Yun Choi – ENG 2850 Fall 2018

Bartleby

http://www.bartlebythefilm.com/watch/

I found this cartoon film interesting because this is reimaging the classic literature Bartleby the Scrivener in 21st century. Unlike Melville’s Bartleby in 1853, this cartoon’s background is set in the Wall street of 2011 when there was a Occupy Wall Street Protest. Bartleby, who continues to say “prefer not to,” stages his passive resistance against a background of Occupy protests delivering contrasting message how only passive resistance was performed in 1853, but on the other hand, in the contemporary context, active resistance is occurring outside the office Bartleby is in.

 

Relating it to the passage, Bartleby, has his own catchphrase– “I would prefer not to.” He uses this phrase in response to almost everything. Bartleby’s slogan communicates his philosophy and life in five short words. Of course, it has an impact on lawyer, however, there is no communication so called real talk which common human beings have. “I sat awhile in perfect silence, rallying my stunned faculties. Immediately it occurred to me that my ears had deceived me, or Bartleby had entirely misunderstood my meaning. I repeated my request in the clearest tone I could assume; but in quite as clear a one came the previous reply, “I would prefer not to.”” This passage shows miscommunication between lawyer and scrivener.

Bartleby refuses to go with society’s flow by saying “I would prefer not to”. By preferring not to cooperate with human beings, he dies lonely. We can think of some features that make us human beings. By looking at this quotation, one of characteristics that makes human is being together. Though, Bartleby also has somewhat human thing and this is another element which makes human being, the will of individual. The most human aspect of Bartleby is the assertion of his will. Every time he says, “I would prefer not to,” he is nearly shouting to us, “I am a human being. I can make choices for my own life!” When Bartleby’s preferences are ignored and he is sent to the prison, he gives up his life. He has lost the one element of humanity that he seemed to possess. To conclude, by reading this quote, I learned what makes us human.