What does Mercedes do to help the dogs that only ends up to harming them in The Call of the Wild?

Mercedes steals from the fish sacks and feeds the dogs more than their rations when no one is watching; this action proves detrimental because it creates a food shortage later on.

Mercedes, the sister of Hal, the cruel man who obtains Buck is a soft, pretty woman accustomed to being pampered. Because of this condition, she brings too much on their trip, weighing down the sled; in addition, she insists upon riding in one of the sleds, adding another one hundred and twenty pounds to the pulling load. Obviously, she does not understand the merciless conditions of the Yukon, and what must be done for survival because "the heavy load they [the dogs] dragged sapped their strength severely."

Then, because of Mercedes's overfeeding, the food rations are depleted and Hal must underfeed the dogs as there is nowhere for him to obtain more food. Besides this condition, the dogs were made to go farther, and the men did not no how to adjust to other conditions. "Not only did they not know how to work dogs, but they did not know how to work themselves." These instances of incompetence point to the naturalistic themes of Jack London in which man is conditioned and controlled by environment, instinct, or chance.

What personal struggle of the deceased Mr. Walter Younger’s is indicated in the following dialogue: Ruth: Ain’t nothin’ can tear at you like...

Hansberry, in her seminal work A Raisin in the Sun, draws upon all of her characters to tell not only their story, but the collective story of the disenfranchised African-American man. Here, the elder Mr. Younger, as outlined by his wife, lost one of his children, presumably through miscarriage, as the child remains unnamed in the play. This loss serves as the catalyst for his driven work ethic; as Lena says, he "worked himself to death."

The struggle he grapples with, a struggle we will see echoed in his son Walter, is that of control in a world designed to remove any control a black man would hope to find. He could not control the loss of his flesh and blood and he sees that as a personal affront to his manhood.  The world in which he lived, which Mama alludes to later in the play, is fraught with the racism and segregation leftover from the antebellum South. The world tried to control him, as a black man, and he, in turn tried to control it, but finds himself in a losing battle.

It seems plausible that Mr. Younger felt that a man should be able to have some control at least in his home, with his family. This is not an instance of being controlling but more so having the power to keep his family safe. As a man, as a father, this is a priority and is sadly something over which he had no power.

Why did Jefferson's critics attack him on the Louisiana Purchase?

The short answer to this is that Jefferson's critics attacked him out of political opportunism. But according to Jefferson's own political philosophy, one which he had espoused since he was Secretary of State, they had a fair point. Jefferson's critics, most of whom were Federalists, argued that the Constitution did not explicitly permit Congress to purchase land. To defend the Purchase was to argue for a loose interpretation of the Constitution, an approach that Jefferson had argued against on a number of issues in his career, most notably the chartering of the Bank of the United States. Indeed, Jefferson's so-called "strict constructionism" was the cornerstone of the Republican faction for which he was the spokesperson. The Federalists, whose political base was in the eastern port cities, also knew that the opening of western territories would speed up westward expansion, a process which would doom their party. Modern historians usually interpret Jefferson's decision as an example of the ways Presidents are often forced to abandon strict adherence to ideological principles when confronted with the realities of running the country.

What were the key events that lead Germany to communist and fascist totalitarianism in Russia and Germany?

Fascism developed from right wing extremism while communism originated from left wing extremism. The right wing was supported by the middle class who sought to maintain the status quo while the left wing was supported by the working class who sought to abolish class distinctions. Both forms of extremism are based on a totalitarian type of government.

Totalitarianism followed the Great Depression and the World War, when people were growing desperate and yearned for better leadership. In Germany, this occurred after Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party came to power. This was after Germany’s defeat and subsequent punishment after World War 1. Hitler and his party took advantage of the desperate economic, social and political conditions (resulting from the World War and reparations imposed on the country) to entrench their ideologies. Apart from using Jews as scapegoats Hitler also pointed to failures of the communist leaning Weimar Republic, which led to its eventual downfall. In Germany the key events were the First World War and the rise of Hitler’s Nazi party.

In Russia (USSR), Stalin took over from Lenin and established a communist dictatorship. He ‘silenced’ all opposition, for instance, he forced Leon Trotsky into exile and later ordered his assassination. Wealthy farm owners had their private property seized. His extreme policies led to the deaths of many however, he established the country as a strong industrialized nation anchored on communism. In Russia (USSR), the key events were the fall of the Tsarists regime, the subsequent rise of the revolutionary Lenin to power, who instituted communism/ socialism, and later the rise of Stalin to power after the death of Lenin.

How has Macbeth changed between the beginning of Act I and the end of Act III?

In the first two scenes of Act I, the only thing we know about Macbeth is that he has fought bravely in battle and appears to have been a loyal subject to the king. In Scene III, he is startled to hear the witches say he is the Thane of Cawdor and will be king. He can not even believe that he would be king. ". . . and to be king / Stands not within the prospect of belief." (I.iii.76) When Macbeth learns that he has been given the title of Thane of Cawdor, he only begins to think about being king. This marks a turn in his thinking. At the end of this scene, he decides to wait and see what happens. 

In Act III, Scene IV, Macbeth has become a tyrant. He greets the murderers who have returned from killing Banquo. Then at a dinner, he sees Banquo's ghost. He has become a tyrant with a guilty conscience. He is so anxious that he is hallucinating. He feels guilt but also fear of being found out or being dethroned. In the beginning of Act I, Macbeth was still a loyal subject, a simple man with a simple consciousness. But by the end of Act III, he has killed Duncan, his guards, and Banquo. He has digressed from that loyal, simple, subject to a tyrant with mental burdens of guilt and fear inspired by greed and anxiety. 

In Lord of the Flies, how does Simon's hiding spot influence him when he goes there to meditate? How does he change after first discovering the...

Simon's hiding place is first described near the end of Chapter 3 - Huts on the Beach. Simon had a penchant for being alone it seems. We are told that he held his breath and listened to the sounds of the island. He stayed there. He found the place in bright sunshine and stayed there until it was dark. The setting must have relaxed him as it was secluded and had "aromatic bushes”, scenic flowers and scented flowers that were strong to enough to permeate the entire island. This could have powerful effects on Simon's mental state. After discovering the hiding place he becomes cynical and we are told that he believes "everything is a bad business"

Later on, when Simon encounters the Lord of the Flies - which was a pig's head skewered on a stick - he imagines the pig head grinning at him but also becomes hypnotized and transfixed and imagines himself in the mouth of the pig. It is possible that he had been so tranquilized by his hideaway that he became more susceptible to delusion. He mentions a ”dead man on a hill" as he tries to escape the boys and it is possible that his self-imposed isolation and state of mind made it easier for the boys to kill him.

In "Eveline,"Joyce actually portrays a complex human psychology of the protagonist 'torn between extremities.' Comment on it.

