Prince of Darkness," obscurity would represent all which falls within his dominion or power.

Ironically, the original name for Satan was Lucifer, which means 'light' (Latin version, 'star.') According to the Biblical acccount in Isaiah 14:12-14, Lucifer was an archangel in Heaven who coveted God's place and incited a rebellion against Him in Heaven.

The antithesis of these names emphasises the degree and intensity of the original "Fall."

In the story "The Gift of the Magi," why does Jim use his middle name on his mailbox?

The card on the mailbox associated with the flat of the couple in "The Gift of the Magi" is inscribed "James Dillingham Young." The young couple probably had the card made up right after they were married. They were filled with hope and high expectations, and Jim earned $30 per week at that time, a wage which they evidently associated with the right to proudly declare a very noble-sounding middle name. However, they have fallen on hard times, with their income cut by one third, and now they wonder if they shouldn't just put "James D. Young" on the card. In this way O. Henry, using his tongue-in-cheek narrative tone, points out the financial hardships the young couple is facing, a detail which is key to the plot of the story. The use of the middle name shows that they desire to be respectable and respected, but Henry poignantly points out that not all of their dreams have come to fruition. Nevertheless, the author goes on to state that at home, Jim is known simply as Jim. Obviously, Della loves him for who he is rather than for his income or any societal position he bears now or might bear in the future. Their use of Jim's middle name on the mailbox shows the idealistic aspirations of the two, and the way that they go about purchasing each other's Christmas gift shows that same idealism at work.

In "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman, what is the significance of section 10, only the part about the slave?I also need help with the mood, tone,...

In the last part of section 10 of the poem, Whitman describes how he heard a runaway slave outside of his door, and brought him into his own house.  He drew up a bath for him, gave him some clothes to wear, a room "that enter'd from my own", and let him stay there for "a week before he was recuperated and pass'd north".  Then, he states that the entire time the slave was there, he sat next to Whitman at the table, "my fire-lock lean'd in the corner."

This is a very significant passage, because during the time-frame that this was written, slavery was a very controversial issue.  Many felt and believed that helping a runaway slave was a crime of the law and nature.  Not only that, they felt that black people were below them in station.  In this passage, Whitman takes the man in, bathes him, nurtures his wounds, gives him a room right next to his, and has him sit right next to him at the table, feeling no need for his gun.  At a time when blacks lived, ate, and dressed separately, to do what Whitman did was a powerful statement of his beliefs on equality.  Even the slave was uncomfortable to such kind treatment:  "his revolving eyes and his awkwardness".  That is why this section is so meaningful.

There is imagery (using the 5 senses to describe) to paint a picture of the weariness of the slave:  "limpsy and weak" and "sweated body and bruis'd feet...plasters on the galls of his neck".  This helps to emphasize his need, and Whitman's kindness in helping him.

When Montag complained about being unable to remember Mildred, what explanation did Granger give?

Toward the end of the story, on page 158-159 in my edition of "Fahrenheit 451."  When Montag says he can't remember Millie, Granger tells him a story about the loss of his grandfather and how to remember someone when they die, they must leave something.  He asks Montag "whet did the others give to each other?"  Montag replies "Nothingness."

"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said.  It doesn't matter what you leave, but you must leave something."  This is paraphrased, but that is what Granger told Montag.

What would be the advantages and disadvantages of spending two solitary years in a natural setting, like Thoreau did in "Walden"?

Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" reflects upon the need for a balance in one's life, attachment with detachment, righteousness without self-righteousness, etc.  So, too, does Thoreau suggest a balance in one's life when he writes in "Walden,"

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach.... I left the woods for as good a reason as I went there.  Perhaps it seemed to me that I had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one.  It is remarkable how easily and insensibly we fall into a particular route, and make a beaten track for ouselves.

So, to spend two solitary years in a natural setting seems a bit beyond moderation.  Yet, some time alone away from the "world [that] is too much with us" as Wordsworth wrote, would probably be good for most people's souls.  Certainly, communicating with Nature and with one's inner self is always healthy.  Retreats by religious groups have been in existence for many, many years and people have reported feeling refreshed and renewed in their faith and in their inner strength.

Time spent alone in a peaceful, natural setting is time rewarded by beauty and spiritual reflection.  Yet, as Robert Frost writes, many people "have miles to go before... sleep." Individuals do have personal obligations to family and others that prevent them from contemplating beauty and communicating with oneself.  Added to this, people tend to fall into the monotony of which Thoreau speaks--the beaten path blinds people to much that is around them.  And, so, people must return from Nature for the same reasons that they retreat to Nature.

What symbolism is there in "Why I Live at the P.O."?

You have to look at the story in its entirety to see the Biblical allusion to the story of the Prodigal Son. The narrator does not especially like her sister because she has just returned after leaving under suspicious circumstances. The sister is furious that she has to cook two chickens and try to feed five people plus one small child just because her "spoiled sister" has come home. Like the brothers in the Biblical story, the narrator is probably jealous because her sister left under disgraceful circumstances and is now being welcomed back to the family, with a meal which reminds us of the feast in the story of The Prodigal Son. The spoiled sister's "sin" seem to be quickly forgiven, just as the wandering son's sins were forgiven by the father in Biblical story.

What is wrong with the idea when Ben says, "Never fight fair with a stranger. You'll never get out of the jungle that way".It is on page 49

I suspect that this provides an alternative to Willie's theory of life.  Willie believes that being well liked, personality, is the key to success in life.  Biff sort of play fights with Ben (depending on the production you see); when he finishes, Ben drops him and explains, by example, that it's not "niceness" that gets you ahead in this world, but the exercise of "power."

If the business world is a "jungle," then Ben presents the case that the exercise of power, even ruthlesness perhaps, is the way to get ahead; it's a play on the old saying that "nice guys finish last."

I'm not sure there's anything wrong with it ... unless you're a Willie.

In The Great Gatsby, how is this quote significant to the plot? "The idea is if we don't look out, the white race . . . . it's been proven."

The quote in context is as follows:

Civilization's going to pieces . . . I've gotten to be a terrible pessimist about things. Have you read "The Rise of the Coloured Empires" by this man Goddard? . . . Well, it's a fine book and everybody out to read it. The idea is if we don't look out the white race will be--will be utterly submerged. It's all scientific stuff; it's been proved.

The passage is more significant in terms of character development rather than plot. It is Tom Buchanan who makes this racist statement early in the novel when Nick goes over to the Buchanans for dinner. He is talking about a book he has been reading, The Rise of the Coloured Empires. Daisy observes: "Tom's getting very profound . . . . He reads deep books with long words in them." This seems to be new behavior for the former football player whose glory days are behind him. Even though Daisy makes casual fun of Tom's passion in discussing the new half-baked social theories he has discovered, Tom continues in more detail, which impresses Nick in an unexpected way:

There was something pathetic in his concentration as if his complacency, more acute than of old, was not enough to him any more.

Thus, the passage itself is not significant: The fact that Tom Buchanan has read a book is significant, which reveals a great deal about his character. Nick muses over this fact as he drives home after the oddly illuminating dinner:

As for Tom the fact that he "had some woman in New York" was really less surprising than that he had been depressed by a book. Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as if his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart. 

