The character Bartleby is fascinating because he is as outwardly unformed as a character. Bartleby was a man who withdrew from life. He did protest, indeed protesting would have been an overt act of the quite character. The author used the prison as entirely internalized for Bartleby. He created his own prison, though fear on the part of his boss. Is that perhaps Bartleby saw more than the rest of us and has lost hope because he knows we are all in some sort of prison.
The story of Bartleby is ambiguous because we see his life entirely from the outside. Never hearing anything in Bartleby’s own voice except the repeated, “I would prefer not to.” These words made it seems as if Bartleby wanted to run/overtake the employer business, but we only saw that view through the eyes of his puzzled employer. The employer was a man who wanted to desperately to understand but was ultimately left as uncertain as we were.
All in all, Melville takes a critical look at charity. The lawyer looks as charitable actions in terms of cost and returns. If you recall back in the story the lawyer’s train of thought was: he first pities Bartleby and then recognized the fact that Bartleby is useful to him. The lawyer then notes that Bartleby would be ill-treated in another office. Presumably making him less useful to some other employer and by extension, society, and finally the lawyer pats himself on the back for keeping Bartleby as a worker. He therefore purchases self-approval for his conscience, which will cost him little. Through charity the lawyer is actually just buying himself a good conscience. He believes he is making the best use possible of Bartleby if he could get him to make copies.
However, it wasn’t until the lawyer decided to let Bartleby live in his office. But as soon as Bartleby affected his business, the lawyer moved his office and abandon Bartleby. In my opinion at that point Bartleby probably felt shut out and abandon by society, which might have contribute to his death.
Se-Ann,
I liked how you stated that Bartleby was abandoned by society and that contributed to his death. I did not think of him like that. I always thought that he had some mental disorder and he wasn't capable of anything and couldn't function properly. He didn't do work, therefore, he didn't make any money. He lived in his employer's office. I think something was wrong with Bartleby mentally, but society also could have been a factor.
-Nabila
Posted by: NabilaUddin at October 10, 2004 10:43 PMBartleby was no invalid. He made concious decisions and choices. He conciously rejected the capitalistic society and all that it stood for. He however lived in the most capitalistic society (Wallstreet) and had two options:either be a cog in the productive social machine or to quit society all together. In this since B. tests the social contract theory and finds the only way to get out of the contract is to starve to death. He can not go out to Walden Pond and live on his friends land and food. He must face reality that he has nothing and thereby can not find a place to stay in the capitalistic society. ye are dust and dust ye shalt return.
Posted by: Nick at December 8, 2004 05:40 AMBartleby was no invalid. He made concious decisions and choices. He conciously rejected the capitalistic society and all that it stood for. He however lived in the most capitalistic society (Wallstreet) and had two options:either be a cog in the productive social machine or to quit society all together. In this since B. tests the social contract theory and finds the only way to get out of the contract is to starve to death. He can not go out to Walden Pond and live on his friends land and food. He must face reality that he has nothing and thereby can not find a place to stay in the capitalistic society. ye are dust and dust ye shalt return.
Posted by: Nick at December 8, 2004 05:41 AMBartleby was no invalid. He made concious decisions and choices. He conciously rejected the capitalistic society and all that it stood for. He however lived in the most capitalistic society (Wallstreet) and had two options:either be a cog in the productive social machine or to quit society all together. In this since B. tests the social contract theory and finds the only way to get out of the contract is to starve to death. He can not go out to Walden Pond and live on his friends land and food. He must face reality that he has nothing and thereby can not find a place to stay in the capitalistic society. ye are dust and dust ye shalt return.
Posted by: Nick at December 8, 2004 05:41 AMBartleby was no invalid. He made concious decisions and choices. He conciously rejected the capitalistic society and all that it stood for. He however lived in the most capitalistic society (Wallstreet) and had two options:either be a cog in the productive social machine or to quit society all together. In this since B. tests the social contract theory and finds the only way to get out of the contract is to starve to death. He can not go out to Walden Pond and live on his friends land and food. He must face reality that he has nothing and thereby can not find a place to stay in the capitalistic society. ye are dust and dust ye shalt return.
Posted by: Nick at December 8, 2004 05:41 AMBartleby was no invalid. He made concious decisions and choices. He conciously rejected the capitalistic society and all that it stood for. He however lived in the most capitalistic society (Wallstreet) and had two options:either be a cog in the productive social machine or to quit society all together. In this since B. tests the social contract theory and finds the only way to get out of the contract is to starve to death. He can not go out to Walden Pond and live on his friends land and food. He must face reality that he has nothing and thereby can not find a place to stay in the capitalistic society. ye are dust and dust ye shalt return.
Posted by: Nick at December 8, 2004 05:41 AM