great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

     The notion of an anti hero as explained by Aristotle perfectly fits Bartleby in the essay “Bartleby the Scrivener” where the protagonist is apathetic and chooses not to act in an ideal manner until he ultimately dies.

Julie’s character in the play “Miss Julie” is described by Strindberg as a “half man half woman” who fares better than other women, but not as well as men which causes her to be left out. “I can find no rest or peace… Have you ever felt like that?” This quote refers to her feeling of being on a pedestal in relation to Jean however may be referring to her feeling of uneasiness due to her alienation in gender which gradually builds and causes her to act sporadically in the play. “And it is due to my father’s training that I have learned to scorn my own sex” This quote aligns with Steinberg’s interpretation of her character as someone who has a stunted growth, her influence by man accelerated her growth yet leaves her more aware of the status of women at this time who are behind men in her eyes. Julie is a “ half woman half man” as Steinberg describes who’s self awareness leaves her conflicted and hopeless in “Miss Julie.”

Reply to Michael to
    This is a perfect description of Bartleby’s character in the beginning of the essay. The narrator does believe at first that his new employee will have many strong suits and compensate for the weaknesses of his other employees. Although Bartkelby seems to be the model employee when he first starts things quickly deteriorate and he refuses to complete requests made to him. You covered his work ethic exactly as it was portrayed. He is hard working at first working from day to night and by candle light but ultimately failing to fulfil the needs of his employer. He is an unhappy person causing his lack of motivation and treats himself poorly by barely eating as such. He is in a state where any other person would have been fired but do to his mental condition and absent mindedness he us allowed to continue working as a copyist despite his approach to life.