“"I
think, sir, he's a little luny," replied Ginger Nut with a grin”(22).
- This passage pretty much summed up exactly how I feel about the Bartleby character, I could hear this quote every time the story focused heavily on Bartleby's actions. The twelve year old errand boy Ginger Nut has a better grasp on the mental capacities of the grim Bartleby than the narrator. The other characters are well defined and lively, a stark contrast to the lifeless titular scrivener. While the descriptions of the other characters lead one to believe they are also a bit looney, their eccentric qualities pale in comparison to the growing malaise of Bartleby. The story begins with a humorous and lively tone and spirals into despair and darkness after the appearance of Bartleby. Bartleby is a leach that sucks the life and joy out of the complacent narrator. The depressing demeanor of Bartleby is as infectous as his catchphrase “prefer”. As the other men begin to unconsciously quote him while performing their daily tasks the color of their character begins to melt away and the only focus is of the charitable narrator’s inability to deal with this negative force that has invaded his life. The narrator who tries in several ways to help this miserable character, seems to realize that there is clearly something wrong with this man but can’t understand that his mind works in such a vastly different way than his own. Bartleby sees futility in copying the documents that will surely end up at the position he once held at the dead letters department. The narrator realizes this connection after Bartleby has taken his own life and finally understands that Bartleby refused to alter his position because in his mind he was fully aware of where he would end up.By Moses King (King's handbook of New York City, 2nd ed. 1893) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Learning more about Herman Melville and the time he lived in can help understand quite a bit about Bartleby the Scrivener. This link is a pretty in depth look at the life and works of Melville.
http://www.melville.org/
If you were wondering about the Colt and Adams characters that the narrator mentions in the story give the following link a click. It is a very interesting tale of a notorious murder that happened several years before Bartleby the Scrivener was published.
The Corpse in the Shipping Crate
Cason, I thought your post was actually pretty hilarious. I loved how your personality was able to shine through in your writing. I totally agree with you, Bartley is a strange one! I liked the spin you were able to put on it...in disagreement with all the thesis ideas our teacher gave, you showed that Bartley isn't a hero but more of a villain in the story. He really brings the mood of the story down and he really does seem to have something wrong with him! I liked how your post poked fun at the story in a way and lightened the mood! Great job!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more Cason. Once Bartleby, came into the picture the reading was gloomy for me. He did bring negative and darkness into the work place, very depressed man. While reading, I could only imagine what my boss would do if I said I "prefer" not to.
ReplyDeleteIs it bad that I didn't see Bartleby as a "luny"? I don't even think it was working in the dead letters office that really did him in either. This book left me with more questions then answers. Thanks for the link to the Corpse in the Shipping Crate I was wondering about that.
ReplyDeleteCason,
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy reading a different point of view. Although your opinion, in my personal perception of this story, would be considered a common assumption. Of course the negative, gloomy character of the story can instantly be considered a villain. Or as you called him "a leach." My point of view would be a man calling for help. When the scrivener seeks for help, it may have been considered compassion from the narrators part, although more as compliant to this odd behavior. The narrators compliance to this strange behavior turns to rejections. Which eventually leads to this poor man's demise from the loss of his humanity. Truly, who is the villain?
Cason,
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy reading a different point of view. Although your opinion, in my personal perception of this story, would be considered a common assumption. Of course the negative, gloomy character of the story can instantly be considered a villain. Or as you called him "a leach." My point of view would be a man calling for help. When the scrivener seeks for help, it may have been considered compassion from the narrators part, although more as compliant to this odd behavior. The narrators compliance to this strange behavior turns to rejections. Which eventually leads to this poor man's demise from the loss of his humanity. Truly, who is the villain?
I rather enjoy the way that you explained Bartleby's behavior. He was just sort of "off". Who else on earth would dare to say that to an employer. HE said it so confidently that it took his boss by surprise. That just goes to show you that some people out there really are "luny".
ReplyDeleteHello Cason,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when it comes to the Bartleby character and how the errand boy had more of an understanding of Bartleby than the narrator did. I never thought about how the other characters in the story were livelier and a contrast to the grim and moody Bartleby. It is interesting also as to how the story begins where it is happy and has a funny tone to the writing but with the appearance of Bartleby it is like the story got sucked down into a vortex of depression. I liked your post it made me think deeper into the character of Bartleby and how it truly affected everyone throughout the story and not just his effect on the narrator.
I like the quote you chose because it is extremely easy to relate. Any body who has a job where you have to deal with coworkers knows how it feels to be the one who is stuck with more work because of a slacker and it is bothersome. Why does Bartleby deserve to keep this job when he would "prefer not to" do so many of the tasks asked by the boss? From the point of view of Ginger Nut, I think any one would say that Bartleby is "luny" because of the frustration with unfair quantities of work for the same wages. But, honestly I think the accusations are due to jealousy. If Ginger Nut would have been able to get away with not doing tasks that he would "prefer not to" do, he would have been ecstatic and not considered himself "luny". This story reminds me somewhat of the movie Office Space.
ReplyDelete