What are some similes in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird regarding the racism going on in the 1930s?

One racist simile is spoken by Dill when the children go into town the day of Tom Robinson's trial in Chapter 16. While in the town square, Jem points out Mr. Dolphus Raymond to Dill and explains he is always drinking whiskey out of a soda bottle, spends all his time with the African Americans of the town, and "has a colored woman and all sorts of mixed chillun" (Chapter 16). Dill unwittingly gives a very racist response: "He doesn't look like trash" (Chapter 16). Dill's comment is a simile because it compares Mr. Dolphus Raymond to trash; it is also a racist remark because Dill automatically associates any white man who has children with an African-American woman as trash. Dill is not intentionally being racist, though; he's simply reflecting the views he has been taught by society.

A second racist simile can be found in Scout's narration of Mr. Underwood's editorial that is published in The Maycomb Tribune soon after Tom Robinson's death. Scout notes Mr. Underwood is outraged by Robinson's death and "likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children" (Chapter 25). What Scout comes to realize is Mr. Underwood was aware Robinson's crippled state alone spoke of his innocence; therefore, Mr. Underwood compared the senseless killing of Robinson to the senseless killings of songbirds, similar to how Atticus previously remarks that it is a "sin to kill a mockingbird" due to their innocence (Chapter 10). By comparing Robinson to an innocent mockingbird, Mr. Underwood indirectly blames racism for Robinson's unjust death. Therefore, Mr. Underwood's simile comparing Robinson to an innocent mockingbird is also a simile that relates to racism.

Describe the way the first Dutch settlers saw the new world.

In the final few paragraphs of the novel, Nick Carraway, the narrator, says, "I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes --  fresh, green breast of the new world."  When Gatsby (and George and Myrtle Wilson) died, Nick seemed to reach a certain level of understanding regarding the American Dream: the idea that anyone can, through hard work and perseverance, prosper.  He comes to realize that the dream is really a fiction, that it is not actually attainable (in fact, the attempt to attain it has killed three people he knew), but he references the Dutch as those who settled this part of the country and, perhaps, initiated this dream.  He considers what they must have thought when they saw this beauty and how it would have "compelled [each of them] into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired [...]."  He imagines their wonder, their sense that anything might be possible in this beautiful place, comparing them and their feelings to Gatsby and his undying belief in the American dream.  The fact that Nick refers to this belief as a kind of "enchant[ment]" shows that he no longer believes that the dream is truly possible.

How many soldiers died from disease in the Civil War?

It is very difficult to determine with any precision the number of deaths from disease in the American Civil War. Casualty figures for the Confederate Army in particular are very incomplete and are based almost entirely on estimates, both contemporary and modern. In addition, historians are beginning to revise the long accepted death toll of around 625,000. Some recent demographic studies have argued that the death toll from the war was much higher, closer to 750,000. It is universally agreed, however, that a much greater number of Civil War deaths were attributable to disease than battle wounds. For every two soldiers who perished on the battlefield (or of wounds suffered in battle), three died of diseases like typhoid fever, dysentery, typhus, measles, and cholera. So if we use the "traditional" figure of around 620,000 deaths in the Civil War, we can estimate over 400,000 of these deaths were due to disease. If we accept the higher figure of 750,000 (and some argue that the total was even higher than this), we reach a number of almost 500,000. The point is that the death toll was horrific; primitive and unsanitary conditions in camps killed more soldiers than combat. 

How is Antonio's experience of bad luck depicted in The Merchant of Venice?

Antonio's bad luck is vested in the fact that his merchant ships were destroyed at sea due to some or other unforeseen event. A variety of reports are given about the matter, as illustrated in the following excerpts:

Why, yet it lives there uncheck'd that Antonio hath
a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas;
the Goodwins, I think they call the place...

Salarino was responding to a query from Salario about news from the Rialto in Act III, Scene 1.

TUBAL
Yes, other men have ill luck too: Antonio, as I
heard in Genoa,—
Hath an argosy cast away, coming from Tripolis.

Tubal informs Shylock of Antonio's ill-luck in the same scene.

Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all
miscarried,...

The above is Antonio's letter to Bassanio about his misfortune in Act III, Scene 2.

What complicates Antonio's situation even further is that he signed a bond with the Jewish moneylender, Shylock, for the repayment of a loan to the value of three thousand ducats within three months. If Antonio should forfeit, Shylock can claim a pound of his flesh in restitution. Antonio loses his fortune, so Shylock seeks restitution, as Antonio explains in his letter to Bassanio:

My creditors grow cruel, my estate is
very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since
in paying it, it is impossible I should live.

In this instance, Antonio comes across as distraught since he realizes Shylock will be unrepentant and recalcitrant. He knows Shylock hates him and the forfeit has given the moneylender an ideal opportunity to avenge the wrongs Antonio has done him. It is, for this reason, that Antonio feels that he will not live since Shylock will insist on having his pound of flesh and kill him in the process.

It is ironic that Antonio should find himself in such a desperate situation since his only desire was to help his best friend, Bassanio, in an attempt to win the hand of the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia. More irony lies in the fact that Bassanio urged Antonio not to agree to the bond, but he insisted, as seen in the following portion of Act 1, Scene 3:

BASSANIO
I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

ANTONIO
Come on: in this there can be no dismay;
My ships come home a month before the day.

