Humanistic Tendencies in The Lottery

Humanistic Tendencies in The Lottery Free Online Research Papers Shirley Jacksons short story, The Lottery†, aroused much controversy and criticism in 1948, following its debut publication, in the New Yorker. Jackson uses irony and comedy to suggest an underlying evil, hypocrisy, and weakness of human kind. The story takes place in a small village, where the people are intimate and traditions dominate. A yearly event, called the lottery, is one in which one person in the town is randomly chosen, by a drawing, to be violently stoned by friends and family. The drawing has been around over seventy-seven years and is practiced by every member of the town. The surreal notion of this idea is most evident through Jacksons tone. Her use of friendly language among the villagers and the presentation of the lottery as an event similar to the square dances and teen gatherings illustrates the lottery as a happy and joyous event. Jackson describes the social atmosphere of the women prior to the drawing: They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip†¦ . The lottery is conducted in a particular manner, and with so much anticipation by the villagers, readers expect the lottery to result in something grand and fantastic, like a big prize. It is not until the very end of the story that the re ader learns of the winners fate: a stoney death, by friends and family. It seems as though Jackson is making a statement regarding hypocrisy and human evil. The lottery is set in a very unremarkable town, where everyone knows everyone and individuals are not very individual. Families carry the very ordinary names and children act common. Jacksons portrayal of extreme evil in this ordinary, friendly atmosphere suggests that people are not always as they seem. She implies that underneath the persons friendliness, there may be lurking an unseen evil. Though the story does not become injurious until the end, Jackson does in fact foreshadow the idea through Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves. Mr. Summers is the man in charge of the lottery. He prepares the slips of paper to be drawn and he mediates the activity. He is described as a respectable man, joking around with the villagers and carrying on this foreboding event without reservation. Mr. Summers was very good at all this; in his clean white shirt and blue jeans, with one hand resting carelessly on the black box, he seemed very proper and important as he talked interminably to Mr. Graves and the Martins . The name Summers sums up the mood of the short story as well as the administrator himself, merry, hopeful, and bright. Mr. Summers is the man in front, the representative of the lottery, as his name symbolizes the apparent tone of the event. Mr. Graves, on the other hand, symbolizes the storys underlying theme and final outcome. Mr. Graves is Mr. Summers assistant, always present b ut not necessarily in the spotlight. The unapparent threat of his name and character foreshadows the wickedness of the ordinary people, that again, is always present but not in the spotlight. Along with hypocrisy, The Lottery presents a weakness in human individuals. This town, having performed such a terrible act for so many years, continues on with the lottery, with no objections or questions asked, and the main purpose being to carry on the tradition. Theres always been a lottery , says Old Man Warner. Nothing but trouble in that, he says of quitting the event. However, the villagers show some anxiety toward the event. Comments such as Dont be nervous Jack , Get up there Bill and Mrs. Delacroixs holding of her breath as her husband went forward indicate that the people may not be entirely comfortable with the event. Yet everyone still goes along with it. Not a single person openly expresses fear or disgust toward the lottery, but instead feigns enthusiasm. Jackson may be suggesting that many individuals are not strong enough to confront their disapproval, for fear of being rejection or retribution by their peers. Instead they continue to sacrifice their happiness, for the sake of others. The failure of Mr. Summers to replace the black box used for the drawing symbolizes the villagers failure to stand up for their beliefs. Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset tradition as was represented by the black box. The box after so many years is faded and stained just as the villagers view of reality has become tainted and pathetic. An intense fear of change among the people is obvious. Jackson uses the protagonist, Mrs. Hutchinson, to show an individual consumed by hypocrisy and weakness. Though it is hinted that she attempted to rebel and not show up to the event, Mrs. Hutchinson arrives late, with a nervous excuse of â€Å"forgetting what day it was.† It is ironic, that she, who almost stood up for her beliefs, is the one who wins the lottery, and is fated to death. What is shocking but almost predictable is Mrs. Hutchinsons sudden discharge of her true self. Before the drawing she is friendly with the other women, pretending to be pleased to be present. The very moment that she sees it is her family that draws the black dot, though, her selfishness is evident. You didnt give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasnt fair! . Then she turns on her own daughter. Theres Don and Eva, she yelled maliciously, Make them take their chance! . She continues to scream about the unfairness of the ritual up until her stoning. Mrs. Hutchinson k new the lottery was wrong, but she never did anything about it. She pretends as much as she could to enjoy it, when she truly hated it all along. Perhaps Jackson is implying that the more artificial and the more hypocritical one is, the more of a target they are. Mrs. Hutchinson was clearly the target of her fears and her unwillingness to stand up for her beliefs. The situation in The Lottery is very evident in our society today. We tend to flock toward nasty gossip and are interested in spite of the privacy of the subjects involved. Whether it is standing on the side to watch a fight, an accident, or hanging someone else out to dry for our short comings, we as Americans seem to have no problem butting in where we do not belong. People have no problem remarking on an individuals deceitful behavior until it is they who get caught. People have no problem stereotyping people until is they themselves who are stereotyped. It seems as though we sometimes denounce public truths that we know are characteristics of human nature and shift the attention onto someone else instead of admitting to these characteristics in all of us. It is okay as long it is not you portraying such behavior. It is sad and definitely hypocritical, but it happens all the same. I think Shirley Jackson makes this point without blatantly stating it as such. It is the thousands of readers who replied to The Lottery, in disapproval and horror that blindly proved Jacksons theories valid and unknowingly portrayed themselves akin to the villagers in the short story. Research Papers on Humanistic Tendencies in â€Å"The Lottery†Where Wild and West MeetThe Hockey GameHonest Iagos Truth through Deception19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Spring and AutumnQuebec and CanadaComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductHip-Hop is ArtThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug Use

Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll

'Jabberwocky' by Lewis Carroll English writer Lewis Carroll (1832- 1898) is best-known for his genre-bending work Alices Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and its sequel Through the Looking Glass (1872). The tale of a young girl who visits a strange land is a classic of childrens literature and cemented Carrolls place in the Western literary canon. Even though theyre widely considered to be important works, the talking animals and possible depiction  of what has been interpreted as drug use have placed Wonderland and Looking Glass on numerous lists of banned books. Lewis Carroll Life and Work Lewis Carroll was actually the pen name of   Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a cleric, scholar, teacher, and mathematician. Before turning to writing childrens fiction, Dodgson/Carroll wrote several mathematical texts while a student at Christ Church College, Oxford, including An Elementary Treatise on Determinants, Curiosa Mathematica and Euclid and His Modern Rivals. He met the Liddell family while a teacher at Christ Church College  and was enchanted by their young daughter Alice. Although he later said his fictional heroine was not based on any real person, Carroll reportedly made up the Wonderland stories, or at least their outlines, as a way of entertaining Alice Liddell and her friends. Carroll wrote several other works, some about Alice, in his later years, but never again achieved the commercial success of Wonderland and Looking Glass. Analyzing Carrolls Poem Jabberwocky Jabberwocky is a poem contained within Through the Looking Glass.   Alice discovers the poem in a book on a table during a visit to the Red Queen. From what we can understand, the poem is a mythical monster who is slain by the hero of the poem. Who is the hero? Who is the narrator? Its almost impossible for the reader to tell  since were already in the weird world of Wonderland. Even Alice doesnt understand what shes reading. Written in a ballad style, most of the words within the Jabberwocky are nonsensical, yet it hews to a traditional poetic structure. Here is the complete text of Lewis Carrolls Jabberwocky. Twas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe:All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe. Beware the Jabberwock, my son!The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!Beware the Jubjub bird, and shunThe frumious Bandersnatch! He took his vorpal sword in hand:Long time the manxome foe he soughtSo rested he by the Tumtum tree,And stood a while in thought. And, as in uffish thought he stood,The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,And burbled as it came! One two! One two! And through and throughThe vorpal blade went snicker-snack!He left it dead, and with its headHe went galumphing back. And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?Come to my arms, my beamish boy!Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!He chortled in his joy. Twas brillig, and the slithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe:All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe.

