Bartleby Essay, Research Paper
Amanda Fisher
February 16, 2001
Bartleby, in Herman Melville?s short story ?Bartleby the Scrivener? is a character who lives his life in utter isolation. However, it is obvious from the story that he does affect one person?s life. The narrator of the tale, an aged lawyer, is a caring figure, though not unlike most employers, keeps his distance and rationalizes each situation. He transformation into a sympathetic and affected character results solely from his rather limited relationship with his employee, Bartleby.
When Melville describes Bartleby, he presents the man as a very innocuous, unassuming figure. ?In answer to my advertisement, a motionless young man one morning stood upon my office threshold?. I can see that figure now ? pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incredibly forlorn? (117). From the beginning, the narrator treats him no different from the rest of his staff; he is courteous, kind and treats the man with no disrespect. It is, however, obvious, the narrator is a primarily an employer. He hires Bartleby, and expects nothing more of him but to work hard. Bartleby does not disappoint either. He ?seemed to gorge himself on [the narrator?s] documents? (118).
However, there is something amiss in this situation. The man is silent. He just works, isolating himself from the office and the outside world. He almost immediately begins to respond to any request with the phrase, ?I would prefer not to? (118). At first, the narrator is obviously surprised at this response, yet also intrigued. However, he soon comes to dread those words, as they are the only ones said by Bartleby. For some reason, though, the narrator cannot let Bartleby leave. Even after Bartleby refuses to work anymore, he allows him to stay in the office, doing nothing. In doing this, the narrator has successfully moved from distant employer to concerned human. ?In plain fact, he had now become a millstone to me, not only useless as a necklace, but afflictive to bear. Yet, I felt sorry for him? (127). Although Bartleby has no reason for being in the office, his employer allows him to stay, even allowing him to live there. This is most definitely not normal office behavior. It proves the narrator does have a kind heart, and increasingly is affected by Bartleby?s passive existence as time passes.
The narrator, an apparently logical, rational man, as lawyers tend to be, goes to great lengths to avoid conflict with the silent man. He even changes offices to rid himself of Bartleby. In spite of this, and perhaps even a result of it, he becomes even more entwined with the man. ?Rid myself of him, I must.; go, he shall. But how? You will not thrust him, the poor pale, passive mortal… No, I will not, I cannot do that. Rather would I let him live and die here….? (132). Bartleby, in his solitude, has a direct impact on the narrator?s life. For most employers dealing with and employee like Bartleby, surely force and resentment would be involved. Yet, this kind hearted old man does not treat Bartleby with any negativity. This alone should prove that the narrator is not the cold, calculated individual he is so often made out to be.
As the narrator tries to remove himself from the situation with Bartleby, he finds that it cannot be so. After leaving his office to rid himself of the disconcerting presence, the landlord of his office suite is thoroughly surprised to find Bartleby has not left the premises. The first person the landlord calls upon to remedy the situation is, of course, the narrator. Grudgingly, the narrator ventures back into Bartleby?s strange world of self-isolation and desolation. After the landlord has Bartleby thrown into jail for vagrancy, the narrator is the only one to go to see him, to try to help him. However, the vast lonliness of Bartleby?s life has already reached it?s final conclusion. In a death fitting for a figure of isolation, Bartleby has been successful in killing himself. Though not by obvious means, rather by a gradual resistance to food, Bartleby dies. ?Strangely huddled at the base of the wall, his knees drawn up, and lying on his side, his head touching the cold stones, I saw the wasted Bartleby. But nothing stirred. I paused; then went up close to him; stooped over, and saw that his dim eyes were open; otherwise he seemed profoundly sleeping? (136). He, of course, has died.
The narrator of the story emerges as introspective and affected. This transformation from driving, self-concerned employer is surely not Bartleby?s intention, however, just a positive effect from an otherwise tragic existence. ?Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!? (137) sums up the story quite effectively. Humanity had failed Bartleby; he was thrust into a world that seemed to isolate him at every turn. Humanity saved the narrator; he learned tha life, above all, and ?all the quiet mysteries? (124) it contained were most important.
317
Другие работы по теме:
Melville
’s “Bartleby The Scrivener”: Introduction Of Character Essay, Research Paper Melville’s “Bartleby the Scrivener”: Introduction of Character In the first three paragraphs of ?Bartleby the Scrivener,? Melville
Bartleby The Scrivener A Strange Rlationship
Essay, Research Paper The Webster’s New World Dictionary defines “folie a deux” as “A condition in which symptoms of a mental disorder, such as delusive beliefs or ideas, occur simultaneously in two individuals who share a close relationship or association.” (231) In Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener” this concept of coinciding peculiarity, or obsession is demonstrated quite vividly throughout three different stages.
