What do you think Beckett's Molloy is saying about the human condition and human nature?

Molloy's recollections make the human condition seem absurd and pointless, and he implies that human nature seeks certainties without finding any. When the novel begins, Molloy writes, "I am in my mother’s room. It’s I who live there now. I don’t know how I got there." He is uncertain even about how he arrived at his current location.

The point of how he passes the time is also uncertain. He hands a man who arrives...

Molloy's recollections make the human condition seem absurd and pointless, and he implies that human nature seeks certainties without finding any. When the novel begins, Molloy writes, "I am in my mother’s room. It’s I who live there now. I don’t know how I got there." He is uncertain even about how he arrived at his current location.

The point of how he passes the time is also uncertain. He hands a man who arrives at his room pages every week. In return, Molloy receives money. He says that when he receives the pages back, "They are marked with signs I don’t understand. Anyway I don’t read them." The marked pages that he doesn't understand or even read are symbols of the way in which he can't understand or even grapple with his reality. Language also is of no use to him in comprehending the world around him; human nature is such that people can't even make sense of the language they read or hear.

Molloy then begins a very long recounting of a directionless journey he goes on, which symbolizes the directionless and pointless nature of human existence. Beckett implies that human nature is unable to make sense of reality; for example, Molloy can't even remember if his lover's name is Ruth or Edith, and he isn't even sure whether his lover is a woman or man. He says, "Perhaps she too was a man, yet another of them." He goes through experiences without making any real sense of them or understanding them in any way. 

The second part of the novel is narrated by Moran, a detective who also has a pointless mission--to find Molloy and write a report. In the end, Moran begins to hear a voice, and he says, "It told me to write the report. Does this mean I am freer now than I was? I do not know." The voice clearly leaves him mentally disordered. He says at the end of the book, "Then I went back into the house and wrote, It is midnight. The rain is beating on the windows. It was not midnight. It was not raining." In other words, everything he writes does not represent reality, and he is not even clear about the nature of reality. The human condition is such that people are on a pointless and incomprehensible journey. 

What are the articles "The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same" and "Why Everyone Needs Core Training" about? What is a summary of...

"The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same"  has several themes but does not have a clearly argued thesis. Its first major theme is that fitness trends occur in cycles. It makes the point that fitness was promoted in ancient Greece and in the 1940s as a way of preparing soldiers for war. It also argues that various training methods tend to go in and out of fashion, with high intensity intervals, for...

"The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same"  has several themes but does not have a clearly argued thesis. Its first major theme is that fitness trends occur in cycles. It makes the point that fitness was promoted in ancient Greece and in the 1940s as a way of preparing soldiers for war. It also argues that various training methods tend to go in and out of fashion, with high intensity intervals, for example, first being in fashion and then out and then in again. It argues that terms for coaches have changed but they all function basically as teachers. 

"Why Everyone Needs Core Training" argues that core training is the most essential part of fitness for both athletes and people with back pain. It argues that "core stiffness" will enhance all other aspects of athletic performance. It increases limb speed and strength and prevents injuries that might interfere with training at the highest levels. 

Compare and contrast the characters of Volumnia and Virgilia with regards to gender stereotypes and what it means to be a woman in Rome.

While Volumnia cherishes the masculine thirst for combat in her maternal breast, her daughter-in-law, Virgilia, typifies the traditional Roman wife. In the play, Virgilia is quiet and unassuming; she says very little (as befits a good Roman wife) and often capitulates to the whims of her domineering mother-in-law.

Shakespearean critics have often commented on the seeming discrepancy between how a Roman wife was expected to act in her time (as characterized by Virgilia) and how a woman like Volumnia managed to transcend the expectations of her time. Certainly, Volumnia is no typical Roman mother. She is the main power and inspiration behind Coriolanus' war exploits, and she definitely dominates both her son and daughter-in-law in the domestic sphere as well.

In ancient Rome, women were expected to derive their greatest satisfaction from the home; mothers especially were viewed as the preservers of Roman civilization and culture. Youthful marriages were encouraged, with girls being married off as young as fourteen years of age. Additionally, chastity was the prime feminine virtue; virgin wives were said to ensure the purity of paternal heritage. At the same time, Roman society tolerated extra-marital flings by husbands. Men could consort with prostitutes, but women were generally labelled promiscuous for engaging in similar acts.

Women were also differentiated by the manner of their dress. Respectable women wore stolas (long dresses), while prostitutes wore togas.  A man could have a wife or a concubine, but not both. The concubine was considered one step below a wife and a step above a prostitute.

As a rule, women were given no roles in the public sphere: they were largely prohibited from participating in any sort of political activity. For example, Roman women could not vote, speak, or campaign at political assemblies; certainly, all business, financial, and law interests required the intervention of male representation and input. Informally, a woman could influence her husband or male lover privately, but that was the extent of female power.

