ANALYZE THE CORPORATE STRATEGY AND OPERATING ENVIRONMENT Essay

ANALYZE THE CORPORATE STRATEGY AND OPERATING ENVIRONMENT - Essay Example A business responds to its operating environment through the corporate strategy. Strategies need to be monitored with care with regular reviews and adjustments to make sure that they are focused on the accomplishment of organizational objectives. They involve the utilization of human resources and finances in a particular period of time through a comprehensive scheme that is targeted at achieving the business corporate goal. This paper is a critical analysis of the corporate strategy and operating environment. HRM actions that can improve the organization’s effectiveness have been discussed. Factors that can affect the operations of the business in a foreign country in comparison to the U.S. have been highlighted. There are several HRM actions that can contribute to the company being more effective and efficient. These include; flexible working, career development through training and upgrading the skills of supervisors. Flexibility can be achieved through various ways. These include policies on flexible hours. Flexibility of working hours allows fulfillment amongst the employees within the place of work as well as outside. This is usually beneficial to the business through improved productivity amongst the employees, which is attributed to job satisfaction. The employees are able to take care of family obligations as well as those of the work place (Bratton, and Gold, 2007). In that state, it is most likely that they will be more productive than working under tight schedules that do not allow them to take any other responsibility outside the paid work. The needs of employees towards work life balance are specific to individuals. These usually depend on the age, marital status, gender and oth er such factors (Bach, 2005). High productivity in employees is attributed to job satisfaction. Productivity in employees results when managers ensure flexibility in their objectives and careful analysis

Answer questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 12

Answer questions - Essay Example Here, issues of bank overdraft are nonexistent and the business is in a good business shape. An example of when underlying circumstances may be such that the accounts receivable turnover increases one period to the next and is favorable is when the accounts receivable turnover has a high value, which shows that there is an improvement in the process of collecting cash on credit sales. An example of when underlying circumstances may be such that the accounts receivable turnover increases one period to the next and is unfavorable is when the accounts receivable turnover has a lower figure that indicated inefficiencies in collection of credit sales. A example of when the underlying circumstances may be such that the accounts payable turnover increases from one period to the next is favorable is when a company is paying its suppliers longer than it should take. This means that the company is taking advantage of discounts that come with early payment. Credit analysis refers to the method used to investigate whether a company has the financial ability to repay its obligations. It is done through the development of classification-based approach that seeks to differentiate potential defaulters from non-defaulters. The basics of credit analysis can be understood through five C’s that include character, capacity, capital, collateral and conditions. The first C, character, refers to the general impression the customer has on the prospective investor or lender. The lender comes up with a subjective opinion regarding whether the company or client can be trusted to repay a loan or generate a return from the funds that are invested into the firm. The background of the company and the experience in its particular field of business are issues that must be considered including issues of employee experience, and the quality of the references given