Despite his life of wealth and privilege, Tom Buchanan is clearly dissatisfied and restless.

In "Romeo and Juliet" Act 1 Scene 1-4, what are the differences between Benvolio and Mercutio?

The reader can definitely see differences between Benvolio and Mercutio in their behavior in Act 1, scenes 1 – 4 of “Romeo and Juliet”.  First, Benvolio seems to be more of a pacifist than Mercutio; in scene 1, Benvolio does not want to fight Tyblat and the Capulets but is given no choice.  If put in the same position, Mercutio would have probably began the brawl instead of letting Tyblat start it.  Benvolio also seems to be a good listener and a caring friend to Romeo.  At the end of scene 1 and during scene 2, Benvolio listens to Romeo’s problem and even offers a solution – that they sould go to the Capulet’s party so that Romeo will forget about Rosaline and find a girl who is better for him.  Mercutio is introduced in scene 4 and from the very beginning we can tell that he is more concerned with himself than with Romeo and his problems.  The best example of this is when Romeo tells Mercutio that he “…dreamt a dream…”.  Mercutio basically responds to Romeo by telling him that he does not really want to hear about the dream because he knows exactly what he is going to tell him – this response by Mercutio is his “Quenn Mab” speech.

In Chapter 17 of To Kill a Mockingbird, why does Reverend Sykes ask Jem to take Dill and Scout home from the trial?

This is because of the mature content being discussed in the trial.  This is a rape trial, and as such, the reverend felt that the subject matter was inappropriate for young children, perhaps even Jem, to hear. 

Due to Southern politeness, the reverend doesn't order them out of the room.  Rather, he asks Jem politely to escort them home.  This is designed to protect the children's sense of worth, yet at the same time, protect them from hearing things that may not be exactly appropriate for children their age. 

Who are the Mennonites and why were a group of these ladies abusing Ms. Maudie?

Mennonites are a religious group similar to the Quakers, Shakers, and Amish religions. Mennonites are allowed the luxury of electricity, in comparison with other more conservative denominations that don't allow use of power.

They believe that bright colors are boastful, or are a display of selfish pride, and Miss Maudie's colorful flowers are considered sinful by them. They yell a scriptural verse to her dealing with the issue of pride and sin, and in return, she rebuts their statements with a bible verse of her own, which contradicts their belief.

Explain why Shylock hates Antonio in The Merchant of Venice. And was Shylock a victim in his own community?

"Was Shylock a *victim in his own community?"

Hi, sorry my answer is three years late. I am currently studying MoV and so i was doing some research and came across this. I am in year 10 in the UK. - apologies if that seems random, i just thought it was relavent.

Yes. You could say Shylock was a victim in his own community, however, was it really his community? and was he only treated badly because of him being Jewish or because of his down right bitter attitude.
As you will already know, Jews were treated with no respect in those times however in MoV, Shylock was not a part of the italian community by choice, but because he was forced to relocate the 'ghetto' and to live in it with the other Jews. Therefore, it was not technically his community however i do pitty him because he was not accepted when in times such as today, he should have been. Back then, things were different. It is sad.

Also, you must question yourself. Was Shylock really only treated badly because of his Jewishness or because of his bitterness. He wasn't exactly innocent, right?
He was not a nice man and he was very bitter. Perhaps this was more the reason to why he was treated so badly. 'Treat others how you want to be treated'.
He may have used being a Jew as an excuse to gain pitty which worked, did it now?
I do not completely believe this theory however i am sure it was half of the problem.

Racism was terrible then and it was a huge problem world wide, especially towards Jews, so I believe that Shylock was a victim, but not as much as he makes out. He was also a very cruel man in return!

Hope this helps, even if i was a few years late...

:)

What is the balanced scorecard approach in business?

As the name suggests, the balanced scorecard approach is an attempt to create balance when evaluating business performance. It's used in business, especially in planning. It's important because previous tools often left out one more aspect of a business; they tended to track only financial issues, or only customer response, etc. This approach integrates financial data, customer response, an emphasis on learning, and evaluations of internal processes. Ideally, each area is evaluated not just on its own, but in relationship to other areas: internal processes are evaluated for effects on customers, finances, etc. This allows managers to take all aspects of a business into account when making decisions.

How is Maria Teresa one of the more reliable narrators in the book In the Time of the Butterflies?

Maria Teresa is one of the more reliable narrators in the book because she is the only one who has a written record of the events that happened and her thoughts when they occurred.   Granted, her recollections are taken from a diary, which is unquestionably created from a subjective perspective, but still, the fact that she does speak from a written record of any sort gives her narration a little more credibiity than if she were just reporting from memory. 

Maria Teresa starts to keep a diary from the time she is a child, during her early days at Immaculada Conception.  Minerva gives Maria Teresa her first diary as a First Communion gift when the younger girl is only ten.  Maria Teresa affectionately calls the diary, which is "so pretty with a mother of pearl cover and a little latch like a prayerbook", her "Little Book".  Minerva has told her that keeping a diary is "a way to reflect and reflection deepens one's soul".  Maria Teresa eventually has to give up this first diary because one of Minerva's friends, Hilda, is arrested for subversive activities, and the belongings of anyone associated with her will be examined by the authorities.  Since Maria Teresa had written about Hilda in her diary, Minerva takes it from her and places it in hiding (Chapter 3).

Maria Teresa continues the habit of recording daily thoughts and events throughout her life.  When she is imprisoned at the age of twenty-five along with Minerva and others, she manages to secure a notebook which becomes a surrogate diary.  She resumes writing about the things that happen to her each day in prison, and includes her own reflections on these events.  In one of her entries she says, "It feels good to write things down.  Like there will be a record" (Chapter 11).

What is a good thesis statement that relates to responsibility in regard to Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird and to George in Of Mice and...

You might begin by thinking about the word "responsibility." How do you define a responsible person? Someone who tells the truth? Keeps his word? Does the right thing? Meets his obligations? Get a clear idea of how you define responsibility.

Next, make 2 lists, one for each character. Write down every important thing the character did or said. Then, based on each list, would you say that each character is responsible or not? Compare the two lists. Is one character more responsible than the other? Are both characters very responsible?  Are they irresponsible? Your answers will direct you to a thesis statement. Your thesis is a statement about the characters that you can explain and support with evidence from the literature.

Another way into your thesis might be this idea. Assume that both men are responsible men. Now ask questions. Did they pay a price for being responsible? Were they rewarded for it? Did others benefit because they were responsible? Your answer to each question could be a thesis for a paper.

Remember to do some prewriting and to think about what comes to mind. Good luck!

In "Heart of Darkness", what "things" about Kurtz had the wilderness whispered to him that he did not know?

It is difficult to answer this question definitively. This is because Conrad himself never specifies exactly what things were "whispered" to Kurtz. All that we can do is infer what the narrator thought that Marlow thought. That is the beauty of this novela's ambiguity.

That said, we can make an inference based on the fact that Marlow makes this observation about Kurtz after witnessing the shrunken heads that Kurtz had outside his house. According to Marlow, the heads demonstrate "that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts..." So we can infer that the wilderness awakened in Kurtz a basic, primitive bloodlust that undermined his connection with the civilized world that he professed to champion. It "whispered" to him that he was capable of things that he never would have thought possible before.

