Knowledge And Power In Doctor Faustus - 1116 Words

Knowledge and Power in The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus and The Bloody Chamber Throughout literature, television and film you could name countless examples of different wordings of the aphorism ‘Knowledge is power’. This idea is popularly attributed to Francis Bacon’s Meditationes Sacrae, in which the phrase ipsa scientia potestas est, or â€Å"knowledge itself is power† appears. However, five years before this was first written, this concept was a belief of the titular character in Christopher Marlowe’s The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, with knowledge and power serving as key themes. Another text which shares these themes is Angela Carter’s collection of subversive fairy tales, The†¦show more content†¦Faustus has gained an almost unlimited knowledge of magic, and therefore the ability to do almost anything he could imagine. However, he quickly ends up performing cheap tricks for his livelihood. As Stapleton and Scott aptly summarise: â€Å"In the opening scene, the hero aims for nothing less than power over life and death. But by Act 4 he winds up fetching grapes for a pregnant woman, whose big belly shows that she has more power to create life than he does. He calls for knowledge of God’s secrets that â€Å"stretcheth as far as doth the mind of man,† but in the end he accepts a career of staging entertainment for mere popes, emperors and dukes.† (M.L. Stapleton , and Sarah K. Scott) Faustus has the knowledge to control life and death, but when asked to raise Alexander the Great and his paramour he admits that he cannot raise â€Å"the true substantial bodies of those two deceased princes, which long since are consumed to dust†, only â€Å"such spirits as can lively resemble Alexander and his paramour†. As Faustus cannot raise true-to-life people as the pregnant woman can, he must be therefore less powerful than her, even though Faustus is far more knowledgeable in necromancy than any other person. Rutter goes onto further criticise Faustus’s lack of power: â€Å"Furthermore, who is to say whether the spirits who appear genuinely look like Alexander and his paramour? Neither Faustus norShow MoreRelatedDoctor Faustus978 Words   |  4 PagesPoor Faustus believes it is he who has called upon the demon Mephistopheles and it is his tongue that orders the servant of hell, yet he could not be any more mistaken. In reality, Faustus is the one with strings attached to him and it is Lucifer, Mephistopheles, and the Evil Angel playing the role of the puppeteer. Nevertheless, Faustus remains a student to the ideology of Christianity throughout his adventures, even amongst the bleakest of hours. God never leaves the side of John Faustus, as HeRead MoreEssay on The Five Knowledges of Dr. Faustus792 Words   |  4 PagesChristopher Marlowes Doctor Faustus is a play that questions both renaissance and medieval ideas. The character of Doctor Faustus is introduced as a renaissance man with degrees in various subjects and an abundance of knowledge fr om his high education. Unfortunately for him, this knowledge is not sufficient and his cravings for higher knowledge and power soon corrupt his mind and lead him to his ill-fated end. The opening soliloquy introduces Doctor Faustuss areas of knowledge as debate, healthRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Christopher Marlowe s Doctor Faustus1416 Words   |  6 Pagessex or power), or some other kind of motivational force? The following essay will examine the actions of the characters within Christopher Marlowe’s drama text Doctor Faustus in terms of witchcraft, lust, and other motivational forces, to come to a conclusion on which force is the most influential. Within the text, witchcraft is one of the main forces that influences the actions of the character Faustus himself. At the beginning of the text, Faustus becomes displeased with the knowledge he has soRead MoreChristopher Marlowe s The Tragical History Of The Life And Death Of Doctor Faustus 1688 Words   |  7 Pagesand knowledge. The era of Renaissance shone above the peninsula of Italy and continuously moved to Western Europe and England. The era of reawakening began and the modern world started developing rapidly. In the 16th century, a playwright, poet and translator, Christopher Marlowe, decided to reach out even further than an ordinary human experience. In the age of social, scientific and cultural rebirth, Marlowe examined the possibilities and consequences of reaching out the most from knowledge, powerRead MoreEssay about Marlowes Doctor Faustus1011 Words   |  5 PagesMarlowes Doctor Faustus Marlowes representation of Doctor Faustus changes direction through the play. We follow the change in ambition and greed of a human being who seeks pleasure so much that he sells his soul to the devil for a number of years. Does the power that Faustus obtains corrupt him or is he merely dissatisfied with the power he has and is greedy for more. At the start of the play, Marlowe uses powerful language when referring to Faustus search for knowledge. O, WhatRead MoreThe Tragic Downfall of Faustus in Tragical Histor of Doctor Faustus921 Words   |  4 PagesThe Tragic Downfall of Faustus in Tragical