Bartleby Essay Research Paper BartlebyHumans and industrial
Bartleby Essay, Research Paper Bartleby Humans and industrial society exist in a symbiotic relationship. We produce so that society can exist, thrive and evolve and in return, we are allowed to live in that society. Through extensive contact with this complex set of laws and rules we ve learned which actions will reward our efforts and which actions will bring punishment.
Bartleby Essay Research Paper Since he will
Bartleby Essay, Research Paper Since he will not quit me, I must quit him. ?Ah Bartleby, Ah Humanity.? (Page 140, Herman Melville) This is the key to Bartleby, written by Herman Melville, for it indicates that Bartleby stands as a symbol for humanity. This in turn functions as a commentary on society and the working world, for Bartleby is a seemingly homeless, mentally disturbed scrivener who gives up on the prospect of living life.
Bartleby Essay Research Paper Society and fate
Bartleby Essay, Research Paper Society and fate often restrict individuality and freedom of choice, and Melville (in “Bartleby”) uses images of confinement, communication/lack thereof,
The Glass Meragerie Essay Research Paper The
The Glass Meragerie Essay, Research Paper ?The Glass Menagerie?, is a adorable little play written be Tennessee Williams. The play takes place in tiny apartment, behind an ally,
Characterization In Poe Hawthorne And Melville Essay
, Research Paper What makes a story different from a tale lies in the author’s choice of characterization. When we have little physical detail about the character as is Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” and Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” the story becomes more of a tale. In a tale, it is possible to remove almost all of the physical detail about the character and still achieve the same effect.
Disspossessed Essay Research Paper Text ResponseDispossessed1 The
Disspossessed Essay, Research Paper Text Response: Dispossessed 1. The reclamation of the land has had a strong impact on the lives of Liz, Len, Max and Amanda. They are a family loosing their identity struggling to accept their imminent dispossession and the optimism held by Amanda in regard to it.
Bartelby The Scrivener Essay Research Paper Herman
Bartelby The Scrivener Essay, Research Paper Herman Melville, an American novelist and major literary figure explored psychological themes in many of his works. Through his writing, Melville recreated a part of life that existed then, and is prevalent in our society today. Low self esteem along with self-perception and how others perceive us can be a factor leading to depression.
Bartelby The Scrivener Essay Research Paper Bartleby
Bartelby, The Scrivener Essay, Research Paper Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville will be the story I intend to discuss in this protocol. I intend to discuss this story in terms of four literary elements: Character symbolism, descriptive passages, irony and the novellas theme.
One Evil Summer Essay Research Paper Its
One Evil Summer Essay, Research Paper It?s finally summer and a time to do what you want and have as much fun as you can. Well that?s not the case with Amanda Conklin?s who lives in a cruel and
Special Delivery Essay Research Paper BOOK NAME
Special Delivery Essay, Research Paper BOOK NAME: Special Delivery This book is a romance novel about two people who at first hated each other and because of ones kindness became lovers. Jack Watson was 59 years old an old actor who bought a woman’s clothing store with money his uncle left him. He named the store after his nine-year-old daughter Julie.
The Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper Worlds
The Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper Worlds of Escape In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams creates a world in which the characters escape from the present situation. The characters, Laura, Amanda, and Tom Wingfield, achieve this by creating their own world in which they can escape to. Each world consists of an imaginary place where the feeling of security is present.
Glass Menagerie Essay Research Paper Who is
Glass Menagerie Essay, Research Paper Who is the Main Character in The Glass Menagerie Who is the main character in The Glass Menagerie ? This is the question that many people contemplate about since there is a number of characters who are fit for the part. To help figure out exactly who the main character is, think about what is a protagonist? A protagonist is defined as the principal character in a literary work or a leading actor, character, or participant in a literary work or real event.
Control Essay Research Paper Russ CrawfordEnglish 115Analysis
Control Essay, Research Paper Russ Crawford English 115 Analysis essay Control Control is a word that can mean a variety of things. Control can mean having power and having command over something. It can mean restraint against outside forces, as well as manipulating other forces or persons. Control can be a limitation or influence over certain things or rule over certain people.
Bartleby Essay Research Paper I prefer not
Bartleby Essay, Research Paper I prefer not to,” also tells the reader about Bartleby isolating himself. The phrase shows his lack of involvement, another form of isolation. The narrator tells the reader exactly what he did to Bartleby, very vividly, as shown below.In the novella, the author tells the reader, down to the smallest detail, what he did to Bartleby to isolate him from the world.