How changes and developments in communication and information Thesis Proposal

How changes and developments in communication and information technology may influence the coordination of firms worldwide operations - Thesis Proposal Example This essay stresses that the research methodology utilised to analyse the research data and describes the various methods used in this study. This research paper basically consists of two data sets – primary and secondary. Primary data set consists of a survey and a questionnaire administered to 40 odd ICT executives and managers at firms with overseas operations. While responses to the survey would be recorded with much more accuracy and detail, responses to the questionnaire would be sifted and collated to identify significant trends and process orientations in company decisions to adopt ICT in the changing overseas markets. Secondary data is being collected through an extensive research effort conducted both online and in libraries. The researcher extensively used the books written on the topic and also studied research journals, reports, graphs, articles, newspaper articles and so on. This report makes a conclusion that the interaction is what differentiates the direct methodology from indirect methodology. Structured interviews enable the interviewer to ask each respondent the same questions in the same way. A tightly controlled structured schedule of questions and format is used, very much like a questionnaire. The questions contained in the questionnaire were planned in advance. The interviewer has some discretion how these might be elaborated/explained but the aim is to standardize data as far as possible and to eliminate biases due to different wordings.

Society gets what it pays for and the cost of reducing social risk is Essay

Society gets what it pays for and the cost of reducing social risk is regulation, leading to higher taxes and higher prices. Discuss - Essay Example Really, it is with the help of tax payments that social protection through the redistribution of social resources becomes possible. However, those who complain that social protection through regulation raises taxes and increases prices should remember that nobody is secured from various social risks, and it is through effective redistribution of social resources that individuals can insure themselves from the existing and future social risks. Social protection encompasses a series of public measures intended to reduce social risks and enhance income security of individuals (Holzmann & Jorgensen, 2000). Social protection measures rely on the payments provided by taxpayers to state budget; in other words, it is through the reallocation of limited social resources that social protection through regulation becomes possible. It is no wonder that not all taxpayers agree with the way social protection measures are provided to the vulnerable populations. However, all taxpayers should remember that they are not secured from the existing and emerging social risks (Holzmann & Jorgensen, 2000). Recent financial crises have shown that when social protection programs are not in place, individuals become extremely susceptible to the consequences of reduced GDP (Holzmann & Jorgensen, 2000). To a large extent, the presence of extensive social protection systems is both necessary and inevitable for any state or society that considers itse lf developed. Not all the people realize the principle of society-state relations. It is possible to say that society gets what it pays for, and the cost of reducing social risks is regulation, leading to higher taxes and increased prices. The latter are inevitable components of the social protection systems in the developed world. It is a reflection of the ongoing tension between the need for social protection and the overall non-affordability

