For the first assignment of the semester, I have decided to
use the following thesis from our options:
"Bartleby is the hero of Melville's story in his
refusal to participate in a workplace that represents the sad, dreary
atmosphere of a bureaucratic, industrialized society. He is the only one
standing up to a society that is increasingly oppressive to workers."
This thesis seems to be an overview of Bartleby's life and
how he differs from the other workers of the world, including the law-copyists
he works with, Turkey and Nippers. Where Turkey and Nippers have their own way
of dealing with their life, with a mood-changing way, Bartleby is consistent in
the way he presents himself, from beginning his employment proving to be a hard
worker and knowledgeable of what he is doing, to a non-compliant, yet
politically correct employee.
Although Bartleby passes on at the end of the story, Bartleby's
spirit passed long before he was welcomed into the law-copyist position he was
granted at No. Wall-Street.
I thought Bartleby started as a hard worker also and then maybe he was over worked and burned out to quick but how could that be because it only took about 3 days before he started refusing to do his work. He did do it in a polite way but I couldn't imagine in today's world him keeping his job for long. I agree with you that his spirit died before his person did.
ReplyDeleteHey there Darcy! I read your rough draft and it looks like your off to a good start. Only thing I didn't nessecarily agree with was when you said "Bartleby is consistent in the way he presents himself." I personally thought the opposite...I thought at the beginning of the story, wow what a great worker! Then when he decided to work or not work whenever he felt like it, I totally questioned his personality and was thrown off by his odd behavior. This is totally my own opinion, I'm just saying this is the way I perceived the story. My favorite part of your writing was when you said "Bartleby's spirit passed long before he did". Which I thought was a beautiful way of putting it. I think your paper is gona be great!
ReplyDeleteI really liked the way that you portrayed your stance on this thesis topic choice. I personally didn't think that it was so much about the fact that workers were mistreated and he was the one to stand up to it. I believed it was about the frailty of life in a time when generosity even at its best wasn't enough. The narrator wasn't cruel and didn't work him harder than Bartleby wanted to work. He was very kind to him and even tried to help find a family member or friend of the quiet scrivener to make sure that he had somewhere to go.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that someone can see such a completely different story in this. You have pretty much went the complete opposite direction that I did. Really swell can't wait to see the finished thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with him being consistent in presenting himself until he becomes non-compliant but still politically correct. Even at that point in some ways he is still being politically correct. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with your views on this story and this thesis. I had a very similar thought and idea about the story when it came to Bartleby's non-compliance with the normal workplace.
ReplyDeleteDarcy,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Bartleby is consistant with his preferences. Consistancy was one thing lacking in the law office until Bartleby began working there. I felt as though Bartleby's constant "I prefer not to" and his strange behavior changes the narrator and his views of society and of his employees. The narrators wish for consistancy, becomes his source of trouble.
I definitely feel what you mean when you say his spirit had already passed. The "sequel" explains some of Bartleby's past, but it is said that it might not be accurate. What might be more accurate is that Bartleby had already worked at similar jobs for a long time and just grew tired of the work. It would explain how he was so great at it to start off with.
ReplyDeleteHello Darcy,
ReplyDeleteI liked how you stated that Bartleby passed on at the end of the story but his spirit left long before he worked for the narrator. At first Bartleby’s personality is that he is a hard-working employee but later on he changes where he does not work at all and says that he would prefer not to. Using the differences between Turkey and Nippers compared to Bartleby in how they were in the workforce is a great point for this particular thesis! Good job.
I really liked your view on Bartleby. I especially appreciated the thought that his spirit had died prior to the start of the story. This is a view I had not considered, but now that I stop and think about it, I find this view interesting and accurate.
ReplyDeleteAngie