Herman Melvilles Bartleby The Scrivener Essay
, Research Paper Herman Melville?s Bartleby the Scrivener is perhaps more relevant today than when he wrote it in 1853. Bartleby is the account of a talented young scrivener who possesses great talent and potential in his career of duplicating and composing documents. The tale takes us to the upscale Wall Street area of New York City, among the buildings and law offices of the city.
Herman Melville S Bartleby The Scrivener
” Essay, Research Paper HERMAN MELVILLE S BARTLEBY THE SCRIVENERA STORY OF WALL STREET The title character is a Scrivener , who would do the work of a legal secretary and a typist. He is Bartleby. From the narration of the story and many of Bartelby s other characteristics he can be pictured as an old man. The entire narration speaks of the conversation between the lawyer and the scrivener.
Bartleby Essay Research Paper Bartleby The Scrivener
Bartleby Essay, Research Paper Bartleby- The Scrivener In Herman Melville s Bartleby the Scrivener , the author uses several themes to convey his ideas. The three most important themes are alienation, man s desire to have a free conscience, and man s desire to avoid conflict. Melville uses the actions of an eccentric scrivener named Bartleby, and the responses of his cohorts, to show these underlying themes to the reader.
Bartleby The Scrivener Essay Essay Research Paper
Bartleby the Scrivener Essay “Bartleby the Scrivener” is a short story written by Herman Melville. The plot is based on the character Bartleby, an office worker who decides to stop doing his work. Bartleby is thrown in prison because he does not adapt to society’s expectations. It is in prison where he dies a lonely man.
Changes In The Narrator Of Bartleby Essay
, Research Paper I believe the Narrator of Bartleby changed and grew tremendously throughout the story. The simple fact that the Narrator chose to tell of Bartleby and no one else shows us how significant Bartleby must have been to the Narrator s life. The vast spectrum of strong emotions the Narrator experiences during the short time he knows Bartleby undoubtedly color his thoughts and feelings for the rest of his life.
Bartleby Essay Essay Research Paper Bartleby EssayDiscuss
Bartleby Essay Essay, Research Paper Bartleby Essay Discuss the conflict of the individuals’ need to communicate his individual thoughts and feelings versus the desire of society’s institutions, for conformity in Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener” and Updike’s “A & P.”
Juvenile Justice System Essay Research Paper The
Juvenile Justice System Essay, Research Paper The German playwright, Schiller, once said that in good drama every good character is right. In this paper, I am going to discuss Schiller’s comment with regard to Amanda Wingfield, Laura Wingfield, and Tom Wingfield.
Bartelby Essay Research Paper In the working
Bartelby Essay, Research Paper In the working community there is no time to do anything that isn?t work related. There is nothing more required from you other than to be obedient to your boss and to work efficiently so the company can do well. According to one of Benjamin Franklin?s thirteen virtues of industry, he said that one should: ?Lose no time.
Tennessee Williams S The Glass Menagerie Essay
, Research Paper In Tennessee Williams s original script of The Glass Menagerie, he explains that there is much to admire in Amanda, and as much to love and pity as there is to laugh at. This statement explains Tom s view of Amanda at that point in time. He feels that she admirable, lovable, capable of being laughed at, and felt pity for at the same time.
Glass Menagerie 2 Essay Research Paper Glass
Glass Menagerie 2 Essay, Research Paper Glass Menagerie Everyone has their own little world in which they indulge themselves in whether it be real or just a fantasy. In The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, everyone in the play experiences their own little world, and the shock it is to be thrown from it.
Bartleby
– I Prefer Not To Essay, Research Paper Dustin Mills English 102 Dr. Elizabeth Sachs Essay #2 ” I prefer not to,” “I prefer not to,” also tells the reader about Bartleby isolating himself. The phrase shows his lack of involvement, another form of isolation. The narrator tells the reader exactly what he did to Bartleby.
A Comparison Of Melville
’S Moby Dick And Bartleby Essay, Research Paper Herman Melville’s stories of Moby Dick and Bartleby share a stark number of similarities and differences. Certain aspects of each piece seem to compliment each other, giving the reader insight to the underlying themes and images. There are three concepts that pervade the two stories making them build upon each other.
An AllImportant Introduction Essay Research Paper In
An All-Important Introduction Essay, Research Paper In the first three paragraphs of ?Bartleby the Scrivener,? Melville introduces a character who will be played upon and defined throughout his text. This introduction is crucial to the story and the fact that the lawyer introduces himself greatly increases its effectiveness.
Case Study Essay Research Paper Case Study
Case Study Essay, Research Paper Case Study : Media ups and downs Summary: The Australian made midday television program ?Day time with Amanda? first aired in 1993, showing good ratings and high advertising revenue during its early stages.