Ecology Report of Brighami Rockii Essay Example for Free

Ecology Report of Brighami Rockii Essay Any region with significant level of biodiversity exposed to threat of destruction can have severe deforestation and other forms of agricultural clearing like logging, charcoal-making, etc. Due to this degradation of its ecological habitats, such region may become a home for critically endangered endemic species. Researchers have it that the less rainforest a given region has, the greater the proportion of endangered species it hosts. In Hawaii, two native plants were identified as the most critically endangered species. Brighamia rockii Brighamia insignis are endemic to the region. Both of these species are similar to each other except their respective colors. Both of them also have succulent stems that function as water storage allowing them to sustain amidst drought season. B. rockii though is different in color. It is a native plant with purple trunks that develops in its early stage, while B. insignis does not change its color at all. B. Rockii can grow spectacularly as a branched plant 1 to 5 meters tall along with its thick succulent stems that narrows from the base. It has elliptical leaves that forms and looks like the head of a cabbage. B. Rockii produces fragrant flowers that have corollas in white and anthers which are grouped in three to eight in its axils. Few of the associated species of B. rockii are Metrosideros polymorpha (ohia), Canthium odoratum (alahee), Diospyros sandwicensis (lama), Osteomeles anthyllidifolia (ulei), and Scaevola gaudichaudii (naupaka). B. Rockii is an endemic native plant that belongs to the family of bellflowers known as Campanulaceae. Its common names are alula, ‘olulu, pu aupaka and pua ‘ala. B. Rockii is also tagged with taxonomic synonyms namely, Brighamia remyi, Brighamia rockii fa. and Longiloba Known to have been extinct, this plant is only found on sea cliffs in the island of Moloka (Hannon 2002; Wagner 1999) i. Its natural habitats, however, are coastal dry forests, moist shrub lands above sea level up to 470 meters elevation. B. rockii is common to Molokai and extends to the northern part of the island – Kalaupapa to Halawa. However, just recently, it has been found out that it has become an almost died out specie in Lanai and Maui. Hand pollination for cultivated plants allows its seed production to increase because its native pollinator are also extinct. Similarly, for the Brighamia to be hand pollinated, the use of a small paint brush is needed to transfer the pollen grains. When the flowers of B. Rockii are yet a few days old, the pollen will begin to drop. The paint brush can then be used to pick up the pollens that fell onto the flower tube and place it over to another flower’s stigma. This stigma is good to receive the pollen when it appears sticky and glossy. Researchers found out that the seeds of Brighamia need the presence of light to produce and sprinkle the seeds onto the surface of a damp medium. These seeds can also be stored in a refrigerator from 2 to 3 years but its capability depreciates after 10 to 12 months. It was also found out from NTBG report ((Ragone 1993) that came out on 1993 that the seeds of Brighamia were no longer viable after it has been stored in an area with a temperature of 80 degrees F and humidity of 25 % for 1 year and 5 months (Hannon 2002; Koob 2000; NTBG 1992; Ragone 1993; Wagner 1999). The plant was believed to be extinct but was rediscovered in 1996. From its discovery, only few remained and became part of the current population estimated to run at most 5 in numbers. â€Å"No bird, butterfly, flower, tree or animal disappears alone. When they slip into extinction, they disappear with their unique genes – the building blocks of life (Dr. Norman Meyer of Oxford University). † These species, rare finds and threatened, may cease to exist even without being given a name. Yet again, Brighamia rockii is just one of the most critically endangered. There are more that are susceptible to extinction too. Still, some remained unnoticed. Perhaps, extinction is natural but if we, humans alike are hastening the process, then probably our race comes with the extinction as well. â€Å"Man has lost the capacity to foresee and forestall. He will end by destroying earth (Schweitzer 2004). † References Hannon, Dylan P. and Steve Perlman. 2002. The Genus Brighamia. Cactus and Succulent Journal 74 (2):67-76. Johnson, Margaret. 1986. Brighamia citrina var. napaliensis. Kew Magazine 3 (2):68-72. Koob, Gregory A. 2000. Cabbage on a baseball bat. Hawaii Horticulture 3 (6):9-11. National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). 1992. Alula. In Native Hawaiian plant information sheets. Lawai, Kauai: Hawaii Plant Conservation Center. National Tropical Botanical Garden. Unpublished internal papers. Ragone, Diane, (Program Coordinator). 1993. Hawaii Plant Conservation Center Collection Propagation Project: Progress Report (USFWS Grant 14-48-0001-92581). Lawai, Hawaii: National Tropical Botanical Garden.

Biblical Rhythm Essay -- essays research papers

Biblical Influences on Cry, the Beloved Country or: Cry, the Beloved Country: Like the Bible but Shorter To anyone and everyone: This is one of the great books! It reads like a lovely poem. Enjoy and reflect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  --unknown lawyer from Chicago The owner of the South Haven, Michigan bookstore The Hidden Room discovered this simple yet memorable comment written firmly on a memo card of a noted Chicago legal firm. The card was left in a copy of Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country. From his early childhood, Paton was a lover of language and a devout Christian. As he grew into a masterful poet, writer, and orator, his passions remained with him, a constant influence on his works. This is especially evident in Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton’s first and most highly esteemed novel. Cry, the Beloved Country is the story of Stephen Kumalo, an elderly black parson in a small poverty- and drought-plagued tribal village in the racially torn country of South Africa. He undertakes a journey to the corrupt, terror-ridden city of Johannesburg where he searches, both physically and emotionally, for his son Absalom, as well as his old way of life. From Paton’s use of rhythm to the names he chose for his characters, st rong Biblical influence is apparent throughout the novel. Though Paton incorporates several different oratorical styles in Cry, the Beloved County, the style of the book as a whole is frequen...