Criminal Justice Budget Essay Example for Free

Criminal Justice Budget Essay Harris County, in Houston Texas, contains a pretty large population, and a large majority of that population classified as home owners. Harris county’s geographic size is considerably large, with a population estimate exceeding 3,935,855 peoples in 2007 (US Census Bureau, 2009). Furthermore, the percentage of Caucasians is around 73. 6%, with the Black population consisting of 18. 9%, Native Americans exceeding . 6%, Asian persons around 5. 5% and lastly the Hispanic population being around 38. 6% (US Census Bureau, 2009). The land area per 200 square miles is 1,728. Harris County’s current federal spending budget for the year of 2007 is around 21, 152, 659. When determining a budget for Harris County, one important aspect to consider is the county’s retail sales, which is around 39,358,036, displaying the current of industry and economic growth. The federal government spent over 19 billion dollars in 2003 on the war on drugs, at a rate of about 600 dollars per second (www. drugsense. org). The total amount of money spent on the war on drugs at the federal level is about 4,258,600,939, while at the state level 6,536,936,825, totaling over 10,800,600,300 dollars (www. drugsense. com). The failed war on drugs has not stopped drug usage, on the contrary, it has made criminal cartels rich by illegalizing drugs, thus giving them a product to sell, and increased not only the availability and potency of drugs, but, also their rate of usage across the country. For example, after the US has spent over 500 billion dollars to fight drugs, cocaine is now as cheap as it was when kingpin Escobar died and more heavily used, furthermore, methamphetamine, which was barley even a problem in the years following 1993, is now used by over 1. 5 million Americans and is proven to be more addictive than crack (Wells, 2007). The war on drugs has put over 500,000 people behind bars for drug crimes with no discernable effect on the drug trafficking industry, if anything; it has grown (Wells, 2007). When preparing a budget for Harris County, the most important thing that could be done is ending the failed war on drugs, which would save tax payers an estimated 12 billion dollars or more a year. Furthermore, instead of focusing a majority of the states federal budget on building more prisons begin building more universities, and residential communities. I find it interesting to note that the annual cost to tax payers in California to keep and maintain their prisons is around 10 billion per year, if this spending trend continues; California will be spending more on prisons than on universities (Abramsky, 2007). In ending the war on drugs, with the billions that would be saved, tax cuts, business incentives, and an overall increase in the standard of living for the community. Furthermore, instead of building prisons, states could build real, industry that produces’ real goods. References Wells, Ben (2007) How America Lost the War on Drugs Rolling Stone retrieved on March 16, 2009 from http://www. rollingstone. com/news/story/17438347/how_america_lost_the_war_on_drugs Abramsky, Sasha (2007) Prison Crisis: Will California Spend more on jails than Universities? Rights and Liberties retrieved on March 16, 2009 from http://www. alternet. org/rights/65868/? page=entire US Census Bureau (2009) State and County quick facts The US Census Bureau on March 16, 2009 from http://quickfacts. census. gov/qfd/states/48/48201. html Unknown Author (2009) Drug War Clock Drug Sense retrieved on March 16, 2009 from http://www. drugsense. org/wodclock. htm

