Bartleby Blog
Using the Billy Collins poem, discuss how its meaning helps us understand Bartleby and the philosophical values which dictate his actions (or lack thereof) in the short story. Your contributions/comments need to occur at least 24 hours apart—don’t post two times in a row. Each comment must not exceed 75 words – so be concise!
In Bartleby the Scrivener, the repetition of “I would prefer not to” signifies his passive resistance and the progression of his isolation. But, solitude is not found in this letters from the dead. In Collins poem, as time passes and nature becomes more relevant, isolation too progresses. Isolation may advance, but seclusion does not as other “flying people” are found, leading me to question: what is the significance in finding the dead as isolation furthers?
Going along with you Kailee, I can’t really determine the overall sentiment of the writer/narrator in both cases. In Bartleby the Scrivener, it seems that although the Lawyer clearly finds his copyist’s attitude disturbing and abnormal, there is also a part of him that pities Bartleby. To me, it seems that the explanation that a job in the dead letter office drove Bartleby into such a state is shallow and weak, a man trying to justify something he cannot understand. In the poem by Billy Collins there is similar confusion, as the mocking tone and absurdity of the situation suggest a reprimand of Bartleby (it is written in letter form) but the presence of company, other “flying people”, in the end also suggest a sense of togetherness at the conclusion. Are the writer/narrator in each piece admonishing or celebrating the philosophy of Bartleby?
To answer your question Sean, in my first reading I saw a mocking tone. Yet in the last stanza, Collins explains they (isolationists) "will exchange knowing waves." The isolationists have an understanding of something that society does not suggests a sort of jealousy within Collins. Although he mocks them, he wants their same understanding. But in the end of the poem, Collins almost projects a community of isolationists—can anyone be truly alone if there are others who have their same philosophy?
In response to your question Abby, I believe in this case this particular philosophy of extreme isolation can indeed leave someone truly alone. Bartleby has shunned everything and everyone and he has no intention to give in to society or, as Collins would say, "batten down". If the big gale in Collins poem is society, it would seem Collins suggests people are foolish to refuse to batten down to society like Bartleby does. Does Collins still believe that there is something to be gained by being foolish and not battening down?
Peter I completely agree with you; by Bartleby saying “I would prefer not to” to everything life has to offer, he is clearly isolating only himself. To answer your question Peter, even though it appears as if Collins is mocking those that refuse to “batten down.” I believe he respects the isolationists because of the “knowing waves” they exchange as they “ride the great wind north.” Do the last two lines suggest a different message from the rest of the poem?
Yes Lucas, there is definitely a break in the last paragraph from the first two lines and the last. Throughout Collin’s poem there is a progression in the isolation of those who don’t batten down, until they are then united with those isolated going back to Abby’s point of the paradox in finding others in your aloneness. But after the “flying people” congregate, the riding of the great wind north is the acceptance of their departure from reality and embrace of their suspended reality.
If Collins’ poem seems to have a somewhat mocking tone as you are all suggesting, what about Melville’s Bartleby the Scrivener? The Lawyer’s disapproval of his copyist’s actions doesn’t mesh with the obvious sympathy and connection seen between them. I find it interesting that while many of the other characters and locations remain vague and impersonal, the Lawyer subconsciously identifies Bartleby with an actual name and in depth description, while doing this for no one else. Is he sympathetic towards Bartleby because he sees a reflection of himself or because he needs to justify such a weird personality? How does the end scene impact this?
I believe that Bartleby's personality is described so in depth as a way to accentuate the abnormalities that differentiate him from the rest of the firm. By isolating Bartleby as a character from the rest of society, it foreshadows the progression into isolation that Bartleby follows throughout the story as he separates himself from the his fellow employees in his refusal to work.
I think Bartleby’s death should be examined, but I think the matter of how he died is essential to understanding isolationism. Bartleby’s starvation not only shows his dedication to end his own life, but is symbolic of the perserverance it takes to isolate oneself from society. In this way Collins suggests that isolationism is not natural, yet his story ends with “Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!” What does this ending ultimately suggest about the fate of society in relation to Bartleby’s slow death?
Abby, I’m not sure he was deliberately trying to kill himself; his death was just a side effect to his approach of life. To answer your question, the ending “Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!” suggests that human nature does have faults. But, Bartleby losing the ability to relate with others in society is the greatest tragedy of the story.
I agree with Abby's point on how Collins uses Bartleby's death in order to illuminate a truth about the unnatural nature of isolationism. It seems this is how Collins tries to define how unique to humanity isolationism is. Paralleling Bartleby to humanity looks as if it paints the picture that we are all alone in some ways. How does the slow descent into isolationism that Bartleby's starvation represent relate to society and their role in the preservation of isolationism?
To answer your question Thomas, Bartleby's slow descenty into isolationism depicts Bartleby's utmost commitment to remaining isolated. Barlteby refusal to eat food to the point of starving suggests to me that Bartleby had the intention of killing himself. Perhaps Bartleby's death symbolizes the eventual demise of members of society who refuse to batten down to a higher power.
