Don't Mess with Predestiny
"Gradually I slid into the persuasion that these troubles of mine touching the scrivener, had been all predestinated from eternity, and Bartleby was billeted upon me for some mysterious purpose of an all-wise Providence" (Melville par.167)
The narrator (I can't recall a time he was given a name) is not quick to fire Bartlebyordo something that would harm him is because he's after to mess with predestiny. If he truly believes that Bartleby was put in his life for some purpose, he does not want to mess with that purpose. So he delays correcting him when he is copying things and avoids confrontation with him at times because he thinks that his desitiny depends on how he treats Bartleby.
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Meagan Gemperlein on Don't Mess with Predestiny: I'm glad you found that quotat
Jessica Apitsch on Don't Mess with Predestiny: I took interest to this passag
Jessica Apitsch on Don't Mess with Predestiny: I took interest to this passag
I took interest to this passage as I was reading too. Everyone wants to know the "why" of everything, especially the answer to "why am I here?" or "What is MY purpose in life?" Your quote addresses that the narrator thought Bartleby was put into his life for some mysterious predestined purpose. I found it interesting that the quote "I penetrate to the predestined purpose of my life" followed the one you addressed above. The narrator starts to make Bartleby the answer to "What is my purpose in life?" ANd he sure shows that he does not want to lose his purpose in life, but who really would want to lose that?
I'm glad you found that quotation that followed mine. It really seems to tie the thought together. Thanks for making things clearer!