"Eveline" is a story in which the protagonist struggles to make a choice out of the two options that both present no satisfying solution. Namely, Eveline is a 19-year-old woman, who is presented as a very conflicted character. On the one hand, she desires to abandon her home and her abusive father for the sake of attaining security and love, embodied by her lover, Frank. On the other hand, she is aware that if she leaves, she will no longer be able to enjoy the familiarity and comfort represented by her home, and she has no tangible evidence that her life will be better with Frank. Her dilemma is best expressed in the following sentences:

She had consented to go away, to leave her home. Was that wise? She tried to weigh each side of the question.

Eveline is in a very agonizing situation. In order to leave her home, she must summon an unbelievable amount of courage, yet, she cannot. If she were to leave her home, her action would be seen as unreasonable and radical. So, despite going to the port to board the ship which would take her to Argentina with Frank, she refuses to leave Ireland and is described as a " a helpless animal," devoid of initiative to change her life.

How important was the dream for Candy in Of Mice and Men?

George and Lennie's dream was of tremendous importance to Candy because it represented his last hope. He felt himself getting older and weaker every day, and he was unemployable anywhere else because he had only one hand. He said he would eventually have to go "on the county," which in those days meant living in what used to be called "the poor house," a place everyone dreaded. Candy is so excited about the possibility of maintaining his freedom and independence that he thinks about it even more than Lennie. He is thinking about it when he comes into the barn and discovers what Lennie has done to Curley's wife.

"Lennie," he called. "Oh, Lennie! You in here? I been figuring some more. Tell you what we can do, Lennie."

Then he sees the dead girl.

"You oughten to sleep out here," he said disapprovingly; and then he was beside her and-- "Oh, Jesus Christ!"

Candy realizes this means the end of the dream. 

He looked helplessly back at Candy's wife, and gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words. "You God damn tramp," he said viciously. "You done it, di'n't you? I s'pose you're glad. Ever'body knowed you'd mess things up. You wasn't no good. You ain't no good now, you lousy tart."

Candy realizes instinctively what must have happened. The flirtatious girl got too close to Lennie and he killed her in what looks like an attempted rape. That means that, one way or another, Lennie will be out of the dream. He will either be killed or sent to prison or locked up in an asylum for homicidal lunatics. Would George consider going ahead and buying that little farm and sharing it with Candy? No, because George would have to do all the work, and Candy could only feed the chickens and do a little housekeeping. Besides, Candy knows that he and George are not buddies like George and Lennie.

Candy always talked to Lennie about his ideas for the farm. He didn't talk to George about them because he must have sensed that George was only luke-warm anyway, whereas Lennie was just as enthusiastic about the prospect as Candy. George had countless other options. But Candy and Lennie were both dependent on George's planning and his good will.

I need a thesis statement about how Romeo and Juliet are infatuated with each other and I have to somehow connect it to this monologue?? I need to...

With this specific soliloquy in mind, it would most make sense to argue that Juliet was infatuated with Romeo. This particular soliloquy occurs in Act III, scene 2 after the Nurse led Juliet to believe that Romeo was killed. Once the loose ends are tied, it's clarified that Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, was in fact killed by none other than Romeo. Grief stricken, Juliet sends the Nurse to fetch Romeo so that they can celebrate their recent marriage. In a brief moment, Juliet has transformed from an excited bride to a "widow" and a young lady seeking the Nurse's advice to a woman capable of making decisions on her own.

The soliloquy you must refer to is full of oxymoronic expressions to describe Romeo. An oxymoron is when two seemingly contradictory terms coexist. I've taken the soliloquy you provided and bolded examples of oxymorons. 

O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?
Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!
Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb!
Despised substance of divinest show!
Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st,
A damned saint, an honourable villain!
O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell,
When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend
In moral paradise of such sweet flesh?
Was ever book containing such vile matter 
So fairly bound? O that deceit should dwell
In such a gorgeous palace!

In this short monologue, Juliet uses about 10 oxymorons in order to express her sorrow, disbelief, disdain, and love. For example, she recognizes that Romeo's good looks may have caused her to overlook his evil heart: "O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!" Furthermore, the word "tyrant" has a negative connotation, yet she pairs it with the word "beautiful," just as the word "fiend" has a negative connotation, yet she pairs it with the word "angelical." Throughout this soliloquy, her emotions for Romeo are quite conflicted, which could bring us closer to your thesis.

When a person is infatuated with someone, he or she will experience an intense passion for the person; however, that passion is normally short-lived. 

In the case of Juliet, we can argue that her passion for Romeo was intense due to the fact that they married so quickly. We could also argue that her passion for Romeo is intense using the diction in this very monologue. What forces that infatuation to be short-lived, however, is the fact that Romeo killed her cousin Tybalt, thus, making Juliet feel conflicted between honoring her new husband or her family. 

Here are some basic and more advanced thesis statements you could work with:

In the monologue 'O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face,' William Shakespeare highlights Juliet's infatuation with Romeo through oxymoronic phrases. 

In the monologue 'O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face,' William Shakespeare reveals Juliet's "true love" for Romeo as just infatuation through conflicting, oxymoronic phrases.

In the monologue 'O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face,' through the use of oxymoronic phrases, William Shakespeare shows that Juliet's infatuation with Romeo is causing her to feel conflicted between her duties as a wife and a daughter.

What is the quality of death presented in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" and "Death Came to See Me in Hot Pink Pants"?

Death is portrayed very differently in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson, and “Death Came to See Me in Hot Pink Pants” by Heather Royes.

In Heather Royes' poem, death is personified as a “black saga boy” dressed in a garish pink suit. He uses force to enter the room, laughing as he makes his entrance into the speaker’s dreams. Death collapses easily when hit with a staff but comes back to try again. The speaker awakes having difficulty breathing but was able to cheat death’s grip. The speaker describes Death as beautiful: “How beautiful was Death in hot-pink pants with matching waistcoat too.”

In Emily Dickinson’s poem, death is portrayed more traditionally. Once again, death is personified as he comes gently to claim the speaker. He takes the narrator on a slow carriage drive around the familiar environs of her life and through the centuries. Death comes when she least expects it and slowly takes her away to eternity.

What is the point of view in The Pearl?

The point of view in The Pearl is third-person. In this point of view, the narrator is not a character in the story, yet he does not have unlimited knowledge of what all the characters are thinking (as in the omniscient point of view). With a first person point of view, the narrator would be the main character, such as Kino. This would limit our knowledge even more, since he cannot know what the other characters are thinking. The primary point of view is through the eyes of Kino, the man who finds the pearl. We follow his thoughts, but we do not see into the future. We know some of his interior monologue, which is a benefit since he speaks seldom. We follow his progression through the story and occasionally also know the thoughts of other characters, such as the doctor and the priest, as well as the villagers. This allows the reader to have several perspectives, but not omniscience, knowing all things past, present, and future.

Which characters are confined to living "a life of quiet desperation" in Of Mice and Men, and how?

Arguably one of the great authors who has accurately and poignantly depicted in some of his works the desperation of the Great Depression and that of the lower class, John Steinbeck's characters in these novels do, indeed, "live lives of quiet desperation," as declared by Henry David Thoreau.

