How does the play Romeo and Juliet utilize comic relief?

The comedic moments in Romeo and Juliet provide a counterpoint to its tragic plot. Instead of making the play lighter, these moments highlight the story’s heartbreaking elements by providing a contrast. Even the violent opening includes witty banter that makes the scene all the more engaging. There is the famous conversation between a Capulet and a Montague in which one asks the other if he “bites his thumb” (a rude gesture) at him. The other denies this, “No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir,” but pointedly adds, “but I bite my thumb, sir.” This moment of humor creates tension as well as interest and quickly descends into a brawl.

Two of the play’s most memorable characters are also very funny: Juliet’s nurse and Mercutio. The nurse’s humor cuts tension and adds a sense of realism to her character. She is a bawdy, feisty, middle-aged woman. It is all the more tragic when she believes that she finds Juliet’s dead body because the normally upbeat nurse transforms into a despondent woman. Mercutio is a fanciful and hot-tempered fellow whose playfulness can turn aggressive on a dime. Even as he dies, he jests, “ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”

By and large, the humor in Romeo and Juliet allows the audience a moment of relief. This release causes them to relax and let their guards down, often making them more vulnerable to to the play’s tragic and shocking moments.

What is withdrawal?

Causes and Symptoms

Withdrawal can be caused by medicines, alcohol, or illegal drugs. The factors that increase the chances of developing withdrawal symptoms are a history of substance abuse, the sudden stopping of drugs or alcohol, and physical dependence on drugs or alcohol. Symptoms vary and are based on the substance used or abused. Symptoms may include loss of appetite, shaking, hallucinations, weight loss, sleeplessness, irritability, and abdominal pain and cramps.

Treatment and Therapy

There are several treatment options for withdrawal, such as detoxification and rehabilitation. Detoxification is the first step in treating substance abuse. Patients will be closely checked for signs of withdrawal and possibly be given medicines to reduce cravings. These medicines will also help with symptoms, which can be severe for withdrawal. Treatment is targeted to the specific symptoms and drugs used.

Rehabilitation is a form of treatment that uses behavioral therapy to prevent patients from using drugs or alcohol in the future. Behavior therapy may involve cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches recovering drug users how to recognize and avoid situations that may lead to drug abuse; family therapy, which helps patients and their families to understand patterns of drug abuse and teaches strategies to avoid future abuse; and motivational therapy, which uses positive reinforcement to prevent drug use.

Sometimes, residential treatment is necessary. The typical stay is between six and twelve months. Residential facilities will instruct on how to live a drug- or alcohol-free life. In addition, recovery groups offer continued support for a drug- or alcohol-free life. Some support groups are Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, and Alcoholics Anonymous.

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What are X and Y in the chemical equation Y NO2 + H2O -> X HNO3 + NO?

The coefficients X and Y can be found by balancing the given chemical equation.

Y NO2 + H2O -> X HNO3 + NO

In this equation, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) reacts with water (H2O) to form nitric acid (HNO3) and nitrous oxide (NO). A well balanced chemical equation is one in which the number of atoms of each species are same on both sides of the equation.

Let us calculate the number of atoms of each species on both sides of the equation:

Nitrogen (N): reactant : Y, product: X + 1

Oxygen (O) : reactant: 2Y + 1, product: 3X + 1

Hydrogen (H): reactant: 2, product: X

The balanced equation can be written as:

3 NO2 + H2O -> 2 HNO3 + NO

Thus, X = 2 and Y = 3.

One can check the number of atoms of each species on both sides of this equation to check that it is well balanced. 

What is foreign direct investment and how does it affect growth?

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the process of a foreign company investing in a local company. An example would be if an American company purchased large shares of stock in a manufacturing plant in Vietnam. Purchasing shares of stock in a company is only one form of FDI. Other methods range from creating subsidiary companies to a full-blown merger with the company. The foreign company that invests in the local company tends to have a high degree of influence over that company.

While it is common in economics to believe that FDI does promote economic growth, this is not always the case. Economies that have a highly educated population with a large amount of human capital tend to experience growth at a higher pace. It is not clear that underdeveloped and highly regulated economies experience economic growth from foreign investment.

What is the rule of law?

The rule of law refers to the concept that people should be ruled by laws, not by arbitrary impulses on the part of their leaders.  In a society that is ruled by the rule of law, a law states that an act is a criminal act, while in a society that is not ruled by the rule of law, a ruler can decide on one day that an action is criminal and on the next day that it is not criminal. This  would be a dreadful society to live in.

