Bartleby the Scrivener

This is really interesting because at first I did not understand the story. Barleby a man that basically refused to do work. In my opinion, it felt like he was going against society and how everything followed a certain style or pattern and it was just probably bored of it. In the Story, he quotes “For the first time in my life a feeling of overpowering stinging melancholy seized me. Before, I had never experienced aught but a not-unpleasing sadness. The bond of a common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom. A fraternal melancholy! For both I and Bartleby were sons of Adam. I remembered the bright silks and sparkling faces I had seen that day, in gala trim, swan-like sailing down the Mississippi of Broadway; and I contrasted them with the pallid copyist, and thought to myself, Ah, happiness courts the light, so we deem the world is gay; but misery hides aloof, so we deem that misery there is none”. I guess he went against society’s rules and usually he would say his famous line “I prefer not to”. Even though there is a difference of opinion maybe he just didn’t find anything amusing. In this video it shows how Bartleby is put down in the lowest of ranks but he wasn’t just a mindless worker, but in a sense represented free will. Many will differ with opinion but I believe that people just had the free will to do what they want as long it doesn’t affect the environment and the people around them. He did work for the dead letters office and it is really interesting. Also, to point out when he use to work for the dead letters office, and an article talked about Bartleby having the idea of undeliverable letters that “speed to death,” even when they go “on errands of life”. It’s ironic because we have to wonder if the dead letters are what made Bartleby what he is or what is that specific situation that made him be the free thinker?