Histor of Doctor Faustus Christopher Marlowe’s Tragical History of Doctor Faustus is about a man who seeks power that comes from knowledge beyond the human realm. Throughout the story, the seven deadly sins are shown and have an impact on Dr. Faustus during his search for ultimate power. However, it is one of these vices of the seven deadly sins that plays a particular and key role in his demise. Pride, creates Dr. Faustus’ inability to repent, Read MoreDoctor Faustus Analysis1089 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of Drama Doctor Faustus The play Doctor Faustus represents the conflict between good and evil inside everyone and how people can be influenced into doing things through religion and spiritual beliefs. This play illustrates the influences that people can have when met with promises of wealth, power and ultimate knowledge. Faustus is torn throughout the play on whether to repent and turn towards God or to sell his soul and indulge in earthly pleasures. Just like today, people can useRead MoreLiterature Is The Expression Of The Thoughts Of Society941 Words   |  4 Pagesrealization of literature. By understanding the qualities of a society, the reader is able to better comprehend the themes and importance in literature. For example, there was a huge conflict over the power of knowledge between Medieval and Renaissance times, at this time Christopher Marlowe concocted Doctor Faustus. Subsequently Moliere wrote The Misanthrope. The play satirizes the hypocrisies of French aristocratic society. Lastly, Osca r Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest shows the satire and significanceRead MoreMacbeth, By William Shakespeare1246 Words   |  5 Pagesis an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished† (Proverbs 16:5). Consequently, Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus and Shakespeare’s Macbeth are two stories that clearly depict the hubristic behavior that is condemned by the Christian church since both focus on human pride and thirst for power. Macbeth portrays more hubristic behavior than Doctor Faustus, although Doctor Faustus initially seems to be more hubristic than Macbeth. Shakespeare’s Macbeth begins by showing Macbeth as a heroicRead MoreEssay about The Deeper Meaning of Christopher Marlowes Doctor Faustus1168 Words   |  5 PagesThe Deeper Meaning of Christopher Marlowes Doctor Faustus  Ã‚   I do not agree with the frequently repeated comment that Doctor Faustus is an anti-intellectualist play that preaches that curiosity is dangerous. It is all too easy to see Faustus as the scholar, seeking knowledge, and his desire for knowledge that leads to his downfall. To confine the play to something so narrow is to ignore the deeper meaning behind the play. I believe that this deeper meaning is more important than the superficial

The use of facebook Free Essays

Bernard Williams Dr. cutull Method and Theory In Psychology October 8, 2013 Romantic Jealousy and Facebook usage The use ot Facebook, a popular social network, can have a significant influence in the development of romantic jealousy. Facebook jealousy can occur when someone feels threatened after vlewlng their partner Interacting online with a superior potential mate, which could possibly lead to a daily surveillance of their partner’s activity on Facebook, A person with enxlous-dttachment could be described ds having low self- esteem and a tear ot abandonment, resulting in the continuous need tor reassurance bout the status of their romantic relationship and possible signs of Infidelity. We will write a custom essay sample on The use of facebook or any similar topic only for you Order Now Individuals who have an anxious-style of attachment and frequently view their partners Facebook activity are more prone to experience feelings of romantic jealousy. Prior research has shown that anxious attachment is positively related, and avoidant attachment negatively related, to Facebook jealousy and surveillance (Marshall, Bejanyan, DICastro, ; Lee, 2012, Those with an anxious-style of attachment do not feel that they deserve a loving relationship and are scared of being alone. The researchers designed an online survey to test the prevalence of Facebook Jealousy. The study included 255 participants, 201 women and 54 men. Two tests were conducted that measured attachment style, self-esteem. perceived relationship quality, Jealousy, and their usage ot Facebook. The participant’s answers were formatted in the form of a Likert Scale. The study discovered that attachment anxiety and avoidance were strongly correlated to Facebook Jealousy and surveillance because individuals with attachment anxiety had a lack of trust in their partner (Marshall et al. , 2012, p, 17), Overall. those who were less satisfied with their elationship and had a lack ot trust tor their partners were most likely to display Facebook jealousy. Another study aimed to figure out whether an Increased usage of Facebook had an effect on romantic jealousy. The researcher hypothesized that the amount of time spent on Facebook would significantly add to the amount of Facebook Jealousy, In addition to other variables that were described in the jealousy literature (Muise, Christofides, Desmairais, 