Discuss the meaning and tone of the underlined word in the passage below:
the united states was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of japan, was still in conversation with its government
and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the pacific.

Brendan is playing in the backyard.

Once soueif's and her nieces join the protest, there is a distinct shift in the tone.

But this, but you – small, pitiful and twiggy – you put me down with wine, you blinded me. come back, odysseus, and i'll treat you well, praying the god of earthquake to befriend you – his son i am, for he by his avowal fathered me, and, if he will, he may heal me of this black wound – he and no other of all the happy gods or mortal men.' few words i shouted in reply to him: 'if i could take your life i would and take your time away, and hurl you down to hell! the god of earthquake could not heal you there! ' at this he stretched his hands out in his darkness toward the sky of stars, and prayed poseidon: 'o hear me, lord, blue girdler of the islands, if i am thine indeed, and thou art father: grant that odysseus, raider of cities, never see his home -the odyssey, homer what motivates cyclops to ask poseidon to interfere with odysseus's journey home?