In Bartleby the Scrivener, the repetition of “I would prefer not to” signifies his passive resistance and the progression of his isolation. But, solitude is not found in this letters from the dead. In Collins poem, as time passes and nature becomes more relevant, isolation too progresses. Isolation may advance, but seclusion does not as other “flying people” are found, leading me to question: what is the significance in finding the dead as isolation furthers?
ReplyDeleteGoing along with you Kailee, I can’t really determine the overall sentiment of the writer/narrator in both cases. In Bartleby the Scrivener, it seems that although the Lawyer clearly finds his copyist’s attitude disturbing and abnormal, there is also a part of him that pities Bartleby. To me, it seems that the explanation that a job in the dead letter office drove Bartleby into such a state is shallow and weak, a man trying to justify something he cannot understand. In the poem by Billy Collins there is similar confusion, as the mocking tone and absurdity of the situation suggest a reprimand of Bartleby (it is written in letter form) but the presence of company, other “flying people”, in the end also suggest a sense of togetherness at the conclusion. Are the writer/narrator in each piece admonishing or celebrating the philosophy of Bartleby?
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question Sean, in my first reading I saw a mocking tone. Yet in the last stanza, Collins explains they (isolationists) "will exchange knowing waves." The isolationists have an understanding of something that society does not suggests a sort of jealousy within Collins. Although he mocks them, he wants their same understanding. But in the end of the poem, Collins almost projects a community of isolationists—can anyone be truly alone if there are others who have their same philosophy?
ReplyDeleteIn response to your question Abby, I believe in this case this particular philosophy of extreme isolation can indeed leave someone truly alone. Bartleby has shunned everything and everyone and he has no intention to give in to society or, as Collins would say, "batten down". If the big gale in Collins poem is society, it would seem Collins suggests people are foolish to refuse to batten down to society like Bartleby does. Does Collins still believe that there is something to be gained by being foolish and not battening down?
ReplyDeletePeter I completely agree with you; by Bartleby saying “I would prefer not to” to everything life has to offer, he is clearly isolating only himself. To answer your question Peter, even though it appears as if Collins is mocking those that refuse to “batten down.” I believe he respects the isolationists because of the “knowing waves” they exchange as they “ride the great wind north.” Do the last two lines suggest a different message from the rest of the poem?
ReplyDeleteYes Lucas, there is definitely a break in the last paragraph from the first two lines and the last. Throughout Collin’s poem there is a progression in the isolation of those who don’t batten down, until they are then united with those isolated going back to Abby’s point of the paradox in finding others in your aloneness. But after the “flying people” congregate, the riding of the great wind north is the acceptance of their departure from reality and embrace of their suspended reality.
ReplyDeleteIf Collins’ poem seems to have a somewhat mocking tone as you are all suggesting, what about Melville’s Bartleby the Scrivener? The Lawyer’s disapproval of his copyist’s actions doesn’t mesh with the obvious sympathy and connection seen between them. I find it interesting that while many of the other characters and locations remain vague and impersonal, the Lawyer subconsciously identifies Bartleby with an actual name and in depth description, while doing this for no one else. Is he sympathetic towards Bartleby because he sees a reflection of himself or because he needs to justify such a weird personality? How does the end scene impact this?
ReplyDeleteI believe that Bartleby's personality is described so in depth as a way to accentuate the abnormalities that differentiate him from the rest of the firm. By isolating Bartleby as a character from the rest of society, it foreshadows the progression into isolation that Bartleby follows throughout the story as he separates himself from the his fellow employees in his refusal to work.
ReplyDeleteI think Bartleby’s death should be examined, but I think the matter of how he died is essential to understanding isolationism. Bartleby’s starvation not only shows his dedication to end his own life, but is symbolic of the perserverance it takes to isolate oneself from society. In this way Collins suggests that isolationism is not natural, yet his story ends with “Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!” What does this ending ultimately suggest about the fate of society in relation to Bartleby’s slow death?
ReplyDeleteAbby, I’m not sure he was deliberately trying to kill himself; his death was just a side effect to his approach of life. To answer your question, the ending “Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!” suggests that human nature does have faults. But, Bartleby losing the ability to relate with others in society is the greatest tragedy of the story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Abby's point on how Collins uses Bartleby's death in order to illuminate a truth about the unnatural nature of isolationism. It seems this is how Collins tries to define how unique to humanity isolationism is. Paralleling Bartleby to humanity looks as if it paints the picture that we are all alone in some ways. How does the slow descent into isolationism that Bartleby's starvation represent relate to society and their role in the preservation of isolationism?
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question Thomas, Bartleby's slow descenty into isolationism depicts Bartleby's utmost commitment to remaining isolated. Barlteby refusal to eat food to the point of starving suggests to me that Bartleby had the intention of killing himself. Perhaps Bartleby's death symbolizes the eventual demise of members of society who refuse to batten down to a higher power.
ReplyDelete