Thanks for mentioning the Book of Job reference, I didn’t catch that on my read through but it makes a lot of sense considering how much religion Melville put in his writing and it adds a lot of context to Bartleby. Would love to see you guys do Moby Dick.
Excellent analysis! 👏 I've read this one several times and always love hearing everyone's perspectives! I agree there is some humor in this story but it almost reminds me of Poe's writing as well - dark and foreboding. 👍Well done.
Really like the connection with Job. Would very much agree with the reference and stepping out. I read this many years ago, and it stuck with me. I don't remember it being funny, but I have a feeling, on a reread, I would see the humor.
i hear you guys talking about the horror aspects, and i see that side! i just read this for my literature's "american gothic" segment, and we got to meditate on the themes of isolation, presence of lack of knowledge, how a space influences mood, and phyiscal/mental decay! very, very haunting symbolism and imagery, as mundane of a context as it is
“So it goes.”. “Well, I’d prefer if it didn’t”, Bartebly would probably have said to Vonnegut. What a clash of titanic logicians!! Another great video, guys 😎
@14:57 I think that is a trap that many Americans fall into. I've written essays that touch upon the peril of linking identity with one's place of employment. Of course, this can be a tricky concept to approach in terms of personal development, because for many people their job(s) take up the majority of their day to day life, so the idea of expressing an individualized personality that falls outside of what's spoon fed as "acceptable behavior" by their HR departments (based on a global corporate model), could be earth shattering. The reason why I say "earth shattering" in this regard is because people will realize that what they believe is their "personality" is actually just another "manufactured product", and that they actually possess very little individuality beyond superficial "likes/dislikes" (in other words a lack of character, meaning that people are essentially becoming clones/bots). Did I go too deep? #LFLR "VBW"
I love the character of Bartleby. He could be a current role model for a perfect sabotage of a unit of the capitalist system. Recently, I have been thinking of quitting my job, dropping off at university, and moving to a small village (though I am based in a small regional town) to live a quiet life. This is what Bartleby could easily do. I am not there yet, unfortunately. Bartleby symbolizes to me the struggle of human social essence against the capitalist ideal of success and work. Especially as the latter is often equal to exploitation. Maybe, if enough people in the same period of time were to just say, "I prefer not to" to an assigned task at work, we could collectively shift the system and demand better rights and conditions at work? That's what this story is about for me.
Just a few opinions of mine. Before he was UNPOPULAR Melville was, at least to some extent VERY popular. Typee was read widely and some say was the first 'travel book'. It didn't last of course but it's important to mention this. I think Melville had a great sense of humour that existed alongside a great sense of being cheated by life. The segment in MD where Ishmael and Queequeg meet the sailor in the street who keeps asking them if they are 'shipping' with the Pequod is hysterical. Fast and Loose fish (MD) is pretty comical too. You can see it in White Jacket, Redburn and all the rest. He was a funny guy. But the feeling of loss (I believe to a large degree related to his father/family situation) looms largest in his writing. And this is really apparent in Bartleby. The important point (for me) is that he used to work in the Dead Letter Office. It's the key to the novel. Those who sent their letters thought they had been received when they weren't. And the intended recipients died believing they'd been ignored/forgotten. In short - fate conspired to disillusion both sender and recipient. I don't think you can underestimate the importance of this. Yes, he lost his job at the DLO which is bound to have an effect. BUT he did find another with a boss who was willing to help him financially. So this doesn't seem to me half as important as his insistence on not taking advantage of this. It seems to me Bartleby's refusal to do what others would is a reaction to his experience in opening letters that were on errands of mercy that ultimately CAME TO NOTHING. Something that is similar to having his (HM) own hopes hopes dashed through his fathers ruin. Again, PERSONALLY, I think it's hard for most people to understand Bartleby because Bartleby is a man who had realised for himself life is full of unfairness. The kind of unfairness that makes some wonder whether it's worthwhile dealing with LIFE (as it's generally lived) at all. It's not easy for most people to think about such things. Anyhow, read a Melville novel - ANY Melville novel, and you'll see his anger at fate.
Thank you so much for this brilliant breakdown and background - I felt this but didn’t have the capacity to put into words. Definitely agree in HM’s deep sense of loss…almost grief like feeling…even in Moby Dick. Thank you again!
I’ve registered for a short fiction English class at university. Melville’s story is 30 pages long. I prefer short-er fiction because it’s easier to identify and visually see the text over a few pages. I enjoyed listening to your oral explication.
I started reading Moby Dick in my late 20s and DNF'ed it. I always said I'd get back to it eventually, but eh... I prefer not to. After reading this gem, I think I'll get back to Moby Dick for sure this year. 10 out of 10!
