... couples become more financially interdependent, relying on a combined household income to survive. In an article on MSNBC.com, Pamela Smock, a researcher at the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor puts it this way: "Anything of this magnitude that's going to affect millions of people does not bode well for all sorts of families. It could keep unhappy couples together." That divorce is expensive isn ... biggest asset has become a liability. What's interesting is that in the past when times are tough divorce rates go up, such as during the 1997 recession. ...

• Word Count: 440
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography

... states allow homosexual couples to adopt children, but not to legally marry). The definition of marriage has got some opponents struggling up in arms, too. Traditionally, the definition of marriage is the union of a man and a woman. For them, it is the term "marriage" that is the stumbling block, not the legal rights the status confers. This camp would be satisfied to allow same-sex couples ... the same legal benefits of married couples, without actually conferring upon them the status of being "married". The term this camp would prefer to use is "legal union" as opposed to "legal marria...

• Word Count: 559
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... a union that is only allowable between a man and a woman. To overturn the amendment, less than 60 percent of votes against it would be needed. Amendment 2 received 62 percent of votes of support, denying those in same-sex unions the opportunity to enter into a legally binding marriage contract. Many supporters of the ban believe that it will stop judges who are activists from performing a gay marriage ... both straight and gay couples who are not married and only involved in a civil unions. Social conservatives got their vote after millions of dollars were used for the ballot drive to at...

• Word Count: 363
• Approx Pages: 1
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... opponents to court. A series of lawsuits were filed yet all these legal distractions further clouded the main issue if whether it was constitutionally correct to allow for two members of the same sex to marry, citing their lack of being able to do that legally today as a form of minority discrimination. On this point the opposing sides of Proposition 8 disagreed the most, with those in favor of overturning the ban on same-sex ... marriage claiming discrimination and the continual citing of Perez ... ...

• Word Count: 907
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... also the stigma of attempting to adopt a child if you are a same-sex male couple, which is the most difficult demographic segment of all to gain adoption rights of a child for (Lindsay, Perlesz, Brown, McNair, et al., 2006). Second, there are the many limitations to the married couples' rights and their ability to gain shared ownership of priority in 46 of the 50 states in the United States. Within this limitation is the catalyst of much ... legal contention and infighting in homosexual relationships that end in divorce. The entire area of divorce law ... ...

• Word Count: 914
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... the pointless death of a boy I loved as my own." "That boy of mine was not whipped to death for running away, for getting nowhere, not even to the next town I look with these blood-shot eyes that see without seeing, witness without registering a memory or sensation. The boy's two hundred lashes lasted no more than twenty minutes but he was gone half-way into it all ... That's when I learned how to live without being hurt by life- Whitechapel shares with us his memory of his son's death. He tells us that he learnt not to be hurt ... as his own. Later we learn that the boy was not his so...

• Word Count: 801
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

"The Gift of the Magi" In the story, "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, I believe the theme was, sacrificing what you take great pride in is not always the best choice. It is not how much or what the gift is, it is what the meaning behind the gift is. Della and Jim are a married couple. The author wrote, "There were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took mighty pride in." This proves ... more worried about buying each other gifts, instead of saving their money or possessions they prized most. They only receive twenty dollars a week, which Jim worked for. This...

• Word Count: 378
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... that you can not have sex before marriage.The couples may think that they are mature enough and have responsibility. Live-in relationship is the good way to get to know each other.I think when people love each other,they have the idea of getting married but they will never know whether they are the perfect match or not.In order to get to know each other ... better,living together before marriage seems to be the good way.If they can not live together happily,they can learn to adapt to ... might feel uncomfortable and want to break up which mean they have to divorce.Moreover,if the coupl...

• Word Count: 353
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... him within seconds. Mary then quickly plots a way to cover the murder. This theme of contrast is repeated when Mary is speaking with the detectives. "Briefly, she told her story about going out to the grocer and coming back to find him on the floor." After stating the theme to the reader, Dahl is ready to reveal the cover up. The reader is not prepared for what is to come. Mary begins ... to feel badly about what she has done, but she must not tell the detectives in order to protect her unborn child. The detectives ask many questions pertaining ... to the murder weapon. " Did she know,...