Marlow later points out that the wilderness had a spell that

"seemed to draw [Kurtz] into its pitiless breast by the awakening of forgotten and brutal instincts, by the memory of gratified and brutal passions."

This spell caused Marlow to feel that Kurtz

"had kicked himself loose of the earth...he had kicked the earth to pieces."

So perhaps Marlow feels that Kurtz' connection with the wilderness had given him some sort of transcendent, earth shattering revelation.

In "The Crucible", why did John Proctor commit adultery with Abigail Williams?

In the final act, when John and Elizabeth are talking, she alludes to some possible issues that had prompted the affair.  She says, "I have sins of my own to count.  It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery", perhaps referring to the fact that she was a stern, unkind woman, who was not very loving to John.  She admits that "I never knew how I should say my love. It were a cold house I kept."  So, she was not very openly loving, and had a hard time expressing her love for John.  This, in combination with the fact that she had been "a long time sick", might have driven John away from her into Abby's arms.  It doesn't justify the act, but at least gives us a clue as to some of the reasons why it happened.  

We can't leave out the Abby factor though.  If nothing else, this play shows her fierce determination when getting something that she wants.  She wants John so badly for herself that she shoves a needle into her own belly to set Elizabeth up.  Who knows what sort of scheming she did in the actual household when she worked there, in order to tweak situations into her favor.  All in all, the affair was highly unfortunate, and leads to some very disasterous situations.

How did Mitsuye Yamada's poem "To The Lady" develop the theme of individual freedom and/or responsibility?

Yamada starts by listing times in history where people do take individual action, but to no real result:  bombings, protests, even fleeing to Canada.  Take her mentioning of Kitty Genovese for example, a woman who DID take as much action as she could (she screamed the entire time she was murdered, and even though everyone watched, NO ONE helped).  In Kitty's case, the sociology phenomenon of "diffusion of responsibility" occured, where everyone expected everyone else to take action, and thus no action was taken.  That was the opposite of individual responsibility, in its worse-case scenario.  She is saying that individual responsibility is a 2-way road:  If I express outrage, you should respond similarly and help.  But it doesn't work that way.  Outrage is expressed, and no one takes responsibility for the evil.  Take her mentioning of the 6 million futile letters to Congress and tatooing of stars on behalf of the Holocaust.  The people still died, even though outrage was expressed.

Instead, the evils happen, and "You let'm/I let'm/All are punished", meaning, we all let these things happen, and we are all punished because of it.

Describe the Friar’s plan, explained in Act 4, Scene 1 of "Romeo and Juliet", to reunite Romeo and Juliet.

Well, it relies on a magic potion, probably of the Friar's own making. Here's what he says:

Go home, be merry, give consent
To marry Paris. Wednesday is to-morrow.
To-morrow night look that thou lie alone;
Let not the nurse lie with thee in thy chamber.
Take thou this vial, being then in bed,
And this distilled liquor drink thou off
[...]
Each part, depriv'd of supple government,
Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death...

Juliet has to go home and agree to marry Paris. Then, the night before the wedding, she'll sleep by herself in her bedroom, and take the vial (bottle) of potion that Friar Laurence is giving her. This will make her seem like she is dead.

And in this borrowed likeness of shrunk death
Thou shalt continue two-and-forty hours,
And then awake as from a pleasant sleep.
Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes
To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead.
Then, as the manner of our country is,
In thy best robes uncovered on the bier
Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault
Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie.

The next morning, Paris will come to get her out of her bed, and she will be dead. They'll leave her on a funeral bier, cltohed, and take her to the Capulet vault.

In the mean time, against thou shalt awake,
Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift;
And hither shall he come; and he and I
Will watch thy waking, and that very night
Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.

In the meantime, before she wakes up, Friar Laurence will write to Romeo and explain everything him. Then, Friar Laurence and Romeo will watch Juliet wake up in the vault - and then Romeo will take her away to Mantua.

The Major in "In Another Country" did not believe in the machine. Why did he never miss a day at the hospital?

The narrator does not explain why the Major comes to the hospital so faithfully, even though he places no faith in the machine that is supposed to rehabilitate his wounded hand, but we can infer some reasons from the story's plot and character development.

The Major has been released from military service as a result of his injury. His military career is over. We can infer that going to the hospital every day gives structure and purpose to his days. At the hospital, the Major is quite sociable. He jokes with the doctor, winking at the narrator to include him in the joke. The Major enjoys the company of the others, especially that of the narrator with whom he forms a special companionship, even teaching him Italian grammar.

Before the war, the Major had been the most accomplished fencer in Italy. He gave up fencing to serve his country. After being wounded, he could no longer fence nor could he perform his military service; however, the Major is a man of courage. He carries on with life, going to the hospital every day, since that is what his life has become. After his young wife's tragic and unexpected death, the Major does not come to the hospital for three days, then he returns, to carry on in spite of his most recent and devastating loss. Like many of Hemingway's characters, the Major's quiet courage is that of endurance. He cannot control life, but he chooses to endure in spite of his losses.

What are some similarities and differences between Barbados and Weathersfield in "Witch of Blackbird Pond"?

At the time of the story, 1687, both Barbados and the Connecticut Colony, where Weathersfield is located, are under British rule.  Aside from that, there appear to be more differences than similarities between the two places.

As Kit remembers it, Barbados is a bright, sunny place.  As a tropical island, it has a warm climate, and the people there are at home in the surrounding sea; Kit recalls that her "grandfather taught (her) to swim as soon as (she) could walk".  The island is surprisingly cosmopolitan, with "a famous town and fine streets and shops" (Chapter 1).  Kit thinks of Barbados as "a paradise", a beautiful place where there are "flowers every day of the year...you can always smell them in the air, even out to sea" (Chapter 9).

In contrast, Weathersfield is dour and gray; although there are occasionally sunny days there, the climate is cooler and the fog shrouds the town frequently.  Weathersfield is a Puritan town, and the center of the community is the Meeting House, before which stand instruments of discipline, "a pillory, a whipping post and stocks".  The people of Weathersfield reflect the severity of their surroundings.  Well-meaning, devout, and sincere for the most part, they adhere to strict standards set forth by their religion in every aspect of their lives.  To Kit, everything about Weathersfield is "plain and unlovely" in comparison to the life she lived on the island of Barbados (Chapter 5).

What role does Ali's mother play in the story of "My Son, the Fanatic?"

I think that a part of the reason why we, as the reader, do not know much of the mother is because Ali's rebellion is not as staunchly aimed at her.  Ali's rebellion is geared towards his father.  It is Parvez who has embraced the West and all of the cosmopolitan trappings.  He is the one who drinks, eats pork, seeks to boast about his son's exploits at cricket, and lives, for all practical purposes, a Westernized consciousness.  It is at this that Ali seeks find difference.  Perhaps, a reason why the reader is not entirely certain of the mother's role is that she is not the animus for his rebellion, Ali's distance.  Ali seems to distinguish himself from his father, to the point where he is able to identify specific parts of the Koran that are being disgraced by his father.  Additionally, Ali's embrace of the religion is antithetical to his father's, who has little regard of his own spiritual background.  For all we know, the mother might be quite devout in her beliefs and might not arouse the level of Ali's disrespect as Parvez does.  It seems that the rebellion and the need to distance himself is something that comes from the father's ways and not the mother.  This might be the reason why we, as the reader, are not entirely sure of the function she serves in the narrative.