In his novella Of Mice and Men, a work that paved the way for Steinbeck's magnum opus, The Grapes of Wrath, the story of the "bindle stiff" is truly the story of lives filled with "quiet desperation." Even minor characters such as Curley's wife, Whit, and Carlson represent men who have no real future hopes.

His anxiety about his age and his disability cause Candy to live in desperate fear. When his old dog is shot because he is useless, Candy's worries are exacerbated, and it is with a desperate hope for the future that he begs to be part of George and Lennie's plans to have a ranch. Then, when Curley's wife dies, Candy despairs because he knows the plans are gone.

He looked helplessly back at Curley's wife, and gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words. "You...damn tramp....You done it, di'n't you?....Ever'body knowed you'd mess things up...."

• Curley's wife

A woman who has no name but a genitive of her husband, Curley's wife has lived "a life of quiet desperation" because she knows of no other way to break from her small town with dead ends other than marriage. Unfortunately, she finds herself the lone female on an isolated ranch with no opportunities for any individualism, such as becoming an actress as she desires. Craving attention, she comes around the bunkhouse, an act that leads only to more desperation and tragedy.

A man with an intellect and talents, Crooks is marginalized because he is black. Consequently, he lives in the desperation of loneliness, without anyone by whom "to measure" himself, and without any hope of opportunity.

The mentally-handicapped man tries to act without getting into trouble, but he seems incapable of doing so. Consequently, he senses fear, and he is perplexed and frustrated--desperate--in his life that seems to spin out of control, no matter how hard he tries to obey George.

George Milton has a strong desire to control the fates of Lennie and himself. In this desire, he convinces himself that the dream of owning a farm may come to fruition, especially when Candy asks to enter into the plan. But, Lennie's fatal act destroys all the hopes of George and he becomes even more desperate in his life as he feels he must shoot Lennie in order to prevent the child-like man from enduring the torture of prison or the asylum.
George exemplifies the life of desperation with his actions as he leaves the barn after the other men arrive. 

George stopped a moment beside Candy and they both looked down at the dead girl until Curley called...
George moved slowly after them, and his feet dragged heavily.

Certainly reflective of the setting of the Great Depression, Steinbeck's characters in Of Mice and Men exist in an environment of desperation.

What is the main conflict in the book, Of Mice And Men?

The main conflict in Of Mice and Men is the struggle for survival in hard times. George and Lennie have nothing in the world but some blankets and three cans of beans. Then have to get jobs at the ranch or die. But George finds it hard to get the Boss to take them on, even though they were sent here from the hiring hall in San Francisco and given bus tickets. The Boss is suspicious of Lennie because he doesn't talk and suspicious of George because he talks too much. George has to put up with a lot of verbal abuse before they get signed on.

Candy and Crooks are also struggling to survive in this heartless environment. Both of them know that their days are numbered. Others see that they have longer futures but that eventually they will end up in the same situations as Candy and Crooks. The men who are capable of working in the fields are driven to exhaustion. Currently they spend their whole days in the hot sun lifting 100-pound sacks of barley onto wagons. It can become excruciating, but still they have to keep on doing it. They work six days a week and probably for ten hours a day. When they get through loading all the existing barley, there will be no further use for them for a while, and they will be sent back on the road looking for something else to do. Meanwhile there are more and more hungry men tramping the road.

The struggle involves competition for jobs. The competition evokes hostility. The hostility leads to outright violence. The men become hard and bitter. Carlson is an example of that. Slim is relatively secure because he is a skilled worker. He can do something that nobody else can do. Young readers should learn from this book that the most important thing in life is survival, and the best way to survive is to have some kind of a marketable skill. There is an old saying:

A useful trade is a mine of gold.

Learn to do something that other people want to have done. The men who suffered the most during the Great Depression were those who were ignorant and unskilled. All they had to offer was their muscles. Muscles are even less marketable today because of the machinery that has been invented to do the hard work, including bulldozers, forklifts, and ditch-diggers. When the unskilled "working stiff" got old and/or handicapped the system had no use for him. There was little protection for such men in those days. It was every man for himself. Steinbeck is implicitly suggesting that there should be a safety net for all Americans, and it should be provided by the federal government--because who else could do it? Steinbeck was one of the many writers who influenced public opinion, which influenced legislation, which led to the protections we all enjoy now. 

In his masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck shows a camp established for migrant workers by the federal government. It seems like paradise in comparison to what the Joads have been living through. It even has flush toilets. When two of the children accidentally flush one of them, they are terrified because they think they have broken it. It has showers and facilities for washing clothes. Unfortunately no family can stay for more than a certain length of time. They have to move on to make way for other migrants, and there are still very few of these clean, hospitable migrant camps.

People who like Of Mice and Men should go on and read other books by Steinbeck, and especially The Grapes of Wrath.

What is the relationship between a prediction and a hypothesis in research methodology?

The distinction between a hypothesis and a prediction in research methodology is an important one. A hypothesis in research methodology is a general testable statement that is used as a way to attempt to anticipate, before a study is conducted, what will occur. This means the hypothesis will test the interaction of at least two different variables. A strong hypothesis has four main characteristics. First, it must be based on well defined variables. Secondly, it must be able to be tested. Thirdly, it must be possible to be proven incorrect, and lastly, it should be written in the simplest possible way a researcher can explain what is being investigated. Typically the hypothesis is the basis for an entire research project, and all experiments in the project look to shed light on the overarching hypothesis.

A prediction in research methodology is a much more directed statement. Predictions typically make claims about what the researcher thinks will occur in very specific experiments. Predictions are used to further investigate the proposed hypothesis, and are important in defining what a researcher thinks will be the final observed outcome of each experiment. It is in a prediction that very specific details about the variables being tested are utilized. This differs from a hypothesis which uses much more general terms to describe the overarching theme the researcher thinks the will occur. Hope this helps!

In The Sign of the Beaver, what deal do Matt and Saknis make?

Matt has been left alone at his family's cabin in the Maine wilderness while his father returns to Massachusetts for his mother, sister and new baby sibling. Saknis, a Native American Indian who has noticed and been watching over Matt, one day saves Matt from drowning in a pond when he jumped when he was overcome by bee stings and became trapped in some plants.

Saknis continues to watch over Matt, bringing him new shoes, a crutch and food. When Matt wants to thank Saknis for his kindness, he offers him the gift of a book but immediately realizes that Saknis cannot read. Saknis asks Matt if he can understand all the symbols (letters and words) in the book. When Matt replies that he can, Saknis informs Matt that he wants him to teach his grandson, Attean, to read. Saknis feels this will help the tribe to better understand their dealings with the white man. Attean in turn, will continue to bring Matt food. Although Attean is displeased by this deal, he does not disobey his grandfather.

In the book 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas,' what are the ages of Hitler and Bruno's father?