• Word Count: 552
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... . This is suppose to make her happy by being a wife, mother and housemaker. This is the image of the American dream for a woman. In reality the author says life is a lot different. The middle-class woman is likely to work until she is pregnant. Whether she works or not the first part of the myth crumbles. Men believe that women do not need anything but a good provider and healthy ... children to make her happy. The traditional American family structure is not good for the wife and can ... be hard the husband ... ...

• Word Count: 337
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... him a crib and Gimpel does not see why he would need it. Gimpel is not very good at understanding his new wife nor does he see fully the concept of having children in his life. Throughout the story, Gimpel is given clues that his wife is not faithful to him. For one, Elka continues to have children even though Gimpel sees that he could ... not possibly have fathered them. Also, he notices one night coming from his work at the bakery the figure of a man sleeping next to Elka. Even with the rabbis advice to stay away ... finally confesses to him that she had been unfaithful to him. The n...

• Word Count: 381
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... " written by Ruth and Augustus Goetz displays many examples of Aristotle's six elements. Poetics outlines the six elements which are: plot, characters, thought, diction, music (or sound), and spectacle, all of which were present in this play. "The Heiress" is a play about a young woman living in New York with her father. One day she gets a "gentlemen caller- who, after two weeks time, ends up asking her to ... and the dad dies. The theme of the play seemed to be one of coming of age. Catherine Sloper was extremely nave and not a "people person- in the least during the beginning of the pl...

• Word Count: 300
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

Jane does grow in the book Jane Eyre. The theme of the book is Jane's continual quest for love. Jane searches for acceptance through the five settings where she lives: Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, Moor House and Ferndean. Through these the maturation and self-recognition of Jane becomes traceable. It is not until she runs from Rochester and Thornfield ... strike back again very hard; I am sure we should . . ." Helen replies, "Love you enemies; bless them that curse you . . ." (56). When Helen is dying of Ty! phus she reminds Jane, "I believe: I have faith: I am going to God," (82). Jane is a...

• Word Count: 907
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ending. Industrialization, urbanization, and changing social norms were coming in to play. Darwin's theory of evolution was being debated, and the Women's Suffrage Movement was continuing. These social and economic factors play a large role in the writing of this book. The author, Edna Pontellier, seems to be trying to find herself in her society. Theme: The theme of the book is self-discovery and discontent. The theme also includes rebellion, growing up, and becoming free. Characters ... : Edna Ponteilier-Main Character-The book describes her as a 28 year-old woman that is handsome inst...

• Word Count: 1006
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to decline because he does not have his gun and he is in the presence of his new bride. Scratchy Wilson walks away dejected. Characters: Jack Plotter - town marshal of Yellow Sky, returning home with his new bride Scratchy Wilson - the town drunk who loves a duel Theme: This is a transition from experience to innocence. A portion of Jack's life is missing which will make him whole - he wants ... to become a family man. Jack is experienced in his work and is respected by the town. However, he is nave at marriage ... . Jack lacks experience with the courting of a woman never mind being ma...

• Word Count: 287
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

The American Dream in the back in the 1920's was originally about pursuing happiness, growth, and indivivualism, but the dream was corrupted by greed and the desire for pleasure. In the Great Gatsby, almost every character had a desire for something. The characters in the story were corrupted by greed. Jay Gatsby, the stories main character, is the first example of amorality. Coming from a poor family with nothing, Gatsby desired wealth, security, and to be an intellectual aristocrat ... . He wished to impress Daisy, whom he fell in love with while on duty ... ...

• Word Count: 345
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... hard working and speaks to Elisa with respect. He is however a little condescending to her as he says "'I wish you'd work out in the orchard'" (Steinbeck 582). Knowing she couldn't work the orchards with the other men, it seems a bit condescending. Henry sells some horses and wants to take Elisa out to dinner and a movie. Before she is finished getting ready Henry comes ... in to do the same. She has already gotten his bath water ready. As he starts bathing, she sits all of his clothes out for the evening (587). This supports the woman's place in a home, care giver for her husband and k...

