Coach Edwards's 1997 Junior English Class "Bartleby: A Class Discussion"

What we did was write down our thoughts on the internet and put them together into a kind of virtual discussion. This way I could get the student's ideas down as well as get them to use computer technology. I learned a ton during this little unit exercise as a teacher. Many students who never say a word in class had some insightful insights and valid questions and comments. Student's last names are not used.

Coach Edwards

Donna

Bartleby is presented as an elderly man, which leads us to assume that he has had many experiences (good and bad) throughout his life. We are not shown exactly what these experiences are, but somehow, we can still relate to him. The symbolism of the walls in the story is really interesting. The walls refer to the walls that are built up within us and the walls that surround us. On Wall Street the people are walled into their work and have little escape to the real world. Bartleby is walled himself (as many of us are) because of his past. However, the walls don't really protect him from life, they just prohibit him from actually living. It's interesting how we are shown Bartleby's present condition, but we really have no clue as to what has caused him to be this way. For me, that really gets on my nerves, because I always try to determine why people act certain ways, or why they have these built-up walls.

Melissa

Turkey and Nippers sound like they are sharing a brain. Turkey goes wild in the afternoon and Nippers is wild in the mornings. To me Bartleby would be a relief from these two. He stays calm. I think the role of these two and Ginger Nut is just to make the lawyer feel good about himself. They always agree when he asks them is he is right. In one instance the lawyer was trying to convince Bartleby to proofread his papers and he refused. They lawyer went on to explain that this wasn't so unusual to ask and then turned to Turkey for backup. I think the lawyer kind of uses them as a crutch. It is odd though that he isn't concerned with Turkey and Nippers behavior but is so obsessed with Bartleby's. I don't think I could put up with Turkey and Nippers. 

–I think that in the beginning of the story, the lawyer actually likes Bartleby but his feelings change as the story progresses. In paragraph 15, he speaks of Bartleby as being "pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlorn!" This isn't such a bad way to feel about someone. In paragraph 25 he says that there is nothing ordinarily human about Bartleby. I think what makes him not human at this point is that he refuses to do something that his boss has asked and remains totally calm about it. He doesn't get mad or talk mean. He just politely responds, "I would prefer not to" twice instead of raising his voice.

–By paragraph 35 he has taken an interest in Bartleby's attitude and answer of "I would prefer not to." He is curious to know what is going on with this man. Why does he just say this phrase repeatedly? He is very patient with Bartleby and tries to explain to him why he needs to help proof his copies. Bartleby apparently doesn't really care. In paragraph 40 Bartleby makes the lawyer question himself as to whether his explanations are right. He shows the doubt in himself by turning to the other employees and asking them what they think. As the story progresses we see that the lawyer really doesn't care that much about Bartleby he only keeps him in order to be a good samaritan and be in good graces with God. Here he has become self involved and isn't really concerned with how Bartleby behaves or comments.

–I don't think that the lawyer likes the fact that Bartleby can stay so calm when repeatedly asked to do something that he doesn't want to do. I feel that he wants Bartleby to scream back at him and to fight with him. "What added thing is there, perfectly reasonable, that he will be sure to refuse to do?" He is searching for something to say to Bartleby that he will flat out refuse to do but he cannot find anything. Maybe he wants to show his power of authority by punishing Bartleby for refusing to do something or fighting with him but he can't because Bartleby always answers him so nicely. I think now he could show his authority over Bartleby because he isn't doing what the lawyer asks of him, but he chooses not to. "I thought it best to put on my hat and walk home for the day...."

Gil

The narrator is a self described "snug" person...what does this snug mean? It seems that it means he is a person without a sense of adventure or completely lacking in charisma, for these things are necessary to be the lawyer that he says he is not (..."I am one of those unambitious lawyers that never adresses a jury"). Why is this man not into taking chances?