In The Boy With the Striped Pyjamas, Bruno and his family move to "Out-With" (what Bruno calls Auschwitz) in the early 1940s.  They needed to move because "the Fury had big things in mind" for Bruno's father ("the Fury" is what Bruno calls Hitler, instead of the Führer).  Bruno's father is given a promotion to be the commandant of "Out-With."

According to the author of the book, Bruno's father is not specifically based on a historic figure in Nazi Germany.  The real life commandant of Auschwitz for many years was a man named Rudolf Hoess.  His family also lived at Auschwitz.  These facts make it likely the story is based on Rudolf Hoess and his family.  Considering this, that would make Bruno's father a man in his early forties.  In the early 1940s, Adolf Hitler was in his early fifties.

Why was D-Day important?

June 6, 1944, is known as D-Day. This was a very important event in World War II in Europe. Some people feel this invasion was the beginning of the end of the European phase of the war.

The Allies had developed a multi-part plan to defeat the Axis Powers in Europe and in North Africa. Part of the plan had been achieved. We were successful in removing the Axis Powers from North Africa and from Italy. The next step was to liberate France from the control of the Germans. It was necessary for the Allies to land their troops somewhere in France in order to begin the invasion. Once the Allies were able to land at Normandy and establish a foothold there, they could then begin to march toward Paris to free that city from German control. Once Paris was liberated, then the Allies could push the Germans out of France and work their way toward Germany. If D-Day wasn’t successful, it would have been more difficult to defeat the Axis Powers in Europe.

How does Scrooge try to extinguish the light? Does he succeed?

At the end of the first stave, Scrooge attempts to put out the Ghost of Christmas Past's light by taking the extinguisher cap by force and pressing it down on the ghost's head. Scrooge's effort, however, is unsuccessful:

"But though Scrooge pressed it down with all his force, he could not hide the light, which streamed from under it, in an unbroken flood upon the ground."

Scrooge's attempt to extinguish the light is an important part in this stave. It is a metaphor for Scrooge's character in which the light represents the process of change. After seeing some painful images of his past, specifically his time at school and the end of his engagement to Belle, he can no longer deny the negative aspects of his character. He has no choice but to accept that he has done wrong and that he must now make amends by reforming his personality and improving his relationships with others. Like the light which shines in an "unbroken flood," Scrooge is now committed to changing his life and cannot go back to the way things were. 

What are the shape and unusual features of lymphocytes?

Lymphocytes are important cells in the human immune system. More specifically, they are a type of white blood cell. Lymphocytes can be further broken down into two categories, B-Cells and T-Cells, which each perform different functions in the immune system. B-cells are the type of cells that create antibodies to fight off and attack pathogens that have entered the body. They are able to express receptors that have a specific region matching the conformation of an invader and then set into motion the process to destroy it. T-Cells on the other hand attack cells in ones own body that have already been infected, destroying them and helping to contain the pathogen from spreading. T-cells can also recognize receptors expressed by macrophages and not only destroy that infected cell, but also replicate so that more T-cells can recognize and destroy the same harmful pathogen. They can also attack and destroy cancer cells, as well as recruit B-Cells to create antibodies against pathogens. Both types of lymphocytes come from stem cells produced in the bone marrow. Hope this helps!

Where is metaphor used in "The Necklace"?

A metaphor is a type of comparison, when you are using one thing to stand for something else.  There can be simple metaphors, such as a comparison within a sentence, and conceptual metaphors, where something has a bigger meaning.

For example, the necklace in this story is a metaphor for Mathilde’s pride.  Mathilde refused to go to the ball unless she had a necklace and dress worthy of her high opinion of herself.  This is why she borrowed a necklace from her friend. 

"It annoys me not to have a single piece of jewelry, not a single ornament, nothing to put on. I shall look poverty-stricken. I would almost rather not go at all."

In fact, she chose the flashiest one she could find.  Her friend guides her toward an appropriate and perfectly fine necklace, but she wants the flashiest one.  Once she has chosen that, she feels that she will stand out at the ball.

A metaphor can also be a figure of speech.  When Mathilde goes to the ball, her happiness is described with a metaphor.

She danced with rapture, with passion, intoxicated by pleasure, forgetting all in the triumph of her beauty, in the glory of her success, in a sort of cloud of happiness comprised of all this homage, admiration, these awakened desires and of that sense of triumph which is so sweet to woman's heart.

Clearly she is not in an actual cloud.  By comparing her happiness to a cloud, the author helps us picture how she is feeling.  Mathilde is happy because she is the most beautiful lady at the ball, and everyone is paying attention to her.  For the time being, she can forget her poverty.

Mathilde is poor.  Everything she wears at the ball is outside of her means.  She has to force her husband to use all of his savings on an expensive dress, and borrow the jewel from a rich friend.  None of this is part of her normal lifestyle.

When Mathilde loses the necklace, she loses her pride.  She has to replace the necklace, and this costs a fortune.  Her beauty and standard of living is reduced.  In the end, Mathilde’s pride cost her everything.  She wanted to be noticed, and she was, but the experience at the ball was not real because it was based on an illusion of who she was and what she could afford.  Everything about her was actually fake, including the necklace.

In the novel The Outsiders, what page does it say the boys left their door unlocked for the other greasers?

In Chapter 7, on page 105 of the SPEAK Penguin Group edition, or on page 93 of the Laurel-Leaf Books Edition, is the scene where Ponyboy explains why Darry leaves the doors unlocked. Pony says that they leave their door unlocked just in case any of their friends gets kicked out of their house and needs a place to stay and cool off. Steve usually spends the night on the Pony's couch because he is always getting into fights with his father and getting kicked out of his house. He also comments that Dally has spent the night, as well as Tim Shepard. Tim Shepard, who is not in their greaser gang but associated with them, even spent the night there before. Two-Bit's mother tried to warn them about burglars, but Darry said he would risk that chance if it meant keeping one of his friends from getting into trouble or hurt.

In U.S. Law, a criminal defendant does not have to testify or present witnesses at a trial. Should this be the case? If the defendant chooses not...

The writers of the Constitution were very concerned about people being forced to possibly incriminate themselves during a trial. Protecting a defendant from testifying against himself or herself requires that the prosecution must prove that the person is guilty of what he or she was charged. This is a very important concept and should be the principle followed in every case that goes to trial. The prosecution should have to prove a person’s guilt or innocence based on the facts of the case instead of forcing a defendant to answer questions that could be considered leading questions.

If the jury is impartial, it should make no difference if a person does or doesn’t testify. The jury should decide the case based on the facts presented during the trial. The jury should also follow the instructions given to them by the judge. If a jury factors into its decision whether a person did testify or didn’t testify, they would be allowing factors other than the facts presented in the case to help them reach a decision. This could lead to an incorrect verdict by the jury, which wouldn’t be something anybody would desire.

You have a scenario of a patient with orthopedic injuries. Describe them.

Here is a link that provides six different orthopedic scenarios that may be helpful in creating your own scenario of a patient’s orthopedic injuries.