2009). To evaluate their thesis. Muise. Christofldes. and Desmarals created a questionnaire with 27 Items measured on a 7- polnt Likert scale. The topics included jealousy, perceived amount of trust within their relationship, self- esteem, uncertainty, and level of commitment (Mulse et al. , 2009). The subjects included 308 undergraduate students (231 temale, 77 male) between the ages ot 17 and 24. It was concluded that regular Facebook usage had a strong Influence on romantic Jealousy. The researchers explained that these findings could be the result of a partner having access to new information about their partner’s social circle; therefore the partner continues to look at their significant other’s Facebook page to ocial circle were often innocent, but frequent viewing of their activity cause the other partner to become more suspicious of their intentions. The next study focused on determining whether Facebook Jealousy had a negative effect on relationship satisfaction and if trait Jealousy is positively related to social network sites (SNS) Jealousy. Continuous surveillance of behaviors is and indicator of a possessive relationship, which is a typical effect of an individual with an anxious style of attachment. The researchers built an online survey consisting of questions esigned to measure monitoring behavior, Facebook Jealousy, and self-esteem. A few items of the Facebook Jealousy scale measured actions such as the number of times they check their partner’s Facebook page or whether they â€Å"add† their partner’s friends to watch their online activity (Utz Beuekeboom, 2011). The participants were students enrolled in a course at a large Dutch University. The study found that individuals with lower self-esteem experienced higher rate of Facebook Jealousy than individuals with higher self-esteem, although there was not a significant difference in relationship satisfaction. According to I-J? et al. 201 1), individuals who were prone to trait Jealousy, monitoring behavior, had a low self-esteem, and a need for popularity, were more likely to display Facebook Jealousy. A lack of self-esteem could possibly cause a person to believe that every potential attractive mate is a threat to their relationship and happiness. Because of their own insecurities, they may feel the need to compete with those they view as competition for their mate. The following study was conducted to test the outcome of Facebook intrusion on romantic relationships. Facebook intrusion can be described as an obsessive ttachment to Facebook that causes a lack of functioning in daily lives and in romantic relationships (Elphinston Noller, 2011). The researchers aimed to further existing research by evaluating whether Facebook intrusion is linked to romantic jealousy and dissatisfaction in relationships. The participants consisted of 342 (110 men and 232 women) freshman, undergraduate psychology majors at an Australian university. They were recruited based on the university’s first-year student pool. The students received partial course credit for participating in the study. Approximately 90 to 95 percent of the articipants were Facebook users, between the ages of 18 and 25. 86. 9 percent of participants were currently dating, with the average length of 16. 44 months. The study was in the format of a quantitative self-report, consisting of several questionnaires. All of the participants took a 7-point Facebook Intrusion scale with answers ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree, which measured amount of Facebook usage, level of romantic Jealousy, and relationship satisfaction. To measure the level of romantic Jealousy, a five-item Short-form Multidimensional Jealousy Scale was administered. A five-item questionnaire was also given to measure the level of romantic satisfaction in the participant’s current relationship (Elphinston Noller, 2011). It was found that the more an individual spent time on Facebook, they more likely they were to feel threatened by a potential mate of their partner. Also, Facebook intrusion was positively correlated with romantic Jealousy, relationship dissatisfaction, and cognitive Jealousy. A strength of the study was that multiple questionnaires were given to the participants. Findings would not be as informative if large, which welcomes many perspectives. No evidence of validity or reliability was reported. Some of the limitations included a restricted participant pool because it only included first-year psychology students at an Australian University. For future studies, participants that do not attend a college or university and individuals of a more broad age range should be included. A longitudinal study of the effects of Facebook intrusion would be beneficial for acquiring new information about the long term effects of Facebook on romantic relationships. The final research study aimed to explore romantic Jealousy from the attachment theory perspective. Cognitive ealousy can be described as feelings of discomfort when a partner feels a third party is a threat to their romantic relationship. According to the attachment theory, an individual’s relationship with their parent or caregiver shapes the individual’s mental needs in their adult life (Knobloch, Solomon, Cruz, 2001, p. 6). The researchers hypothesized that attachment styles that were developed during childhood, play a key role in influencing romantic Jealousy. An empirical, cross-sectional design was formulated to test their assumptions. The sample included students enrolled in a communication class at a large Mid-western University. The students received extra course credit for participating in the study. Overall, 132 students (43 men and 89 women), between the ages of 18 and 30, finished all portions of the experiment. The participant’s relationship lengths ranged from 1 to 65 months, with the average relationship length being of 12 months. 