Ohio Permits Test

As per Ohio's child restraint law, children who are under the age of four and weigh less than 40 pounds must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat.  If a car approaches you with bright headlights, you must look toward the right edge of the road, to prevent being temporarily blinded.  When you vehicle starts to skid in winter due to icy road conditions, you must turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid.   You must maintain a safe stopping distance between you and the vehicle ahead by following the four- second rule. On one-way roads, yellow lines are used as: left-edge lines Passing on the left is not permitted within:   100 feet of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel When you are closely following another vehicle at night, you must use: low-beam headlights When you intend to turn, you must give the turn signal at least__________before the actual turn. 100 feet This sign with two arrows allows:   vehicles from either direction to make a left turn On one-way streets, the driver may park a vehicle parallel to and not more than__________ from the right or left curb.   25 inches This sign in construction zones indicates: a flag person If your vehicle stalls while on the tracks and a train is approaching, you must:   get out of the vehicle and run as far away from the tracks as you can When you are approached by an emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights and an audible signal, you must: immediately drive to a position parallel to the right edge or curb of the road or highway and stop It is against the law to make a left turn on red light EXCEPT: from one one-way street to another You are allowed to drive in the left lane of the highway in all of the following situations, except: * when moving slower than the posted speed limit You must use headlights when natural light conditions do not make it possible to clearly see objects __________ ahead. * 1000 feet * On a multiple-lane roadway with several lanes in one direction, you must use_________ for passing. * the middle and left lanes All regulatory devices on the road instruct you: * to stop, proceed in a certain direction, or limit your speed * Because of their size trucks/buses often need to move ________to make right turns. * to the left lane * __________ are zones around a truck or a heavy vehicle where other vehicles disappear into blind spots. No-zones When is it legal to pass another vehicle using the shoulder of a road? * You are not legally allowed to pass using the shoulder of a road * The driver of the car being passed must _________ until the pass is complete. * not increase speed * A barrier of grass, concrete or other material separating two roadways, including interstate highways is known as: * a median * When you encounter a yellow arrow signal while turning left at an intersection, you must: * clear the intersection quickly Which of the following situations are ideal for overtaking and passing another vehicle on the right? when the vehicle you are passing is making or about to make a left turn * Black on orange signs on a highway identify: * specific information and directions to drivers in work zones * To avoid a head-on collision when you see an oncoming vehicle in your lane, you must: * steer right toward the shoulder or curb-line * A vehicle's stopping distance is equal to: * the sum of the braking distance and reaction distance * When you meet a truck coming from the opposite direction, keep as far as possible to the side to avoid a sideswipe accident and to reduce the wind turbulence between the two vehicles. High-beams reflect off rain, fog and falling snow. This makes it even harder for you to see where you are going. For better visibility during these weather conditions, keep your vehicle's headlights on low-beam. * A broken white line separates two lanes travelling in the same direction. Once you have signaled and if it is safe to do so, you may cross this line when changing lanes. * If your vehicle is hit from the side, your body will be thrown toward the side that is hit. When a vehicle is struck from the side, it quickly moves sideways.Everything in the car that is not secured, including the driver and passengers, will slide toward the point of crash, not away from it. * On approaching the modern roundabout, yield to vehicles and bicyclists within the circulating roadway. Look to your left to see if there is an appropriate gap in traffic. If one is not available, you may need to stop. Always enter the roundabout to the right and proceed on the right side of the central island * Aggressive driving is the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property.If you notice a driver behind you repeatedly flashing headlights, you should not retaliate or in any way engage the other driver. Get out of the way. * When two vehicle s meet on a steep mountain road where neither can pass, the vehicle traveling downhill must yield the right-of-way by backing up until the vehicle going uphill can pass. The vehicle facing downhill has the greater amount of control when backing. * You must never begin to cross railroad tracks unless the tracks can be cleared without stopping. Never shift gears while crossing. When making a U-turn, drivers must yield the right-of-way to oncoming vehicles and pedestrians. You should never make a U-turn on a curve in the road or when approaching the crest of a hill or grade. * Large flashing or sequencing arrow panels may be used in work zones both day and night to guide drivers into certain traffic lanes and to inform them that part of the road or street ahead is closed. * If you are approached by an emergency vehicle in a roundabout, you must not stop or pull over for the emergency vehicle.You should continue on and exit as normal, then pull to the right, so there is room for the eme rgency vehicle to pass. * If the traffic signal is not operating or is malfunctioning, treat the intersection as a four way stop. The driver must come to a complete stop before moving further. * Avoid driving next to other vehicles on multi-lane roads. Someone may crowd your lane or try to change lanes and pull into you * Motorcyclists need a full lane width like other vehicles. Car drivers should never move into the same lane with a motorcycle, even if the lane is wide and the cyclist is riding to one side. An interchange is the connection of a freeway to a road or another freeway by a series of ramps. The connecting roadways allow you to leave one road and enter another safely, without disrupting the flow of traffic. * You may pass on the right only when the vehicle ahead is making a left turn or going straight. You must not pass when another vehicle is making a right turn. * When you turn your head to check the blind spots, make sure you keep the steering wheel straight; people h ave a natural tendency to turn their arms in the same direction as their head turns.

