Cameron: How is Bartleby in conflict with his society?In Bartleby the Scrivener, Bartleby proves himself as a reliable worker, and does well at his job. Bartleby's profession requires great discipline and focus. One day the narrator asks Bartleby to do a simple task. Bartleby says: "I prefer not to." The narrator is stunned by Bartleby's reaction. Yet, Bartleby sits still and has the same reaction for every task he is asked to do. This puts Bartleby way out of order, and sets him up as different from the rest of society. Although most people "prefer" not to do what they are asked, they still perform the task given to them. Bartleby is the opposite; conflicted in society by not falling in order. No one can understand his behavior and he becomes very stubborn: "'I would prefer not to quit you,' he replied, gently emphasizing the not." Bartleby simply does not fit in because no one can fulfill his needs or wants. "No; I would prefer not to make any change...I would not like it at all; though, as I said before, I am not particular." He is given special attention, and still chooses to act differently. Bartleby is in conflict with society because he chooses to act completely out of the social order, and no one is able to help him find what he seeks in life. Kelsey: What effect does this conflict have on his character?Bartleby's character is hindered by society because civilization shuns him for being unwilling to do normal work activities. He provides creation and intuition in his society by questioning what man views as a preferred work ethic. When Bartleby is asked to run a quick errand he replies, "I would prefer not to." The narrator responds "you will not?" to which Bartleby answers, "I prefer not." (p. 604) Bartleby does not say that he will not do something; he just suggests the idea that there is a possibility of never doing something that is disliked. Humanity is much like this doomed fellow, who through lonely isolation and the unaccepting behavior of crowds, is forced to act in a certain manner or face their demise. "Ah, Bartleby! Ah, Humanity!" (p. 624) The conflict between society, and isolation ends in Bartleby's death. Kirsten: What effect does this conflict have on the society as a whole?The conflict that Bartleby creates causes society to obsess over ways in which to control his behavior. The narrator describes that, "the easiest way of life is the best" (p. 594), and that the people around him have regular actions that seem to correlate, "with the sun, seem...to set with it, to rise, culminate, and decline the following day, with the like regularity and undiminished glory" (p. 595). Although some people, like Nippers and Turkey, are unpredictable, they have specific behavioral patterns that thus create order. When Bartleby first joins the business, he is noted for his work ethic, yet he disturbs the narrator by the unusual way which he works: "He ran a day and night line, copying by sunlight and by candlelight. I should have been quite delighted with his application had he been cheerfully industrious. But he wrote on silently, palely, mechanically" (p. 599). It is when Bartley resists doing the work that is requested of him, that he begins to truly bother the people around him. While it upsets the narrator that Bartleby does not do certain jobs that are requested of him, it is his steadiness in working, or his routine, that allows the narrator to tolerate him and try to gently change his actions. But it is once Bartleby stops following any sort of routine and offers no explanation for what he does that he can no longer be tolerated. The narrator becomes obsessed with trying to "manage" Bartleby, but when this proves ineffective, he is moved into, "a state of nervous resentment" (p. 615). Because the narrator can not control nor persuade Bartleby into acting in accordance with natural behavior, he chooses to instead move his offices, and essentially his life, away from this element of irregularity that he can not direct. Other members of society also can not deal with Bartleby's resistance to natural patterns, and have him forcibly removed out of a desire to return to regular practices. Bartleby's conflict with society's routines causes others to obsess over forcing him to follow a normal pattern of behavior. Kathryn: What is so frustrating about this story?Bartelby the Scrivener, by Herman Melville, is frustrating because Bartelby repetitively disobeys the rules of society without offering an explanation for his actions. Bartelby refuses to obey the wishes of his superior, which is unacceptable social behavior. When his employer asks him to perform a task, he responds "I would prefer not to" (p. 601). As frustrating as Bartelby's refusal to perform the task is, his attitude is exponentially more irritating. Because Bartelby is nothing but a lowly scrivener, his righteous behavior is confusing and frustrating. Bartelby is sure enough in himself that when his employer asks " Why do you refuse?" he simply repeats himself. Normal human behavior suggests that some sort of conflict would take place, but Bartelby avoids standard social customs by simply ignoring any wishes but his own. The reader becomes frustrated by this behavior and desires an explanation; Bartelby further frustrates by refusing to provide one: "Will you not speak? Answer!".Bailey: How is this story like literature? Herman Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener is a lot like literature, because like Bartleby, literature often goes against the status quo. Bartleby "wrote on silently, palely and mechanically," (p. 599) and seems to be walled into his job, unable to escape its grasp. The work place resembles a prison with white walls and other buildings mere feet from each window blocking the rooms from sunlight. As Bartleby begins to show opposition to his job and to doing anything, he becomes a force attempting to break the grasp of society and the common life. Literature resembles Bartleby because writers often create their own styles and techniques, which are often looked on by others as strange: "'Ginger Nut,' said I, willing to enlist the smallest suffrage in my behalf, 'what do you think of it?' 'I think, sir, he's a little loony,' replied Ginger Nut, with a grin." (p. 602) By repeating: "I would prefer not to," (p. 600) and acting strangely, Bartleby is separating and distinguishing himself from society, which resembles what many artists achieve as they create their own styles.
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Copyright December 3, 2007 Marie M. Furnary All rights reserved.