Terrie

At the beginning of the story, the lawyer/narrator is a peaceful man "I am a man who, from his youth upwards, has been filled with a profound conviction that the easiest way of life is the best...I am one of those unambitious lawyers who never addresses a jury...All who know me consider me an eminently safe man." He was prudent and methodical. After he meets Bartleby, he becomes obsessed with him. He puts up with two men who are each virtually useless to him for half of every day, but he finally manages a showdown with Bartleby.

–The three others, Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut were included in the story to show that the narrator is not at all who he says he is in the beginning of the story. If he were as prudent as he would like us to believe, would he put up with a man (Turkey) who gets drunk every day at noon and is worthless after lunch "At all events, I saw that go he would not. So, I made up my mind to let him stay...." Nippers suffered from indigestion so was indisposed most of every morning, he dressed like a bum, and was altogether an unpleasant sounding character "Nippers would sometimes impatiently rise from his seat, and stooping over his table, spread his arms wide apart, seize the whole desk, and move it, and jerk it, with a grim, grinding motion on the floor..." This sounds more like complaisance and a lack of assertiveness than prudence. The narrator seems to put up with anything just to avoid confrontation.

–Bartleby himself is the interpretation of the narrator of the struggle within himself. Maybe he knows that he needs to be more assertive, and finally finds a way to do it and then that way ends in someone's death. He talks about what others think a lot; apparently this matters to him a great deal.

–Walls play an important role in this story. Bartleby is continually staring at walls, he even dies huddled up against the prison wall. When he first comes to work for our narrator, he is at a desk in the corner facing the wall, and he stays there continuously. He never eats, or leaves the ofice at all. All these walls are symbolic of the walls that the lawyer feels he is up against. Bartleby is his "alterego," spending his time staring at the wall, trying to find a way out. He never does. The lawyer would like to find a way out of the mess he's gotten himself into, but he can't, so he creates Bartleby to do it for him. Unfortunately, he finds that there is no way out. "Here I can cheaply purchase a delicious self approval," is what the narrator says when he's talking about keeping Bartleby on even though he's "passively resistant." The ironic part is that he goes on to say "The passiveness of Bartleby sometimes irritated me"is this not exactly how the lawyer is when he puts up with the irritating creatures that he allows to work in his office?

–The significance of the last line is that the lawyer acknowledges that Bartleby is asleep (dead) with kings and counselors. Why counselors? Is this intended to mean other lawyers and is the narrator feeling dead because he couldn't find his way out of the self-imposed walls that are holding him? His created Bartleby couldn't help him, and now he might as well be dead.

Brandon

In the first couple of pages, the reader is exposed to the justifications of the narrator's accounts. He first introduces himself as an elderly man, and then proceeds to establish his credibility with us. It seems as though he uses his age to solidify his honesty as if, because of his mature age, we are to accept his story and his actions as valid, without judging him as rash. He seems to confide in us in order that we side with him; the first account of a story is the one that affects our emotions the most. How are we to react to the narrator? Prior to the arrival of Bartleby, the narrator seems to have things "under control". He has adapted to the quirks of both Turkey and Nippers, and seems to effectively run his office around them. However, there is a problem with this fact. He indeed runs his office AROUND them. Before noon, he relies on Turkey, but after twelve, Nippers is his best bet. I'm not a businessman, but it would seem that the lawyer, the owner of the firm, would be the ultimate decisionmaker. But how solid can his firm be if he gives in to his employees' moodiness? What kind of lawyer is he who cannot maintain a level of effective consistency? Then comes Bartleby. We nor the narrator know anything about him. Who would hire a scrivener without knowing anything at all about him, let alone that he doesn't do a damn thing?! Well, that's not entirely true. Bartleby, according to the narrator (whose judgement isn't very reliable), was indeed productive. "At first, Bartleby did an extraordinary quantity of writing. As if long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents. There was no pause for digestion." But then... As Bartleby refused time after time to do what he was hired to do, the narrator complied time after time. It seems we have the development of a rather unproductive cycle. The one at fault here seems to be the narrator. Are we to perceive him as merely a humanitarian? a really "cool" boss? Well, I think his only provocativeness is in his invitation for abuse. Hell, if I was Bartleby, and I could get paid for living in an office, nothing more, I would (in theory). In fact, I'll go to the extreme to say that it was the narrator's fault entirely that Bartleby took advantage of him so. The narrator seems to be exceedingly weak; he has no concept of productive, effectual assertiveness! The funny thing is this quote by the narrator: "Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance." whatever! Further, the narrator is very insecure. I can't understand how this person became an attorney. The more Bartleby "resists", refuses his duties, the more excuses the narrator makes for him. He justifies, time and again, Bartleby's actions (or lack thereof). I do respect, however, the narrator's caring offerings of assistance. But, he is far too compliant and accepting! He would come up with a plan to rid himself of Bartleby, but when it came time to enact the plan, he weasled out...every time!

