Bartleby the Scrivener A Strange Rlationship
The Webster's New World Dictionary defines "folie a deux" as "A condition in which symptoms of a mental disorder, such as delusive beliefs or ideas, occur simultaneously in two individuals who share a close relationship or association." (231) In Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" this concept of coinciding peculiarity, or obsession is demonstrated quite vividly throughout three different stages. The first, Bartleby's unwavering preoccupation with his employment, followed by his decision to do no work whatsoever, and finally Bartleby's determination to accomplish nothing at all, not even partaking of the basic functions required to sustain life. During each of these phases, Bartleby's actions are met with limited efforts on the part of the narrating lawyer, who endeavors to 'help' his odd employee. It is this interaction which poses the question of how much responsibility a human should have for his or her fellow man. Bartleby's focus passes through three main stages before his death, the first of which is his obsession with
The concluding stage in Bartleby's life begins when the character is shipped off to prison. When he is placed in confinement, Bartleby takes his former inactive life to the next extreme. Despite the extra care supplied by the narrator's money, Bartleby is found, starved to death, "strangely huddled at the base of the wall, his knees drawn up, and lying on his side, his head touching the cold stones...." (Melville paragraph 245) While the narrator's restricted exertions could be viewed as a genuine effort to show compassion to Bartleby, as the narrator most likely assured himself, they were for the most part half hearted attempts offered, sadly, too late. Throughout the story, when Bartleby refuses to proofread his work, or merely stands for hours on end looking blankly at the brick wall, the narrator does nothing except seek statements from his other employees that Bartleby's behavior is neither normal, nor even tolerable. The narrator takes no effective action, but instead participates in a few wordy conversations and th
Some common words found in the essay are:
Initially Bartleby, Bartleby Scrivener, World Dictionary, melville paragraph, stages bartleby's, bartleby narrator, folie deux,
Approximate Word count = 698
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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