What is a modern-day song that could represent Tybalt's personality?

Bullying is a frequent topic of modern American society, especially in schools and among young people. Some might argue bullying has even infiltrated the highest levels of discourse in America. Not surprisingly, bullying has often been a topic in literature and music. Stephen King's novel Carrie is the story of a girl who is bullied so much that she perpetrates unspeakable acts.

Shakespeare delved into bullying in his plays. His work is replete with bullies....

Bullying is a frequent topic of modern American society, especially in schools and among young people. Some might argue bullying has even infiltrated the highest levels of discourse in America. Not surprisingly, bullying has often been a topic in literature and music. Stephen King's novel Carrie is the story of a girl who is bullied so much that she perpetrates unspeakable acts.

Shakespeare delved into bullying in his plays. His work is replete with bullies. Characters such as Richard III and the young Prince Hal are examples. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare portrays Tybalt as highly arrogant and often displaying the attributes of a bully. Tybalt is perfectly ready to insult or kill his enemies for the smallest of slights. He seeks to kill Romeo at his uncle's party in Act I and is again out to bully Romeo into a fight in Act III, Scene 1 before he is challenged by Mercutio, another potential Shakespearean bully.

Several modern songs deal with bullies, but the best might be Taylor Swift's "Mean." While this song is about modern life, it seems to fit Tybalt. In the opening lyrics of the song, it even mentions how the bully in question strives to belittle his victims and uses words like swords, much as Tybalt attempts to do in the brawl portrayed in Act I, Scene 1 when he threatens Benvolio and later in Act III, Scene 1 when he attempts to goad Romeo into a fight by calling him a villain. The refrain in Swift's song claims this bully will always be nothing but mean and that seems to ring true with Tybalt. Tybalt is so much of a bully that he cannot leave well enough alone and returns to the street where he killed Mercutio instead of seeking asylum. In her song, Swift indicates the bully's victim will go on to live a better life. If not for the tragedy of circumstances in the final two acts of Romeo and Juliet, one might argue that Romeo would indeed go on and live a fulfilling life with his love Juliet.

A toxin produced by an aquatic cell blocks voltage gated calcium channels. With your knowledge of the nervous system, propose a mechanism for why...

The primary cells of the nervous system are neurons. Neurons need to communicate with each other in order to send information, in the form of electrical signals, throughout the body. Some neurons simply send those signals directly into other neurons, but the majority of them do not. Instead, they release chemicals into the (very small) space in between one neuron and another. You can think of this like writing on a post-it note and handing...

The primary cells of the nervous system are neurons. Neurons need to communicate with each other in order to send information, in the form of electrical signals, throughout the body. Some neurons simply send those signals directly into other neurons, but the majority of them do not. Instead, they release chemicals into the (very small) space in between one neuron and another. You can think of this like writing on a post-it note and handing it to the person next to you. The messages (chemicals) that the neurons release are called neurotransmitters, and voltage-gated calcium channels are critical to their function.

The first step in communication is the arrival of an electrical signal (called an action potential) which triggers the calcium channels to open. This influx of calcium signals vesicles (small "bubbles" inside the cell, filled with neurotransmitters) to go to the edge of the cell, fuse with the membrane, and release their neurotransmitters.

If the calcium channels are blocked, this will interfere with the functioning of the neurotransmitters. If being used as an analgesic, the subject will be unable to feel pain, because the cells receiving the "pain" signal will be unable to communicate that message to any other neuron. The individual receptor cell still knows what's going on, but it has basically been muted.

What kind of relationship do Juliet and the Nurse have in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?

Up until their parting in Act III, Scene 5, the relationship between Juliet and the Nurse might be compared to two very close friends or even sisters who share everything, including each other's private thoughts and secrets. Although tempting, it is not appropriate to say the Nurse was similar to a parental figure. Had the Nurse been like a parent (even though she literally nursed Juliet) she would have been more likely to be disciplinary...

Up until their parting in Act III, Scene 5, the relationship between Juliet and the Nurse might be compared to two very close friends or even sisters who share everything, including each other's private thoughts and secrets. Although tempting, it is not appropriate to say the Nurse was similar to a parental figure. Had the Nurse been like a parent (even though she literally nursed Juliet) she would have been more likely to be disciplinary in understanding the ramifications of Juliet's relationship with Romeo. Instead, the Nurse is a faithful confidante, who is only interested in the fact that Juliet is happy, and is willing to take part in Juliet's intrigues because of her devoted love for the girl. Like a trusted girlfriend, she acts as Juliet's surrogate in finding out Romeo's intentions in Act II, Scene 4. She shares this news with Juliet as if they are school girls talking about the boys in their class. Juliet's confidence in the Nurse is ultimately shattered in Act III, Scene 5 after being informed that Lord Capulet has arranged for her to marry Count Paris. When her refusals to marry the Count (she is already married to Romeo) are spurned by her parents, Juliet turns to the Nurse, who does a complete about-face in her opinion of Romeo and counsels Juliet to forget him and marry Paris because, as she says, "this match...excels your first." Juliet is shocked by this advice and vows that their close relationship is over.   

