Bartleby's timeline takes place where business was rising and so was industrial work. He had been in the area where the rich decided to gather and become wealthier. These people, the leaders of the rising businesses, would be expected to really only care about the outcome produced by the work of laborers. The workers only real responsibilities and choices would be to follow directions and produce great results for their bosses. In that case, their personalities and attitudes that make them people would not really be necessary. Bartleby's attitude of being defiant and responsible enables him to have a choice in a place where he would not have one but still remain faithful to his work. Therefore, because of the conditions of being in an enclosed environment and the people he was meant to interact with, Bartleby's behavior is an adequate one in his setting. Bartleby's character defies the standard of what is known to the people of Wall Street and it allows him new paths which he might not have otherwise. As such, his personality is expected as he is still a human being seeking his own place in the world.
Since his personality enable himself choices, he in a sense is challenging the people around him to think differently. Especially in a work where they repeat the same mundane routine over and over again, Bartleby adds a freshness to the crew of workers. Even the boss of Bartleby recognized that Bartleby was unique in thought and while he was thinking that, the boss himself saw that people are different and should not expect to simply follow orders even if they are from what is know to be a higher up person. Although it is difficult to challenge others and receive not adequate responses but reproaches, Bartleby was perhaps acting of his own command to demonstrate to the people of Wall Street that even they, the individuals that sought to be richer, could be used and manipulated to the point that they would question what they really sought after.
Just as Bartleby could show his boss and his colleges a new perspective, Bartleby would benefit from being an isolated and independent individual that really required minimal attention from others and sought no companionship. Bartleby would excel most if he was alone just as his boss and the other rich folk decided to make Wall Street. Therefore, when his boss would often ask Bartleby to do tasks associated with interacting with his peers, it was nearly expected of Bartleby to react in the way he did, reject him. From when he entered into his career, he was placed in a place where he was out of sight, hidden. Copying documentation does need revision but inspecting it various times can be accomplished at separate times which the boss was not actually taking advantage of. He would instead request they all inspect papers at the same time whereas Bartleby would not participate, a reasonable action. Being able to dissociate from a certain assignment and be more productive for his boss is supposed to be a characteristic that is favorable to any employer, yet in Bartleby's case it was seem as unseemly.
I found it intriguing reading about businesses' work ethics during that time period. Perhaps including some quotes to support your reasoning instead of paraphrasing will make your argument more concrete. Another thing to consider is the extent of Bartleby's productivity near the end of the story. Did he work when his boss was away, or did he just stare at the wall of his cubicle?
ReplyDeleteYour perspective of Bartleby is unique and interesting. I would add more details that support your argument, such as a specific example of how Bartleby influenced his colleagues as the story progressed. You did not include evidence of your claims of Bartleby being "defiant and responsible" and "productive". I think that your claims and defense of Bartleby could be made stronger if you included more counterarguments that you could use to convey that your statements are reasonable and at the same time neutralize them (the counterarguments).
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