Bartleby the Scrivener A Strange Relationship :: essays papers

Bartleby the Scrivener A Strange Relationship The Websters New World Dictionary defines psychological disorder a deux as A condition in which symptoms of a mental disorder, such as delusive beliefs or ideas, occur simultaneously in cardinal individuals who shargon a close relationship or association. (231) In Melvilles Bartleby, the Scrivener this concept of coinciding peculiarity, or obsession is demonstrated quite vividly byout three different stages. The first, Bartlebys unwavering preoccupation with his employment, followed by his finale to do no work whatsoever, and finally Bartlebys determination to accomplish nothing at all, not even partaking of the basic functions required to sustain life. During each of these phases, Bartlebys achieves 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.Bar tlebys focus passes through three main stages before his death, the first of which is his obsession with performing a single action to the exclusion of everything else. Initially, Bartleby works day and night, as if famished for something to copy. (Melville separate 18) His goal, it seems, is to single-mindedly to accomplish as much copying as is humanly possible. The first fewer attempts on the part of the narrator to tell Bartleby to do something else, no matter how moderate the task, are met with the simple refusal, Id prefer not to. (Melville paragraph 21) The narrator evenhandedly chooses not to punish this insubordination because of both the quality, and the quantity of Bartlebys official work. After a series of requests from the narrator that all end in noncompliance, Bartleby shifts his focus from the intense copying of documents to simply doing nothing at all. This, of course, is a considerate of obsession that is not acceptable in the modern work force, and can no t feasibly be tolerated by the narrator. As the agent of punishment, the narrator is at this superman stuck with making the decision to either sympathize with Bartleby, or lose his professional reputation. In a final attempt to clear his conscience, the lawyer pr sprees both switch over employment options, and temporary housing arrangements. Once again, all efforts on the part of the narrator to offer genuine help are rebuffed, and the narrator at buy the farm proposes to remove his offices next week.Bartleby the Scrivener A Strange Relationship essays papersBartleby the Scrivener A Strange Relationship The Websters 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 Melvilles Bartleby, the Scrivener this concept of coinciding peculiarity, or obsession is demonstrated quite vividly passim three d ifferent stages. The first, Bartlebys unwavering preoccupation with his employment, followed by his decision to do no work whatsoever, and finally Bartlebys determination to accomplish nothing at all, not even partaking of the basic functions required to sustain life. During each of these phases, Bartlebys 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.Bartlebys focus passes through three main stages before his death, the first of which is his obsession with performing a single action to the exclusion of everything else. Initially, Bartleby works day and night, as if famished for something to copy. (Melville paragraph 18) His goal, it seems, is to single-mindedly to accomplish as much copying as is humanly possible. The first few attempts on the part of the narrator to tell Bartleby to do somethi ng else, no matter how moderate the task, are met with the simple refusal, Id prefer not to. (Melville paragraph 21) The narrator reasonably chooses not to punish this insubordination because of both the quality, and the quantity of Bartlebys regular work. After a series of requests from the narrator that all end in noncompliance, Bartleby shifts his focus from the intensive copying of documents to simply doing nothing at all. This, of course, is a kind of obsession that is not acceptable in the modern work force, and can not feasibly be tolerated by the narrator. As the agent of punishment, the narrator is at this point stuck with making the decision to either sympathize with Bartleby, or lose his professional reputation. In a final attempt to clear his conscience, the lawyer proffers both alternate employment options, and temporary housing arrangements. Once again, all efforts on the part of the narrator to offer genuine help are rebuffed, and the narrator at last proposes to rem ove his offices next week.