Talibinization And The Security Threat For Pakistan Politics Essay

Talibinization And The Security Threat For Pakistan Politics Essay A fundamentalist Muslim movement whose militia took control of much of Afghanistan from early 1995 and in 1996 took Kabul and set up an Islamic state. The Taliban were overthrown by US-led forces and Afghan groups in 2001 following the events of September 11  [1]  . In generic terms, the word Taliban is derived from Talib (a student) which means the one who seeks for knowledge. According to Pashto language, Taliban generally denotes the students who are studying in deeni (religious) madrassas. The term Talibanization generally used to be perceived as a process being implemented at the religious centers in terms of imparting religious education to students (Taliban)  [2]  . The modern kingdom of Afghanistan was founded in 1747.  [3]  It was Great Britain and Russia who, in 1893, agreed, between themselves, that the river Oxus should be the northern frontier of Afghanistan. In 1893 the Durand Line was established by Sir Mortimer Durand to demarcate boundaries between Russia and British Empire.  [4]  The Talibans are considered as Islamic extremist students, who believe in rigid values of Islam and have firm belief on Quran and Sunnah. Taliban prefer the implementation of Shariat law in Islamic countries and make stress to lead life according to the teaching of Islam. During their rule ethnic and Islamic minorities were cleansed and development was all but ceased as the youth were turned out of secular education to memorize the Quran and female forced out of public life altogether.  [5]   Talibans tradition mentioned their creation as a reaction of the injustice that was practice during the mujahedeen era of Afghan politics. The high degree of social injustice with women was seen in Afghanistan. At some point it is assumed Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) came to notice villages Mullah and his rag-tag bunch of Islamic student/fighters (Taliban) began go land support  [6]  . The danger to the Taliban is that the Pashtun centrist may be acquiescent to cooperation in a new Afghanistan, and that the jihadist with a more global view may be marginalized into criminals and simple terrorists. Talibinization refers to the political and social process following or imitating the political system, religious laws and life style of Taliban. The process of Talibanization in tribal areas was gradual and they were successful in establishing parallel justice and administrative systems. Taliban leaders statements suggested that their agenda was to enforce their system not only in FATA or NWFP but all over the country. The Taliban matured into a full-fledged insurgent movement within four to five years.  [7]  The short-term objective of the Taliban was to initiate a Taliban insurgency in Pakistan and a counterinsurgency in Afghanistan for the US-led occupation forces through jihad and to enforce a new social, political and economic order based on their ideology or interpretation of Islam. Immediately after 9/11, the United Nation responds to the emerging situation and builds a consensus to fight against the religious militants. In 2001 Afghan War established against Taliban and A l Qaida. During this war the US was backed by large number of states and was given the right to take action under UN Charter, Chapter 7, Article 51 which recognizes the inherit right of individual or collective self defense if an arm attack occur.  [8]   Pakistan strategically linked with Afghanistan. Pakistan is bordered by Afghanistan in west and India in east. Since the late 1970s Afghanistan has suffered brutal civil war in addition to foreign interventions in the form of the 1979 Soviet invasion and the 2001 U.S. invasion. When we see Pakistans security dilemma, it is necessary to analyze the Afghanistan complex situation, the resistance movement, afghan civil war, afghan refugee problem, Talibanization, and then evaluate the security situation.  [9]   Pakistan is a Muslim religion with weapon and has a long rival potential enemy with India since 1947. Pakistan is the front line state of American anti-terror war and important Muslim country Pakistan had many aspects to study. Strategically it had been noted that Afghanistan and Pakistan are two nations which have the most strategic impact on the current anti terror war. The notion of Talibinization not only combines the two nations together in real politics but also helps us understand the political and social development in the North Western border of Pakistan. The Pakistan sided tribal areas are natural home for Taliban. The could not only grab political power in Afghanistan and increase their own impact, but also have a large number of support from radical religious student and can be protected by tribal elders and the mosques while the government of US, Pakistan and Afghanistan could do nothing at all. Talibinization in tribal area of Pakistan can figure deeply down to the comp licated ethnic and religious conflicts and the relationships between federal and local governments within border and shows the internal reasons why the anti terror wars have had little effect in Afghanistan. It would also offer a reference for the China-Pakistan relationship. The Talbinization is not limited to the tribal areas of the FATA. Since 2006, it spread deeper towards north of Pakistan. We have also seen the incident of Lal Masjid took place in Islamabad in July 2007 shows that Taliban is trying to enter the heart of the city. After 2007, the government has sent more than ten thousand soldiers to Swat Region; Pakistan Military has killed more than 130, while the local resident suffered no small loss. The Lal Masjid event shows the end of alliances between military and mullahs since the 1980s. Lal Masjid has played two roles in promoting national policies First one is to organize the mujahedeen to resist the soviet invasion in Afghanistan and launch attack against India. Sec ond one is to support the Saudi funded Sunni Islamists against the Iranian backed Shiite groups in sectarian conflicts. In 2008 the impact of Islamic militant was spreading in most parts of Pakistan. Undoubtedly the Talibanization is not only the unique political and social phenomenon in FATA, but also a major issue for the whole Pakistan.  [10]  Pakistan is today facing four dangerous allegations and one of them is that we are being responsible for giving rise to terrorism in Afghanistan from our tribal areas. Moreover, a new generation of militant is comprised of battle-hardened jihadis with fewer allegiances to religious and tribal leaders and customs. One western press report called Pakistans Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) the most ungoverned, combustible region in the world, and an unrelenting surge in Islamist-related violence in Pakistan has some observer fearing a total collapse of the Pakistani state  [11]  . The so-called Pakistani Taliban and Pakistan i-based al-Qaeda has emerged in Pakistan since 2004. Initially, the Talibanization gathered in the North and South Waziristan area, and later spread to Bajur area in the northern part of FATA. Pakistani Taliban forces are also constantly growing and expanding in agencies such as Momand, Aurakzai and Kurram etc, which were relatively stable areas before. Suicide bombing within Pakistan has increased in 2008. CID Director Hayden said in March 2008 that the situation on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border presents a clear and present danger to Afghanistan, to Pakistan, and to the West in general, and the United State in particular. He agreed with other US top officials who believe that possible future terrorist attack on the US homeland likely would be originate from that region  [12]  . Moreover, frustration is developing in the region regarding the extended presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan. While we witness an increase in drone attacks inside the tribal areas and the social control of Taliban is expanding with the passing of each new day. Another main reason is that the democratic government, political parties and civil societies have yet to come out of the shock the Musharaf regime had imposed. At that time Pak Army is fighting in tribal areas against Taliban. Except navy all departments of armed forces are being utilized in this war. Pakistan faces double-edged media propaganda, internally as well as externally. The popular national press is very critical of Pakistans counterinsurgency collaboration with the US and the West. And the international press is doubtful about Islamabads operational efforts. The national and international media are oversimplifying the complex nature of the insurgency and its regional dimensions. This is fueling misperceptions among the international community about the issue and hurts Pakistans diplomatic efforts to find a comprehensive solution. Statement of Problem: The rise of Talibanization had created a great threat to the security of Pakistan. Significance of Studies The Issue of security causes a widening gape between the developed and developing countries. The importance of this study is that currently Pakistan is facing a great security threat from Taliban and after 9/11 it is a front line