Who is Paul Newman?

Paul Newman (1925-2008) was an American actor, most famous for his sparkling, blue eyes and movies which reflected his political views, portraying detached yet charismatic anti-heroes and rebels. He was also well known for his philanthropic ways and highly successful business ventures as he his for his legendary actor status. See a full biography at the link:

How long does Beowulf rule peacefully in his own kingdom?

After Beowulf defeated Grendel at a battle in the mead hall of the Danes, Grendel's mother sought to avenge her son's death. She attacked the mead hall after sunset and killed King Hrothgar's confidant and warrior. The King was furious and sad and asked Beowulf to pursue Grendel's mother to her hideout. Beowulf pursued the monster and defeated her in a great battle at her hideout. After this achievement Beowulf and his men went back home.

Beowulf then became king of the Geats after the fall of King Hygelac and his son Heardred in a battle with the Swedes. Beowulf went ahead to rule for 50 winters (years) peacefully before the kingdom was attacked by a dragon.

"He held it well, ruled fifty winters; he was an old land guardian.Then in the dark nights a dragon began to rule, he who guarded a hoard, a steep stone burial mound high on the heath."

In "The Scarlet Letter", why does Hester repeatedly refuse to stop wearing the letter?

Hester is required by the Purtain culture to wear the scarlet letter as a reminder to herself and everyone else of her adultery. However, as time passes, the letter begins to mean more than just a reminder of her troubles; Hawthorne alludes to this in several passages ("A" meaning "Able" or "Angel") as Hester, although living on the fringe of the society (both figuratively and literally), becomes that society's helper. The red letter ceases to be a mark of shame but becomes a badge of honor.

When Montague and Capulet enter and see the disturbance, they want to fight, too. What do their wives say?

Enter Old Capulet in his gown, and his Wife.
 
CAPULET:
What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
 
WIFE:
A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?

CAP:
My sword, I say! Old Montague is come
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.

Enter Old Montague and his Wife.
 
MON:
Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not, let me go.(75)

M.WIFE:
Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe. 

There you have it. And it's important to note that, even at this very first stage of the play, Shakespeare undermines the seriousness of the feud by emphasising the fact that it is being fought by infirm old men, more suited to the crutch than the sword, who are being chased around by their nagging wives. This is - emphatically - not bloody brutality. It's not The Godfather. He's trying to make it funny.

In "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", how would you compare and contrast life on the raft to life on shore?

The comparison/contrast between the raft and the shore boils down to one issue: freedom. On the river, Huck and Jim are liberated from the legal, societal, and cultural strictures that otherwise would be applied to them on the shore. On the raft, the two characters are, for however brief a period, truly free.

Once they set foot back on shore, all the laws of man once again rear their ugly heads, and Huck and Jim are forced to comply. The similarities between raft and shore are mostly natural in comparison: Both are geographical features, and both are part and parcel of one another (you can't, for instance, have a shore without a body of water). Outside the literal nature of the two elements, however, few similarities exist, as life in the two separate locations is so vastly different for the characters in question.   

In Heart of Darkness, what effect does having a double audience create?The double audience is those listening to the narrator as well as the reader

This is a great question, Keira. The literary device that Conrad uses is called a "frame narrative," which is a fancy way of describing a story within a story.

Try thinking about the concept of the narrator in any book that you are reading. Often, we understand that we are the audience when we read a story. But what if we are not the audience?  What we are reading in Heart of Darkness is "filtered" through the story-telling device. That means that there are two audiences, the audience in the story and the general audience that reads the book. 

Audience is very important in writing because a story is tailored to meet the needs of the audience.  You are likely to tell a story a different way to different groups of people, for example, to your parents or your friends. You might have a different tone or different word choices. You might select different details. You might want to make different points. You will want to impress different audiences in different ways.

Consider the narrator's audience in this story. Who are these men? What is the setting? What points does the narrator want to make to his audience?  Are they different  from the points the author wants to make to you? What details are important to this audience? What kind of tone might be important? Is he trying to impress this group of men? What impression does he want the group to have of him? Is his tone different than if there were a general audience?

When there is a story within a story like this, does it make us feel somewhat "removed" from the story? Can we be more objective about the story because it is not being told to us? 

These are the kinds of questions that you need to think about to answer this question. Try taking a few passages or an incident from the narration and use these questions to analyze the different effect that is created with this literary device. 

Good luck to you.  Lorraine

What is the summary for Part 4, Chapters 7-9 of Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books?

Sanaz returns from Turkey, sharing her pictures with "restrained elation." Yet, a few weeks later, she announces that the wedding is off. Her fiancé decided he could never make Sanaz happy. The girls discuss the untrustworthiness of men.

When Nafisi discusses this with the magician, he chides her for confusing the worlds of fantasy, that of the Islamic Republic and that of literature. She should not blame the regime for the tragedies of a young girl. She should not give it that much power.

Yassi discusses the courtship of one gentleman, whom she eventually discarded as not worthy. Sanaz, after her rejection, has been dating several different boys, but is not serious about any of them. Azin is still encountering problems with her husband, and the divorce is much harder to come by as her attorney had hoped.

The girls (and Nafisi) come back again to the possibility of immigrating to America. Though there are serious financial drawbacks, all of them dream of the freedom for women that is to be found there. Nafisi has discussed this with her husband, but he states that Iran is their home (though most of his family is in America).

Mr. Nahvi continues his classroom objections to Western literature. Jane Austen, he says, is a pro-slavery colonial writer. The girls have taken to calling Mr. Nahvi "Mr. Collins," after the character in Pride and Prejudice. Mitra recounts how she has received a love letter from him.

In "The Most Dangerous Game", how does the author create suspense and inspire fear in the reader?From the short story "The Most Dangerous Game."

Connell builds suspense in The Most Dangerous Game from the very beginning. The story begins with a dialogue betwen two characters, Whitney and Rainford. Whitney is decribing a mysterious island to Rainford, the unfortunate protagonist who will end up on the island.

"OFF THERE to the right--somewhere--is a large island," said Whitney." It's rather a mystery--"

"What island is it?" Rainsford asked.

"The old charts call it `Ship-Trap Island,"' Whitney replied." A suggestive name, isn't it? Sailors have a curious dread of the place. I don't know why. Some superstition--"

Clearly, there is something sinister about "Ship-Trap Island." This ominous mood is emphasized by the "thick warm blackness" of the night, which has so hidden the island that Rainsford, praised for his "good eyes" is unable to see it.

Dialogue is not the only method through which Connell builds suspense about the island. When Rainsford falls into the sea, he swims desperately toward the fateful island. Connell describes the island through Rainsford's eyes. The island is characterized by "jagged craws," "cliffs," and "dense jungle."