In that sense, Volumnia characterizes the unconventional in terms of Roman femininity. She wields power expertly through manipulating Coriolanus' emotional dependence on her. As the presiding matriarch of the family, it is Volumnia who decides when Coriolanus goes to war and when he forebears (as is the case when he withdraws from attacking Rome with Aufidius). Volumnia represents the many Roman women who chose non-traditional paths after their husbands and/sons died in battle. These women owned and managed their family businesses quietly; they labored courageously on behalf of their children despite the challenges they faced in the midst of personal tragedy.

So, through Volumnia and Virgilia, Shakespeare skilfully juxtaposes the two prevailing conventions of femininity during his time. For more, please refer to the two links below.

What is the cause of Mrs. Jones's stress?

The cause of Mrs. Jones's stress is Roger, a boy who tries to steal her purse while she is on the street. Mrs. Jones, however, takes hold of Roger before he has a chance to steal from her and questions him about why he would do such a thing.

Instead of reporting him to the police, Mrs. Jones transforms her stress into compassion. She takes Roger to her home, gets him washed, and gives him...

The cause of Mrs. Jones's stress is Roger, a boy who tries to steal her purse while she is on the street. Mrs. Jones, however, takes hold of Roger before he has a chance to steal from her and questions him about why he would do such a thing.

Instead of reporting him to the police, Mrs. Jones transforms her stress into compassion. She takes Roger to her home, gets him washed, and gives him some supper. She also asks him why he wanted to steal her purse, prompting Roger to confess that he wants a pair of blue suede shoes.

Mrs. Jones understands what it is like to want something when you don't have the money for it. As she comments, she was once young and wanted things that she could not get.

In the end, she gives Roger the money he wants and sends him on his way, proving that her compassion is far stronger than her stress.

In Elizabeth Warnock Fernea's "Guests of the Sheikh," how does Fernea’s distinction between “women of the tribe” and “women of the town”...

In the book, Fernea's distinction between women of the tribe (or harem) and women of the town highlights the multiple ways of being a Muslim woman. During her visit to the women's quarters, Fernea finds herself an object of curiosity among the sheikh's wives. The youngest, Selma, is the sheikh's favorite, and she wears no abayah. Although this is unusual for a traditional Muslim woman, Selma's dress and education demonstrates the sheikh's progressive attitude (and indulgence) toward female agency. Selma's sky-blue satin dress and largely uncovered hair is a manifestation of the similar independence women of the town enjoy.

In the book, the women of the town who socialize with Fernea include several teachers (Aliyah, Hind, etc.), the mayor's wife (Um Saad), the engineer's sister (Khadija), and the doctor's wife (Nadia). While the sheikh's wives are only expected to cater to the sheikh's needs, to remain chaste, and to raise his children, more is expected of women like Khadija. Khadija's engineer brother, Jabbar, expects her to learn how to socialize with men so that she can be both an engaging companion and a matchless homemaker when she marries. Despite her discomfort, Khadija humors her brother. In Khadija, we see how the traditional Muslim woman must reconcile the old ways with modern interpretations of womanhood.

Um Saad (pedigreed, wealthy, and educated) is the epitome of the modern Muslim woman. Her mayor husband, although privately progressive on the subject of women's rights, prefers to take a moderate stance in public. As a devoted wife, Um Saad obliges him, but she continues to excel in her academic pursuits in private. Muslim women such as Um Saad, Selma, and Khadija embody the best of Muslim womanhood: while demonstrating the multiple ways of being a Muslim woman, all three demonstrate that "a good woman is the same in both spheres: her reputation for fidelity is above reproach, she is hard-working, a devoted wife and mother, a good cook and housekeeper, and a quiet obedient companion to her husband." Above all, a Muslim woman's influence is matchless, regardless of which sphere she belongs to.

As for the second part of your question, I will offer some clues on how to tackle this. First, provide a brief definition of thick description. Next, provide an example from the book that illustrates the benefits of this ethnographic method. For an example, I recommend Fernea's description of the bed Selma shares with Sheikh Hamid and Selma's narrative about the photographs on the walls. By describing the layout of the room, Selma's (and Hamid's) bed, Hamid's portraits, the clothes worn by Abdul Emir (Hamid's father), as well as Abdul Emir's illustrious warrior past, Fernea helps us to understand Sheikh Hamid's background, his present opulence, and his continuing influence in his society. Fernea's strategy of thick description also allows her to illustrate her personal growth as she navigates Iraqi society and immerses herself in the culture. Additionally, in studying the details of her surroundings and describing them, Fernea also makes Iraqi culture accessible to her readers.

Explain this quote ¨Yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. It does...

