“Bartleby, the Scrivener” and “A Rose for Emily” contain many similarities and differences between the stories’ settings, structures, and the main characters. The settings found in “Bartleby, the Scrivener” and “A Rose for Emily”, although create a similar effect on its characters, contrast greatly. In “Bartleby, the Scrivener” the story takes place in a New York law office, and later a jail, on Wall Street during the mid-1800’s. Bartleby was exposed to the harshness of Wall Street and yet was still able to find someone who cared about him (Melville). “A Rose for Emily”, however, takes place almost a century later. Further, instead of focusing in a northern state, “A Rose for Emily” centralizes its attention on an old family mansion in the
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For example, “Bartleby, the Scrivener” was written in chronological order through first person limited from the eyes of the lawyer. By doing so, the author, Herman Melville, is able not only get the audience as close to Bartleby without directly expressing his thoughts, but still maintaining the mysterious persona that he had intended. Also, by making the lawyer compassionate and tolerant of Bartleby’s antics, the audience understands who Bartleby is better through his reactions. While “Bartleby, the Scrivener” was from the perspective a reliable, close “friend” of the protagonist (Shmoop Editorial Team), “A Rose for Emily” is written in third person limited through the eyes of someone who lives in the same town as Emily. Details on who this person may be is unknown, however, they know the typical “small town gossip” regarding the protagonist (“Faulkner’s Short …show more content…
With that said, both main characters isolated themselves, were very stubborn, and were likely suffering from mental disorders. In “Bartleby, the Scrivener”, Bartleby was a quiet man that usually kept to himself. After receiving a scrivener job for the narrator of the story, Bartleby consistently rejects to do any work and, later, any needed assistance from the lawyer such as a home and proper meals. Through Bartleby’s reactions to the lawyer’s tolerance and compassion, the audience can clearly see the stubbornness and internal turmoil Bartleby possess. Unfortunately, it isn’t until the end of his story when characteristics of a life-threatening disorder protrudes and Bartleby starves himself to death in the jail yard (Melville). In “A Rose for Emily”, Emily was a quiet woman who kept to herself after the passing of her father. It is not until finally meeting a man to love when she somewhat breeches out of her isolation. That is, until a visit from her cousins where she is reminded why she isolated herself in the first place: the idea that no one would ever be good enough for her. While the indication of a mental aliment is already evident, it’s the murder and preservation of the body that revealed the extent of her condition (Faulkner). That being said, their own isolations and mental struggles were not the only similarities. Further, both
For example, “Bartleby, the Scrivener” was written in chronological order through first person limited from the eyes of the lawyer. By doing so, the author, Herman Melville, is able not only get the audience as close to Bartleby without directly expressing his thoughts, but still maintaining the mysterious persona that he had intended. Also, by making the lawyer compassionate and tolerant of Bartleby’s antics, the audience understands who Bartleby is better through his reactions. While “Bartleby, the Scrivener” was from the perspective a reliable, close “friend” of the protagonist (Shmoop Editorial Team), “A Rose for Emily” is written in third person limited through the eyes of someone who lives in the same town as Emily. Details on who this person may be is unknown, however, they know the typical “small town gossip” regarding the protagonist (“Faulkner’s Short …show more content…
With that said, both main characters isolated themselves, were very stubborn, and were likely suffering from mental disorders. In “Bartleby, the Scrivener”, Bartleby was a quiet man that usually kept to himself. After receiving a scrivener job for the narrator of the story, Bartleby consistently rejects to do any work and, later, any needed assistance from the lawyer such as a home and proper meals. Through Bartleby’s reactions to the lawyer’s tolerance and compassion, the audience can clearly see the stubbornness and internal turmoil Bartleby possess. Unfortunately, it isn’t until the end of his story when characteristics of a life-threatening disorder protrudes and Bartleby starves himself to death in the jail yard (Melville). In “A Rose for Emily”, Emily was a quiet woman who kept to herself after the passing of her father. It is not until finally meeting a man to love when she somewhat breeches out of her isolation. That is, until a visit from her cousins where she is reminded why she isolated herself in the first place: the idea that no one would ever be good enough for her. While the indication of a mental aliment is already evident, it’s the murder and preservation of the body that revealed the extent of her condition (Faulkner). That being said, their own isolations and mental struggles were not the only similarities. Further, both