Case of an individual

A detailed Summary of Case of an individual

Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that an individual must focus and care solely about what he or she feels is right, and not be manipulated or persuaded by society. Emerson's essay on "Self Reliance" focuses on how the individual should confidently believe in his own ideas and should disregard anything that society might think. The fact that a person is able to stand up for himself is what Emerson considers that essential. Several of Emerson's statements address the individual; however, there is specific pithy statement that concerns the individual in relation to group interference. "What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think.... It is the harder because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it" (23). In this statement, Emerson emphasizes the importance of the individual within a group. There will always be other people who feel that they know what is right; however, it is only each person who truly knows what is right for him or herself. In Herman Melville's "Bartleby," Bartleby is a character who keeps to himself, yet at the same time he does not allow those around him to change the way he reacts in situations. Melville's answer to Emerson's ideal of the i

ndividual is in Bartleby's passive resistance, which is most notable in Bartleby's first refusal, his obstinacy about remaining where he is not wanted, and his death.

The narrator realizes how much of an integral part of society Bartleby really had, because he acted as an individual and was not manipulated by the thoughts of society. Bartleby certainly represents the Emersonian ideal which is the individual who does not allow for the influence of society and is merely concerned with personal opinions and not what others around him think. Unfortunately, as the reader observes, the result of being an individual ends in death. As a strong, yet fairly simple character, Bartleby shows the tremendous power of the individual. Bartleby exemplifies the qualities of the Emersonian ideal, yet the consequences of only being concerned with one's own thoughts are isolation and death.

The boss, representative of society, assumes that he knows what is best for his employee. The boss believes that Bartleby simply mishears the request and merely ignores the fact because he feels that whatever he orders Bartleby to do, will be done. However, Bartleby continues to respond in this same manner. This brings up the idea of the group interference and how society usually has a strong impact on the individual to affect the person's ideas, however this is impossible to do with Bartleby. The boss believes that he knows what is right for Bartleby and tries to reason with him, but he is unsuccessful. This demonstrates how society always thinks that it knows what is good, however the individual is the one who really knows what is right, not those around him. "'You are decided, then, not to comply with my request - a request made according to common usage and common sense?' He briefly gave me to understand that on that point my judgment was sound. Yes: his decision was irreversible" (11). Bartleby is not going to

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Approximate Word count = 1291
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English