31 out of the 132 relationships were heterosexual (Knoblauch et al. , 2001). Several self-report questionnaires were given to the participants, and were completed in groups ranging from 5 to 25 people. The first questionnaire measured attachment styles, perceived Jealousy, and the level of ntimacy in their current romantic relationships. Next, the researche rs distributed Pfeiffer and Wong’s (1989) Multidimensional Jealousy Scale to measure cognitive jealousy. The answers were formatted in a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from never (1) to all the time (7). The Knobloch and Solomon’s (1999) relational uncertainty scale was given to measure the level of uncertainty in the relationship, with answers formatted on a 6-point scale. Lastly, the participants completed the Rubin’s (1970) Love Scale to measure the level of intimacy in their relationship, in addition to affiliate need, illingness to help, and exclusiveness toward their partner (Knobloch et al. , 2001). The study found that women and men did not significantly differ in their level of romantic Jealousy. It was also found that attachment anxiety was positively correlated with the relational uncertainty measures. Findings also indicated that a negative correlation between cognitive Jealousy and intimacy was present (Knobloch et al. , 2001, p. 10). Because the results found a significant positive association between cognitive Jealousy, emotional Jealousy, and anxiety over relationships, their ypothesis was proven to be correct (Knobloch et al. , 2001, p. 12). During childhood, an anxious style of attachment is formed when a child’s caregiver is often inconsistent or overly protective, resulting in the child becoming more prone to insecurity and fearfulness. Consequently, adults with an anxious-style of attachment are frequently worried about the status of their relationship. These individuals usually crave the attention of their partner, which could leady to clingy and controlling behavior. They often become Jealous or overact at the possibility of a coincides with Guerrero and Andersen’s 1998 study. Reliability was reported because the researcher’s bivariate results produced the same results as the first experiment. The strengths of the study included a very detailed explanation as to why an anxious- style of attachment is associated with romantic Jealousy. Another strength of the study was that it expanded upon previous studies on the notion that relationship uncertainty and intimacy are strongly linked to emotional and cognitive Jealousy. Some of the drawbacks of the study included the cross-sectional design. A longitudinal study would be more efficient in confirming their conclusions. Another limitation was the lack of male participants in the study. If the amount of men and women participants were more equal, the results would be more universal. The final limitation is that the study focused on the experience of Jealousy but not on the underlying factors that cause Jealousy. A better understanding about Jealousy could be achieved if information was given from the individuals about their upbringing. This study looks to expand the literature by evaluating how attachment styles that were developed during an individual’s childhood can influence romantic Jealousy on Facebook. Little research has been conducted to determine how these attachment styles are developed and their effect on Jealousy. How to cite The use of facebook, Papers

Zonation On Rocky Shore Essays - Fucales, Fucus Serratus, Fucus

Zonation On Rocky Shore The seashore is a habitat that contains a wide range of microhabitats and ecological niches for different creatures. This is mainly due to the effects of the tides, that rise and fall twice each day. Tides are the vertical movement of water in a periodical oscillation of the sea, due to the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. The tides are on a semi-diurnal cycle, so there are two high tides and two low tides each day. Due to the orbit of the moon, the tides also have a monthly cycle. This creates neap (very low) and spring (very high) tides. The seashore can be divided into several zones, which are illustrated on the diagram below: Key: EHWS = Extreme High Water Spring (MHWS = Mean High Water Spring) MHWN = Mean High Water Neap (MTL = Mid Tide Level) MLWN = Mean Low Water Neap ELWS = Extreme Low Water Spring (MLWS = Mean Low Water Spring) CD = Chart datum The Supralittoral Zone: This is the highest zone on the shore, and lies above the EHWS mark, and therefore is never covered by seawater. However, it may be