Bartleby Essays (1093 words) - English-language Films, Bartleby

Bartleby Since he will not quit me, I must quit him. ?Ah Bartleby, Ah Humanity.? (Page 140, Herman Melville) This is the key to Bartleby, written by Herman Melville, for it indicates that Bartleby stands as a symbol for humanity. This in turn functions as a commentary on society and the working world, for Bartleby is a seemingly homeless, mentally disturbed scrivener who gives up on the prospect of living life. However, by doing so Bartleby is attempting to exercise his freewill, for he would ?prefer not to? work. His relationship to the narrator is thus significant, for as he attempts to exercise his freewill he is breaking from the will of the narrator and the normal progression of life. However, this attempt to exercise his freewill and break loose from the confines of typical societal functions, isolates Bartleby from society, which in turn places him in a state of depression and soon there after, death. Ultimately, by having Bartleby ?prefer not to,? Melville is commenting on the role of humanity in the work force. If man attempts to break free of his role and exercise his own freewill then he is severing himself from humanity which in turn will lead to depression and perhaps death, for he will have nothing but a wall always obstructing him. From the beginning Bartleby is isolated within the confines of his work place. ?I procured a high green folding screen, which might entirely isolate Bartleby from my sight, though not remove him from my voice.?( pg 111) In this quotation the narrator put Arnold, Page 2 up a screen to separate his office from Bartleby's, which isolates him from the other members of the staff which thus isolates him from humanity. However, this is not the end of the isolation for he is not only detached from those around him, but society as well. ?I placed his desk close up to a small side window, a window that had originally afforded a view of certain grimy backyards, but which commanded at present, no view at all. Within three feet of the pains was a wall.? (pg 110-111) This quotation demonstrates Bartleby's total isolation from society, for even his window, usually a form of escape, traps Bartelby behind another wall, which thus reinforces absolute isolation. Ultimately, every aspect of Bartleby's life further expounds upon the motif of solitude. Bartalby's attempt to exercise his freewill eventually leads him into an even more alienated state as he estranges himself from his coworkers and his boss, the narrator. This resulted from a refusal to follow the orders of the narrator, for he refused to work or even communicate with him. His only response soon became ?I would prefer not to,? which shows his lack of involvement and in turn his decision not to interact in society, for he gave up what little life he still had. Ultimately, what he was doing, was preferring not to live, but instead just exist. Melville, is thus commenting on the work force by demonstrating through Bartleby's continual descend into the abysmal, society confines you behind walls and that if you give in and choose to stop living you will waste away as Bartleby did. Consequently, Bartleby after having alienated himself so fully was then left to his own devices. ?Since he will not quit me, I must quit him. I will change my offices; I will move elsewhere.? (pg 132-133) He was deserted completely, for he was no longer living. Arnold, Page 3 He continued to breathe, he continued to exist, but he was no longer of any use to society. As he severs himself from humanity, Bartleby is unaware of the consequences. However, these consequences as displayed by Melville, comment upon the impact that the work force can have upon mankind. Through Bartleby, he demonstrates that once you give up on life, everyone around will give up on you in turn, as the narrator did with Bartleby, for you have become an obstruction, much like the walls surrounding Bartleby. In the end, his self-will was what led him to death. For his decision to withdraw from society and further seclude himself led to the disintegration of his soul. He lost all desire to work, or

Historical character Essay Example

Historical character Essay Example Historical character Essay Historical character Essay Arthur Miller was a playwright who dealt with many issues and themes. His play The Crucible involves a comparison with McCarthyism in the form of the Salem Witch Trials. McCarthyism came about when a politician named Joseph McCarthy tried to cover up his views of an anticommunist policy by using scapegoats. In this play, a girl named Abigail accused almost the whole town of witchcraft. This happened because in her own cunning way she turned the accusation against her, which was created when some girls in the town become ill while conjuring spirits, and used a scapegoat to avoid being hanged. Abigail was the leading figure in both Millers play and real life. Her role in the community was the niece of the village reverend. She appears to be deep and dark minded but intelligent girl who with her age has the power of innocence. Abigail is the leader of this movement as the public hung on to her every word and believed everything she and the rest of the girls say. She knows that she has power and is not afraid of using it to satisfy her needs. The rest of the towns-people see her as a saviour coming from the Devil to rid the world of the witches. The girls and Abigail, however, know that it is just a trick to avoid punishment. As Abigail was the ringleader of the group, she is the first one to use a scapegoat in the form of Tituba. We first see this when Abigail is blamed for the dancing yet quickly turns the blame to Tituba, another servant. When Tituba enters the room Abigail is quick to notice that she could use her as a scapegoat. The fact that Tituba is a black slave from Barbados makes her an easy target, as the people in the room at the time will not believe her innocence over Abigails. This is because they were a racist society. For this, she was easily believed to be under the power of the devil. The reasons for starting all this was cold hearted revenge. The purpose for this might have came from her earlier childhood. She says I will come to you in the black of some terrible night And you know I can do it: I saw Indians smash my dear parents heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night. Her violent and traumatising past may contribute to her actions that took place and her attitude towards using life to get her way.