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!
Through the extended metaphor of ice skaters being blown across a frozen pond, Collins highlights the stubborn refusal seen in Bartleby. Just as the ice skaters refuse to “batten down” when it is extremely windy, Bartleby will not react or comply with any of the demands his boss makes. The skaters fight against the wind, similar to how Bartleby’s stubbornness causes him to clash with society. Through the metaphor, defiance is seen pushing one to the edges of society and like the skaters, blows them out of the way and to the north.
Another interpretation of the last stanza of the ice skate metaphor is that rather than being pushed simply to the edge of society, the skaters riding the great wind north is symbolic of the inevitable death that soon comes to those who are isolationists.
Ellie, I think that makes sense considering the fate of the Bartleby. In the last part of Bartleby, we learn that Bartleby worked in the Dead Letter office, and we are left to question if that depressing existence could have culminated in his stubbornness and madness. Maybe that experience has likewise awakened Bartleby to the inevitability of death, and symbolically "swept him up on the Great wind North."
Jack, the "great wind north" that symbolically sweeps Bartleby up to the inevitability of death is indeed the reason for his awakening. I agree that the tedium is the reason for his torture. As Ellie wrote, skating north is toward isolation, and you'll eventually be put back. However, "the big gale" that comes around is inevitably; as is the northward skating, toward isolation.
I saw the last stanza referring to death a different way- Bartleby being accepted by society through death. This can be seen through the way the tone shifts. The beginning quote, Collins seems as if he is going to talk negatively towards the societal outcasts and establishes a critical tone. At the end he celebrates the idea of outcasts. This change shows that (even if death is inevitable for isolationists) they are only then accepted.
Katie, rather than being accepted by society through death, I would say that Bartleby has finally reached the ideal state within himself as an isolationist. By "riding the great wind north" or taking part in letters that "speed to death," Bartleby is on the isolationists most desired path to death, which is his ultimate peace. Already mentally dead, physical death is simply a conclusion to the isolationist’s journey to being completely isolated from the world.
Your point raises the question is acceptance in a society possible after you're dead? Are you even a part of the society when you're dead?
I agree that the tone shifts in the poem, but calling the tone in the beginning negative is too broad of a word. When the poem shifts for the end that tone is akin to acceptance, but I think the acceptance deals with Bartleby “accepting” his isolationist tendencies. Therefore I don’t think that society has accepted him, but he accepted himself fully.
I guess what I meant to say was through the way the tone shifted into a more accepting tone it seemed that only after Bartleby died did society seem more acceptable to the idea of isolationism and thus Bartleby himself.
Besides death, I also saw the aspect of time throughout the poem. "you will be pushed backward an inch every twenty minutes" The slow progression of the movement and the concept of time reflects Bartleby and his actions in the story. Over long periods of time, Bartleby wouldn't interact basically at all and he only seemed to be hindering himself, causing him to "be pushed backward".
Katie, this aspect of time interests me as well. In the case of the ice skaters, their progression toward “isolation” is extremely slow. Collins tells of a struggle that lasts several days, which is analogous to Bartleby’s own prolonged struggle against society. Collin’s description of struggle with respect to the time shows that eventually the toll the continued struggle has on the skaters and Bartleby will wear the isolationist down. Bartleby’s fight against society pushes him deeper into isolation as he begins to refuse more and more to the requests of others. His progression is slow like the skaters, but it leads the inevitable isolation or death.
I think it's ironic in the last stanza"catch up with others" if it is indeed referring to isolationism, can someone explain this? I agree with Caroline that the gale of wind is like bartleby's boss (or the later tenants) giving a command. Collins however is using Incongruity to reveal that isolationism is more physically involved than what may be perceived in Bartleby. From a non analytical read-through one may think Bartleby is simply lazy and living off the good nature of the owner. The ice skaters are symbolizing the active struggle and repelling against society.
Only isolationists can understand other isolationists. That's why rather than engaging in actual interactions they only "exchange knowing waves." Rather than being lazy, I see the complete opposite in Bartleby. Bartleby goes against society by saying, "I prefer not" in moments where that is completely unacceptable. Just like the skaters who ice skate into the sixty mile an hour wind, Bartleby goes against society by not and continuously refusing to be apart of it.
I think Katie brings up an interesting idea of the time. I'm not sure I understand the meaning of time in the poem. I wonder if 60 mph would refer also to time meaning one mile per minute; and if this relates to the common phrase "*insert Something* is going a mile per minute". Which in case would be the opposite of what an isolationist does in the real world. Why 20 min though? I think the wind going this fast is another one of Collins incongruities; skating in such high speeds would surely push you back more than what is mentioned. Does this mean that the skaters and isolationists are internally charging against the wind of isolationism? yet still being pushed back by its "wind". ( in the physical sense, or reality sense).
Time does seem irrelevant in the poem. The isolationist attaches arbitrarily accurate measurements of it. Yet, there is something eerily relative about it all. The wind is symbolic of nature's influence - perhaps complete dominance - of our perception of our reality. Sarah brings up an interesting deeper understanding of the poem, specifically how the portrayal of the Bartleby's time affects our perception of time ... which affects our perception of reality (whoa). I'm not sure how effective Bartleby is in skating against the wind, but surely the poet doesn't suggest that we mess with it.
Haley, you talk a lot about Bartleby "going against society by refusing to be a part of it. But what do you think is his underlying motivation for acting this way? Is it sheer lack of caring, or is it a forced and deliberate rebellion? Furthermore, are all people that are citizens of a particular society indebted to it in a way so that they must contribute? I'd like to get all of your opinions.