occasionally be spray wetted. Because of this, it is mainly inhabited by terrestrial species, such as lichen, that can live in areas of very high salinity. The Littoral (Intertidal) Zone: This zone is the area that is covered and uncovered by the tides, and therefore organisms that live here must be able to tolerate a large range of conditions. It can be further divided into the Littoral Fringe and the Eulittoral zone. The Littoral Fringe (Splash Zone): This part of the Littoral zone lies above the area that is completely submerged by the sea in normal conditions. However, it is frequently covered by splash from waves, and so is far more marine in character that the Supralittoral Zone. Lichens still dominate this zone, but some species of periwinkles and topshells may graze them. The Eulittoral Zone: This zone is the area of the beach that is regularly submerged by the tides, and can be divided into three more zones, the upper, middle and lower shores. It shows the greatest species diversity of any of the zones. The Upper Shore: This region of the shore lies between the EHWS and MHWN marks, and so is only immersed during spring tides. Because of this, organisms that live here must be adapted to survive long periods of desiccation. The two seaweeds that are the most common here, Fucus spiralis and Pelvetia canaliculata have adaptations to survive in this area. The Middle Shore: This region of the shore lies between the MHWN and MLWN marks, and will be submerged for half of every day, even during neap tides. The most common seaweed in this zone Fucus vesiculosus. Mussel beds will form and both limpets and periwinkles will graze the rocks. Sea anemones and crabs are residents of this zone. The Lower Shore: This region of the shore lies between the MLWN and ELWS marks, and will be submerged for most of each day, even during neap tides. The most important seaweed in this area is Fucus serratus, which will form large zones wherever suitable. It shows the greatest species diversity of any zone on the seashore. The Sublittoral Zone: This part of the shore lies below the ELWS mark, and is therefore never uncovered by the sea. There are many types of organism found on the rocky shore. The two main photosynthetic organisms are the lichens and the macroalgae or seaweeds. Lichen are the main organisms found in the splash zone and come in three distinct types; crustose, foliose and fruiticose. Crustose lichens form a thin crust on the rock surface, and are impossible to remove without damage. Foliose lichens are leafy lichens that are not as firmly attached to the rocks. Fruiticose lichens extent vertically from the rock surface, and can sometimes be confused with mosses and small grasses. The leafy part of a lichen is known as the thallus. Seaweeds are primarily divided by colour, into brown, red and green groups. Most marine seaweeds are brown seaweeds, with fewer red species, and even fewer green species. The three main parts of a seaweed are: 1. Frond (lamina, thallus, blade) (often broad and flat) 2. Stipe region (often long and cylindrical) 3. Basal attachment (holdfast) The frond or thallus is the site of most of the photosynthetic activity in the organism, and also contains the reproductive organs. The stipe region can act either as a

Paying College Athletes essays

Paying College Athletes essays What is freedom? By definition, freedom is not being under persons control and having the power to do or say as one pleases. Many women presently in Afghanistan, are living a meaningless life. No one has the right to take there freedom away from them. Many government officials in Afghanistan find the womens lives there worthless. In this paper I will tell you about how the women On September 27,1996, a extremist militia, the Taliban, took control of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. There goal was to segregate the country so the women had no rights also know as gender apartheid. On this date the women there lost all of their freedom. This militia consists of young men and boys who have been taught in refugee camps, their whole lives that this is the way of life. These young men are not even aware they are morally wrong. They demanded gender apartheid which took away all of the rights of women. Under Taliban rule, women could not be seen, be heard, or be given the chance to go anywhere. Very strict rules are pressed upon the women and if they are disobeyed, very strict consequences will have to be served (RAWA). Here in America people take for granted the little things, like being able to go to school and become educated. The women in Afghanistan are not allowed to be educated and are banished from the work place. In America if our officials stated us that the women could not work, many families would be devastated. The Talibans in Afghanistan have stripped the women of their own identity by forcing them to wear burqas, clothing which covers the whole body except eyes. When the women get sick, they cannot be examined by a male physicians; but at the same time the women cannot practice medicine (The Feminist Majority). Right now, women and children are starving, being abused, and dying under the Taliban decrees. Widows are forced to beg for food because they...

