What's the plot of The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan?

The Kitchen God's Wife tells the story of a Chinese-American family, alternating point of view between American-born Pearl and her immigrant mother, Winnie. The story starts with Pearl, her husband Phil, and her two young daughters, Tessa and Cleo, traveling to her hometown of San Francisco to attend her cousin Bao-Bao's engagement party. Once she arrives, her Auntie Helen uses her benign brain tumor to manipulate her and her mother into expressing their secrets to one another. She demands that Pearl tell her mother about her multiple sclerosis, and that Winnie tell her daughter the details of her life history, using lies about her imminent death to motivate them.

This is where the novel switches to Winnie's perspective, and begins describing Winnie's life story. She was born in China, abandoned by her mother as a child, and raised by unloving uncles. Her family forced her into an arranged marriage with a physically and emotionally abusive man named Wen Fu, and she had several children who died in infancy during the years of her marriage. Winnie managed to escape her marriage by fleeing China with Helen, and ended up marrying a man named Jimmy Louie. Pearl grew up believing Jimmy was her father, but Winnie reveals to her that she was actually conceived when Wen Fu raped her. After Winnie explains this history to Pearl, Pearl reveals her struggle with MS. The novel ends with Bao-Bao's wedding, and Helen, Pearl, and Winnie planning on visiting China together.

Why did Henry VIII change his religion?

Until the 16th century, England was officially Roman Catholic and considered the Pope to be their religious leader. When Henry VIII, who lived from 1491 to 1547, decided he wanted to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon, he had to ask for permission from the Pope. The Roman Catholic Church holds that marriage is for life, and only in exceptional circumstances may an annulment be granted. Because Henry wanted a divorce because Catherine was not giving birth to boys, the Pope turned down Henry's request. In 1534, Henry decided he was now the religious leader of England. With the Act of Supremacy, he established the Protestant Church of England. Though this formation was really motivated by his desire for a divorce, Henry was likely also inspired by the Protestant Reformation sweeping across mainland Europe. 

In 1517, Martin Luther produced his Ninety-Five Theses, a criticism of the decadence and wrongdoings of the Roman Catholic Church. This inspired the Reformation throughout Europe, and Henry's Act of Supremacy officially brought the Protestant Reformation to England. From that point on, the culture of religion and Christianity in England was forever changed. Religious power no longer lay with some absent power; instead, it was vested in the hands of the ruling monarch. 

In A Fierce Discontent by Michael McGerr, what were three specific causes and efforts that demonstrated how mutualism was used to achieve one of...

One example that McGerr points to in A Fierce Discontent is the labor movement, which was generally supported by Progressive leaders. From the relatively conservative American Federation of Labor (AFL) to the radical socialist Industrial Workers of the World (known as the IWW or the "Wobblies") labor leaders encouraged workers to unite in recognition of their mutual interests. In this way they attempted to get better working conditions, higher pay, and enhanced government regulation. McGerr observes that the increasing radicalism of labor alienated both the courts, which he describes as a "longtime enemy of organized, assertive wage earners," and more moderate Progressive reformers, who hoped to ameliorate class conflict (143). 

McGerr contrasts the spirit of mutualism with the idea of individualism, which he characterizes as the opposite of Progressive ideals. Prohibition, perhaps the most glaring example of attempts to "reshape adult behavior," depended in many ways on mutualism. First, it was the result of an organized movement, one which prominently featured women. Second, the idea that drink and other vices represented the "celebration of selfishness" was central to Prohibition (85). Alcohol abuse was portrayed by many reformers as the most obvious manifestation of this destructive individualism. 

Even Protestant ministers, who had long emphasized the individual relationship between God and man, turned to a more mutualistic approach, one which emphasized communities of believers (and, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, led to an emphasis on the effects of one's behavior on the community.) They blamed individualism, and especially placing material wealth above spiritual gains, for class conflict, and they sought to spread their message through reform-minded societies like the YMCA and others. Many promoted a new sense of activism that they called the "Social Gospel" that aimed at moral uplift and promoting cooperation, rather than antagonism, between the social classes.

In Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, what are Gulliver's feelings when he opens his eyes in Lilliput?

When Gulliver first opens his eyes in Lilliput, he does not really remark on his feelings.  He notes that he is bound by a great many ligatures to the ground, and he cannot get up.  He hears confused noises around him and feels something small advancing up his person.  When he finally sees that it is a humanoid creature, though no more than six inches tall, he "was in the utmost Astonishment."  It is no wonder that he would be surprised: he awakens to find himself tied down, even his hair is bound, and then he feels not just one but forty more such tiny creatures striding up his body.  When one of these creatures begins to speak to Gulliver in a language that he cannot understand, he describes himself as feeling a "great Uneasiness."  This almost seems like an understatement given the situation.  Of course he would be terribly uncomfortable in such a state.  Gulliver also feels "excessive pain" when he attempts to move his head to either side.  It is a rude awakening, to say the least.

We know that the causes of the Great Depression ultimately led to a stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. However,...