Michelle

The way that Bartleby refers to himself as a "rather elderly man" right at the start is odd. It seems that he wants us to know that he is elderly almost as a reason (or even as an excuse) for being the way he is. I suppose, however, that we are to believe that he is a knowledgeable and experienced man. A "rather elderly man" would have a lifetime of experience to help us believe that he knows what he is talking about. He does change at the end in his demeanor and attitude. He has gone through as experience to change his elderly approach. Being in prison and how he reacted to it is rather sad and disturbing. It makes us wonder where old Bartleby has been and even makes me feel sad for him and his strange actions. I think it would change anyone. I don't know why we are never told Bartleby's story, however. I guess it is part of his mystery. Maybe all we need to know is that he is elderly this puts him at an age where he has been through a lot of change and apparently heartache.

I think this is why there is so much symbolism with walls throughout the story. The most obvious wall reference is what the story is called, "Wall Street". The prison wall (and the others) tend to be like Bartleby himself. He must put up a wall to protect himself. I like the mystery of not knowing what truly has happened to Bartleby in his lifetime, in that respect Melville is like Poe (keeping us guessing). Melville makes us realize that Bartleby is like many people we just don't know their story, therefore their actions simply appear strange, even though we do not know what they have gone through.

Matt

I had so much fun doing this, after I was done; I just stared at the person next to me for like ten minutes. Needless to say, the girl didn't get any work done. She tried to write but couldn't. She could just feel my eyes watching her write. It was so funny watching her struggle.

–I really hated this story when I was finished. I felt that Melville was going to unravel the past about Bartleby. I was no where near interpretations of the characters and the relation to the story. I kept looking at the interactions. However, (through the help of hypertext) I realized the connection between the narrator and Wacky B. I believe B. was sent to the narrator for him to become a more humane person. It's like B. takes the form of a wakeup call to the narrator (almost like A Christmas Carol with Scrooge realizing the heartless man he is). At the beginning, the narrator shows signs of his character. He's a cad he's so wrapped up with his own life (very much full of himself). Most passages, he seems to justify his actions a lot. Work is what's most important; nothing else. He doesn't even know anything about his employees outside the workplace. He even gives them nicknames; almost like they're real names are discarded. The damn kid (gopher) is named after his job. I hate to see what they call him if he cleaned the toilets. Then, B. enters and turns the narrator's life upside down. The narrator loses control of the situation at work. He isn't very good with confrontations. Constantly, B. refuses to do his job. This causes the narrator much strain because he wants to know why B. won't comply. Here, the narrator begins to change. He wants to know what's going on with Bartleby (who refuses to speak). I feel this is sort of a punishment for the narrator. B. refuses to give information to the narrator because of his (past) lack of interest in his employees. The narrator is forced to get rid of B. but is still haunted by him. B. interferes with others which causes blame to come back to the narrator. Slowly, the narrator begins to care and tries to learn about B. He is denied. The narrator is left with questions about B. which might have caused him to change his ways (to see a side in people outside the workplace). The narrator has made a dramatic change in his character. B. makes up a huge portion of the narrators' thoughts. –I feel that B. was a harbinger of sorts. He came to correct or change something in the narrator. His past is of no concern; it's what he has done in the present. B. is a Michael Landon of sorts. Although, I would have liked it better if B. didn't end up in the Tombs (i feel sorry for the guy). I think it would have been better if he would have left town. Like the narrator is trying to hunt him down to talk again but sees B. boarding a bus. I don't know. I think the walls represent a lack of communication between the scriveners. Basically, the narrator's lack to get in touch with his employees.