I’m sorry, but Herman Melville is right up there with oh noetry for me. Couldn’t do it in high school, can’t do it now 😂🤣 but I am glad you have an appreciation for him! 😊 I will be over in my corner with kierkegaard
Es como si Melville hubiera escrito: "Basta que sea irracional un solo hombre para que otros lo sean y para que lo sea el universo". La historia universal abunda en confirmaciones de ese tenor. (Párrafo del prólogo de Bartleby... escrito por J. L. Borges.)
Without the knowledge of Asperger's Syndrome, Melville very accurately describes the behaviors of a an "Aspy", someone "on the spectrum" of autism in current jargon. For anyone who knows the behavior/s of an Aspy, Bartleby is a near-perfect example of the manifestation of the syndrome. The need for routine, the fear and rejection of new and different behavior and discomfort with or even inability, to accept changes. Many Aspies require the comfort of rote, of routine in order to function. Remove the familiar, such as changing the routine - changing location (!) is reason for panic and inability to cope. Requests such as going some days to the Post Office are met with "I would prefer not to." It is not part of Bartleby's normal routine. He has no other form of identity or security and is discovered to be actually living in the offices - he has no other home...the job is everything to him and he needs the routine in order to survive.
I understand what they meant.. there are some passages/scenes where you cannot but laugh! For example with the nerve of Bartleby to say to his superior" i ' d prefer not to" or when he continues to go to work and sleeps there ,refuses to leave..but on the whole it is sad how people can be driven to suicide because of work and the lack of people to support them...we all need someone next to us...
Thanks for mentioning the Book of Job reference, I didn’t catch that on my read through but it makes a lot of sense considering how much religion Melville put in his writing and it adds a lot of context to Bartleby. Would love to see you guys do Moby Dick.
Excellent analysis! 👏 I've read this one several times and always love hearing everyone's perspectives! I agree there is some humor in this story but it almost reminds me of Poe's writing as well - dark and foreboding. 👍Well done.
Interesting comparison and it makes sense! Happy New Year, Dani!
Really like the connection with Job. Would very much agree with the reference and stepping out. I read this many years ago, and it stuck with me. I don't remember it being funny, but I have a feeling, on a reread, I would see the humor.
Oh man, I found the story to be hilarious. If you do re-read it, I hope you find humor.
Never have read this. Now, since TCC recommends it, I will. 😊 I wait for your videos so that I can discover great short stories. Thank you, guys! 💜
Awww shucks!
i hear you guys talking about the horror aspects, and i see that side! i just read this for my literature's "american gothic" segment, and we got to meditate on the themes of isolation, presence of lack of knowledge, how a space influences mood, and phyiscal/mental decay! very, very haunting symbolism and imagery, as mundane of a context as it is
Very cool
“So it goes.”. “Well, I’d prefer if it didn’t”, Bartebly would probably have said to Vonnegut. What a clash of titanic logicians!! Another great video, guys 😎
Funny!
@14:57 I think that is a trap that many Americans fall into. I've written essays that touch upon the peril of linking identity with one's place of employment. Of course, this can be a tricky concept to approach in terms of personal development, because for many people their job(s) take up the majority of their day to day life, so the idea of expressing an individualized personality that falls outside of what's spoon fed as "acceptable behavior" by their HR departments (based on a global corporate model), could be earth shattering. The reason why I say "earth shattering" in this regard is because people will realize that what they believe is their "personality" is actually just another "manufactured product", and that they actually possess very little individuality beyond superficial "likes/dislikes" (in other words a lack of character, meaning that people are essentially becoming clones/bots). Did I go too deep?
#LFLR
"VBW"
lol! Love it
Thank you guys for this video. Now Im addicted aaaaaaa
😂
I love the character of Bartleby. He could be a current role model for a perfect sabotage of a unit of the capitalist system.
Recently, I have been thinking of quitting my job, dropping off at university, and moving to a small village (though I am based in a small regional town) to live a quiet life. This is what Bartleby could easily do. I am not there yet, unfortunately.
Bartleby symbolizes to me the struggle of human social essence against the capitalist ideal of success and work. Especially as the latter is often equal to exploitation. Maybe, if enough people in the same period of time were to just say, "I prefer not to" to an assigned task at work, we could collectively shift the system and demand better rights and conditions at work?
That's what this story is about for me.
Just a few opinions of mine.
Before he was UNPOPULAR Melville was, at least to some extent VERY popular. Typee was read widely and some say was the first 'travel book'. It didn't last of course but it's important to mention this.