How Apportionment Determines State Representation

How Apportionment Determines State Representation Apportionment is the process of fairly dividing the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states based on population counts from the decennial U.S. census. Apportionment does not apply to the U.S. Senate, which under Article I, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, is comprised of two senators from each state.   Who Came Up With the Apportionment Process? America’s Founding Fathers wanted the House of Representatives to represent the people rather than the state legislatures, which are represented in the Senate. To that end, Article I, Section II of the Constitution provides each state shall have at least one U.S. Representative, with the total size of a state’s delegation to the House based on its total population. Based on the national population as estimated in 1787, each member of the House in the First Federal Congress (1789–1791) represented 30,000 citizens. As the nation grew in geographic size and population, the number of representatives and the number of people they represented in the House increased accordingly.. Conducted in 1790, the first U.S, Census counted 4 million Americans. Based on that count, the total number of members elected to the House of Representatives grew from the original 65 to 106. The current membership of the House of Representatives was set at 435 by the Reapportionment Act of 1929, which established a permanent method for apportioning a constant number of seats according to each decennial census. How is Appropriation Calculated? The exact formula used for apportionment was created by mathematicians and politicians and adopted by Congress in 1941 as the Equal Proportions formula (Title 2, Section 2a, U. S. Code). First, each state is assigned one seat. Then, the remaining 385 seats are distributed using a formula that computes priority values based on each states apportionment population. Who is Included in the Apportionment Population Count? The apportionment calculation is based on the total resident population (citizen and noncitizen) of the 50 states. The apportionment population also includes U.S. Armed Forces personnel and federal civilian employees stationed outside the United States (and their dependents living with them) who can be allocated, based on administrative records, back to a home state. Are Children Under 18 Included? Yes. Being registered to vote or voting is not a requirement to be included in the apportionment population counts. Who is NOT Included in the Apportionment Population Count? The populations of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Island Areas are excluded from the apportionment population because they do not have voting seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. What is the Legal Mandate for Apportionment? Article I, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution mandates that an apportionment of representatives among the states be carried out each 10-year period. Schedule for Reporting and Applying Apportionment Counts According federal law codified in Title 13 of the U.S. Code, the Census Bureau must deliver the apportionment counts- the census-counted resident population totals for each state- to the Office of the President of the United States within nine months of the official census date. Since the 1930 census, the census date has been April 1, meaning the Office of the President must receive the state population counts by December 31 of the census year.   To Congress According to  Title 2, U.S. Code, within one week of the opening of the next session of Congress in the new year, the president must report to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives the apportionment population counts for each state and the number of representatives to which each state is entitled. To the States According to  Title 2, U.S. Code, within 15 days of receiving the apportionment population counts from the president, the Clerk of the House of Representatives must inform each state governor of the number of representatives to which that state is entitled. Using its population count and more detailed demographic results from the census, each state legislature then defines the geographic boundaries of its congressional and state election districts through a process known as redistricting.