Ratio Analysis of Starbucks vs Mcdonald’s

Running Head: RATIO ANALYSIS Starbucks Corporation & McDonalds Corporation McDonald’s Corporation McDonald’s Corporation operates in the food service industry. The company has its restaurants in more than 100 countries of the world. McDonald’s, the world’s largest food chain is headquartered in U. S. having an employee population of 390000 (About McDonald's†¦ , 2008). Starbucks Corporation Seattle based, Starbucks Corporation is the leading coffeehouse chain in the world. The company has its operations in more than 44 countries. The main products offered by Starbucks various kinds of drinks, snacks, coffee beans. The company also operates in the field of marketing of music, books (The Company, 2008). Ratio Analysis Ratio Analysis (2007) RatiosStarbucksMcDonalds Current Ratio0. 790. 80 Quick Ratio0. 300. 67 Debt Equity Ratio1. 340. 92 Proprietary Ratio0. 430. 52 Solvency Ratio0. 570. 48 Inventory Turnover Ratio12. 13118. 77 Gross Profit Ratio (%)23. 3434. 69 Net Profit Ratio (%)7. 1515. 67 Return on Proprietors' Funds (%)29. 4515. 67 Earning Per Share0. 912. 06 Current Ratio Current Ratio may be defined as the relationship between current assets and current liabilities. It is also known as working capital ratio or 2: 1 ratio. It is calculated by dividing the current assets by current liabilities. The main components of this ratio are current assets and current liabilities. Current assets of a firm represent those assets which can be, in the ordinary course of business, converted into cash within a period not exceeding one year. Current liabilities mean those obligations which are to be paid within a period of one year of current assets or by creation of current liabilities (Van Horne, Wachowicz & Bhaduri, 2005). Current ratio of the Starbucks Corporation and McDonalds Corporation is . 79 and . 80 respectively in the year 2007. There is little difference in the current ratio of both the companies. The ratio reflects weak liquidity position of both the companies and it shows that the companies do not have short term solvency. Liquidity position can be improved to some extent and can be made equivalent to industry average. The industry average of current ratio is . 90: 1. Quick Ratio This ratio is also helpful in analyzing short term financial position of a business. Quick ratio is the measure of the instant debt paying ability of the business enterprise, hence it is called quick ratio (Van Horne, Wachowicz & Bhaduri, 2005). A quick ratio of 1:1 is considered as an ideal ratio. If the liquid ratio is more than 1:1, the financial position of the firm seems to be sound and good. On the other hand, if the ratio is less than 1:1 the financial position of the firm is unsound. Quick ratio of Starbucks is . 30:1 and McDonald’s ratio is . 67:1. There is high difference between the quick ratios of both the corporations. McDonald’s liquidity position is much better than Starbucks. Overall, the short term liquidity position of both the firms is quite poor because both the ratios are less than the desired norms. For instance, current ration should be 2:1 whereas, it is 1:1 approximately. Similarly the liquidity ratio is much less than 1 as compared to ideal standard of 1:1. Therefore, the companies will face difficulties in current obligations on maturity. Debt Equity Ratio This ratio indicates the relative proportion of debt and equity in financing the assets of a firm. Debt Equity ratio reflects the relative claims of creditors and shareholders against the assets of a firm. The industry average of ratio is . 42:1. Debt equity ratio of McDonalds is . 92:1 which is highly satisfactory as normally the ratio of 1:1 is considered reasonable. The Starbucks ratio is 1. 34:1 which is very high. A high debt equity ratio has serious implications from the firm’s point of view. A high proportion of debt in the capital structure lead to inflexibility in the operations of the firm as creditors would exercise pressure and interfere in management. Proprietary Ratio Proprietary ratio establishes relationship between proprietors or shareholder’s funds and total assets of the business. This ratio highlights the general financial strength of the firm. It is of great importance to creditors since it enables them to find out the proportion of shareholder’s funds in the total assets used in the business. The ratio of Starbucks is . 43:1 and for the McDonalds it is . 