Rebecca Harding Davis And Melville Analysis

Rebecca Harding Davis and Herman Melville both focus their writings on the separation of social class, depicting what kind of people tend to hold positions of high power, how those people use or abuse that authority, and what it is like to be on the opposite end of the spectrum without power. However, though the heart of their subject matter is similar, many differences distinguish the two authors apart, from the diction in which they communicate their tales to the tone to which they approach their theme. As a result, each composition wields a unique, separate message to its audience. To begin, Rebecca Harding Davis writes with a clear, determined purpose: to advocate for women’s rights. She describes in great detail the horrific conditions under which women worked in iron mill …show more content…
He writes in the first person narrative, giving his audience what feels like a “real life” glimpse into the workings of a Wall Street business. He humorously writes about the workers at his company: “There was a strange, inflamed, flurried, flighty recklessness of activity about him.” All of his employees have silly nicknames that correspond with a core aspect of their character, such as Turkey, Ginger Nut, and Nippers. Even the name ‘Bartleby’, which is not a sobriquet, rolls off the tongue in a very peculiar, ridiculous way. Throughout the story, it appears that Melville’s only purpose is to detail the oddity of Bartleby’s behaviors in order to entertain his audience, rather than supporting a deeper underlying purpose of social change like Davis. His credibility as a narrator is weaker as well; for instance, in one part of his tale, he explicates how he preferred to move out of an office than have to call the cops on one of his workers. “Since he will not quit me, I must quit him. I will change my offices; I will move elsewhere.” These kinds of actions seem a bit over-the-top, losing credence as a true