Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street ~ Herman Melville

“Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street” By Herman Melville is said to be one of Melville’s most studied works, even though it seems to be the least action oriented. It’s popularity is drawn from the insight Melville provides on human nature and individuality itself. In the story Melville describes a successful and overworked lawyers office, and a lawyer looking for a new Scrivener (essentially a clerk of sorts) to help pick up some weight from his overworked staff. That’s where Bertleby comes in, at first he starts as a hardworking individual, efficient, and always on point. Later he develops an unusual habit of refusing his employers work by saying “I’d prefer not to.” As the story progresses Bartlebys odd stubbornness strengthens, which ultimately leads him toward downward spiral ending in a pathetic death in prison.

The story is a unique outlook on individuality because as humans we are defined by what makes us different from the rest of the world, and yet along with that uniqueness we cannot stray from human nature itself, which prompts us to be communal creatures. In the story of “Bartleby, the Scrivener” we see individuality being morphed while becoming grotesque at the same time. Bartleby’s personality is both strengthened and yet feels lost in the midst of his refusal of everything.

Some of the blame can be put on society, saying that Bartleby was created by the mundane environment and isolation he was exposed to in life. Bartleby was said to work at what was called a dead letter office, which was essentially the location where they would burn letters that had no where to go. The narrator reflects on this at the end of the story, and laments that the experience must have psychologically effected Bartleby so much that he just snapped after joining onto the firm.

Evidence in the story suggests that the connection the narrator felt with Bartleby was the fact that he identified with Bartlebys stubborn behavior, stating “For the first time in my life a feeling of overpowering stinging melancholy seized me. Before, I had never experienced aught but a not-unpleasing sadness. The bond of a common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom. A fraternal melancholy! For both I and Bartleby were sons of Adam” (Para. 89.) Like he said for the first time the safety of ignoring issues were no longer enough for the narrator, he was forced to confront them through Bartleby. He reflected in the narrator his own frustration with the way society had molded him into what he claims to be a”safe man” (Para. 3.)

The Narrator and Bartleby are complete opposite reflections of one another. Bartleby chooses to fight the norms pushed on him by preferring not to do them, where as the narrator has allowed societies norms to completely engulf him through mundane work. As the story progresses Bartleby crosses the line where his individuality engulfs him. He allows this quirk of his to ultimately lead to his very death, out of refusal to be anything human. It really shows the fine line drawn where uniqueness and conformity lie. You either become the narrator, lost in a sea of grey without a glimmer of self, or you become Bartleby, lost in his own stubbornness refusing to conform to simple human nature. Balance, like in all things is necessary.

“Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street” I feel is incredibly important for anyone to read, especially those joining the work force. It proves the importance of uniqueness, while maintaining that balance of communal behavior. Humans by nature need, not only one another, but to adhere to the very laws we all must abide by. The insight Melville provides us through Bartleby and the narrator is enough to motivate anyone on the journey toward balance. We learn from Bartleby that his stubbornness is almost admirable because it’s directed toward a relentless fight against societies exhausting rules, while also understanding that the fight isn’t against ones own nature. The narrator, we learn the consequences of losing oneself, but proving the importance of slight conformity.

The Shabbat ~ Marjane Satrapi

The Shabbat is a chapter from a well renowned graphic novel called Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, that addresses the robbery of childhood from the uncontrollable grips of war. Throughout the chapter Marjane uses many visual devises to portray her strong emotions during this time, such as: contrast in black and white, the disappearance of a setting, abandoned streets, and one sided conversations. She uses these to her advantage to portray the slow stream of consciousness that Marji goes through during this time. It allows the reader to have a real inside view on the growing anxiety that builds throughout the chapter.

Must of the content in the chapter can be used to further narrow down the main topic, one example of this can be the name of the chapter itself. Shabbat is defined as “a day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening” (google definitions). Saturday was the day the missile hit Setrapis neighbors the “Baba-Levys” who were jewish, and according to their traditions, would have been home when that missile hit. Not only is Setrapi addressing this occurrence, but I believe it is an iceberg hidden at the very beginning of the story as Setrapi’s way to contrast the definition and tell the reader that her days of recollection and relaxation are over after the horrific event.

Another example would be an artistic pattern Setrapi chose to use which was a pitch black backdrop at moments of heightened awareness. One such moment was the page where it was black around the family to be signify Marji’s focused attention on the world around her, and on specific events that directly effect her like the the page when it had been confirmed that Iraq had “Scud” missiles, and Terhan, the Setrapi’s home, was Iraqs target.

In contrast Setrapi uses white backgrounds to show the characters un-focus on the world around them, like when Marji finds out about the bomb that hit in her neighborhood, and she calls a taxi. In that block all you see is Marji running, and not a single object in the background.