state against terrorism. Today the Taliban and al Qaeda insurgencies are equally active in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Severe threats are faced by Pakistan in the past era due to its border with Afghanistan. And Pakistans participation in 1989 during Soviet invasion in Afghanistan had spread Talibanization in Pakistan. This study tells that how the Talibanization concept had started and emerged in Pakistan in past eras due to the past blunders and how Pakistan had to face severe damage after 9/11. The United States claimed that FATA and some adjoining areas were serving as a safe haven for Al-Qaeda leadership and command and control of this leadership provide a source of reinforcement for the Taliban who crossed into Afghanistan to attack the American-led coal ition forces, including ISAF and NATO. Al Qaida had got firm grip over Pakistan territory and created a danger situation in the region. Pakistans security threat and perception can easily be understood by this study. This study enables one to understand the pattern of Talibanization in Pakistan clearly and focuses on the security related domestic threats and problems confronted by Pakistan. So the research study will identify the security problem in Pakistan caused by talibanization. Hypothesis: Talibanization is adversely affecting the security of Pakistan. Dependent Variable: Talibanization Independent Variable: Security of Pakistan Literature Review: Talibanization in the tribal area of Pakistan taken from Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (in Asia) Vol 1.4 No1, 2010 by Wang Lian, Institute of IR, Peking University. It tells that how corrupt government and political structure had led to spread of talibanization in Pakistan. It tells that talibanization is an extremist, armed violence and mass participation which will seriously affect the political stability in Pakistan and is a great challenge. Aryana Institute for Regional Research Advocacy AIRRA. Emerging scenario of talibanization in the region: is there to be a spring offensive? AIRRA Special Edition/Analytical Report by Khadim Hussain and Mohammad Arif. In the article the author tells about how talibanization emerges in the region and what consequences in the region are. It urges all the state holders to cooperate in elimination of terrorism. An overview of Domestic Threats. Constraints to Pakistans Security written by Mubeen Adnan tell about the domestic security challenges and threats which Pakistan is facing. The paper generally focuses on the security related domestic threats and problems confronted by Pakistan. Tracing the domestic dynamics of the threats/constraints confronted, the paper examines the consequential repercussions for the security of Pakistan. To eliminate these threats Pakistan needs development in political social as well as in economical fields. CRS Report for Congress: Islamist Militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region and U.S. Policy November 21, 2008 by K. Alan Kronstadt (Specialist in South Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division) and Kenneth Katzman (Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs Foreign Affairs Defense, and Trade Division). In this article security threat for Pakistan from Afghanistan is discussed as well as US policy any some measures are also discussed. It also discusses the militant activities increasing in western Pakistan. A Break from The Past: Trends in Pakistans Security Policy After 9/11, Shabana Fayyaz; SASSU Research Paper No. 2, August 2005.in this article writer discusses the reason that why Pakistan ally itself with America after 9/11 and what were the policy changes of Pakistan, major disputes which effects the security of Pakistan as well. It also discusses some aspects of Pakistans foreign policy changing trends during 9/11 and the role of leadership as well. How leader changes their vision for policy making is also presented in this journal. Relevance of Study: This study tells about the rise of Taliban which causes security threat for Pakistan. In this research proposal it is critically examined that due to sharing same border with Afghanistan and entering of Taliban in tribal areas of Pakistan, the Pakistans western borders were active in fomenting trouble inside Pakistani territory. The Taliban have reacted by resorting to suicide bombings that have rendered military personnel, defense installations and public places unsafe. The investigations into various incidents of the suicide bombing have revealed that, along with FATA and NWFP, the southern Punjab has become the breeding ground of suicide bombers. The process of Talibanization is likely to get strengthened if the random use of force by the Pakistani troops continues. The killing of innocent people, including women and children, is fast estranging the Pashtoon population from the state. While foreign troops are fighting revolts in this area, people are able to cross the border into Afghanistan from tribal areas of Pakistan. There are a lot of Kashmiri-based resistance organizations that have links with the Taliban in Afghanistan. These organizations include Lashkar e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad, and these have been added to the U.S State Department list of terrorist groups. NATO and U.S officials have increased their pressure on Pakistan to do more in the war against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Missile strikes in Pakistan launched by armed, unmanned American Predator Aircraft have been a notorious method in remote region of Pakistan. Such drone attacks Violate Pakistani airspace on a daily bases. War on Terror was imposed on Pakistan. Therefore without regional cooperation and constant military means the task of expelling the Taliban from power in Afghanistan could not have been achieved. Methodology: Primary sources mean that it is original article or book created by an individual or sometimes a group of people. In simple terms primary sources come firsthand from the source or person. In my research I have not used the primary source because of lack of resources. Secondary sources are sources that are written about primary sources. Secondary sources analyze, interpret, and discuss information about the primary source. Secondary Sources include journal articles, books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, reviews, newspaper articles, specific essays, etc. I have used secondary source, and have taken much of my research data and ideas from news papers articles, reviews and journals articles. Division of Chapters: Chapter 1: Talibanization, a concept and its emergence In first chapter the meaning of the term Taliban its general perception and how they emerge in the region are discussed briefly. It focuses on the main issues which created social injustice between common people and the intervention of different states in internal matters of Afghanistan, which give a way to Rise of Taliban in the region. It is also discussed here what were the mission of Taliban and how they imposed law and order in the region during their rule. Chapter 2: Talibanization in Pakistan In chapter 2 it is briefly described that how Pakistan is strategically linked with Afghanistan and how this link create destability in Pakistan. The coalition between Pakistan and United State After major event of 9/11 in War against terrorism and at the result of this coalition emergence of Talibanization in the tribal areas of Pakistan is also the main theme of this chapter. Chapter 3: Talibanization in Pakistan created Security threat for Pakistan In this chapter internal and external security threats that Pakistan is facing today due to talibanization is discussed. It also focuses on that Talibanization has spread more and more into the tribal area of Pakistan and is mainly represented as an extremist, armed violence and mass participation, which will seriously affect the political stability and security in Pakistan Chapter 4: Conclusion The main security threat which Pakistan faced from emergence of Taliban to onward is the main frame of this chapter. Conclusion To sum up, it is obvious that talibanization in Afghanistan and in tribal areas of Pakistan appears to be enduring and threaten the territorial integrity of the Pakistani state. From the time of Taliban emergence in Pakistan to onward they began to warm up their muscle in areas which affects Pakistan internally as well. Suicide bombing in major cities of Pakistan, attacks on security and intelligence officers, Swat operation, and incident of Lal Masjid are the major events that affect the Pakistans national integrity. At the same time, the violation of Pakistani airspace by the US drones in search of militant hideouts and missile attacks on suspected targets became more frequent. The military action in the Pashtoon areas has reduced our once proud national army to the position of Para-military operating against its own people and that suits others more than Pakistans own State Interest. It is not only a risk for Pakistans strategic interests but many regional and global powers also w ant to secure their interests in this area. In the whole country there is security high alert against any act of terrorism. When will this war end this is unpredictable now.

