SarahElwood

LOL, right on. ;-)

I agree. The start up was slow, I think I re-read the second paragraph on the second page 15 times because I kept letting myself get destracted.

Hello Sarah,

I am so glad to see that someone feels the same as I do about this story. I just couldn't believe that I was reading four or so pages, your right, that could have been said in one paragraph. As I continued reading, yes, I to couldn't understand how this boss was putting up with Bartelby's behavior.

I liked the narrator. He wasn't, by his own admission: ("...the easiest way of life is the best,") out to set the world on fire, as long as the work got done he was able to tolerate the idiosyncrasies of the men in his employ. He wasn't without affection for them, particularly Turkey whom he describes as "...about my own age,"
"...accomplishing a great deal of fwork in a style not easy to be matched, for these reasons I was willing to overlook his eccentricites."
It seems to me that the narrator liked being the "father" presiding over his somewhat dysfunctional family.

I commented on this further on my blog...

September 08, 2004
Bartleby, The Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street
I thought the story, "Bartleby, The Scrivner," was incredibly boring and unbelievable. The first four pages were all background information that could have been said in one page, maybe even in one paragraph. The narrator, I believe an attorney, employs three useless assistants. I find it unbelievable that any employer would put up with all the weird quirks and outbursts that this man put up with. Bartleby, I thought, was annoying. Who denies an employer's requests, and still accepts payment? I could not stand his character. I was glad when the story was over, and glad (this is bad) that he died at the end.

Posted by Sarah Elwood at September 8, 2004 03:45 PM

Comments
LOL, right on. ;-)

Posted by: Mike at September 8, 2004 03:51 PM
I agree. The start up was slow, I think I re-read the second paragraph on the second page 15 times because I kept letting myself get destracted.

Posted by: Diana at September 8, 2004 03:59 PM
Hello Sarah,

I am so glad to see that someone feels the same as I do about this story. I just couldn't believe that I was reading four or so pages, your right, that could have been said in one paragraph. As I continued reading, yes, I to couldn't understand how this boss was putting up with Bartelby's behavior.

Posted by: ShannaDeFrances at September 8, 2004 04:00 PM
I liked the narrator. He wasn't, by his own admission: ("...the easiest way of life is the best,") out to set the world on fire, as long as the work got done he was able to tolerate the idiosyncrasies of the men in his employ. He wasn't without affection for them, particularly Turkey whom he describes as "...about my own age,"
"...accomplishing a great deal of fwork in a style not easy to be matched, for these reasons I was willing to overlook his eccentricites."
It seems to me that the narrator liked being the "father" presiding over his somewhat dysfunctional family.

Posted by: Linda Fondrk at September 8, 2004 04:06 PM
I commented on this further on my blog...

Posted by: LindaFondrk at October 5, 2004 01:18 PM

I really enjoyed the story. It was so full of humor and tragedy. The ironic humor of the story ranks it as one of the best I have ever enjoyed. Since reading Bartleby and seeing the movie I have gone on to read more of this authors works. Moby Dick and other stories he wrote are some of the best of the best American classics. I hope you find some of his other works to be more to your liking.