This quote from Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience” succinctly summarizes one of the key sentiments negotiated in the text. In the essay, Thoreau argues against governmental overreach and governmental involvement in the affairs of American citizens. In the second paragraph, Thoreau calls the government “a sort of wooden gun” and a “complicated machinery” which serves “to satisfy that idea of government which they [the citizens] have.” What Thoreau seems to suggest here is that the government...

This quote from Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience” succinctly summarizes one of the key sentiments negotiated in the text. In the essay, Thoreau argues against governmental overreach and governmental involvement in the affairs of American citizens. In the second paragraph, Thoreau calls the government “a sort of wooden gun” and a “complicated machinery” which serves “to satisfy that idea of government which they [the citizens] have.” What Thoreau seems to suggest here is that the government serves a symbolic function, or that it is an abstract idea necessary for citizens to have a sense of security and perhaps a shared purpose. In light of this, the quote under consideration here seems to suggest that it is not the government itself but rather the citizens, who populate the social, economic, geographic, and cultural space that represents the power of the country. In other words, Thoreau seems to think of the government as an empty shell that only receives its power and authority from people who do the work.     

How can I write an essay on racial tension/conflict by comparing Langston Hughes's "Theme for English B" and Rudyard Kipling's "The White Man's...

One way to write a comparison essay is to note the similarities between both poems while acknowledging a main difference between them. Of course, we can make this comparison clear in the thesis statement of the first paragraph. Here are two suggestions for a thesis statement:

1) While both poems acknowledge the consequences of imperialism, Langston Hughes's poem is the only one that explores the question of personal identity.

2) While both poems acknowledge the racial divide that separates the conquered from the colonizing force, Kipling's poem is the only one that characterizes imperialism as a potentially moral enterprise.

From here, we can conceivably use five or more paragraphs to address one of the thesis statements above. In this answer, I will address the first statement: While both poems acknowledge the consequences of imperialism, Langston Hughes's poem is the only one that explores the question of personal identity.

Additionally, whether we choose thesis statement 1 or thesis statement 2, a discussion of imperialism would serve our purposes. Before we discuss the consequences of imperialism (as evidenced in the poems), it would be a good idea to discuss the basis for American imperialism.

Kipling's poem was published at the beginning of the Philippine-American War, while Hughes's poem explores African American integration into white society after the Civil War and Reconstruction. The speaker of Hughes's poem was presumably born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and he now attends college in Harlem, New York. The concepts of Manifest Destiny and American exceptionalism (where America deems itself a superior force for good because of its distinctive institutions and freedoms) can be seen in the ideas behind Reconstruction and the Philippine-American war ("To seek another’s profit / And work another’s gain / Take up the White Man’s burden...").

During the period of what was known as Radical Reconstruction, the South debuted its first state-funded integrated public school, saw African American participation in public office rise, and passed laws against racial discrimination in public accommodations. 

For information on the Philippine-American War, American exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny, please refer to the three links below.

Both poems do acknowledge the consequences of imperialism. For example, Hughes's poem highlights the divide between two different worldviews. The speaker's white teacher tells the speaker (a black student) to write in his authentic voice. However, the speaker questions what his authentic voice really is; he wonders whether race impacts personal preferences and whether it colors one's perception about life. Here, the conquered (speaker of the poem) questions his place within a society dominated by the progeny of past imperialists. ("It’s not easy to know what is true for you or me / at twenty-two, my age.")

Meanwhile, Kipling acknowledges that conquered natives will not submit readily to their oppression ("Your new-caught, sullen peoples, / Half devil and half child..."). So, both poems acknowledge that there are very real consequences to imperialism. First, it is unlikely that the conquered will thank their new masters for their inferior status in society. Second, the question of identity comes into play: how will the conquered align their native assumptions with the unfamiliar and offensive presuppositions of their imperial masters?

Next, we can discuss how Hughes's poem explores the question of personal identity, an element that is missing from Kipling's poem. First, Hughes humanizes the speaker by giving us some important information about him. Here, we can include information from the poem to support this statement. For example, the speaker is twenty-two; he was born in Winston-Salem, etc. The speaker comes to an interesting conclusion about life: both white and black people can like the same things even though they don't belong to the same race. Second, we can make the point that Hughes's poem acknowledges the humanity that connects all races ("You are white— / yet a part of me, as I am a part of you"). Third, Hughes makes the point that this belief about shared humanity is also very American in nature: 

You are white—

yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.

That’s American.

Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me.   

Nor do I often want to be a part of you.

But we are, that’s true!

Although both poems acknowledge the validity of racial tensions, Hughes's poem is a departure from Kipling's in that the former acknowledges the shared humanity between the races while the latter views the imperial force as a superior civilizing power.