Blog Post # 1 Topic #2

Bartleby’s behavior is a reasonable response to his circumstances

I choose to present an argument against the statement. There are reasons why I believe that the behaviors of Bartleby were not as a response to the circumstances he was in. When one is faced with challenges, it is likely for that person to be involved in acts that might harm his or her life. The case of Bartleby was different. It is true that the man had gone through a traumatizing moment, but that does not justify the reason why he ended up doing what he did. The man had a good job, and he worked for a good boss. The lawyer had two employees who had problems. One could not work in the morning, and the other could not work in the afternoon. However, the boss chose to retain both of them. That is an indication that despite the circumstance that Bartleby was in, he had someone who cared for him and someone who wanted all things to be okay for him.     

The behavior of Bartleby was either driven by his depression or by ignorance. The reason why these are the only good terms to explain this is because of the way he responded to help that was offered to him different times. When Bartleby started working for the lawyer, he was the best employee. This is an indication that he had the ability to work better in the environment that he was in. After working for some time, the behavior of Bartleby started changing, he starting refusing to take orders from his boss and things started getting tense because he was not performing as it was expected of him.

Looking at this scenario, one will realize the change in behavior by Bartleby was not motivated by any circumstance but rather by his will to be disobedient (Melville, 1853). If circumstances were leading to his behavior, then he would not have been a good employee and then turn to be a disobedient employee. Circumstances are the surrounding forces that make one act in a certain way. The environment and the behaviors of Bartleby are not parallel to each other. Despite Bartleby being treated well by his boss, he goes on to do as he pleases. If circumstances were the main cause for the behaviors of Bartleby, then he would have been a better person than his fellow employees.

First, Bartleby was rude to the lawyer after being given a task. The answer that he gave was not expected to put into consideration that the lawyer was his boss. At the same time, Bartleby was spending his nights at the office. According to employment rules, that was wrong, and the boss had the right to kick him out. Despite the boss showing care and concern, Bartleby showed no interest of being helped. When worse went to worst, the lawyer decided to help Bartleby and made sure that he had something to eat.

Despite all the effort by the lawyer, Bartleby went on to starve himself to death. The actions that have been revealed by Bartleby are not anyway motivated by circumstances. Among all other employees, Bartleby was the only one who received care that was beyond boss to employee relationship, and that is why I am against the argument that his behaviors were a response to circumstances. If his behaviors were a response to circumstances, he would have been the best and most obedient employee in the office of the lawyer.