Orthopedics is the medical field that is concerned with the study and treatment of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedics may deal with deformities, injuries, or impairments that deal with the spine, joints, and muscles. Orthopedics often helps patients that complain of back pain.

Keeping detailed notes and documentation on patient scenarios is recommended in order to communicate the intent of an encounter with the patient, confirming the prescribed medical practices, and providing the ICD-10-CM selection. The abbreviation ICD-10-CM stands for the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification. It is the system that is used in the hospitals within the United Sates to classify and code procedures, symptoms, and diagnoses.

Which energy resources are renewable: coal, oil, natural gas or wind?

Technically no energy resource is renewed since, once it is used to create energy, the power it contained to meet our energy need is gone forever. It's just that some things such as wind, sunlight, falling water to turn generators, and steam produced by geysers are constantly replaced by nature. That's why we have come to classify them as "renewable"

A good rule of thumb to separate renewable from non-renewable energy resources is that generally if we have to burn, explode, or otherwise destroy the energy resource in order to create energy, it is non-renewable. Nature doesn't seem to replace stuff we destroy; at least not very quickly. It seems to prefer us to use it and then give it back. That's when we call it renewable.

Nuclear energy is a gray area to define since it captures atomic radiation to convert it into heat. Nothing is destroyed. It's just that it's so complicated to do it safely, and inherently risky if done incorrectly, that we haven't learned to utilize it as a popular energy resource that is viewed as universally safe.

What were the northern views on the Compromise of 1850?

Views on the compromise as a whole varied. Most Northern Democrats were supportive of some of its specific aspects. Popular sovereignty, the proposed "solution" to the issue of slavery in Utah and New Mexico Territories, in fact became a plank in the Democratic Party platform for the next decade. Most generally supported the abolition of the slave trade in Washington, D.C.. By far the most unpopular aspect of the Compromise was the revamped Fugitive Slave Act. This act basically criminalized giving even basic assistance to runaway slaves, and weighted courts in favor of owners when suspected fugitives were tried. This outraged many Northerners, even those who had been relatively apathetic to the issue of slavery previously. Angry crowds freed apprehended fugitives on multiple occasions in Boston, Philadelphia, and other towns. Many states passed "personal liberty laws" which essentially allowed people to violate the Fugitive Slave Act. The law was part of the inspiration for some parts of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The reaction to this part of the compromise was thus very negative.

How did the laws of the United States affect the immigrants' lives?

Between 1850 and 1920 an estimated 40 million immigrants from Europe arrived in the USA.  They all went health screening at Ellis Island, New York and other ports of entry.  If they did not test positive for tuberculosis they could stay in America.  The absence of restrictive immigration laws encouraged people to come to the golden land of opportunity that was America.The ambition and hard work of these immigrants fueled the astounding economic growth of the USA.

The laws of America allowed unrestricted free enterprise with all of its blessings and curses.  There were no housing laws.  Two or three families often shared a small apartment. If they had one toilet in the apartment, they were lucky. Otherwise they had to share a toilet down the hallway.  However, the immigrants all did find a place to stay.

There were no minimum wage laws.  No eight hour day laws.  Workers often worked from dawn to dusk for whatever small wages were offered.  However, the immigrants did find work and were able to survive and raise their families.  Their children became doctors, lawyers, entertainers, businessmen.

There were no English as a second language courses in the schools.  But the public schools were open to all and the children soon learned to speak and write English.

There were no license requirements to start a business.  People opened small shops or sold their merchandise from wagons.  Many became quite successful and expanded their businesses and hired more workers.

It was not only the laws of America that helped the immigrants, but the absence of laws that helped them get started on the road to success in America.

Which of the following statements is false A) A summary is an objective overview. B) Including your likes and dislikes about the work of literature...

You have correctly narrowed the choices down to the two that I immediately was drawn to as well.  Between choices "A" and "B" though, "B" is most definitely the correct false choice.  

A summary should definitely be objective in nature, but at times a summary unintentionally hints at subjective opinions of the writer.  

With that said, choice "B" is all the way false.  A literary analysis is objective in nature in several ways, and it includes the writer's opinion.  The opinion though is never "this is what I liked or didn't like."  The opinion is always a statement of some kind that is backed up by textual evidence.  For example, it could be my opinion that Romeo is a Petrachan lover.  Someone could for sure argue against that, but in my analysis I will provide evidence from the play as to why I think that.  

A different kind of literary analysis might be a close examination of the rhythm, meter, and rhyme scheme of a poem.  At no point should the writer of the analysis explain whether or not they liked the poem or not.  It should focus on the structure and prove that the structure is or is not a certain way.  No matter what though, a literary analysis of any kind attempts to stay emotionally neutral while backing up opinionated statements with factual evidence from the text being examined.  

What are possible sources of error in a lab concerning the law of conservation of mass?

The law of conservation of mass states that matter cannot be created nor destroyed on Earth. Theoretically, when performing a lab, the mass of the reactants should be the same as the mass of the products. However, lab error may occur so that the mass of the reactants and products are not equal. Lab error is defined as any error that is made by the scientist, errors caused by equipment used within the laboratory, errors in the recording of data, calculation errors, and/or errors in the analysis of the data used to derive a conclusion. For example, if the heating of a liquid was involved in your lab, then some mass of the reactant may have been lost due to evaporation. This would cause the mass of your final product to be lower in mass than you would expect. Keeping good notes while performing your lab and calibrating equipment can help reduce lab error within an experiment.

In "The Last Leaf," why is it considered that the last leaf was Behrman's masterpiece?

The last leaf is considered Berhman’s masterpiece not because it was a technically beautiful work of art, or because it broke any social boundaries or experimented with style, but because it saved Johnsy’s life.  Johnsy, sick with pneumonia, had declared that when the last leaf had fallen off the tree outside her window, she would fall with it – it would be time for her to die.  The doctor himself told Sue that if a patient had no will to live, there was little he could do at this point in her illness; Johnsy had given up.

Mr. Berhman is an old, unsuccessful painter who lives downstairs from the two girls, who drinks too much and who is constantly rambling on about how one day he will paint a masterpiece.  When Sue tells Mr. Berhman about Johnsy’s intentions, he cries in dismay, “’Are there such fools?  Do people die because leaves drop off a tree?...Why do you allow her to think such a thing?’”  He clearly believes the entire situation to be ridiculous, and feels just as strongly as Sue that Johnsy mustn’t die, fond as he is of the girls.  But while Sue works on her own painting in hopes that Johnsy will see it and reconsider – a representation of the last leaf on canvas – Berhman as well works through the night, creating art not in imitation of reality but as a replacement for reality itself.

Johnsy has a change of heart because of the perceived tenacity of the last leaf – its dogged resistance to the wind and the seasons makes her realize how silly she had been to want to die, and allowed her to hold on long enough for her sickness to wane.  Little does she know that the leaf itself is a fiction.

