The short stories, “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street” by Herman Melville and “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, exemplifies the ideology that a man’s importance is directly equal to their usefulness in society. In “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street,” Bartleby is described through the perspective of his employer who becomes exasperated by the overtly mysterious scrivener. In “The Metamorphosis,” Gregor Samsa finds himself transformed into a cockroach and cannot attend work which in turn ceases his role as the provider of the family. The surrounding characters’ faulty ideologies of Bartleby and Gregor creates conflict seen through the contrasting styles of narrative and characterization; representing the loss of
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Nevertheless, he exceeds those expectations as he exemplifies a flat yet dynamic character. His employer describes him as lacking of “anything ordinarily human… [and] who never [speaks] but to answer” (484, 490). Yet, as his employer continues to disrespect his privacy, Bartleby voices out his own thoughts and says, “I would prefer to be left alone here” (493). This disassembles his employer’s former description that he only replies to questions. The fact that Bartleby voices out his opinion instead of automatically taking orders also proves that he is much more human than the other minor characters. Bartleby exhibits an extensive use of freedom in the story as he “[decides] upon doing no more writing” (493) which greatly contradicts the other scriveners who please the employer with their “submission” (486). Bartleby does not live to please others, not even in the workplace. Furthermore, the employer, just as he does with the other scriveners, solely bases his judgement of Bartleby by how well he is as a scrivener. He describes their relationship saying, “[Bartleby… is nothing to me- he is no relation or apprentice of mine, that [one] should hold me responsible for him” (499). Bartleby, after deciding to do no more writing for his employer, becomes nothing to him as he only measures Bartleby’s worth by how much use he is to
Nevertheless, he exceeds those expectations as he exemplifies a flat yet dynamic character. His employer describes him as lacking of “anything ordinarily human… [and] who never [speaks] but to answer” (484, 490). Yet, as his employer continues to disrespect his privacy, Bartleby voices out his own thoughts and says, “I would prefer to be left alone here” (493). This disassembles his employer’s former description that he only replies to questions. The fact that Bartleby voices out his opinion instead of automatically taking orders also proves that he is much more human than the other minor characters. Bartleby exhibits an extensive use of freedom in the story as he “[decides] upon doing no more writing” (493) which greatly contradicts the other scriveners who please the employer with their “submission” (486). Bartleby does not live to please others, not even in the workplace. Furthermore, the employer, just as he does with the other scriveners, solely bases his judgement of Bartleby by how well he is as a scrivener. He describes their relationship saying, “[Bartleby… is nothing to me- he is no relation or apprentice of mine, that [one] should hold me responsible for him” (499). Bartleby, after deciding to do no more writing for his employer, becomes nothing to him as he only measures Bartleby’s worth by how much use he is to