There are some necessary corollaries to the rule of law. One is that the laws must be known to everyone.  If there are secret laws, anyone could run afoul of them, and this would not be the rule of law.  Imagine trying to play a game and not knowing what the rules were.  Another is that laws must be prospective, so that a person who committed an act a year ago is not punished for it, having had no reason to think it was a criminal act.  Still another necessity is that the law be applied equally to everyone, with people not getting off easily because they know a judge or are friendly with a king or because the accused is the king. Finally, the rule of law requires that the laws themselves be enacted in a way that is not arbitrary, in another words, in a democratic process that is meant to enhance the society, not arbitrary law-making that is meant to advance the interests of one or the few. 

The fact that a society has laws does not mean it is operating under the rule of law. It is in these corollaries that the operation of the rule of law exists and succeeds. 

What are fertility issues?

Infertility and cancer: For natural conception to occur, men must have at least one testicle that produces enough healthy sperm, the hormones to regulate sperm production, the ability to make semen, and the ability to ejaculate the semen. Women need at least one ovary that makes mature and viable eggs, a Fallopian tube through which the egg can move and be fertilized, a uterus capable of maintaining a pregnancy, and the hormones necessary for ovulation and pregnancy. Chemotherapy and radiation in the course of cancer treatments can damage or kill cells required for production of sperm (sperm stem cells) and immature eggs (oocytes) or mature eggs. These treatments can also affect the production and regulation of hormones required for reproduction. Male and female reproductive structures can be damaged by radiation or removed or damaged by surgery.

Fertility preservation: Infertility can cause a great deal of psychological distress for cancer survivors. It is advised that cancer patients discuss fertility issues with their oncologists and consult a fertility specialist before treatment. Specialists can inform patients of their risk, if known, of becoming infertile after treatment. In some cases, there are fertility preservation methods that can be undertaken before or during treatment. Patients must weigh the costs and benefits as some preservation methods may alter the efficacy of the cancer treatment, especially if the cancer is hormonally sensitive or affects the reproductive organs. Another possibility in some cases is delaying cancer treatments to pursue fertility preservation. Fertility preservation procedures, including long-term storage of sperm, can be expensive. Assisted reproductive technologies can assist in conception after treatment, but not all patients will want to pursue them or be able to pay for them.

Fertility preservation before puberty: Many parents are concerned about protecting a prepubescent child’s fertility from the effects of cancer treatment. Treatments can prevent, delay, or accelerate puberty. The effects on fertility may be permanent or may not be evident until later in life, when they can shorten a person’s reproductive years. Unfortunately, preserving fertility in a child can be a challenge. Fertility-sparing treatment methods that protect reproductive organs from radiation or conservative surgery on reproductive structures may prevent damage to a child’s reproductive systems. Because prepubescent boys and girls cannot make mature sperm or eggs, respectively, researchers are investigating whether testicular or ovarian function can be restored by transplanting back testicular or ovarian tissue that was collected and frozen before treatment.

Parenthood for cancer survivors: Cancer survivors confront many issues when considering parenthood after treatment. Oncologists typically advise waiting two to five years after treatment before trying to conceive naturally or through assisted reproduction technologies. Fertility may improve over time as damage to sperm or eggs is naturally repaired. Some cancer treatments also damage the heart and lungs, which can complicate a pregnancy; therefore, women may benefit from waiting. Oncologists also recommend waiting to see if the cancer returns. The likelihood of reoccurrence affects a person’s decision to become a parent.

When considering parenthood, many survivors have concerns about the possible impact of the cancer or cancer treatments on the health of a baby. Although it has not been studied extensively, the findings to date do not show any increase in birth defects in children born to cancer survivors. Some are also concerned about their children inheriting a so-called cancer gene or the genetic tendency to develop cancer. Genetic counselors may be able to estimate that risk.

Survivors who are unable to conceive a child who is genetically related to both parents still have options for parenthood. A sperm donor can be used to fertilize a partner’s egg. Similarly, donated eggs can be fertilized by a partner’s sperm. In these cases, the child would be genetically related to one parent. Women whose eggs are unable to be fertilized may still be able to carry a pregnancy. These women can use donated embryos created through in vitro fertilization. Survivors may also consider adoption. Many adoption agencies require a letter from an oncologist that the prospective parent is cancer-free and is expected to have a normal lifespan and good quality of life. Some agencies require survivors to be cancer-free for a certain amount of time before being eligible for adoption.

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What happened in the story "Papa's Parrot"?

Cynthia Rylant's short story "Papa's Parrot" tells the story of a growing distance between a father and son. The son, Harry Tillman, frequented his father's candy shop as a child. Once he starts middle school, however, he and his friends prefer to hang out elsewhere. His father buys a parrot around this time and talks to it frequently, much to Harry's embarrassment. One day, Harry's father has a heart attack and is hospitalized. Harry promises he will take care of the shop and parrot as long as his father is in the hospital. When he stops by the shop after school the next day, he hears the parrot talking, repeating things Harry's father said, including "Where's Harry? Miss him!" Harry realizes he has grown distant from his father and decides to spend more time with him, resolving to visit him in the hospital as soon as he finishes working.