Hank Williams Jr. :: essays research papers

Hank Williams Jr. Hank Williams, Jr. was meant to be a superstar from the day he was born. His father, the legendary Hank Williams, and mother, Audrey Sheppard, both played an intricate part in his early stardom. Hank had to overcome many obstacles in his life including escaping from his father's shadow and a near death experience in 1975. Hank's many triumphs, and his ability to overcome setbacks, have propelled him to a legendary status. Born May 26, 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Randall Hank Williams, Jr. was destined to become a star. Tragically, his father died on New Years day, 1953, at the young age on twenty nine ("Official Home Page," Biography). However, his mother, a country singer in her own right, helped Hank Jr. start one of the earliest, and most successful, childhood careers in country music history. Hank appeared on stage for the first time at the young age of eight. Hank appeared on the Grand Ole Opry at the age of eleven, singing his father's songs in his father's style. At the age of fourteen Hank recorded his first album, a hit rendition of his father's "Lone Gone Lonesome Blues." At an age when most young boys are playing Little League baseball or football, Hank was learning the piano from Jerry Lee Lewis, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, and performing before crowds of up to twenty thousand. In 1969, Hank teamed up with Johnny Cash to perform in the largest country concert to date. In 1970, Hank signed the biggest recording contract in the history of MGM Records. As proud as he was of being the son of Hank Williams, Hank got tired of being in his father's shadow. In high school, known as "Rockin' Randall," Hank played contemporary rock, however, that had to be kept secret from all his traditional country fans. He also liked to listen to rhythm and blues, however, these types of music were looked down on by many in Nashville. Later in his career, Hank even released a couple of rock singles under the name Bo Cephus on Verve Records, a subdivision of MGM. The split between what he wanted to do and what he was expected to do , along with his long-term alcohol and drug abuse, developed into a downward spiral of his career that led to a 1974 suicide attempt. In early 1975, Hank recorded "Hank Williams, Jr. and Friends," his first true step to escaping his father's shadow and the past. Although the album was a success, MGM wanted him to return to the style that would keep his longtime