Through the extended metaphor of ice skaters being blown across a frozen pond, Collins highlights the stubborn refusal seen in Bartleby. Just as the ice skaters refuse to “batten down” when it is extremely windy, Bartleby will not react or comply with any of the demands his boss makes. The skaters fight against the wind, similar to how Bartleby’s stubbornness causes him to clash with society. Through the metaphor, defiance is seen pushing one to the edges of society and like the skaters, blows them out of the way and to the north.
ReplyDeleteAnother interpretation of the last stanza of the ice skate metaphor is that rather than being pushed simply to the edge of society, the skaters riding the great wind north is symbolic of the inevitable death that soon comes to those who are isolationists.
DeleteEllie, I think that makes sense considering the fate of the Bartleby. In the last part of Bartleby, we learn that Bartleby worked in the Dead Letter office, and we are left to question if that depressing existence could have culminated in his stubbornness and madness. Maybe that experience has likewise awakened Bartleby to the inevitability of death, and symbolically "swept him up on the Great wind North."
DeleteJack, the "great wind north" that symbolically sweeps Bartleby up to the inevitability of death is indeed the reason for his awakening. I agree that the tedium is the reason for his torture. As Ellie wrote, skating north is toward isolation, and you'll eventually be put back. However, "the big gale" that comes around is inevitably; as is the northward skating, toward isolation.
DeleteI saw the last stanza referring to death a different way- Bartleby being accepted by society through death. This can be seen through the way the tone shifts. The beginning quote, Collins seems as if he is going to talk negatively towards the societal outcasts and establishes a critical tone. At the end he celebrates the idea of outcasts. This change shows that (even if death is inevitable for isolationists) they are only then accepted.
ReplyDeleteKatie, rather than being accepted by society through death, I would say that Bartleby has finally reached the ideal state within himself as an isolationist. By "riding the great wind north" or taking part in letters that "speed to death," Bartleby is on the isolationists most desired path to death, which is his ultimate peace. Already mentally dead, physical death is simply a conclusion to the isolationist’s journey to being completely isolated from the world.
DeleteYour point raises the question is acceptance in a society possible after you're dead? Are you even a part of the society when you're dead?
ReplyDeleteI agree that the tone shifts in the poem, but calling the tone in the beginning negative is too broad of a word. When the poem shifts for the end that tone is akin to acceptance, but I think the acceptance deals with Bartleby “accepting” his isolationist tendencies. Therefore I don’t think that society has accepted him, but he accepted himself fully.
I guess what I meant to say was through the way the tone shifted into a more accepting tone it seemed that only after Bartleby died did society seem more acceptable to the idea of isolationism and thus Bartleby himself.
DeleteBesides death, I also saw the aspect of time throughout the poem. "you will be pushed backward an inch every twenty minutes" The slow progression of the movement and the concept of time reflects Bartleby and his actions in the story. Over long periods of time, Bartleby wouldn't interact basically at all and he only seemed to be hindering himself, causing him to "be pushed backward".
Katie, this aspect of time interests me as well. In the case of the ice skaters, their progression toward “isolation” is extremely slow. Collins tells of a struggle that lasts several days, which is analogous to Bartleby’s own prolonged struggle against society. Collin’s description of struggle with respect to the time shows that eventually the toll the continued struggle has on the skaters and Bartleby will wear the isolationist down. Bartleby’s fight against society pushes him deeper into isolation as he begins to refuse more and more to the requests of others. His progression is slow like the skaters, but it leads the inevitable isolation or death.
DeleteI think it's ironic in the last stanza"catch up with others" if it is indeed referring to isolationism, can someone explain this?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Caroline that the gale of wind is like bartleby's boss (or the later tenants) giving a command. Collins however is using Incongruity to reveal that isolationism is more physically involved than what may be perceived in Bartleby. From a non analytical read-through one may think Bartleby is simply lazy and living off the good nature of the owner. The ice skaters are symbolizing the active struggle and repelling against society.
Only isolationists can understand other isolationists. That's why rather than engaging in actual interactions they only "exchange knowing waves." Rather than being lazy, I see the complete opposite in Bartleby. Bartleby goes against society by saying, "I prefer not" in moments where that is completely unacceptable. Just like the skaters who ice skate into the sixty mile an hour wind, Bartleby goes against society by not and continuously refusing to be apart of it.
ReplyDeleteI think Katie brings up an interesting idea of the time. I'm not sure I understand the meaning of time in the poem. I wonder if 60 mph would refer also to time meaning one mile per minute; and if this relates to the common phrase "*insert Something* is going a mile per minute". Which in case would be the opposite of what an isolationist does in the real world. Why 20 min though?
ReplyDeleteI think the wind going this fast is another one of Collins incongruities; skating in such high speeds would surely push you back more than what is mentioned.
Does this mean that the skaters and isolationists are internally charging against the wind of isolationism? yet still being pushed back by its "wind". ( in the physical sense, or reality sense).
Time does seem irrelevant in the poem. The isolationist attaches arbitrarily accurate measurements of it. Yet, there is something eerily relative about it all. The wind is symbolic of nature's influence - perhaps complete dominance - of our perception of our reality. Sarah brings up an interesting deeper understanding of the poem, specifically how the portrayal of the Bartleby's time affects our perception of time ... which affects our perception of reality (whoa). I'm not sure how effective Bartleby is in skating against the wind, but surely the poet doesn't suggest that we mess with it.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to bed now.
Haley, you talk a lot about Bartleby "going against society by refusing to be a part of it. But what do you think is his underlying motivation for acting this way? Is it sheer lack of caring, or is it a forced and deliberate rebellion? Furthermore, are all people that are citizens of a particular society indebted to it in a way so that they must contribute? I'd like to get all of your opinions.
ReplyDelete