• Word Count: 658
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... . Movie Report George is, a stuck-up white insurance agent who is married to Parsons and fathers two children, Garrett and Moran. The family's life is pretty normal and uneventful in other words typical white suburban family with all the usual suburbia problems. One morning George wakes up and realizes that due to some crazy phenomenon with his body he has turned into a black man. At ... before he turned black, never thought much of him became interested in him. Eventually, George starts feeling better about being black. He realized that there is no way that he can hide it nor can he run...

• Word Count: 398
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... than her own rosy complexion, but upon being startled, she pales and the tiny mark is highlighted against her whitened cheek. Once Aylmer decides that the mark is a defect, Georgiana agrees the mark should be removed to "simply secure her sanity and Aylmer's peace" (452). In fact, Aylmer renders the birthmark as "a symbol of his wife's liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death" (453 ... ). Georgiana not only believes her husband is correct in everything, she wants to aspire to become even one of his failures. "The Birthmark" proposes that human nature is compound, a sacred mystery. The o...

• Word Count: 254
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... led her even more deeply into sin. And so her love turns to hatred of the betrayer. Love has little chance of surviving against the intensity of her concern for her own purity and clarity of conscience. For her there can be none of the excuses that we might make: that she did not intend wrong-doing, that she ... was led into it, that it was not really her fault. If Bertrande wants to cleanse herself of sin, she must cease to accept the role of wife. At first she tries to deal with this by begging her "husband" to leave her, but when he refuses, saying that ... it would confirm her in w...

• Word Count: 283
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

A theme that is covered in various stories is the theme that even if people appear happy on the outside, on the inside there is almost always some sorrow either hidden deep in their heart and soul or being shown to people of the world. There are many different types of sorrow shown or hidden in many different ways in multiple stories, and is sometimes overcome. A Secret Sorrow is a story about a woman, Faye, who ... after all the years seeing him again brings her sorrow. She hides it from him by telling him she's fine, but she is still sorrowful and that will not be resolved as long as she h...

• Word Count: 1192
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... marries Harold and is unhappy. She cannot bear to see Lena living in this misery. Modern America vs. Traditional China: I think that in this chapter there is a clear comparison between the ways of America and the traditions of China. There are many descriptions of how China is very different such as the building with bamboo poles as supports with men working without safety support. ... Chinese people are "not in a rush to get ahead, unlike the people in America" I believe that this theme is not only present in this chapter but ... throughout the entire book as well ... ...

• Word Count: 295
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... my uncle" This use of bestial imagery is used through out the soliloquy; "to post" refers to horses used for post. It refers to Hamlets feelings his mothers relationship is based on lust rather than love, like a relationship an animal might have. Hamlet condemns the marriage in the last to lines. The repetition of the "s" sound creates a hissing and scornful tone. The penultimate line is a prophecy of doom, which will become ... clear to the audience as the play unfolds, "It ... ...

• Word Count: 574
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... story. She discusses sexuality using the elements of theme and symbolism. In "The Storm," the theme, feminine sexuality and passion is important. The title of The Storm, with its obvious connotations of sexual energy and passion, is of course critical to any interpretation of the narrative. Chopin's title refers to nature, which is symbolically feminine; the storm can therefore be seen as symbolic of feminine sexuality and passion, and the image of the storm will be returned to again ... and again throughout the story. Chopin talks ... ...

• Word Count: 356
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... that her body was thrown forward." The reader gets the idea she is a pretty girl flirting with the workers for attention. We see later in the book that this is a routine. Lennie takes a shine to Curley's wife, which could be a potential threat to their jobs. George instantly takes a dislike to her, "bitch," and " poison, but never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her." When ... . I think Curley's wife is the loneliest character in the book. She has no friends, future or respect: In the book, she does not have a name. To gain attention from the men on the ranch she flirts with the w...

• Word Count: 804
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School