Glenn

The narrator at the beginning is a conservative, pompous businessman. Although, there does seem to be a hint of emotions within him that he desperately tries to hide. For instances he keeps all these men as employees, including Bartleby, that are annoying and unsophisticated to him. Towards the end he does become even more sensitive to the life and emotions of others, even those that he would consider lower than himself. Bartleby's lack of enthusiasm towards the job and the Boss eventually draws the narrator into Bartleby's world and allows him to have an outlet for him pentup emotions. Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut are the stereo typical cheap laborer, who don't get respect nor deserve it from the Boss' point of view. They are there to show the contrast of what is expected and what Bartleby "prefers" not to do. Bartleby's life story is not told, well actually it is, sort of, because that is part of the curiosity of the Boss. Also the main reason is that no one knew Bartleby and he was unwilling to discuss any part of his past life. I personally do not think that Bartleby is mad. I think he has had a hard life and is very lonely and depressed. He is probably looking for some compassion and someone to connect to. He must feel that connection or the possibility of a connection with the Narrator.

The wall motif is everywhere. The Narrator and Bartleby have walled in their emotions. They are walled in within the office and Bartleby is even walled in within the walls of the office. This story is about isolation and separateness. It is about men trying to find themselves and each other without the proper training and stuck in the lifestyle that they have. The last line shows an acknowledgement to something. The narrator has come to an understanding of life through the pains and life of Bartleby. He understood finally that life is hard and all people, even poor ones, or simple ones, have feelings and a life and need and deserve the compassion of others!

Amy

It seems that in paragraph one that the narrator does seem above Bartleby. he does seem to say that "good-natured gentlemen" like himself have a hard time showing sympathy for those "below" them. Pretty cocky too me. Is a very, oh I don't know, conservative person. He seems to have a very low tolerance for those who are below him. He is the big bad lawyer and the rest are peons. –In the third paragraph, he say that he has always believed that the easiest way of life is the best, and that he is an unambitious lawyer. It seems to me that he is pretty lazy. He wants the good life that comes with being a lawyer but doesn't really want to work for it. I think a lot of people are probably that way. He obviously wants to impress us by mentioning John Jacob Astor's name, but who really cares about who he knows? –When he is describing himself in paragraph four, I think that he is trying to convince himself that he is all these characteristics more than he is trying to convince us. Because we later see what he is really like, temper isn't as tolerant as he led us on to believe. This sort of brings me to the wall imagery. I think that this lawyer might genuinely have humanistic feelings deep down inside and really care about his life and his employees but he has this guard up. He doesn't want anyone to get inside of him. If we believe that he is all the things he says he is then he is safe. I think that also he has, in a sense, walled himself away from the world. He keeps himself separate. He doesn't even want the attention that most lawyers do, he just wants to be kept secure in his office behind his mental and physical walls. Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Hut are just everyday laborers, they are butt-kissers in a sense because they always agree with the boss. I can't think of them as "halfspeed humans" I really can't think of anyone that way, I just think that they are hard workers who don't get the respect that they deserve. –I don't think that Bartleby is mad, just frustrated and very tolerant.