Mr. Behrman’s final painting, therefore, is not only a creative solution to a dismal problem, but is the embodiment of the healing powers of art.

What is Mrs. Strangeworth's motivation in the story "The Possibility of Evil"?

Miss Strangeworth apparently does not understand how much trouble she is causing with her anonymous letters, nor does she seem to be aware of the real reason she is writing them. She tells herself she is doing her civic duty as the oldest person in the community and as the only surviving member of the family that founded the town. It would appear, from what we know of the people to whom she has been sending her letters, that she is motivated by envy, jealousy, and bitterness. She is a lonely old maid, and she feels embittered when she sees anyone who has another person to love. Her letters invariably damage human relationships. Perhaps, like Miss Emily Grierson in William Faulkner's story "A Rose for Emily," Miss Strangeworth has never in her entire life had anyone to love and to love her.

A good example of people victimized by Miss Strangeworth's unconscious jealousy is the high-school kids Linda Stewart and Dave Harris, who are very much in love. Miss Strangeworth has poisoned their innocent romance by writing an anonymous letter to Linda's parents hinting that Dave is carrying the relationship far beyond the usual hugging and kissing of kids their age.

Miss Strangeworth is probably jealous of Martha Harper because she has a husband. The letter to Mrs. Harper plants seeds of suspicion by hinting that everybody knows her husband is having an affair with another women in the town. Mrs. Harper is apparently a prime target. When Miss Strangeworth is writing her letters that day, we learn that she has written poison-pen letters to this woman before.

After thinking for a minute, she decided that she would like to write another letter, perhaps to go to Mrs. Harper, to follow up the ones she had already mailed. She selected a green sheet this time and wrote quickly: Have you found out yet what they were all laughing about after you left the bridge club on Thursday? Or is the wife really the last one to know?

Don and Helen Crane are not only happily married but have a six-months-old daughter they adore. Miss Strangeworth tries to increase their worries about their baby's development by sending a letter reading:

Didn't you ever see an idiot child before? Some people just shouldn't have children, should they?

This is intended to poison the Cranes' marital relations and prevent them from having any more children. 

Old Mrs. Foster has a nephew who is probably very important to her because he is apparently her only living relative. Miss Strangeworth sends her an anonymous letter reading:

You never know about doctors. Remember they're only human and need money like the rest of us. Suppose the knife slipped accidentally. Would Doctor Burns get his fee and a little extra from that nephew of yours?

This will make the old woman mistrustful of both her nephew and her doctor. Mrs. Foster is probably already sufficiently worried about undergoing a major operation at her age and may decide to cancel it. 

Mr. Lewis the grocer has a grandson who helps out in the store. 

Mr. Lewis would never have imagined for a minute that his grandson might be lifting petty cash from the store register if he had not had one of Miss Strangeworth’s letters.

We can feel sorry for Miss Strangeworth, as we do for Faulkner's Emily Grierson and for the lonely Miss Havisham in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations. Miss Strangeworth is obviously unaware of the jealousy and bitterness that so many other people in her town cause her just by being happy in having someone to care for. She keeps her feelings hidden from herself until the very end of the story.

She began to cry silently for the wickedness of the world when she read the words: Look out at what used to be your roses.

She is not really crying for the wickedness of the world but crying for all her years of unrequited longing for love. Her roses were a poor substitute for love, but they were the only substitute she had. 

What did Okonkwo name the two children he had that were born in Mbanta?

Okonkwo makes some very interesting choices when it comes time for him to name the two children he sires in his time in exile in Mbanta. First, it is important to note that Mbanta is his mother's homeland, and Okonkwo detests his time in exile away from Umuofia. He resents the "feminine" values he witnesses displayed in Mbanta, and longs to be back in the "masculine" society of Umuofia. Therefore, it is strange that he names the first child born in exile Nneka. Nneka means "Mother is Supreme," and Okonkwo assigns this name to the child "out of politeness to his mother's kinsmen" (162). This choice of a name seems incredibly unusual for a brutal warrior like Okonkwo who places a high value on violence and masculinity. Indeed, it is acknowledged that he chooses this name merely to be polite. However, the second child's name better reflects Okonkwo's true feelings toward Mbanta:

"But two years later when a son was born he called him Nwofia--'Begotten in the Wilderness'" (162).

Achebe juxtaposes the disparate meanings of Nneka and Nwofia in order to show how Okonkwo's patience grows thinner as his exile persists.

What is James Joyce's short story "Araby" like? Please describe some of the major points of the story.

James Joyce's "Araby" is an intriguingly subtle story, and its overall meaning is not immediately apparent. However, in general, the story can be said to be about the deconstruction of romantic childhood illusions. 

The story follows a pretty basic plot. It follows a little boy who plays with other children who live on his street and is interested in the exotic books left behind by the previous tenant of his aunt and uncle's house. He also has a huge crush on a girl (known only as "Mangan's sister") who lives nearby. He idealizes the girl, and so he is understandably thrilled when she asks him if he will attend a local bazaar called "Araby." The boy promises to buy Mangan's sister something from the bazaar, but, due a series of misfortunes, the boy gets to the bazaar too late to buy anything. The tale ends with the haunting image of the disappointed boy standing alone in the deserted bazaar.

Though a simple story, "Araby" relates first the romantic illusions of childhood, followed by their destruction. The little boy is entranced not only by his exotic illusion of Mangan's sister, but also by the exotic, "oriental" theme of Araby itself. However, his childish illusions are exposed as follies when the boy actually visits Araby, and the story ends with the boy comprehending his foolishness. As one would expect, "Araby" is a sad story of dashed childhood hopes, but it also relates common childhood experiences (the imagination of exotic adventures, young love, etc.) that many readers can identify with. In that sense, "Araby" is worth reading in full.

Why did William Faulkner write the story "A Rose for Emily"?

David Minter's book William Faulkner: His Life and Work (1980) offers very interesting insight on the life of author William Faulkner, particularly on how the stories he heard in his youth directly affected his own choices, in terms of themes and writing styles.

As a young man, Faulkner grew up consistently listening to tales of the Civil War, directly from veterans themselves, including stories of his father and grandfather. He also would hear these stories in the town square of Oxford in Yoknapatawpha County, and even from his mammy, Miss Caroline, who would be his watchful guardian since he was a small child. Mammy Caroline, an ex-slave, was not just in charge of William, but she was also his caregiver, and much like a second mother to him, as well. 

This being said, Southern legends made a huge mark in the overall psyche of Faulkner, who was, by nature, already a fantastic observer of history, nature, and art. The imagery of the once-almighty South falling apart under the attacks of the unlikable Yankees was one which reigned supreme  among the minds of those who participated actively in the Civil War, and the generations which immediately followed. Even today there is a particular respect rendered to the history of the Confederacy, despite of the controversy caused by the use of the flag and other symbols related to it.

Back to the story, Faulkner himself had a lot to say about the character of Emily, specifically

...Here was a woman who had had a tragedy, an irrevocable tragedy and nothing could be done about it, and I pitied her and this was a salute…to a woman you would hand a rose.