Religion #4 African American Spirituals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Religion #4 African American Spirituals - Essay Example The religious life included ring shouts spirituals and chanted sermons. The spirituals in particular resemble an amalgam of evangelical hymns, black traditional songs and black southern folk music. As the spirituals can not be attributed to any specific author, they represent the communal voice of the slaves who trust their faith in God. The call-and-response pattern followed in the spirituals, speaks that there is a dialogue between them and God. This indicates their innermost hopes for spiritual as well as physical freedom. The interpretational meaning of the spirituals is a decoded message for freedom from slavery. The author provides several examples to prove his argument, showing the Biblical connotations that most of the spirituals have. With the spirituals the African Americans are looking for awakening, to keep the faith both in God and in their hopes for freedom at last. In the article Harvey has listed several spirituals, illustrating the direct relationship between the slave who is singing and God. In the example of spirituals a double meaning can be felt. The word â€Å"home† can be interpreted as safe place, however it may also mean â€Å"Heaven†. He aven is the place where everyone is free, thus the meanings of the spirituals is converted to reinforce the dream for a free country. The African American spirituals can be related to other humanitarian course materials such as anthropological, ethnographical and sociological. The emergence of spiritual churches combines purely ethnographic description together with the song texts and other ritual, religious gestures. One of the general questions that anthropology seeks to answer is â€Å"Why people behave the way they do?† So we can relate this anthropological quest and why to explain why African Americans found shelter for their minds and souls in the spirituals. On another note, cultural anthropology studies the beliefs and cultural practices of people.

Financial Analysis of Target Corp. and JCPenney Research Paper

Financial Analysis of Target Corp. and JCPenney - Research Paper Example Presently, headquarter of the company is situated in Minneapolis. The company has been ranked 22nd by the Fortune magazine within its list under the category of â€Å"World’s Most Admired Companies†. Also it has been titled as the 23rd by Forbes magazine within its list under the category of â€Å"America’s Most Reputable Companies†. There are many subsidiaries of the Target Corporation: Financial and Retail Services (FRS), Target Sourcing Services (TSS), Target Commercial Interiors, Target Brands and Target.com. Target had declared its expansion into Canada and has plans to inaugurate around 100 to 150 stores over there by the year 2013. The total revenue of the company during the year 2010 was $67.4 billion (My Target, 2010). Background of J. C. Penney Company, Inc J. C Penney Company, Inc., better known as JCPenney is one amongst many big retailers in the Unites States. The company operates with its 1100 departmental stores situated all around America a nd Puerto Rico. JCPenney also has sites on the internet for its trading in the retail sections of home furnishings and apparels. The company is headquartered in Plano, TX and has 150000 associates. The company offers a wide variety of brands inclusive of private brands, national brands and exclusive brands to more than 50 percent of the American people. The company depicted annual revenue of $17.8 billion during the year 2010 (JCPenney, 2010). Calculation of Ratio for Target Corporation and J. C. Penney Company, Inc Ratios Target Corporation (in millions $ except number of shares) J. C. Penney Company, Inc (in millions $ except number of shares) Book Value Per Share Ratio = (Total shareholder equity – Preferred equity) / Total outstanding shares (15487-0) / 704038218 = 0.000022 (5460-0) / 237000000 = 0.000023 Current ratio = Current asset / Current liabilities 17213 / 10070 = 1.71 6370 / 2647 = 2.41 Net Profit Margin on Sales = Net Earnings / Sales 2920 / 67390 = 0.043 389 / 17759 = 0.022 Earnings per Share = (Net income- Dividends on preferred stock) Average outstanding shares 2920 / 704038218 = 4.00 (Diluted earnings per share) 389/ 237000000 = 1.64 (Diluted earnings per share) EBITDA per share = EBITDA / Outstanding shares 7336 / 704038218 = 10.4 1343 / 237000000 = 5.67 Debt/Equity Ratio = Long term debt / Common stock equity 3954 / 3370 = 1.17 3099 / 4043 = 0.77 Interpretation and Description of the Findings From analyzing the book value per share ratio of a company, not many facts can be interpreted. Book value is rather the accounting value of the shares of a company. This value is considerably different from the market value of the shares. Book values are determined on the basis of the company’s retained earnings and costs whereas market values are determined on the basis of expectations of investors. On comparing the book value and the market value of the company’s shares, inferences can be derived as to whether the company’ s stock is overvalued or undervalued. The only situation when book value can be useful is when the market value of the company’s stock is lower than the book value of the stock. This situation seldom arises but if this arises, then the investors anticipate the company to be undervalued and are attracted to buy. The market value of Target Corporation is $51.19 and the book value would be approximately $22. This