52:1. Though, ratios are quite similar but McDonalds again has a better position than Starbucks Corporation. Solvency Ratio This ratio measures the long term solvency of the business. It reveals the relationship between total assets and total external liabilities. This ratio measures the proportion of total assets provided by creditors of the firm i. e. what part of assets being financed from loans (Van Horne, Wachowicz & Bhaduri, 2005). The total assets of Starbucks and McDonald’s are more than total liabilities which indicates that the company is solvent. So, the higher the ratio, the grater is the amount of creditors that is being used to generate profit foe the owners of the firm. The difference in both the companies’ ratio is small but still Starbucks has better performance than McDonald’s in terms of solvency. Inventory Turnover Ratio The ratio indicates the number of times inventory is replaced during the year. It measures the relationship between the cost of goods sold and the inventory level. The inventory turnover ratio measures how quickly inventory is sold (Van Horne, Wachowicz & Bhaduri, 2005). The inventory turnover ratio of Starbucks is 12 times while McDonald’s ratio is 118 times. McDonald’s has an efficient inventory management. Whereas Starbucks has low inventory turnover ratio and it is unsatisfactory. In general, a high inventory turnover ratio is better than a low ratio. A high ratio implies good inventory management. A very low level of inventory has serious implications. It adversely affects the ability to meet customer demand as it may mot cope up with its customer requirements. Gross Profit Ratio The ratio expresses the relationship of gross profit on sales to net sales in terms of percentage (Van Horne, Wachowicz & Bhaduri, 2005). Goss profit is the result of the relationship between prices, sales volume and costs. Gross profit margin of Starbucks Corporation is 23% whereas the ratio for McDonald’s is 35%. McDonald’s ratio is high as compared to Starbucks which is a sign of good management. It implies that the cost of production of the firm is relatively low. The McDonald’s has reasonable gross margin which ensures adequate coverage for operating expenses of the firm and sufficient return to the owners of the business, which is reflected in the net profit margin. Net profit Ratio This measures the relationship between net profits and sales of a firm. The net profit margin is indicative of management’s ability to operate the business with sufficient success not only to recover revenues of the period, the cost of merchandise or services, the expenses of operating the business and the cost of the borrowed funds, but also leave a margin of reasonable compensation to the owners for providing their capital at risk (Van Horne, Wachowicz & Bhaduri, 2005). Net profit ratio of McDonald’s and Starbucks is 15. 67% & and 7. 15% respectively. McDonald’s is generating adequate returns for its owners. On the other hand, Starbucks net profit margin shows inadequate returns to its owners. Overall efficiency and profitability of McDonald’s is higher than Starbucks. Return on Proprietary Funds The ratio expresses the percentage relationship between net profit and proprietors funds or shareholder’s investment (Van Horne, Wachowicz & Bhaduri, 2005). It is used to ascertain the earning power of shareholders investment. Return on proprietors’ funds for McDonald’s is 15. 7% and for Starbucks it is 29. 5%. Starbucks has better performance and higher return than the McDonald’s. Earning Per Share The rate of dividend on shares depends upon the amount of profits darned by the firm. Whatever profit remains, after meeting all expenses and paying preference share dividend, belongs to equity shareholders (Van Horne, Wachowicz & Bhaduri, 2005). These are the profits earned on equity share capital. The earning per share is calculated by dividing the profit available to equity shareholders by the number of shares issued. This is a popular ratio as it measures the profitability of a firm from owner’s standpoint. McDonald’s EPS is higher than Starbucks which shows that the market price of the firm would be greater. It will also help the company to raise additional capital without any difficulty. This ratio plays an important in comparison of two companies from investment point of view. Investment Decision I would like to invest in McDonald’s Corporation as the overall performance and productivity is high for the firm. The liquidity analysis performed through current ratio and quick ratio reveals that the McDonald’s is better in terms of liquidity position. The company also has satisfactory position in terms of long term solvency. Though solvency ratio of Starbucks is higher but overall McDonald’s has good financial position. Firm is able to quickly convert various assets into cash. McDonald’s has high profit margins which is necessary for the higher returns to the shareholders. It shows that the resources are effectively utilized at the firm. EPS is very high which is necessary for the investment. Thus, investment in McDonald’s Corporation is beneficial and it would give higher returns. References About McDonald's†¦ (2008). Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://www. mcdonalds. com/corp/about. html McDonald's Corp: Financial Statement. (2008). MSN Money. Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://moneycentral. sn. com/investor/invsub/results/statemnt. aspx? Symbol=US:MCD&lstStatement=Balance&stmtView=Ann Starbucks Corp: Financial Statement. (2008). MSN Money. Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://moneycentral. msn. com/investor/invsub/results/statemnt. aspx? Symbol=SBUX&lstStatement=Balance&stmtView=Ann The Company. (2008). Retrieved November 19, 2008, from http://www. starbucks. co m/aboutus/overview. asp Van Horne, J. C. Wachowicz, J. M. & Bhaduri, S. N. (2005). Fundamentals of Financial Management (12th Ed. ). (pp. 130-133). United Kingdom: Pearson Education.

