Tara:
In Herman Melville’s Bartleby, The Scrivener. I believe Bartleby is a hero. Bartleby discovers something he dislikes and uses his silence or lack of words to voice this. Bartleby initially was an excellent worker for the lawyer. He worked through the night and the lawyer was always pleased with the work he provided. Yet, with all of the hard work Bartleby did he could not afford a place to live. The lawyer was aware that Bartleby was staying in the office overnight and on sundays, yet it never occurred to him that he was not being paid enough to find an affordable place to live. Although the lawyer often times felt pity for Bartleby when he found him there over night yet again his only response was “ What earthy right have you to stay here? Do you pay any rent? Do you pay my taxes? Or is this property yours?”(314). The lawyer suggested everything but the fact that Bartleby was not making enough money to sleep elsewhere. In my opinion Bartleby stopped working and talking for the most part because he didn’t like the way he was being treated. Working on Wall Street requires a lot of work and many hours in an office, however people accept these conditions when they are properly compensated for it. Bartleby made very little money for the hard work and countless hours he put into the lawyer’s business. Thus, Bartleby is a hero because he noticed the unfair conditions that were taking place in the Lawyer’s office, and acted on it by going against everything the lawyer asked of him.
Maria:
In Bartleby The Scrivener, Herman Melville describes the story of Bartleby, the scrivener at a law office on Wall Street who suddenly decides to rebel and says “I prefer not to” when asked to do tasks at the law office. The story does not explicitly explain the reason to why Bartleby decided to refuse to do the tasks, but the story gives us hints as to why he might have. I believe Bartleby is a Satanic Hero as he sees the truth when others cannot and acts upon it in a socially inappropriate way. Bartleby works at a law firm on Wall Street; an epitome of capitalism, structure and hierarchy. By replying “I prefer not to” Bartleby is doing something unacceptable at a very structured firm. Bartleby works very hard at his job in the hope of some sort of benefit but got tired of seeing the greed the Wall Street employees participate in. He rebelled in a passive aggressive approach by not directly saying “No” but simply avoiding the task. The narrator states, “At first, Bartleby did an extraordinary quantity of writing. As is long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on documents. There was no pause for digestion. He ran a day and night line, copying by sun-light and by candle-light”. This quote represents the tremendous amount of work Bartleby put in the law firm in the hope of recognition and higher pay. But, after a certain point he realized that the employees at the law firm as well as the narrators were simply money hungry and using him as cheap labor. This sparked an interest in him going on a silent strike against the narrator/ Wall Street. The story ends with “Ah Bartleby, Sh Humanity”, this is a reference to how Bartleby was unable to connect with anyone, both before and after he started replying “I prefer not to.” Bartleby felt so strongly about the message he was trying to get across that he went to join and even died at the end, fighting for justice in what he believed in and the change he wanted implemented. Unfortunately, no one was able to be there for him and really understand the message he was conveying so deeply.
2 responses so far ↓
j.devine // Mar 9th 2017 at 12:41 pm
Although I wrote that I believe Bartleby is a Tragic Hero, I do agree with Maria’s argument as well. I think that you supported the argument well your noting of where the story takes place. Because the story takes place on Wall Street, that puts into perspective just how inappropriate and unfitting his actions are. In a professional business environement, this kind of silence and passiveness isn’t really appreciated, especially by a boss, such as the narrator. His choice to engage with the other employees and his boss in such an odd fashion make me agree with you that he is a Satanic Hero.
sh125650 // Mar 10th 2017 at 12:30 pm
In my opinion, I think Bartleby is an anti-hero, an anti-hero sees the truth, when most cannot, he or she does not act. He is typically in conflict with a world he cannot control or whose values he rejects. “I would prefer not to “, there was no anger, impatience in his manner. Bartleby, does not possess any heroic qualities, nor does have tragic flaw. He has no idealism, courage like traditional and satanic hero.
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