The thesis I chose to write about is "Bartleby is the hero of Melville’s story in his refusal to participate in a workplace that represents the sad, dreary atmosphere of a bureaucratic, industrialized society. He is the only one standing up to a society that is increasingly oppressive to workers."
I chose this thesis because it is the main theme of the story that I picked up on when reading it. Bartleby's rouge thinking and actions around his employer are unlike any of the others in the story. Unlike Turkey and Nippers, Bartleby refuses to do the normal work that a law-copyist would do. Bartleby is the only one to stand up for his beliefs in a society that does not accept them.
Sam,
ReplyDeleteBartleby's non-participation in normal law copyist work is a good example of refusal to join in bureaucratic, industrializeded society. What other examples can you give that Bartleby's refusal to work is based on his beliefs? Is the Lawyer-narrator an example of the oppresive society? Does Bartleby's refusal to work change the society, or make a difference? Thank you for your blog, I hope we get to read each others essay.