The only building on the island is the classic castle on a cliff, as mysterious and sinister as the island itself:  

--a lofty structure with pointed towers plunging upward into the gloom. His eyes made out the shadowy outlines of a palatial chateau; it was set on a high bluff, and on three sides of it cliffs dived down to where the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows.

"Mirage," thought Rainsford. But it was no mirage, he found, when he opened the tall spiked iron gate. The stone steps were real enough; the massive door with a leering gargoyle for a knocker was real enough; yet above it all hung an air of unreality.

Connell also uses plot and characterization to build suspense.

Though Rainford finds the primary antagonist, General Zaroff, pleasant and amicable at first, small details foreshadow the General's true nature. The General describes himself as a "savage," and his manner is too aristocratic.

The key dialogue between General Zaroff and Rainford that reveal's the general's diabolical hobby is also filled with suspense. The general's reasoning is systematic and his explanation gradual, building up suspense up to the moment that Rainsford realizes that the general is a hunter of humans.

General Zaroff states that he will hunt Rainsford. The hunt is full of suspense. Rainsford panics at its outset. He enters the forest, running one way and then another. Rainford's urgent movements and fearful thoughts contribute to the suspenseful mood. When night falls, Rainsford hides. The question of whether or not the general will be able to find Rainsford fills the reader with suspense.

An apprehensive night crawled slowly by like a wounded snake and sleep did not visit Rainsford, although the silence of a dead world was on the jungle. Toward morning when a dingy gray was varnishing the sky, the cry of some startled bird focused Rainsford's attention in that direction. Something was coming through the bush, coming slowly, carefully, coming by the same winding way Rainsford had come. He flattened himself down on the limb and, through a screen of leaves almost as thick as tapestry, he watched. . . . That which was approaching was a man.

For two more days, the constant sense of the hunter approaching, and the terror of the prey, keep tension at a high point. Suspense mounts until the hunt ends and the story closes.

In "The Scarlet Ibis", where did brother show pride?Where did the narrator show his pride in "The Scarlet Ibis"?

The narrator shows his pride every time that he tries to "improve" Doodle.  He teaches him to walk, run, jump, swim, and row.  All of these things are done out of his own selfish pride.  He does not want a brother who is not "all there" as he states in the beginning when baby Doodle smiles up at him for the first time. 

The first link does a good job explaining the overall theme of the story.  It includes some information about his pride.

To what extent is Nora a tragic victim in "A Doll's House"?

Nora is a tragic victim primarily because she is the "doll" wife to Torvald.  She has no real identity of her own and is never taken seriously by her husband.  She is simply this "porcelain doll" that acts on command and is there for everyone to admire her beauty.  This is an illustration of the reality of 19th century Europe, where a wife was regarded as property and not as an equal partner.  To make things worse for Nora, she is forced to lie to Torvald because she is trying to be this perfect "little" wife he desires.  He not only treats her as his prized possession (similarly to owning his home and other valuable possessions), he further humiliates her by treating her like a child.  He "lovingly" refers to her with pet names such as "singing skylark," "little squirrel," and "little spendthrift," while patting her on the head like she is his daughter instead of his wife.  As a result, Nora believes she is totally dependent upon her husband to survive, that is of course, until the end of the play.

This reason this Nora is a tragic victim is because she is a product of the time period and the social attitudes that repressed her true desires loving her husband as an equal.  It is not until she realizes his "fakeness" and deceit that she has the power to take control of her life and leave her husband.  Most readers sympathize with Nora and are routing for her to get a backbone, as she does when she leaves Torvald in the end of the play.

How would you describe Iago in Othello?

Iago is one of my all time favorite characters.  Usually in literature, villains are created for the reader to hate, but Shakespeare has craftily made Iago a villain worthy of being liked. 

Iago's desire to get revenge on Othello is presented at times in a humorous way through the use of irony.  Iago is able to manipulate every character in the play as a pawn to carry out his plan of revenge.  As he is doing this, Iago reminds the audience that he is "honest."  The word honest is both ironic and true in describing Iago.  On the one hand, Iago using the word honest is ironic because his entire vow of revenge is saturated in deceit, yet, he truly is honest because he informs the reader of all of his intentions before they occur. 

He prides himself on knowing his victim and what will send him over the edge, which in this case is Othello's jealousy.  This egotistical trait, along with his arrogance, makes him a truly villainous character.  Yet, it is not Iago's egotistical trait that creates a liking for Iago, but rather, it is the fact that the audience shares the same sentiment about the stupidity by which the other characters are manipulated. 

As a result, Iago's "...pride and desire for power and control, along with his brilliant scheming and his jealousy, make Iago a fascinating, multi-faceted figure." 

What did Martin Luther want to change in the Catholic Church?

Martin Luther, a Catholic priest himself, attacked the penitential system of the Church.  For, he was greatly disturbed by corruption in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church; there were monks such as John Tetzel who became successful by selling indulgences to people, a remission of the temporal punishment still due to sin after it has been forgiven by the Sacrament of Penance.  In other words, an indulgence lessened the time that a soul would have to spend in Purgatory, a place where the souls of those dying penitent are purified from their sins before entering Heaven.

This selling of a "lessened punishment" for sin became a mercantile operation rather than a religious or spiritual activity.  Such corruption Luther disapproved of, as well as the corruption of power with the Pope and other hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church.  Luther questioned these points, but was disciplined for his action and his points were not addressed.

In subsequent years, after traveling to Rome and becoming influenced by other forces in Germany, Luther became the revolutionary against the canons of the Catholic Church, among them

• the concept that man can be saved by performing good works,
• the idea that the hierarchy and priesthood are Divinely instituted.  
• the existence of the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and Extreme Unction 
• the belief that there is one visible Church established by God whereby men may work out salvation. 
• the belief that there are other sources of faith outside the Bible
• the belief that man possesses free will; what he does, good or bad, is designed by God. 

In "The Crucible", how do the judges discourage anyone from defending the good character or innocence of a person accused of witchcraft?Any quotes...

1.  "Mr. Cheever, have warrants drawn for all of these-arrest for examination."  This is Danforth's response to those who signed a petition that stating that they "never saw no sign [the arrested women] had dealings with the Devil."

2.  "I have no choice but to arrest you for contempt of this court."  This is Danforth again, arresting Giles, who attempts to prove Putnam is "killing his neighbors for their land." 

3.  "Do you not know that God damns all liars?"  This is Danforth speaking with Mary Warren, and not very encouraging words, as she tries to defraud the others.  Later, Hawthorne and Parris pressure her to "pretend to faint now" and when she can't, conclude that "this is a trick to blind the court!"  Danforth later turns on Mary's attempt, asking "do you send your spirit out?"  They could've at least encouraged and supported her a bit, sheesh!

4.  Instead of believing Proctor's confession of adultery, they have to bring in his wife to confirm it:  "Is your husband a lecher!"  Elizabeth lies and they believe her (they seem predisposed to), and then Mary turns on John. 

The judges effectively, under the guise of logic and calm, shut down anyone trying to prove their original convictions wrong.

In "Life of Pi" why does Pi describe the sloth as a "beautiful example of the miracle of life?"