Natalie

The descriptions of Ginger nut, Turkey and Nippers set us up for the strange tale of Bartleby that will follow. The fact that we are told their nicknames and not their real names perhaps indicates that though the lawyer/narrator does have some sympathy with them in regard to the wearing nature of the work, that sympathy does not extend to them in their lives outside of the office in other words, though he has sympathy for them as employees (ie putting up with Turkey and Nipper's biorhythmic fluctuations) he does not as human beings. Turkey's airs and resentment in response to the gift of the coat indicates that at least he realizes this. The narrator describes Nippers's "gentlemanly" appearance as a credit to him as the employer, and says that the "greasy" appearance of Turkey's hat doesn't matter because his employee always removes it in the presence of him, his employer. The gift of the coat and Turkey's response indicate that Turkey perhaps realizes the dual nature of this sympathy and resents it perhaps wants to impose his true personality upon his employer. There are hints, we learn from the hypertext, that Nipper is trying to learn the law; knowledge is all that is needed at this time to practice law. The fact that Turkey's money goes to "red ink" and Nipper is visited by a "dun" might indicate that they are not paid enough. "Ginger nut" is the most obvious example of the boss's lack of concern at the outside life of his employees except as it relates to him: the boy is only 12 and is only known by the name that indicates his function at the office.

Bartleby is initially described as "pitiably respectable" and is hired not so much for his experience but for his "sedate" quality which the narrator hopes will rub off on his more excitable employees. With Bartleby's first rebellion, the narrator finds him to be not "ordinarily human." He does not know how to relate to someone who is not acting in the capacity of "employee." With his second rebellion, however, the narrator is "disarmed and touched" and begins to "reason" with him. As Bartleby continues to refuse even under pressure from his fellow workers, the narrator responds by "[staggering] in his own plainest faith." He is consumed with self-doubt. Having lost his stature, his absolute authority, his bossness, how is he to react? He deliberately provokes Bartleby for he "burned to be rebelled against again." Perhaps he hopes through anger to redefine himself as an employer, to see only through that frame again, but once again he is disarmed by Bartleby's gentle "I prefer..." (Bartleby's tactics remind me of civil disobedience, actually.) He feels himself to be "unmanned" as he is "dictated to by a clerk" when Bartleby will not let him into the office. Apparently part of being a man, is for the narrator at this point, about the control of one's underlings. Upon consideration, however, he feels for the first time "melancholy;" he had previously only experienced a "notunpleasing sadness." This shows us how the narrator is becoming connected with life and with those around him. To be pleased by sadness is to feel detached from it; and we have seen that the narrator is detached from other human beings up until this point. In fact, his imagination begins to run away with him (or is it a premonition) as he is upset by the image of Bartleby lying in his shroud, surrounded by strangers. "The bond of humanity" has connected him to others through his sympathy to Bartleby as a person; in fact, he has realized that both he and Bartleby are "both sons of Adam." Later he will describe that melancholy as changing into "fear," but it is not fear of Bartleby but fear of himself, or perhaps fear FOR Bartleby.

As the scrivener wins their power struggle, the narrator offers to take him into his own home. Bartleby of course would prefer not to go. Eventually he is taken to jail, and like a practitioner of civil disobedience goes on a hunger strike that is unrecognized and dies huddled by a wall in a prison. The narrator, when exploring the rumor he has heard regarding the late clerk, imagines only "dead letters" that have come too late, that express love, hope, tenderness and will never be read by the person they might have helped. Perhaps this text is a "dead letter" too, a joyful communication to a dead man: "I've changed, I see you whole, I accept you all too" but it's late for Bartleby.

The descriptions of the walls within the piece stand in sharp contrast to the openness and understanding that come too late. The office building itself is fenced in like a "cistern." Bartleby is kept behind a screen, isolated even from his fellow workers and can only see a blackened brick wall from his window. Perhaps the walls surrounding the office and the walls put up psychologically by the people with whom he worked is what gave Bartleby his "dull and faded" eyes. Without life to watch, anyone's eyes go flat. The narrator, as discussed above, walls himself in with flimsy psychological defenses, and also does it physically by putting on his coat and "buttoning every button," its order, he hopes, serving as an effective shield from the messy humanity represented by Bartleby.