ON GOVERNEMNT INTERVENTION essays

ON GOVERNEMNT INTERVENTION essays The issue of the extent to which the government should intervene in the economy to protect the public interest, is an issue of great importance in todays society. This is due to a number of reasons, including that the extent to which the government intervenes in an economy determines what happens during periods of recession as well as periods of boom in a countrys economy. This issue is of great concern to citizens, with varying viewpoints on it. Some people believe that government intervention in the economy is not needed and should be avoided. They believe this to be the case because they feel that the economy functions best when it is left to its own devices, and that it works out due to the dynamic forces of supply and demand. This is also known as supply-side economics. There are others who believe that government intervention in the economy is necessary; they believe this to be the case because they feel that government involvement with the economy is important, in times of boom in the economy and especially in times of recession. In periods of recession in a countries economy, they believe that government intervention is necessary, to help stimulate the economy. This is also known as Keynesian economics. Then there is then another group of people who believe that the extent of government intervention in the economy should be somewhere i n-between the above two. They feel that while it is important for the government to intervene in a countries economy during a period of prosperity (to avoid inflation), and especially in times of recession (to stimulate the economy) the government must still ensure that there is still incentive for citizens to do well, and this can be done by ensuring that many aspects from supply-side economics are still left-over. This is what I believe is the best viewpoint on this issue Firstly, The group of people that believe that governments should not intervene ...

Cheap and Simple Desk Hacks That Will Boost Your Productivity [Video]

Cheap and Simple Desk Hacks That Will Boost Your Productivity [Video] A clean and clear desk makes for a clean and clear mindwhich, in turn, makes for better work. It sounds like nonsense, but theres no denying that clutter is distracting–if not to you, than to the people around you.Be respectful to your colleagues as well as yourself by trying out some of these no-cost desk hacks from BuzzFeedYellow.

Nursing research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

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Buddhist teachings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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