In the section where Pi is talking about sloths, he praises them for many of their qualities, all of them reminding him of God, and the miracle of existence.  He first describes their demeanors as "calm, quiet, and introspective," and goes on to say that that type of personality "did something to soothe my shattered self."  He said that they reminded him of

"upside-down yogis deep in meditation or hermits deep in prayer, wise beings"

who lived  "peaceful" and "in perfect harmony" lives.  So, in that sense, their serenity, their contentment, and calm demeanors reminded him of wisdom and God.  But also, considering how slow the sloth is, and how dulled their senses, it is a miracle that they survived at all.  Because they did survive though-despite being completely helpless against predators and threats-was a miracle in and of itself.  Life is full of miracles, and the sloth's existence is proof of that, that it could survive despite its vulnerability.

I hope that helps a bit!

In The Miracle Worker, what is the dramatic question (what decision must be made) in the first scene with Helen's parents, aunt, and stepbrother?

The dramatic question in this first scene with the whole family is to convince Captain Keller to write to Dr. Chisholm from Baltimore in regards to Helen.  Actually, it is Aunt Ev who asks the question direction in regards to the decision:

Why, this very famous oculist in Baltimore I wrote you about, what was his name? [Dr. Chisholm] Yes, I heard lots of cases of blindness people thought couldn't be cured he's cured, he just does wonders.  Why don't you write him? (11)

Captain Keller, at this point, has become numb with disappointment in regards to Helen.  However, in this scene, he sees how Kate is willing to allow her heart to be broken "any number of times" (11).  Both James and Captain Keller make a dire mistake here of complaining about Helen's appearance and behavior because they are met with Kate saying, "Do you dare?  Complain of what you can see?" (13).  Then there is the moving moment when Helen struggles to show her parents that she wants her doll to have eyes, followed by the consideration of putting Helen "away."  Finally, and only after this, is the decision made.  Captain Keller says, "I'll write the man, Katie."  Thank God he does!

In The Bridge to Terebithia, why does Jess have to be the fastest runner?

Although I am not a teacher myself, I would have to disagree with rmccord. I would do this because she said that jesse was the fastest runner in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. this is only somewhat true. He only won the races onece in his entire life, and if you ask me, that does not make him the fastest of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades at all.

What do Samneric symbolize?

It's fascinating sometimes to look at the journey of a minor character or pair of characters through the novel. I'm not sure Samneric are representative of any particular type of person in society, though Golding does use them to delineate the growing power of Jack.

Initially, they stick with Ralph, despite Jack's glamorous attraction: here's Ralph talking to Piggy

"Piggy? Are you the only one left?”
"There’s some littluns.”
"They don’t count. No biguns?”
"Oh—Samneric. They’re collecting wood.”

You see Samneric come to want to be part of Jack's tribe, for example, when Ralph forbids them from painting their faces:

“Well, we won’t be painted,” said Ralph, “because we aren’t savages.”
Samneric looked at each other.
“All the same—”

And, in that pivotal scene of Piggy's death, it's Samneric, the good people who resist the temptation to join up with Jack's savages, who are used as hostages and bait. Jack knows that symbolically they are the support Ralph needs to be chief.

“Grab them!”
No one moved. Jack shouted angrily.
“I said ‘grab them’!”
The painted group moved round Samneric nervously and unhandily.
Once more the silvery laughter scattered.

And finally, they crack:

“What d’you mean by it, eh?” said the chief fiercely. “What d’you mean by coming with spears? What d’you mean by not joining my tribe?”
The prodding became rhythmic.

The final chapters of the novel show Samneric as signed up members of Jack's tribe. They're the good guys corrupted. Golding's point? It happens.

When was golf invented according to The Hobbit?

This is a humorous aside that Tolkien adds to appeal to the more juvenile reader at which The Hobbit is directed, as opposed to the more serious tone of The Lord of the Rings, intended for an older audience.

In the scene, Thorin had explained their purpose in meeting and of their journey.  He mentioned that they might "never return," at which Bilbo becomes extremely upset, shrieks, causing Gandalf to strike a flame with his staff, and generating  confusion and excitement.    Bilbo is carried off to another room, so the meeting can continue.  Gandalf explains Biblo's behavior as given to sudden fits, but he is "as fierce as a dragon in pinch."

The narrator breaks in with an observation that this is  a poetical exaggeration regarding any hobbit, even the Old Took's great-granduncle, Bullroarer, who, in the Battle of the Green Fields, struck off the goblin king Golfimbul's head with a wooden club, sending it down a rabbit hole. In this way, the narrator states, the battle was won and the game of Golf (from the shortened form of Golfimbul) invented at the same time.

Can you help me analyse the character of Holden?Introduction Supporting Quotations (Include page #) Physical...

Your question wants very specific information that I am not going to provide. You will need to read the book if you wish to write an essay or complete a paper on this topic. However what I will do is give you some pointers for you to "flesh out" in your work.

Holden is the first-person narrator of the book and throughout its pages expresses his discontent with life and more specifically at what he terms "phoniness". As a first person narrator you would do well to question to what extent we can consider him to be an unreliable narrator. In other words, can we trust him? It is clear that we must suspect what he says: we know that he has been through 4 different schools, he has no care whatsoever for the future, he has been hospitalised, has seen a psychoanalyst for an unspecified condition and is chronically unable to connect to others. He has clearly been affected by two massive shocks in his life: the death of his brother Allie and the suicide of one of his classmates. Yet his state cannot simply be explained away as a result of these traumas.

One characteristic that it is impossible to ignore about Holden is his judgemental nature about everything and everyone, especially phoniness. This is carried to such extremes that it is actually quite amusing. "Phony" is used by Holden to describe people who are too conventional, yet the irony of it is that it is Holden's judgements that are superficial - he systematically choses to reject more complex conclusions in favour of simple judgements.

Also, Holden is obsessed by sex. Although he is a virgin a lot of the novel is based around his quest to lose his virginity. He clearly feels sex should be between two people that love and respect each other, and is upset by the realisation that sex can be casual. He is disturbed by his own ability to be turned on by women that he doesn't know very well and also "kinky" behaviour, which he says is wrong but in the same breath describes it as "kind of fun".

In this coming of age novel, we see this character, Holden, who desperately wants to hold on to innocent ideals and childish ways of looking at the world, but is forced to confront a more complex way of living and being in the world. Hope it helps - now go and read the book and get some proof for what I have said!

What is the summary for Chapter 15 of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian?This chapter is titled "Hunger Pain".

During one especially boring history lesson, Junior excuses himself to go to the restroom.  While he is there, he hears someone throwing up in the girls' restroom next door.  He knocks on the door to ask if she is okay, and is told in no uncertain terms to go away.  "Destiny" pulls him back, however, and he stops by the wall and waits. 

It is Penelope who comes out of the restroom, chewing on a wad of cinnamon gum.  She tells Junior that she is bulimic, but only when she is throwing up.  Junior thinks she sounds like his father, who says he is an alcoholic only when he drinks.  He tells Penelope, "Don't give up".

