Reading Notes W7: Bartleby, the Scrivener , Part B
Bartleby, the Scrivener
Like the author seem to describe his office like his mundane life. Like Bartleby he would not relent to writing anything outside of his own convictions.
The narrator within the story seems to be a man of very little of authority. He is passive in his writing and character. He introduces Bartleby, the main character of his story, yet he goes directly into introducing John Jacob Astor (indicting his status through this prestigious business man).
He goes on to introduce not Bartleby, but three unlikely characters: Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut. He indirectly speaks to each of their flaws. Turkey is an older man, who is making several errors and the lawyer (narrator) is to be incapable of firing him because of his passive demeanor. He knows that Turkey’s performance is poor after noon. Nippers – younger man, driven by ambition and indigestion (drinking). He is a drunk and a perfectionist. Ginger Nut- is only twelve years but out of a favor to the young boy’s father, the narrator allows him to be an errand boy, cleaner, and sweeper for a dollar a week. Finally, Bartleby suddenly enters the story. “In answer to my advertisement, a motionless young man one morning, stood upon my offices threshold, the door being open, for it was summer. I can see that figure now-pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlorn! It was Bartleby” (301). The narrator seems to have divided all the characters by walls of some sort and when Bartleby is hired procured a high green folding screen, which to isolate the new employee. I wonder if the author is trying to describe himself of how he isolated himself from the world even though he was still writing. The narrator seems to be impressed with Bartleby’s precision and fluency until he continuous insubordination when he asks Bartleby to examine his own writing and other copies (303). Bartleby’s direct and simple response, “I would prefer not to.”
The narrator again, is incapable of firing Bartleby’s after he refuses to do anything that is asked of him. He turns to the very three characters that he, himself depicts are not suitable to do their own jobs well and not to mention one is a twelve-year-old boy. At this point the narrator is agitating me. A man of his experience should be able to handle the situation and letting Bartleby’s go. He had just hired him, not only that, it stated that there was a great work for scriveners. So, he could have easily replaced him. Maybe he pitied Bartleby’s because he already thought him to a man of poverty or maybe he was afraid of him because the irrational and peculiar way he carried himself. “Revolving all these things and coupling them with the recently discovered fact that he made my office his constant abiding place and home’ and not forgetful of his morbid moodiness revolving all these things, a prudential feeling began to seal over me’ (309).
Nevertheless, the narrator is so weak-will that he concludes to leave his own office because of his frustration with Bartleby’s continual stubbornness to do absolutely nothing. Then he suggests that Bartleby could remain in the office if he sees fit (315). Again, it shows the passiveness of the narrator. He only changed his mind to have Bartleby removed because of the wisdom/instructions of his professional friends. Both the lawyer( narrator)/Bartleby have a passive resistance.
Bartleby end is a sad one as he sent away to the Hall of Justice (prison) refused to eat and is at this point, at the end of the story, is non-existent and the reader can assume he is at death's door (321).
Like the author seem to describe his office like his mundane life. Like Bartleby he would not relent to writing anything outside of his own convictions.
The narrator within the story seems to be a man of very little of authority. He is passive in his writing and character. He introduces Bartleby, the main character of his story, yet he goes directly into introducing John Jacob Astor (indicting his status through this prestigious business man).
He goes on to introduce not Bartleby, but three unlikely characters: Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut. He indirectly speaks to each of their flaws. Turkey is an older man, who is making several errors and the lawyer (narrator) is to be incapable of firing him because of his passive demeanor. He knows that Turkey’s performance is poor after noon. Nippers – younger man, driven by ambition and indigestion (drinking). He is a drunk and a perfectionist. Ginger Nut- is only twelve years but out of a favor to the young boy’s father, the narrator allows him to be an errand boy, cleaner, and sweeper for a dollar a week. Finally, Bartleby suddenly enters the story. “In answer to my advertisement, a motionless young man one morning, stood upon my offices threshold, the door being open, for it was summer. I can see that figure now-pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlorn! It was Bartleby” (301). The narrator seems to have divided all the characters by walls of some sort and when Bartleby is hired procured a high green folding screen, which to isolate the new employee. I wonder if the author is trying to describe himself of how he isolated himself from the world even though he was still writing. The narrator seems to be impressed with Bartleby’s precision and fluency until he continuous insubordination when he asks Bartleby to examine his own writing and other copies (303). Bartleby’s direct and simple response, “I would prefer not to.”
The narrator again, is incapable of firing Bartleby’s after he refuses to do anything that is asked of him. He turns to the very three characters that he, himself depicts are not suitable to do their own jobs well and not to mention one is a twelve-year-old boy. At this point the narrator is agitating me. A man of his experience should be able to handle the situation and letting Bartleby’s go. He had just hired him, not only that, it stated that there was a great work for scriveners. So, he could have easily replaced him. Maybe he pitied Bartleby’s because he already thought him to a man of poverty or maybe he was afraid of him because the irrational and peculiar way he carried himself. “Revolving all these things and coupling them with the recently discovered fact that he made my office his constant abiding place and home’ and not forgetful of his morbid moodiness revolving all these things, a prudential feeling began to seal over me’ (309).
Nevertheless, the narrator is so weak-will that he concludes to leave his own office because of his frustration with Bartleby’s continual stubbornness to do absolutely nothing. Then he suggests that Bartleby could remain in the office if he sees fit (315). Again, it shows the passiveness of the narrator. He only changed his mind to have Bartleby removed because of the wisdom/instructions of his professional friends. Both the lawyer( narrator)/Bartleby have a passive resistance.
Bartleby end is a sad one as he sent away to the Hall of Justice (prison) refused to eat and is at this point, at the end of the story, is non-existent and the reader can assume he is at death's door (321).
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