Anne

The Lawyer/narrator changes substantially from the opening to the end. In the beginning he is a person that is hidden from himself. He talks about being happy and content with his life as an unambitous lawyer. In reality it seems as if he really is very insecure about his place and would like to be a great deal wealthier. He treats Bartleby as a commodity early in the story. As things progress and he discovers the difficulties that his worker endures he changes and becomes more compassionate. The narrator even seems to discover things about himself that he never knew were there. As for turkey, Nippers and, Ginger Nut, they all seem to be the average employee with nothing overly unique about them. They go to work and go home. Bartleby is a deviation from the norm, I'm not ready to say that he is mad. Perhaps he is close to it, but I'm not certain.

Stacey

The narrator is the type of person who lives his life, as the story says, "the easiest way of life is best." This says to me that he always took the easy way out of any situation. His need to understand and know all about the lives of his lawcopyists (scriveners) is something that draws a question. Why did have to know "all" about them? I think that it drives the unnamed narrator nuts to know that Bartleby will not disclose anything of his personal life to him as the others may have. The word "snug" offers a description of being to himself. Even though he explains his work atmosphere, he explains nothing else of himself to us. This narrator is not a typical lawyer. I see him as secretive, nosy, and self-centered (the latter being in the beginning of the story). "I seldom lose my temper; much more seldom indulge in dangerous indignation in wrongs and outrages." This statement proves true in the story. However, there are times that the narrator seems as though he is about to blow up but then he calms down and retreats to his office. ( I found myself getting very ticked at Bartleby myself with all of his "I would prefer not to's".) One would think that the narrator would fire Bartleby after so many rejections of not doing the comparisons of his works but the lawyer doesn't, WHY? At first he aid that Bartleby did excellent work as a copyist but when he "preferred not to" do that anymore, one would see fit to dismiss the scrivener, the narrator does not. When Bartleby is taken to the Tombs, he offers no resistance; passive resistance.

Chris

The lawyer's opinion of himself is based on the opinion of Astor who is richer and therefore in the eyes of the lawyer more able to judge his worth than he himself is. He judges his own worth through his financial success. He is rather a surface fellow who never really digs very deeply into his own psyche or anything else for that matter. He seems rather easy going. He likes for things to run smoothly and to not be bothered by things that might make him unhappy.

But Bartleby changes all of that. He becomes melancholy and is chagrined by the feelings he has for Bartleby. Is he his brother's keeper after all and if so to what extent? In the end he finally does try to put himself into the shoes of Bartleby and does develop a social conscience. The turkeys, nippers, and ginger nuts of this world are those members of the working class who will be forever treading water in the lake of success. They will never really move up the ladder but will spend their lives just paddling along with their heads just above water. It is interesting the condescending tone that the lawyer uses in describing them. One gets an almost omniscient attitude emanating from him when he describes them. What role do they play? Perhaps Melville is saying to his reader, Is this you Mr. Average Worker? We are not told the history of Bartleby because the narrator wants the reader to learn and struggle along with the lawyer in looking at our social conscience. I see Bartleby as one of those unfortunates of society who fall through the cracks of the system. They simply cannot cope with society and end up like the street people in this country today. For those who lack the mind or will to survive in society on society's terms there is often no one to care for them. Bartleby is a lost soul in a crowded society who has built walls around his mind to keep a painful world away. Some people simply cannot adapt to change and cannot care for themselves and we as individuals have a responsibility to care for them. Bartleby is one of us who didn't make it in the race man has made out of life.