Penelope starts to cry and tell Junior how lonely she is, despite the fact that everyone thinks her life is perfect because she is "pretty and smart and popular".  Junior thinks that Penelope is extremely attractive, and over the next few weeks, they become "friends with potential".  Everyone at school is shocked that Penelope has chosen Junior to be her "new friend", and her father Earl, a racist, is livid.  Knowing that if he reacts it will only make Penelope want to be with Junior more, Earl says nothing to her but warns Junior rudely what will happen if he gets her pregnant.  Junior does not know what he means to Penelope, but he likes being with her anyway. 

As they get closer, Penelope shares her hopes and dreams with Junior.  She longs to get away from Reardan, and wants to go to Stanford and study architecture so she can build something amazing and be remembered.  Junior is surprised that, essentially, they share the same dream - they both want "to fly".  But most of all, he just knows that she is beautiful (Chapter 15).

In Act 1, Scene 4 of "Romeo and Juliet", what does Mercutio suggest Romeo does to improve his mood?

Mercutio thinks that Romeo should go to the Capulet ball with them (the boys are all preparing to go there anyway) and dance:

MER:
Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.

ROM:
Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes
With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead
So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.

MER:
You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings
And soar with them above a common bound.

Dancing, Mercutio argues, will stop Romeo from being so miserable - he will be able to borrow Cupid's wings and soar, way above the level that most people (non-lovers) could. Mercutio then, when Romeo keeps arguing makes a non-specific suggestion:

If love be rough with you, be rough with love.
Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.

How is one rough with love? What does this refer to? Does he mean be rough with Rosaline? Who knows. But Mercutio is certainly seeming to lose patience with Romeo and his permanent lovesickness.

What is the book Winston reads about in "1984"? What does he realize after?Goldstein's “The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism”...

Throughout George Orwell’s 1984, the semi-mythical figure of Emmanuel Goldstein runs like a thread throughout Orwell’s narrative.  A one-time highly-revered figure in the Party, he is now considered society’s most despised counter-revolutionary.  He is, as Orwell notes early in his novel, “the Enemy of the People,” a traitor who has dedicated himself to undermining the very Party he was instrumental in creating.  The father of the Party’s founding creeds, Goldstein was now reviled for his transformation into a liberal advocating on behalf of such subversive ideals as “freedom of speech, freedom of the Press, freedom of assembly, freedom of thought.”

Winston, of course, has long been disenchanted with the Party’s totalitarian system, with its repressive measures and the dehumanizing nature of its rule.  He has subtly and discreetly maneuvered himself away from the thought-control that the Party imposes on its subjects, and he has grown weary of the omniscient presence of Big Brother.  To Winston, the figure of Emmanuel Goldstein represents liberation from everything that he has grown to hate.  It is, therefore, ironic that his eventual exposure to Goldstein’s book, initially and derisively referred to simply as “The Book,” but more formally titled The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism should awaken in him a subservience to the Party that is truly transformative.  It is in Chapter Nine of Orwell’s novel that Winston sits down with Goldstein’s tome and is exposed, for the first time, to the doctrinal genesis of the system he had grown to loathe.  Goldstein’s book, of course, is divided into chapters each of which, Winston discovers, provided the intellectual underpinnings of the Party’s approach to governing.  Chapter I, for instance, is titled “Ignorance is Strength,” Chapter III is titled “War is Peace,” and so on.  Orwell devotes a considerable portion of his novel to Goldstein’s manifesto, and its effects on Winston are profound.  His first reaction upon reading it is to try to get Julia interested in it.  That 1984 will end with Winston firmly entrenched in the system he once disavowed was illustrative, from Orwell’s perspective, of the power of words on the human mind, and the most powerful words, too often, came out of the mouths of those least inclined toward concepts like freedom.

In "Hamlet", what does Hamlet mean when he is contemplating Yorick's skull and says the following? "Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her,...

He is referring to women AND death, and how the two mixing is not a very amusing scenario.  As Hamlet is contemplating Yorick's skull, he is amazed that this man, who was "a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy", who played with Hamlet, who kissed Hamlet, is reduced to this grinning skull.  He later awes that even Alexander the great and Caesar were reduced to dust, just like Yorick.  Hamlet is slightly disgusted at the rotted skull, and at the stench of the grave. So, when he states the above quote, he is referring to women, who spend so much time "painting" their faces with make-up "an inch thick", because in the end, they will end up just like Yorick, a rotting and smelly skull.  He tells Yorick to "make her laugh at that", at the awful reality of death.  Not a very funny proposition, indeed.

In "Fahrenheit 451" how is censorship shown?

Censorship is shown through the books that they burn. People aren't allowed to read books, and that is the most extreme form of censorship that exists.  Not only this, but people talking is looked down upon; Clarisse mentions the fact that her family talks together quite a bit, and how that is extremely rare.  In the schools, the kids are fed censorshipped and watered-down versions of reality, in order to keep them feeling like they are full of facts, when in fact they are not.  So that is another form of censorship in the novel.

Their society got to this point because people didn't want to read an entire book in order to know what it was about; so, books got shorter and shorter until they were just a line or two of plot summary.  Then, books often contained information that offended people and made them unhappy.  So, to please the masses, the books were censored; anything offensive or depressing were taken out.  Pretty soon, reading at all was a dying art, and looked down upon, and it wasn't long after that that books were forbidden and the entire fireman scheme was undertaken.

For further questions, submit them each separately in order to increase your odds of detailed responses; there isn't enough room to answer them all here.  I have also provided links that might help you answer some on your own.  Good luck!

In "The Crucible", what do we learn about Mary Warren's motives?

At the end of Act Two when John prompts her to tell the courts about the poppet, she expresses her true fear that "[Abby'll] kill me for sayin' that!...I cannot, they'll turn on me!"  She is terrified that if she charges Abby with staging Elizabeth's accusation, the girls will turn on her and accuse her of being a witch.  In the end, this is the true motive behind her actions.

However, she stays home with John for a week, "strivin' with her soul" and finally gathers the courage to come to the courts and tell them that the girls are pretending.  She seems truly motivated to tell the truth.  She tells them, "It were pretense, sir...I cannot lie no more.  I am with God."  Unfortunately, her desire to tell the truth is soon overwhelmed by her fear of the girls who start claiming she has entered the room as a bird and is threatening to tear their eyes out.  Danforth believes them, so Mary caves.  She finally turns on John and calls him a "Devil's man" who had forced her to come lie to the courts.  So, when all is said an done, her motives were self-preservation over her desire to be true.

What are the main charaters of A & P like?

Sammy and Lengel are the two main characters of John Updike's "A & P". Sammy is a nineteen-year-old teenager who is on the threshold of adulthood and is beginning to see life with a bitterly critical eye. But he also still sees life out of the other side of his vision with the idealism of someone who could have been raised on tales of the chivalry of King Arthur's Knights. When alone, his thoughts do battle with the other working people he sees and the successes, failures and puzzles who walk through his check-out lane.

