Great Works of Literature II

My blogpost was to be based on the story of Bartleby by Melville Harman. When I began to read it, I expected it to be long and boring. But, now, if I had to describe Melville Harman’s story, Bartleby, the scrivener – a story of Wall street, I would use the word queer. It’s a story that would have you wanting more. More of what, you would ask? Well, just more. More information as to who Bartleby is, his past, his present, anything. Melville described it as a loss to literature, the fact that Bartleby wasn’t recorded down. So, the only bit he knew of Bartleby he wanted to share with us, for the reason that Bartleby was such a peculiar character, yet at the same time, he was an interesting one.

Melville worked as one of those lawyers who had a safe job. One of those lawyers who sat behind a desk and filed papers. Bartleby came to him as a person seeking employment. At once, Melville took him in and gave him a small place in his own office, but seperated by a screen, because he was so impressed by the outward look Bartleby gave to him.

A the beginning, he was quite impressed by Bartleby’s spontaneous and clean work. But as days passed, Bartleby surprised him when he “preferred” not to the work, a term he seemed to love to use, and a word which caught on with the others, as Melville hasd mentioned. And it wasn’t only the copying work. It was other things like going to the post office, or allowing Melville to enter into his own office or even leaving the office when he had been let go.

It was so strange, I just couldn’t understand why he would do that and why Melville could stand it. I guess it was the subtle way that Bartleby preferred not to do those things. And how he was with everything, not saying a word and just going on with life.

But, if I had to give my opinion, I too would have great sympathy for him. I’m not quite sure why, because such a character would really annoy me, but I guess, as Melville mentioned, it was the fact that he was a loner and just had nowhere else to go. It grew even more when he lost his vision. I think he felt trapped in this world. For instance, his previous job was working with death letters where he held in his hands items for the deceased. I can’t imagine how that would have felt, having death surround you continuously, day after day. And, even when he was under Melville’s employment, he was caged up in the office in his small space. On top of that, when he wished to stare out of his window, he would have to stare at the brick wall. And later, he was moved into prison and we all know how the prison cells appear to be.
So yes, I think Bartleby suffered from loneliness and depression, though he didn’t show much of it most of the time. But, he did pass away, silently in the prison yard, and that was, well, depressing. Another thing I did not understand. Did death come to him naturally? Or, did he take his own life?
But, Mr. Cutlet did mention that he wasn’t eating so, did that mean he starved to death?

In the end, according to me, it’s a very strange story and it’s no wonder that Melville felt he had to share it with the world. But, it was interesting and I liked the way Melville mashed humour and pity together. Humour when he would speak of his employees and pity, because of Bartleby. I would be reading through the passage, feeling a deep pit for Bartleby and then, I’d be a bit lightened when it was before 12 noon and Turkey was quite serene but Nippers was a bit aggravated. And as for Bartleby, I wonder if I would look forward to meeting someone like him or be afraid to meet someone like him, for the fact that he would bring me so much of sorrow.