Almost everyone has heard of the novel “Moby Dick”. Less people though know that it was Herman Melville who wrote the world famous best-seller. Yet even less people can name other books and stories written by the American. One important story cycle he published in 1856 is called “The Piazza Tales” and it includes the short novels “Bartleby, The Scrivener”, “Billy Budd” and “Benito Cerone”.
This paper deals with the first one.
In the process of my work I will try to present a short overview about the story and give a brief summary. Nevertheless it is assumed that the reader of this paper is already familiar with the text.
I will focus on the formula “I prefer not to” which Bartleby frequently uses as his only way to communicate with his environment. In a first step I will examine the influence that the usage of this formula has on the lawyer. Furthermore I will present the reactions of the office clerks and of other people to this phrase.
The second part of this paper then is devoted to the opinions and interpretations of famous Melville critics who put the weight of their argumentation on very contradictory points. This criticism is essential in order to understand the story. In traditional forms Bartleby is “unreadable”. The text becomes meaningful, framed and structured only by taking account of the according criticism. Of course, there are many and very different ways to criticize the story. I though think that dealing with the famous phrase is the form of interpretation that is closest to the text and therefore the most easily to follow. With all these critical views and opinions, including my own argumentation, I will show that Bartleby never had a chance to survive. His chosen style of living just did not fit into the world back in these days. Does it today? I will come back to this thesis in the end and try to find an answer.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- General overview about Melville and his short novels
- Bartleby
- Bartleby: Context and Sequence of Events
- Bartleby's formula
- The clerks' reactions to his formula
- The lawyer's reaction to his formula
- Other people's reactions
- Critics
- Bartleby: Christlike? Biblical phrases and connotations in the text
- "Parable of the Walls"?
- Other Interpretations
- Conclusion. Bartleby in today's world?
- Selected Bibliography, Sources
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes Herman Melville's short story "Bartleby, The Scrivener" focusing on the titular character's frequent use of the phrase "I prefer not to" and its impact on those around him. The paper aims to present a concise overview of the story and examine the reactions of the lawyer, the office clerks, and other people to Bartleby's peculiar form of communication.
- Bartleby's "formula" as a form of resistance
- The reactions of the lawyer, clerks, and others to Bartleby's behavior
- The role of critical interpretations in understanding the story
- The relevance of Bartleby's story to contemporary society
- Melville's writing style and his exploration of themes of isolation and alienation
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This section introduces the story of "Bartleby, The Scrivener" and its author, Herman Melville, highlighting Melville's other works and emphasizing the story's focus on Bartleby's unique way of communicating: "I prefer not to."
- General overview about Melville and his short novels: This chapter provides a brief biographical sketch of Melville, tracing his life and career, including his time at sea and his eventual shift from fiction to poetry. It mentions his most famous work, "Moby Dick," and introduces the short story collection "The Piazza Tales," which includes "Bartleby, The Scrivener."
- Bartleby: Context and Sequence of Events: This chapter establishes the setting and narrative structure of "Bartleby, The Scrivener." It describes the lawyer, the narrator, and his office staff, introducing Bartleby as the new scrivener who eventually becomes a source of mystery and concern.
- Bartleby's formula: This section delves into the significance of Bartleby's phrase "I prefer not to," analyzing its impact on the lawyer and other characters.
- The clerks' reactions to his formula: This chapter examines the reactions of the lawyer's other employees, Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut, to Bartleby's refusal to follow instructions.
- The lawyer's reaction to his formula: This section explores the lawyer's evolving response to Bartleby's refusal, highlighting his initial confusion and eventual compassion.
- Other people's reactions: This chapter analyzes the reactions of other individuals who encounter Bartleby, showcasing the various perspectives on his enigmatic behavior.
- Critics: This chapter explores the interpretations of various Melville critics, examining different perspectives on the meaning and significance of "Bartleby, The Scrivener."
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The keywords and core concepts of this text include: Herman Melville, "Bartleby, The Scrivener," "I prefer not to," Wall Street, scrivener, alienation, resistance, isolation, 19th-century America, critical interpretations, literary analysis, and the impact of individual behavior on society.
- Quote paper
- Sebastian Goetzke (Author), 2003, "Reactions to Bartleby's" formula - A reading of text and critics, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/20502