The tragedy is not just that of Emily's alone. It is the tragedy of those who feel just like her: vulnerable, scared, alone, and unable to shift toward the present.

From a social and historical perspective, which permeates the story, Faulkner also warns those who cannot move away from the past to look at Emily and see what the dangers are. Faulkner surely noted that the stories of the South seem to be stuck in time; as if the Southerners forget what took place, they will feel like the accomplices of the invaders. However, all that is left of those who refuse to change, are the mere shells of what once was great, and now is no longer. Like Emily, those who refuse to move on become "fallen monuments", which later on become "eyesores among eyesores". 

Therefore, the story is written as a cautionary tale on the dangers of rejecting the reality of change. It is also written as a way to honor those who are stuck in that vicious cycle, against their will, and seem unable to be set free. 

What actions could be recommended that Walt Disney Company’s management might take to improve the company and increase shareholder value?...

The Walt Disney Company was founded on  October 16, 1923, and has managed to thrive for over ninety years by producing family entertainment, focusing mainly on films and theme parks. To improve the company and shareholder value, it needs to focus on increasing profit and minimizing risk in a shifting business environment. 

First, as it is in the entertainment industry, its fortunes depend on anticipating shifts in public taste, something that is inherently risky and unpredictable. As with most entertainment companies, much of Disney's revenue can be generated by a small number of blockbusters, but it is impossible to predict in advance what will become a blockbuster. Thus it is important for Disney to maintain a diverse portfolio of entertainment products, both through internal developments and acquisitions.

Changing technology is disrupting the entertainment industry. While releases of films in movie theaters still can generate revenue, people increasingly obtain entertainment on a wide range of platforms including home entertainment systems, video games, mobile entertainment, and most recently virtual reality platforms, as well as traveling to theme parks. Disney needs to cater to all of these platforms either in-house, by acquisitions, or by strategic partnerships. 

Globalization is a major factor in Disney's profits, with new markets such as China, South America, and Africa contributing an increasing proportion of its revenue. Thus Disney must increasingly respond to global tastes either by trying to create works of global appeal or by creating products with specific regional appeals.

Explain this quote from Animal Farm: "Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week, and in August Napoleon announced that there...

This quote can be found at the beginning of Chapter Six of Animal Farm. By this point, the animals have been through the revolution as well as the Battle of the Cowshed, when they fought off the humans' attempt to retake the farm. Snowball has been expelled from the farm, and Napoleon is beginning to emerge as a dictator. The quote reflects the hard labor to which the animals are subjected by this point in the book. Napoleon was requiring more and more work, seven days a week as fall began. The final line of the quote is typical of the manipulation of language that the pigs use throughout the book. They cast the extra work on Sundays as voluntary, but in reality, in order to receive full rations, they had to do it--it was really not voluntary at all. By this point, the utopian experiment that is Animal Farm is beginning to sour. The animals face a food shortages and increasingly hard work, and Napoleon is becoming more and more powerful. 

What is the main point of this document? The Tea Party: The New Populism

In "The Tea Party: The New Populism," Arun Gupta examines the origins, nature, and vulnerabilities of the Tea Party movement in the United States. Progressives often dismiss the Tea Party as an "Astroturf" movement, alleging the movement is driven by rich and powerful corporate entities such as the Koch Brothers and does not have widespread support. Despite these Astroturf appearances, Gupta says the Tea Party movement also has many grassroots elements: polling data, election results (especially the 2010 midterm elections), and attendance at Tea Party events. Moreover--while the Tea Party movement played a major role in the 2010 elections--there were a variety of elections which Astroturf Tea Party organizations were unable to influence because voters were not aligned with the cause.

Gupta notes that liberals also dismiss the Tea Party movement because they believe it is inherently racist and thus cannot become a powerful force in national American politics. However, Gupta argues that racism is a unifying force for the Tea Party and has brought the movement success. Thus, liberals should not discount its role as a populist movement.

Finally, Gupta examines vulnerabilities within the Tea Party movement. He believes the Tea Party is too ideologically heterogeneous to remain united. He also says that as the Tea Party movement become systematized, it loses its anti-authoritarian ethos. Finally, Gupta says polls indicate Tea Party supporters are beginning to question their support for the ideas the Tea Party represents. 

In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, who says the following sentences and to whom?'I hope we can still be friends now we are brother and...

This kind of question asks you to consider what you know about the characters. Even though there are a lot of characters in Pride and Prejudice, by looking at any snippet of dialogue, you can often tell who said it and to whom the sentence was spoken just by thinking about what the dialogue means and its tone. In other words, this is an exercise in thinking about characterization. 

But if you can't figure out who said these quotes, you can always just search your electronic copy of the novel to find them quickly. Unfortunately, this strategy only works if the reported bits of dialogue are accurate. This particular list seems to consist of bits of dialogue that have been paraphrased, or misreported, or perhaps taken from one of the movie adaptations of the novel. They don't appear in the novel itself.

Let's consider each one:

1. "I hope we can still be friends now we are brother and sister?"

No one says this in the novel, but Elizabeth says something similar to Mr. Wickham near the end of Chapter 52:

"Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Do not let us quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall be always of one mind."

What she means is, "Now that you're my brother-in-law, let's not argue. Let's be friends."

2. "Please come to dinner on Tuesday, and you can bring your friend."

This sentence does not appear in the novel, nor does anything similar to it. However, in Chapter 3, the Bennet family is intent on inviting Mr. Bingley to dinner, and they also meet his friend, Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Bennet is eager to marry off two of her daughters to these handsome, rich men, so she wants to establish a social relationship with them. A dinner invitation is never expressed to them in this way, however.

3. "You will not believe how rude that girl was! I am so glad you are not thinking of marrying her!"

These sentences also don't appear in the novel. In fact, the only time people talk about rudeness directly is when they say some particular social misstep is "abominably rude."

However, this sounds like something that Mr. Bingley's sisters would say to Mr. Darcy about Elizabeth. They are snobby and disapprove of Elizabeth's outspokenness.

4. "I always liked him! Even when other people said he was proud."

These sentences also don't appear in the novel, but here's something similar that Elizabeth's aunt says about Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth in Chapter 43:

"There is something a little stately in him, to be sure," replied her aunt, "but it is confined to his air, and is not unbecoming. I can now say with the housekeeper, that though some people may call him proud, I have seen nothing of it."

Of course, you can always argue that Elizabeth would say something like this herself, in reference to Mr. Darcy, perhaps to her parents or to her sisters. She had a hard time convincing her family that she not only likes Mr. Darcy, but loves him. This is because earlier in the novel Elizabeth, like everyone else, thought Mr. Darcy was haughty.