While the stock market crash of 1929 is often identified as a cause of the Great Depression, the stock market crash was in actuality a symptom of the weaknesses in the economy that led to the Great Depression, rather than a cause. Historian Alan Brinkley in his textbook The Unfinished Nation has identified several other causes of the Great Depression:

1. One cause was lack of diversification in manufacturing. While automobiles and construction were strong in the 1920s, these industries were beginning to wane by the time of the stock market crash in 1929. New industries were beginning to pick up but had not done so by the time of the stock market crash. 


2. Another cause was problems with credit. Farmers, who were in debt, were often unable to pay off their loans, while bankers made risky loans and investments in the stock market. People often bought stocks on margin, meaning they put down about 10% of the value of the stock, thinking it would go up. When it went down, they were asked to pay money but could not do so.


3. A third cause was consumers' weak purchasing power. This is perhaps the most important cause, as it created weak demand. While manufacturing rose a great deal in the 1920s, the profit did not flow to consumers. Therefore, they did not have money to buy what was produced, leading to a weak economy. This type of income inequality has occurred in the last decade as well, as the people at the top of the economic ladder are taking in a greater and greater percentage of the profits.

The Great Recession of 2008 was in some ways similar to the Great Depression, as the recession was caused in part by limited regulation of financial institutions and speculation (in the housing market rather than in stocks, as was the case in the Great Depression). However, there were safeguards in place that made the recession less catastrophic than the Great Depression. For example, while the Great Depression resulted in unemployment rates of 25%, the unemployment rates in the Great Recession were approximately 8.5%. 

What kind of a letter did the kidnappers write to Ebeneezer Dorset? What were its contents?

Sam and Bill concoct a surprisingly credible and grammatically correct ransom letter. Ordinarily this would be effective, because it would show the father than he was dealing with intelligent men and not with a couple of ignorant hoodlums. The entire text of the letter Sam and Bill sent to Ebeneezer Dorset is shown below.

Ebenezer Dorset, Esq.:

We have your boy concealed in a place far from Summit. It is useless for you or the most skilful detectives to attempt to find him. Absolutely, the only terms on which you can have him restored to you are these: We demand fifteen hundred dollars in large bills for his return; the money to be left at midnight to-night at the same spot and in the same box as your reply--as hereinafter described. If you agree to these terms, send your answer in writing by a solitary messenger to-night at half-past eight o'clock. After crossing Owl Creek, on the road to Poplar Cove, there are three large trees about a hundred yards apart, close to the fence of the wheat field on the right-hand side. At the bottom of the fence-post, opposite the third tree, will be found a small pasteboard box.

The messenger will place the answer in this box and return immediately to Summit.

If you attempt any treachery or fail to comply with our demand as stated, you will never see your boy again.

If you pay the money as demanded, he will be returned to you safe and well within three hours. These terms are final, and if you do not accede to them no further communication will be attempted.

TWO DESPERATE MEN.

Bill had talked Sam out of asking for two thousand dollars because Bill was having such a hard time controlling the boy who called himself Red Chief that he was already desperate to get rid of him. The ransom letter demanded a reply at eight-thirty that night but gave Ebeneezer Dorset until midnight of that same night to pay the actual money. Sam's intention was to be hiding up in the tree above the spot where Dorset's messenger was supposed to leave the reply; but he gave him some extra hours in which to raise the fifteen-hundred-dollars in cash. Sam wanted to know exactly when the reply would arrive. He did not want to be seen crossing any open space in case Dorset should go to the law authorities and they should have a stakeout waiting. As it turned out, there was to be no ransom money. Dorset sent them a reply at exactly eight-thirty in which he stated that instead of paying them $1500, he would take his son off their hands if they paid him $250.

The story is based on heavy situational irony. The two kidnappers did not foresee what a problem they would have with their hostage. Neither did they foresee how indifferent a father might be to getting his son back. O. Henry may have given the father the first name of Ebeneezer as an allusion to Charles Dickens' miserly and hard-bargaining character Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. 

In The Merchant of Venice, what does "if I catch him once upon the hip" mean?

Shylock says this of Antonio in Act 1, Scene 3.  Here are lines 38 - 43:

I hate him for he is a Christian;

But more, for that in low simplicity

He lends out money gratis and brings down

The rate of usance here with us in Venice.

If I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.

"Catch him upon the hip" is a figure of speech from wrestling. Apparently it means to gain an advantage over him, as if to throw him to the ground. So far, Shylock has been unable to gain any kind of hold on Antonio to do him harm, but now he sees his chance.

Shylock does not just hate Antonio on principle for being a Christian.  He has a personal hatred for him.  He feels as if he and Antonio have been wrestling each other for control of the money market in Venice.  Antonio is willing to lend money at no interest, and this makes it harder for Shylock to charge interest and make a living.  Apparently, this has been going on for some time.  In another place, Antonio tells us that Shylock hates him because Antonio has sometimes come to the rescue of people who owed large sums to Shylock.