But when Queenie and her friends walk in, all he sees is fair damsels who make his head swim so that he can't remember whether he has has done his job correctly or not. When the manager points out to the three teenage barefoot swimsuit clad young ladies that they are in violation of acceptable standards and therefore must vacate the premises, making the dear damsel Queenie blush a lovely red, Sammy metaphorically sees dragons to fight and in an act of heroism defends the damsels' honor by shedding his attire (clerk's apron) and quitting his job. He discovers the rashness of his action and the life altering error of his choice when he walks out and discovers that his heroism was not noticed, claimed, wanted, recognized or lauded by the young ladies who had already vanished leaving him quite alone.

Manager Lengel is a compassionate man who is a friend of Sammy's and a friend of his parents'. He sincerely likes Sammy and wants the best for Sammy. He doesn't judge or condemn Sammy. He does however remind him that as the manager, he represents something larger than his personal feelings and beliefs and he must faithfully represent the larger reality. He also warns Sammy that his act of self-sabotage will make things much harder on Sammy hereafter, suggesting as this warning does that other employers will think twice about hiring Sammy if he walks off his A & P job for three barefoot girls who blush because they are reminded that they are violating public safety policy.

The poem "Annabel Lee" is a love story, but what makes it sound like a fairytale?

In "Annabel Lee" much of the phrasing and vocabulary is reminiscent of fairy tales.  For instance, the poem begins as do many tales with the idea of "long ago/once upon a time":

It was many and many a year ago,/In a kingdom by the sea

The repetition of key phrases is also typical of fairy tales for children. In Poe's poem there are several phrases repeated:  "In a kingdom by the sea," "of the beautiful Annabel Lee"; this repetition lends a musical quality to the poem just as some fairy tales have a rhythmic pattern.  In addition, there seems to be a simplicity to each stanza which contains one single idea that is also somewhat like a child's narrative.

In "The Fall of the House of Usher", what is exactly meant by "sentience" and why is this idea important in the story?"The Fall of the House of...

A sentient being is one with consciousness. It thinks and exists as its own entity. This is important because the house in this story is sentient; it understands the incestuous nature of its inhabitants and essentially commits suicide as a result. Only a sentient being can consciously destroy itself out of disgust.

In "A Tale of Two Cities", why is Lorry going to Paris, and why does Gabelle request Charles to return to France?This can be found in Chapter 24...

Tellson's Bank has one office in London and another in Paris.  Now, the books and papers of the Paris branch are in peril and Mr. Lorry is traveling there to retrieve these books and papers, preventing them from falling into the hands of the revolutionaries (the Jacqueses).  In addition, such a passage of these documents and papers is very dangerous at this time.

While Darnay is in the bank, he hears talk of a letter addressed to the Marquis St. Evremonde, his French name.  This name, in agreement with Dr. Manette, is to be kept secret. Saying that he knows the man, Darnay takes the letter; he walks away and opens it.  In this letter, Gabelle, who was like an overseer of the Evremonde estate, has remitted the imposts and collected no rent.  Yet, he has been arrested and his house razed to the ground from fire.  Gabelle is charged with treason against the people and for "acting for an emigrant [Darnay]."  He begs the Marquis to return to Paris on his behalf.

After witnessing the sneers of the Monseigneur and the bruskness of Stryver, Darnay reflects

Upon those, had followed Gabelle's letter, the appeal of an innocent prisoner in danger of death, to his justice, honour, and good name.

Darnay feels compelled to return.

How does Frederick Douglass rebuke the romantic image of slavery in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass?

In his narrative, Frederick Douglass rebukes the romantic image of slavery by using vivid imagery to describe situations that he has witnessed.  Additionally, Douglass uses specific diction to develop these scenes.  For example, in the fourth chapter of the narrative, Douglass tells the reader about Mr. Gore who replaced Mr. Hopkins as overseer on Great House Farm.  Mr. Gore was a tyrant and felt that the lives of slaves were meaningless when compared to the reputation of the overseer.  Douglass recounts the story of Demby, a slave who waded into a nearby creek to soothe the pain of a whipping given by Mr. Gore.  When Demby refused to come out of the water, Gore shot and killed him.  Douglass writes, "His mangled body sank out of sight, and blood and brains marked the water where he had stood."  This line paints a vivid picture in the mind of the reader and is all but romantic.  By painting the harsh image of reality, Douglass is able to rebuke the romantic image of slavery.

In the essay "Shooting an Elephant," how does George Orwell feel about imperialism? What would be a good thesis?

Orwell makes it clear that he has very strong feelings against British imperialism as it existed in Burma during his residence there as a British policeman. He was obeyed grudgingly by the Burmese who felt hatred and contempt for him and his uniform. Sometimes he was mocked by them in ways that made him hate in return, a feeling he did not enjoy or approve of in himself. He shoots the elephant, not because he wants to or needs to, but because the large crowd around him expects him to do it. He can't look weak to these people; he has an image to maintain. We can infer, also, that because he was outnumbered, he felt vulnerable in this situation. Also, the setting of the story as Orwell describes it shows that the Burmese lived in poverty. His attitude might be summed up as this: He believed British imperialism adversely affected all who lived under it, Burmese and British alike.

I think any thesis that makes it clear that Orwell rejected imperialism would be a good one, however you might choose to phrase it.

How can you see that the boys get more and more savage?

Golding really charts out the points on the line of savagery. There are several ways you could pin together the evidence - and see the line from civlisation down to savagery. Have a look at painted faces, at the savage dances after the pig's hunt, or at the breakdown of meetings and the assemblies.

I'm going to show you another way. Here's Roger, throwing stones to miss in Chapter 4:

Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round the squatting
child was the protection of parents and school and policemen and the law. Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins.

That last line is the really interesting one: Roger is still governed by the rules of the society he has come from. He is still civilised, even though it is apparently subconscious.

Later, Roger is among the boys who takes real pleasure in rolling rocks off a cliff, sometimes causing damage to the jungle, which seems to infuriate Ralph:

A knot of boys, making a great noise that he had not noticed, were heaving and pushing at a rock. As he turned, the base cracked and the whole mass toppled into the sea so that a thunderous plume of spray leapt half-way up the cliff.

Then, even later, it is Roger who stabs the sow "right up her ass":

Roger ran round the heap, prodding with his spear whenever pigflesh appeared. Jack was on top of the sow, stabbing downward with his knife. Roger found a lodgment for his point and began to push till he was leaning with his whole weight. The spear moved forward inch by inch and the terrified squealing became a highpitched scream.

Golding describes it savagely - it's clear that, even though he's not yet hurting humans, Roger is becoming less and less civilised. This is a cruel, undignified slaughter of an animal. Then, by the time of the scene at Castle Rock, Roger has become entirely undignified. As Samneric approach, he first throws stones to miss, as he did back in Chapter 4:

Roger took up a small stone and flung it between the twins, aiming to miss.

As the pressure builds, Ralph notices that someone is throwing several stones:

Someone was throwing stones: Roger was dropping them, his one hand still on the lever.

Finally, Roger throws caution to the wind and rolls a massive rock down from his platform:

High overhead, Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever... The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee... Piggy fell forty feet and landed on his back across the square red rock in the sea. His head opened and stuff came out and turned red. Piggy’s arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pig’s after it has been killed.

I think you see from the build up of rocks and of pig-killing how Roger's savagery builds. This is just one of the boys: but I think he encapsulates the descent into violence, fear and savagery extremely well.