In "Raymond's Run," how does Squeaky show that she cares a lot about her family, her neighborhood, and the people who live in the inner-city?

Squeaky, the narrator in Toni Cade Bambara's short story "Raymond's Run," shows she cares about her family, her neighborhood, and the people who live in the inner city in several ways. 

She shows she cares about her neighborhood when she wins the race and says,

Then all the kids standing on the side pile on me, banging me on the back and slapping my head with their May Day programs, for I have won again...

Squeaky, the narrator in Toni Cade Bambara's short story "Raymond's Run," shows she cares about her family, her neighborhood, and the people who live in the inner city in several ways. 

She shows she cares about her neighborhood when she wins the race and says,

Then all the kids standing on the side pile on me, banging me on the back and slapping my head with their May Day programs, for I have won again and everybody on 151st Street can walk tall for another year.

Earlier in the story, Squeaky has stated that she's a poor girl. In a poor neighborhood, children don't necessarily have many possessions to be proud of. Their pride is in their character and their accomplishments. It's apparent that there is a strong sense of community in Squeaky since she runs not just for herself, but also to make her neighbors proud. Her win gives them all bragging rights for another year. 

Squeaky shows that she cares about her family by her protection of her mentally-challenged brother Raymond. She takes Raymond with her wherever she goes, and she will not stand for anyone saying anything mean to him or trying to take advantage of him. When she sees him running for the first time during the race, she considers giving up her running career to train him. 

And I have a big rep as the baddest thing around. And I’ve got a roomful of ribbons and medals and awards. But what has Raymond got to call his own?

The fact that Squeaky considers giving up something she loves and takes such great pride in shows her great love for her brother. She is willing to put his wants and needs ahead of her own.

The only textual evidence that Squeaky cares about the people in the inner-city is the same textual evidence that she cares about her neighborhood. It's the comment that she makes when she says that all the kids on 151st street can hold their heads high for another year because she has won the race. There are details contained in the story that show she lives in the inner city, like walking along Broadway street and crossing 34th Street. When she races with her dad, he gives her a "two fire hydrant" head start. These don't necessarily show that she cares about the people. In fact, she calls people stupid more than once in the story and is on guard all the time against ignorant comments people make to or about her brother. The fact that Squeaky does something that allows the kids on 151st street to hold their heads high for a year shows she cares about them. It shows she doesn't run only for herself. She also thinks of her family, community, and neighbors.

In "The Canterville Ghost" by Oscar Wilde, how does the ghost describe his time alive to Virginia?

Though Sir Simon is a prominent figure in the story, the reader doesn't really ever know that much about him.  We know some details from characters like Mrs. Umney, but we aren't sure if what she says about the ghost is absolute fact or not.  Throughout the story, readers get to see what the ghost is attempting to do to the Otis family and how the Otis family antagonizes Sir Simon right back; however, those things don't give readers any insight into what his life was like before he became a ghost.  

That changes in section five of the story.  Section five begins with Virginia stumbling across Sir Simon pouting by the window.  

To her immense surprise, however, it was the Canterville Ghost himself! He was sitting by the window, watching the ruined gold of the yellowing trees fly through the air, and the red leaves dancing madly down the long avenue. His head was leaning on his hand, and his whole attitude was one of extreme depression. 

Readers are told that he looked so pathetic that Virginia couldn't help but begin a conversation with him.  Early in the conversation, Virginia mentions that she knows that Sir Simon killed his wife when he was alive.  Sir Simon completely embraces the fact that he killed his wife.  

"Mrs. Umney told us, the first day we arrived here, that you had killed your wife."

"Well, I quite admit it," said the Ghost, petulantly, "but it was a purely family matter, and concerned no one else."

Sir Simon essentially feels that his actions were completely justified and normal. He provides Virginia with further "evidence" as to why his wife deserved to be killed.  He says that she was "plain" looking, not good at laundry, and not a good cook.  

"My wife was very plain, never had my ruffs properly starched, and knew nothing about cookery."

The final detail that Sir Simon reveals about his past life is how he died.  His wife's brothers starved him to death.  

From their brief conversation, it seems that Sir Simon's life is vaguely similar to his life as a ghost.  He is used to being the person that is running the show.  He enjoys exerting his power and opinion over other people, and he doesn't care who he hurts or offends while doing it.  That's why he sees no problem with killing his wife for minor offenses, and it's why he believes that he is justified in haunting the house all these years.  

"It is absurd asking me to behave myself," he answered, looking round in astonishment at the pretty little girl who had ventured to address him, "quite absurd."