The Philosophy of Teaching Essay -- Education Teachers School Essays

My Philosophy of Teaching Philisophical teaching stratigies include the following disciplines, essentialism, existentialism, and many others. Of these stratigies the philisophicla approaches each include a distinct direction in the style and type of learning taking place. Lessons should include these philisophical teaching stratigies within there designed properties. Although all of the stratigies may be able to incorporate all learning disciplines and learning styles a lesson does not need to contain the entire array of philisophical stratigies. Informitive lessons may take place without all stratigies invovled. William Bagley's essentialsim is one of the philisophical styles which I find to be a large protion of the melting pot which I agree to. The essentialsim style is a basic philisophcial idea pertaining largely to math, science, history, and literature. This style of basic fundamentals can create a strong backbone of learning and knowledge. The essentialsim philosophy not only provides the student with a background in many disciplines and views, it also offers the student more. The student also gains by essentialism due to its influence of character. This building and concentration of character allow students not only to gain knowledge , but respect and confidense. Although this style is not my soul reliance. Essentialsim also focus's on the teacher more heavily. The idea follows the style of a larger group learning enviornment. This mass style learning allows for less individual attentiona nd intsruction. Not all students learn in mass groups and not all students require personal attention, thus the blend off other disciplined styles must be required. Essen... ... usefullness which it provides students. The curriculum is advantageous to the students as well as society, becuase it allows them to learn from previous mistakes and achievments and install those into their lives. My future educational goals after graduation are somewhat unorthadox in style compared to that of the average post graduate.Many graduates seek to continue their higher education at an institution where a masters or phd can be earned. I plan to recieve my post graduate studies at an institution of much lower levels. The curriculum I plan on teaching will provide a prfound and invaluable post graduate studies program for me. The actions of daily teaching coupled with the problem solving situations of daily school activities will engrain in me an understanding and furthured education which no higher educational institution can provide.