How does Harper Lee create sympathy for Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Harper Lee in To Kill a Mockingbird creates sympathy for Tom Robinson by describing his personality and his circumstances.  Tom is characterized as a hard-working family man who goes to work every day.  Unfortunately, he must pass the Ewell house on his way to and from his job.  Mayella Ewell attempts to talk to Tom, and he even helps her with minor repairs around the house.  When Mayella forces Tom to come in the house to help her get down a box off a dresser, she grabs him and tries to kiss him.  Tom does the only thing he can do and runs out of the house.  Unfortunately, Bob Ewell sees the whole incident and presses charges against Tom for rape.  During the trial, Tom makes the mistake of saying he feels sorry for Mayella.  Tom has broken a code of conduct established by the white community; no black man can ever profess or feel sorry for a white person because it would imply that Tom is better than Mayella and Bob Ewell.  

Lee also gives Tom a physical disability to not only show how he couldn’t have hit Mayella with his useless left hand but to also make a point about how blacks are treated as less than human.  As a black, Tom is treated with disrespect and hatred. Because he is disabled and oppressed by racism, Harper Lee implies that he is symbolically seen as less than a man by the white community. 

As readers, we sympathize with Tom because Lee presents him as a kind person who doesn’t have a chance simply because of the color of his skin.  He is thought of as less than human not only because of his race but also because of his physical handicap.  The injustice of the guilty verdict and his subsequent murder for trying to escape really makes us understand and see Tom as a mockingbird in the story.

What was everyday life like in 14th century England for the serfs and for the nobility?

Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a 2002 children's novel written by the American writer Edward Irving Wortis under the pseodonym "Avi." The story begins in 1377 A.D. The protagonist is a 13-year-old boy, Crispin, or "Asta's Son." His mother has recently died.

Avi attempts to portray the lives of both peasants and nobles realistically. The first element in the portrait is the the shortness of life before the invention of modern medicine. The plague was an ever-present danger, with major outbreaks in 1348-1349 and 1361-1362, and minor ones thereafter. Other infectious diseases were quite common, and maternal mortality rates high. Infant mortality rates have been estimated as ranging from 25 to 50 percent. This meant that especially for peasants, children and childhood were not the objects of sentimentality as they are now. There were no laws against child labor and no prolonged periods of education for the peasants; children began to work as soon as they were capable of being useful. Peasant children were not sent to schools and even sons of aristocrats had limited education, usually at home or in church-run schools. Very few people had any form of tertiary education.

Estimates of male literacy rates for this period range from 10 to 25 percent for men, but that uses as a measure "signature literacy", ability to sign a name rather than an "X", and so may not represent ability to read and comprehend a text. Literacy was restricted mainly to clergy, gentry, and certain tradesmen and artisans. Avi is being realistic when he makes the Father Quinel able to read the letters on the cross but Crispin himself illiterate. That Crispin's mother could read and write is strikingly unusual as women had far lower literacy rates then men.

Power and wealth were distributed unequally, with nobles such as Lord Furnival having absolute power over the serfs tied to their lands. Illegitimacy was also common and inheritance was normally determined by "primogeniture", with the eldest legitimate son inheriting an estate, but with bastards sometimes staking claims resulting in protracted (often bloody) disputes. 

What literary theory or approach can be used in an abstract to discuss how Larsen's novel Passing is more concerned with marriage security and...

The closest literary approach that can be used to study Nella Larson's novel Passing, within the parameters of social class and marital status, would be gender studies. 

Here is why.

Even though Passing is summarized as 

the tragic story of a beautiful light-skinned mulatto passing for white in high society

there is a lot more to the plot, particularly when it comes to the women of the novel, Clare and Irene. This includes their feelings for one another, their roles within their respective relationships, and how each of them responds to their own views on womanhood in a time period when expectations and paradigms of behavior were bestowed, passive-aggressively, upon females. To bypass an opportunity to conduct a closer reading of Passing under the theoretical approach of gender studies would be missing out on a great opportunity to explore a diverse dimension of life for females in the 1920s.

Gender studies

Gender studies analyze sexuality, culture, and marginalized populations, among other factors. At the root of these factors are also found issues that stem from sexuality, culture, and marginalization, namely, marriage, social dynamics, and the interaction among the sexually and emotionally-linked dyads that are solidified through interaction. 

This being said, gender studies are essential in Passing. While it is tough enough to be a racial minority in the 1920s, which the main character is,  it is even tougher being also woman, particularly in a time when the mere acknowledgement of women's basic rights was frowned upon.

Passing takes place in a time period where the Victorian ideal of the nurturing crux is still very much alive even years after the Victorian period had officially ended. In not so many words, being a woman makes everything all the more difficult in a story about trying to pass for something that you are not. To be black AND female means fighting two different battles. 

Clare and Irene

The two lead female characters, Clare and Irene, epitomize a variety of women's issues. The first thing that Irene and Clare have in common, aside from being old friends, is the fact that both of their marriages are crumbling apart. None of the women can really move away from what is obviously a lost cause. Instead, they remain true to the role that they are supposed to fulfill: that, of nurturers and occasional lovers. Regardless of their internal emotions, they know that their only choice is to remain in a loveless binary that, at least, keeps them relevant in a social level. What else could a woman do? The outside world was a black hole that was merely starting to awake to a new generation. Clare and Irene were pretty much trapped in their circumstances. They, and their circumstances, are the reason why gender studies are so important to the novel.  

Argument for Gender Studies

Gender studies aim to dissect the women/men binary by analyzing each gender in complete isolation and without the influence of the other. It is as if a scientist were to see a plant growing on its own, and exhibiting its own traits, prior to it making contact with the elements. The important thing is to be careful as to the way that the binaries are correlated. For example, it is never good to assume that man/woman equals strong/feeble. 

Clare and Irene are two passionate women with inner turmoils that may very well be caused by the lack of fulfillment that both feel in life. While the two share a connection related to their mutual interest in the society of Harlem, Larson could afford to write an entirely different book dealing only with the inner thoughts, desires, and frustrations of these two women. The tragic ending that ensues never explains in full whether Clare's death is caused directly by Irene. It also fails to explain what exactly ran through the heart of the woman at the time: jealousy? Rancor? Love? Lust? Lesbian frustration?

Gender studies also deal with the "in-betweens", or characters that cannot entirely fill the concept of the "male" or "female" mold. Thus, they cannot be categorized entirely within one gender or classification. This being said, it is hard to place Clare and Irene in a definite "female" position because both women defy their socially-imposed behaviors by clearly rebelling against them the only way that they know how. 

Another argument for Gender Studies

An additional argument that supports the use of Gender Studies as literary theory is the way that the problematics of identity are presented in the novel. For example, fitting within the "normative" woman role is an issue in itself. Fitting within the role of the "wife" is an issue, as well. Moreover, rationalizing or even understanding the role of wife, when lies and infidelity permeate the entire relationship, is yet another issue. The identify of the mulatto, while is not a gender study, is also an identity issue that affects the gender issues and deepen their already complex nature.

In all, to apply the theoretical foundation of the study of gender to a novel like Passing greatly helps to realize what could really be going on in the minds and hearts of the female characters who are undergoing so many struggles.