One could perhaps surmise that Antonio's overconfidence was challenging destiny and he overplays his hand.

What importance does Oedipus Rex have in our society?

Though this play was written ages ago, it still holds important messages that people can learn from today. One important lesson that the tragic hero, Oedipus, learns is that a person cannot escape his or her fate no matter how hard they try. Prior to the events of the play, Oedipus’s parents learn of a disturbing prophecy regarding Oedipus’s future. They take action to avoid that prophecy, but their action actually puts the prophecy into motion. Later, Oedipus tries to get to the truth of a murder that he is unaware he committed. Tiresias, the blind prophet, tells Oedipus that he is the murderer (as the prophecy predicted). When Oedipus refuses to believe this, Tiresias says:

"There is a multitude of other horrors which you do not even suspect, and they will equate you to yourself and to your own children… there is no man alive whose ruin will be more pitiful than yours."

People reading this play today can take a couple different lessons from this. First, it’s a lesson that we are not always in control. Oedipus refuses to believe it, but his fate is already sealed. This may be more important now than ever. As our science and technology advance, we tend to think that we can control everything, from our lifespans to diseases to the climate. Oedipus Rex is an important reminder that sometimes we just have to let things go and realize that things will happen as they will. Not only does Oedipus refuse to believe the prophecy, but he won’t stop until he finds out the “truth.” His discovery of the truth is part of what seals his downfall. If he had just left things alone, he might not have discovered that he was indeed living the prophecy he so desperately wanted to avoid. This, again, is an important lesson to society: it may not be to our benefit to know everything there is to know about everything. Like Oedipus, our pride can sometimes get us into trouble and lead us to discoveries we may not want to make. It takes a lot for Oedipus to finally learn some humility, and when he does, it’s too late.

What does the sea symbolize in the story "The Birds?"

In the beginning of "The Birds," the sea symbolizes routine: both the routine of the birds, as they progress through the seasons, and the routine of Nat's life, as he spends his lunch breaks on the cliff's edge.

As the story progresses, however, the sea's symbolic significance changes. It suddenly transforms into a "fierce" and "vicious" power and represents the darker side of nature. As Nat observes the attacking birds, he concludes that the sea holds some sort of power over them:

There was some law the birds obeyed, and it was all to do with the east wind and the tide. 

In addition, it is also important to note that Du Maurier repeatedly employs the image of gulls riding the sea. This not only functions as a practical reminder of an impending attack but also suggests a conflict between humans and nature. By using the sea in this manner, then, Du Maurier reinforces the idea that nature will always prevail over human technology and culture. 

From To Kill a Mockingbird, please provide a few examples of how Atticus Finch is humble throughout the book.

When someone is humble, it means that they are not selfish and they do not brag about their talents or abilities. Atticus demonstrates what it means to be humble during the mad dog incident, when he is appointed as Tom's lawyer, and after the trial with the black community. 

First, during the mad dog incident in chapter 10, the sheriff tells Atticus to shoot the dog because he's the best shot in the county. Even though Atticus hasn't picked up a gun in decades, Sheriff Tate knows that Atticus is only being humble when he declines the honor. The sheriff warns Atticus that if he doesn't shoot now, the dog will go into the Radleys' house. Eventually, Atticus consents to take the shot, only because the sheriff pleads with him and because of inevitable danger. The shot rings true and the dog goes down without any suffering. Jem and Scout are amazed because they never knew their father had such a talent and was called, "One-Shot Finch" as Miss Maudie reveals (97).

Next, in chapter 16, Scout overhears some men at the court talking about Atticus being appointed by Judge Taylor to defend Tom Robinson. This is news to her because her father has always said that it is very important to him to defend Tom Robinson because it is the right thing to do. However, her father's humility on this one point could have proven valuable for her when Cecil Jacobs, Francis, and Mrs. Dubose accused him of being a "ni****-lover". Either way, Atticus is humble because he doesn't announce to everyone that he was appointed as Tom's lawyer; rather, he steps up and does his duty willingly.

Finally, the day after the trial of Tom Robinson, Atticus wakes up to loads of edible gifts from the black community who thanks him for defending Tom honestly and courageously. Atticus is amazed to receive such an abundance of food from Tom's family and friends that he sheds a few tears over it. Atticus demonstrates his humble nature because he doesn't demand anything from anyone for his efforts. He says to Calpurnia, "Tell them I'm very grateful . . . tell them they must never do this again. Times are too hard" (213). Atticus understands what sacrifices were made to give him so much food, and he doesn't want them to suffer for it. 

What are the features of wholesale trade?

Wholesale trade is a practice in which firms produce and sell goods to distributors, resellers, government institutions, and businesses, but do not sell to the final consumer. The entities involved in this practice are participants in wholesale trade. The goods produced, sold, and traded under these agreements are considered wholesale goods. 

Wholesale trade economics considers the production, selling, and trading of goods at the pre-consumer level. Wholesale trade data allows investors to determine how healthy the economy surrounding a product (or group of products) is, which allows investors to predict economic and market behavior: buying and selling. The ability to predict buying and selling behaviors is a critical component of production - if businesses are buying more of a product, the producers know there is sufficient demand to continue creating the goods. On the other hand, if there is a decrease in demand for a product, producers can reduce the amount of goods they put into the market.