I think Melville had a great sense of humour that existed alongside a great sense of being cheated by life. The segment in MD where Ishmael and Queequeg meet the sailor in the street who keeps asking them if they are 'shipping' with the Pequod is hysterical. Fast and Loose fish (MD) is pretty comical too. You can see it in White Jacket, Redburn and all the rest. He was a funny guy. But the feeling of loss (I believe to a large degree related to his father/family situation) looms largest in his writing. And this is really apparent in Bartleby. The important point (for me) is that he used to work in the Dead Letter Office. It's the key to the novel. Those who sent their letters thought they had been received when they weren't. And the intended recipients died believing they'd been ignored/forgotten. In short - fate conspired to disillusion both sender and recipient. I don't think you can underestimate the importance of this.
Yes, he lost his job at the DLO which is bound to have an effect. BUT he did find another with a boss who was willing to help him financially. So this doesn't seem to me half as important as his insistence on not taking advantage of this. It seems to me Bartleby's refusal to do what others would is a reaction to his experience in opening letters that were on errands of mercy that ultimately CAME TO NOTHING. Something that is similar to having his (HM) own hopes hopes dashed through his fathers ruin.
Again, PERSONALLY, I think it's hard for most people to understand Bartleby because Bartleby is a man who had realised for himself life is full of unfairness. The kind of unfairness that makes some wonder whether it's worthwhile dealing with LIFE (as it's generally lived) at all. It's not easy for most people to think about such things.
Anyhow, read a Melville novel - ANY Melville novel, and you'll see his anger at fate.
Thank you so much for this brilliant breakdown and background - I felt this but didn’t have the capacity to put into words. Definitely agree in HM’s deep sense of loss…almost grief like feeling…even in Moby Dick. Thank you again!
I’ve registered for a short fiction English class at university. Melville’s story is 30 pages long. I prefer short-er fiction because it’s easier to identify and visually see the text over a few pages.
I enjoyed listening to your oral explication.
Shorter fiction is a wonderful art form! I hope you enjoy your reads
You should try a story called "Moby Dick".
I started reading Moby Dick in my late 20s and DNF'ed it. I always said I'd get back to it eventually, but eh... I prefer not to.
After reading this gem, I think I'll get back to Moby Dick for sure this year.
10 out of 10!
MD is so different. I feel like I have to read it on the channel at least at some point
I love your work, thanks a looooot!.... Moby Dick!!! please 🙏🙏🙏
Coming soon!
I’m sorry, but Herman Melville is right up there with oh noetry for me. Couldn’t do it in high school, can’t do it now 😂🤣 but I am glad you have an appreciation for him! 😊 I will be over in my corner with kierkegaard
❤️ Kierkegaard
@@TheCodeXCantina He gives me comfort 😌…in the middle of all of the anxiety hahaha 😂
Thank you for this!
Es como si Melville hubiera escrito: "Basta que sea irracional un solo hombre para que otros lo sean y para que lo sea el universo". La historia universal abunda en confirmaciones de ese tenor. (Párrafo del prólogo de Bartleby... escrito por J. L. Borges.)
Borges is ❤️
@@TheCodeXCantina Coincidimos ❤️👋
Without the knowledge of Asperger's Syndrome, Melville very accurately describes the behaviors of a an "Aspy", someone "on the spectrum" of autism in current jargon. For anyone who knows the behavior/s of an Aspy, Bartleby is a near-perfect example of the manifestation of the syndrome. The need for routine, the fear and rejection of new and different behavior and discomfort with or even inability, to accept changes. Many Aspies require the comfort of rote, of routine in order to function. Remove the familiar, such as changing the routine - changing location (!) is reason for panic and inability to cope. Requests such as going some days to the Post Office are met with "I would prefer not to." It is not part of Bartleby's normal routine. He has no other form of identity or security and is discovered to be actually living in the offices - he has no other home...the job is everything to him and he needs the routine in order to survive.
That's far too simplistic.
I would like to ask , Is the story a romantic or a dark romantic one and why ?
❤️
📖💙
❤️
I would prefer not to watch this.
jk
Melville is such an incredible author imo. Shame he didn't get the praise he deserves in his lifetime.
I only really knew Moby Dick before this
I read it, but didn’t find it funny at all. It was sad, disturbing even. No, definitely not funny.
Oh no! Well, they can't all be winners.
Same, I found it depressing. Not funny at all.
I understand what they meant.. there are some passages/scenes where you cannot but laugh! For example with the nerve of Bartleby to say to his superior" i ' d prefer not to" or when he continues to go to work and sleeps there ,refuses to leave..but on the whole it is sad how people can be driven to suicide because of work and the lack of people to support them...we all need someone next to us...
Writing/copying legal documents all say would make me die infide just like Bartleby😢
Not sure I could even make it one day…
To me it's very clear. Bartleby is depression. 🖤
No, you're quite wrong. It is all about Capitalism.