Walls: The lawyer has built walls of comfort and power around himself and feels secure in the ivory tower of himself with his smugness, wealth, and prestige. The turkeys, nippers, and ginger nuts have built walls of blindness, pettiness, and greed around themselves. Bartleby has built walls around his heart and soul for so long that the walls have become impenetrable. They keep the pain out but they keep life out as well. He is a fortress unto himself. The last lines: What walls has humanity placed around itself. Have we lost the ability to truly touch each other with each others lives? How many of us are dead and we don't even know it? How many of us are dying inside and the world will never know it? What walls have we, humanity, built around ourselves? Ah Bartleby! Ah Humanity!

Coach Edwards's Discussion Notes

Stacey, I am not sure that the narrator had to know all about his workers it was just that this type of person was easy to know about. These people were "simple" and showed all of their lifestyles at work. You seem harsh on Bartleby, even the narrator has an understanding of this man. It is frustrating though, and maybe even humorous. Ariniko

Class-- It does seem that the narrator does want the easy way out of life. It is obvious that the scriveners don't get that sort of life. Do you think that the lawyer sees that Bartleby works so hard and it doesn't bother Bartleby, and that's what drives the lawyer crazy? I mean, he doesn't have to sweat to enjoy the good life and has many complaints about it, but the scriveners do sweat and don't have the good life but aren't as bad off as they seem? Amy

Melissa- I really don't know if I would want someone describing me as "pitifully respectable", would you? To me it seems that in those quotes the narrator is trying to say something nice but just can't bring himself to do it. Amy

Melissa-- I love your "sharing a brain" image! They are presented as sharing the day, in a sense, with each basically out of commission for half the day. It seems to me that one thing the story is about is how dehumanizing the office environment with its hierarchy can be, and these two are cases in point. They respond to this environment by giving only half of themselves. Their "wildness" for half the day is translated into passive resistance by Bartleby. None of them can truly resist, even though they must into order to keep their sense of humanity. Does this sound feasible to you? AW

To Amy from Natalie: What do you make of Bartleby's living in the office and going on a quiet, deadly hunger strike at jail (and possibly at the office?) I agree he's very frustrated but I don't understand what you mean by "tolerant." I'm not trying to be snotty but to understand, because I find this story very baffling!

To Melissa from Natalie: I like the way you describe Turkey and nippers as two halves of the same person. Does B. remind you of anyone practicing civil disobedience, with his polite, quiet, unyielding principles (in regard to what ideal, I haven't the slightest idea) and his refusal to eat? Maybe he's protesting against the dehumanizing atmosphere of the modern workplace? Or am I just crazy?

Anne- I think it's interesting how you saw Bartleby as a deviation from the norm, and close to being mad. I felt like I could relate to Bartleby, not only through myself, but through other people I know. (At least now I know that I'm not normal.) Bryant

Matt- I was counting on finding out about Bartleby's past too. I have a tendency to want to know what makes people act a certain way, and in this Melville just left me dying to know. (What a cruel thing to do!) Donna

To Donna From Brandon --Contrarily, I wasn't very able to relate to the narrator. I agree that his age theoretically suggests wisdom and experience--granted. But I feel as though the only reason he has experienced so much and has come this far (however far or not that really is) is that he is so compliant, obedient, accepting, patient...I don't mean to imply any respectable connotations at all! Rather, he is too "mushy"; he is sauce with no meat--a worm with no spine. In other words, he just doesn't seem to me to be a very effective attorney. I don't feel sorry for him, and I certainly don't regard him as a reliable source on which to base opinions (although his is the opinion by which we must judge).
 

Anne From Brandon: Like you, I related more to Bartleby; I understood him more as mysterious and intriguing. I suppose I am attracted to the isolation and alienation in his character. However, I really didn't desire to know much more about him. If anything, I'd like to know what he is thinking and what he thinks of other people. But peoples' general need to define people in neat little categories is disturbing to me. Many might not like this story for the simple fact that it left us confused about how to perceive Bartleby, but that is what life is all about; we know the people who let us know them. If a person doesn't want to open doors and let you in, then you are not goung to get in--that simple!

[Bartleby -- Full Text]

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