A wave is incident on the surface of a mirror at an angle of 30° with the normal. At what angle will the outgoing wave reflect? 0° 30°...

Hello!

As I understand, a "wave" means "electromagnetic wave," or "light." These waves may reflect from a mirror (other waves also may reflect, for example waves on a water surface may reflect from a wall).

The main law of reflection is that an angle of reflection is the same as an angle of incidence. They are both measured from the normal at the point of incidence (normal is a straight line perpendicular to a mirror...

Hello!

As I understand, a "wave" means "electromagnetic wave," or "light." These waves may reflect from a mirror (other waves also may reflect, for example waves on a water surface may reflect from a wall).

The main law of reflection is that an angle of reflection is the same as an angle of incidence. They are both measured from the normal at the point of incidence (normal is a straight line perpendicular to a mirror at the point of their intersection). For a plain mirror these angles might be measured from a mirror's plane, and such angles are also equal. All normals to a spherical mirror, for example, go through the sphere's center.

So the answer is: the angle of reflection is 30 degrees with the normal (the same as for an incident wave).

How was the character Hamlet or any other characters, relatable to the younger generations of the Elizabethan era? Basically in what ways did the...

There are several characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet that the author uses to target the interests of young people during the Elizabethan (English Renaissance) period.

The first character is Hamlet. While Hamlet's father has just died and Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark, the throne has passed, instead, to his uncle Claudius. At that time, this would have been an acceptable procedure if Hamlet was believed to be too young or too experienced. Hamlet has been away studying at the university, and Claudius has obviously been judged to be better suited (than Hamlet) to assume the throne upon his brother's sudden death. Claudius assures Hamlet that he is still next in line to the throne:

...for let the world take note
You are the most immediate to our throne,
And with no less nobility of love
Than that which dearest father bears his son
Do I impart toward you. (I.ii.111-115)

This would certainly be something with which young people in the audience, specifically young men of nobility (though the audience was made up of people from all classes) could identify and empathize.

Another thing that would resonate with a young Elizabethan crowd would be the sense that one was expected to bow to the wishes of a parent, and also a king, pushing his or her own wishes aside.

Claudius is quick to tell Hamlet that he should put mourning behind him, which Hamlet (of course) does not appreciate. After all, Claudius sits where Old Hamlet once reigned, and more distressingly, has married Old Hamlet's widow—and Hamlet's mother—Gertrude. However, Claudius also does not want Hamlet to return to school, but to stay on in Denmark.

For your intent
In going back to school in Wittenberg,
It is most retrograde to our desire;
And we beseech you, bend you to remain
Here... (115-119)

We also see this pattern of socially accepted behavior as Laertes requests permission to be excused in order to return to France. As is appropriate, the King asks if Laertes has requested his father's permission (59).

Learning that this had been done, Claudius grants Laertes leave to depart from the royal court and Denmark:

KING:

Take thy fair hour, Laertes. Time be thine,
And thy best graces spend it at thy will! (64-65)

It is interesting to note that Laertes is allowed to leave to return to France—and he simply goes to have a good time! However, Hamlet, who desires to return to school is not allowed, and this has to irritate him as he does not like his uncle—in fact, he very much resents him. After all, it is obvious to Claudius and Gertrude that Hamlet is extremely unhappy. In that Claudius has asked Hamlet to look upon him as a father, we can infer that the King knows that Hamlet's dark mood has a great deal to do with his uncle. Keeping Hamlet at home might raise questions in the audience's mind: when we discover that Claudius is a murderer, might the sovereign not want Hamlet neatly out of the way at school so he is not there to question the circumstances surrounding Old Hamlet's death?

Ophelia, Polonius' daughter and Hamlet's sweetheart, is also at the mercy of her superiors, "." She is an obedient daughter who would not resist anything her father—or her king—might ask of her. We see Ophelia as a pawn of the men in her life. (In that era, women were not valued—considered weaker and less intelligent than men.) Polonius is not above using his daughter to spy on Hamlet, most importantly because he wants to impress Claudius. So with the King, Polonius arranges that they will hide behind a curtain ("arras") and eavesdrop on Ophelia and Hamlet as they speak.

I'll loose my daughter to him.
Be you and I behind an arras then;
Mark the encounter. (174-176)

Essentially, Ophelia is forced to spy on the man she loves. The idea of stepping away from one's personal desires is something a young audience of the time could identify with, most especially if they had been asked to turn their back on someone they loved so that it might benefit someone else—particularly from a financial or political standpoint. Ophelia's powerlessness would ring true to many of the young women in the audience, though most would know better than to complain, as they were at the mercy of the men in their lives regardless of their social standing.

These are things with which a young person from the Renaissance-era (or today) would not be pleased, and could well appreciate.