How Successfully Does Marlowe portrayal of Faustus Essay

How Successfully Does Marlowe portrayal of Faustus reflect the attitudes and beliefs of Elizabethan times? Christopher Marlowe lived in a time of great change for England and the whole of Europe. New developments in the field of science were overturning ancient ideas about astronomy and physics and the discovery of the Americas had transformed the European views of the world. Christian and pagan beliefs interacted with each other in rich and often illogical ways, and signs of that complicated interaction are present in many of Marlowe’s works. We see the idea’s of Renaissance Europe through Dr Faustus in Dr Faustus. Doctor Faustus is a play of deep questions concerning morality, religion, and man’s relationship to both. Sorcery and magic were part of widespread belief systems throughout Europe that predated Christianity. These early beliefs about magic were present in medicine. Women in particular used a mix of magic and herbal medicine to treat common illnesses. But as Christianity spread and either absorbed or rejected other belief systems, practitioners of magic came to be viewed as evil. These themes are presented in Doctor Faustus especially the idea of religion. Many religious themes base don Elizabethan views are presented in the play. Pride is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, arguably the one that leads to all the others. Faustus’ first great sin is pride and he does not stop there. Reflecting the Elizabethean view, pride gives rise to all of the other sins, and ends ironically with the sinner’s downfall. This is clearly shown in Faustus. Dr. Faustus is a man possessed by himself, and blinded by his own intellect. By making a deal with the devil, Faustus trades his soul for satisfaction, and a greater field of study. He is selfish–wanting knowledge, power, and fun without having to work or take responsibility for it. As result of his selfish desires, he signs a contract with his blood trading his soul for his desires, eternal peace for eternal anguish, thus beginning his hardships which leads to him committing the other 6 sins becoming increasingly petty and low. Like Christian belief that it is Pride which lead for the Devil to be exiled from heaven, it to is behind Faustus’ downfall. Elizabethans had a strong view on hell. Hell was developed throughout the Medieval and Tudor times by the church to scare the ordinary people. It was widely believed that Hell is eternal, but so is heaven. For a Christian, all that is necessary to be saved from eternal damnation is acceptance of Jesus Christ’s grace. This belief can be shown in Faustus as early as Scence 3 where Faustus signs away his soul. Even after signing away his soul to the devil, Faustus has the option of repentance that will save him from hell. But once he has committed himself to his own damnation, Faustus seems unable to change his course. This of course leads to his damnation in the last Act. The play emphasizes the idea that if you turn away from God you will be damned. The play also however gives a different idea of what hell is. It was believed at the time that hell was a place and images of fire etc were widely used to show what it looked like. Marlow however gives us the view that it is just separation from God that is Hell. This is shown through Metatopholis in Act 1 Sc 3 when Faustus asks him how come he has left Hell. The idea of of a time of discovery took off in a major way when Dr Faustus was being written. Amrlow makes several references to this idea throughout the play. New lands were discovered by explorers like Christopher Columbus. A great deal of enthusiasm and optimism was generated by the fact that the world had quite literally become a much bigger place. When Fautus talks about what he wishes to do with his power in Act 1 Sc 1 Line 83 Fautus declares he intends to send spirits to â€Å"search all corners of the new-found world.† He also sends Met. To the other side of the world to fetch the Duchess some grapes in Act 4. This shows that like the scholars at the time Faustus to ahs an interest in exploration and discovery. Fautus also has an interest in expanding his knowledge. At the beginning of the book Fautus is alking to himself about what knowledge he wishes to have. He rejects a range of preoffessions including that of a Physican and lawyer. These professions were at the time seen as the â€Å"magicians† of their time. They were the well-educated people and at the time these people were behind the new ideas and the first stirrings of the scientific revolution. Copernicus proposed that the earth was in motion and orbited the sun, opposing all previous thinking on the subject. In Dr. Fautus in Act 2 Sc 3 Met. Tells Fautus the Renaissance view on the Universe. Marlowe was probably agreeing with them hence why he out it into his play. The idea of Faustus rejecting the profession he lists in Act 1 Sc 1 symbolizes the Elizabethan break with the medieval world, which prized authority above all else, in favor of a more modern spirit of free inquiry, in which experimentation and innovation trump the assertions of Greek philosophers and the Bible. Elizabethans believed they could achieve above what was realistically possible. This is verified in the introduction to Scene 1, where the story of Icarus is told. The story shows the consequences of over-ambition, and tells you what will happen to Faustus. Scene 1 also shows the Elizabethan need for extravagance, money and fame, lines 14-15 show how Faustus wants gold, and to be immortalized Alchemy was a complex of beliefs and ideas that involved chemistry, astrology and magic, with the scope to blend in ideas drawn from various religions. Magic was a theme that was explored in various plays at the Elizabethean time. Shakespeare was fascinated by magic and this is evident from his plays such as, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet and Macbeth. In his play Dr Faustus, Marlowe warns us of the dark power inherent in magic. Faustus sells his soul to the devil in return for knowledge and worldly success but his dream is eventually shattered. For Marlowe magic is a downright dangerous practise. He was here expressing the common belief that unlike the good magic praticsed by scholars and physicans Black magic was a dangerous place to go and that the occult could lead to a life of damnation. Throughout the play Faustus shows a keen interest in the occult In the opening of Act 1 Scene 3 we the audience see Faustus conjuring a devil. In Elizabethan times spells, folklore, superstition were a normal part of life. This is shown in Line 7-‘Seeing thou hast prayed and sacrificed to them’, where Faustus prepares for his conjuring act. It is ironic that he prays, as he does not believe in God. Following this ritual, he draws a circle around himself, to keep evil spirits from harming him. This is ironic once more, as he is conjuring the devil at the same time- who is surely the most evil spirit possible. The entire conjuring scene is set to challenge religion, as many Elizabethans did. This may have been because the religion is England at the time was very unstable and Elizabethan’s had to compel to what ever religion the law enforced on them. It is not just the Renaissance period Faustus highlights in his play. He also wrote a play he knew would appeal to his audience. The use of slapstick comedy in the play during such scene as making a mockery of the pope and his head falling off would have appealed to the lower uneducated class masses that he would have expected to view his plays. He wrote a simple humor for simple people to understand.