Through this technique it shows Marji’s growing attention to the world she lives in, the war that ultimately determines her future, and as a result her childhood.

By the time Marji finds out her home wasn’t hit the weight and anxiety had been lifted, but as quickly at it had left after seeing her mother, Marji’s anxiety returned at the notion that the “Baba-Levys” were still in their home when it was hit. With a white background surrounding Marji as she comes to this realization, she then see’s the bracelet attached to an arm that belonged to the daughter of the family, Marji’s friend, Neda. What Setrapi does to further show the innocence of childhood being stripped from her is she uses a black background with a single statement to show her heightened awareness of the world around her, along with a new fear and anger toward it. “No scream in the world could have relieved my suffering and my anger” (p.2000).

Through these artistic approaches to the Iceberg theory Setrapi shows a child being torn from innocence and transforming through the effects of war.

Model’s Assistant~Alissa Nutting

“Compared to her I am like a sandwich. I am completely inhuman and benign.”

In the the story “Models Assistant” by Alissa Nutting, she clearly paints a comparison between humanities struggle between medias unattainable perfection, and our own insecurities that lead to the addiction of our consistent validation through these ideals. In this regard, the main character beautifully personifies our insecure society, where as Garla serves as the foil to the protagonist by way of contrasting her in almost every regard. She serves as an archetype of the beautiful, model-esk celebrity and becomes the embodiment of the unattainable perfection most humans crave.

The story begins with the protagonist introducing Garla, explaining she’s from somewhere “Swedishy” and that Garla avoids any and all conversations that divulge into her personal life. Later in the text we find that although Garla has an opportunity to be an incredibly dynamic character, it is proven through an interaction between the main character and the model, that Nutting clearly wants to keep her fairly flat. “”I know you’re more,” my drunken eyes say. They say this in a breathy hesitant manner that insists it has taken them a lot of time to work up the courage to say such a thing, without words nonetheless. “Yes” answer Garla’s eyes, and like all of Garla’s answers it is a mysterious pearl whose value I immediately begin to appraise….”Some type of sausage” Garla says…” (33-5). Instead of a meaningful response, Garla merely reverts to her basic phrases and mean absolutely nothing.

Soon after meeting her, the protagonist is brought to many parties, fashion shows, and really allowed a taste in the glamour that is Garla’s life. Everywhere they go Garla is met up with flashing lights from cameras, and crowds of people drawn to her. Though the model is clearly using the main character as a sort of assistant, the protagonist was using Garla for the small sliver of significance she felt when she was with her. Nutting leads the reader slowly through the transition into addiction, by small remarks the protagonist says about herself, and her future with Garla. For example she says  “Since that night my life has changed in a myriad of ways. I am still no one, unless I am with Garla, then I become with Garla, a new and exciting identity that makes nearly anything possible, except being a model myself. And excepting being someone when I am not with Garla” (18).

The balance tilts dramatically as the protagonist’s needs grow, as she desperately wants more, and almost forcibly offers to be her assistant by quitting her job. Garla doesn’t respond to the offer though, and doesn’t return her calls in the week following either. The protagonist goes crazy with worry, and finally comes face to face with the terrible fact that she has become dependent on her model friend, where as Garla feels no dependency. Through hunger strikes and butchering her hair, the protagonist is left with no job and no future in sight. Her only identity has been morphed into what she felt fit best with Garla, and now what was left was a hole in her chest of self pity. Once Garla finally called her back inviting the main character to a party, which just so happen to be where they first met, the protagonist felt betrayed, and angry, knowing full well that Garla never truly needed her. After comparing her drunken pity party to a full bedpan (61) the protagonist drives home in a taxi, frantically looking for her “Garla” phone, and stating ” With a panic I check my purse to make sure I still have it: the Garla-phone, the jewel. The cursed treasure that brought distress alongside fortune. Glistening in my lap it looked too beautiful to be trusted….I have the urge to leave the phone behind for someone else to find and answer. But I won’t. Instead I’ll go home for her to call me and turn me into something special for however long she wants, and this time I won’t forget to be grateful”.

Nutting does a wonderful job creating a personable, and dynamic character. The protagonist in this story is meant to represent all of modern day society that is constantly influenced by the limelight of celebrities, actors, artists, and the like. We consistently seek validation of our own identities based on these unattainable biases that media portrays as normalcy. I have seen this in myself as I watch the kardashians lives on television, I see this when I read a fashion magazine, I am as affected by this as most living in the 21st century. And like the main character, though I realize it affects me negatively, by creating an addictive dependency, I will always come back for more with a smile.