Blog Post #1: topic 2

Employees must execute their duties in the workplace. Failure to follow instructions or perform as due ought to be justified by a reasonable explanation. These are the rules at a workplace. Personally, I think they are reasonable and ensure the equality in our career life. In Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street by Melville, Bartleby，who works as a scrivener shows total disobedience to his employer. He displays an irrational behavior regarding the performance of his duties. On the whole, I believe Bartleby’s behavior is an unreasonable response to his circumstances.

It is not normal to abandon one’s duties, especially if the person is getting paid for what they are doing. At first, Bartleby is a faithful and hardworking employee. As the author says in the article, “As if long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents. There was no pause for digestion. He ran a day and night line, copying by sun-light and by candle-light.” Sometimes, however, Bartleby will refuse some work that he does not like by saying, “I prefer not to.” I think it is acceptable for workers to refuse to do some work. Even it is a fact that employees should accept every request from employers, employees have their human rights to refuse the work that makes them uncomfortable; the employer should not treat employees as a working machine. Therefore, I still think Bartleby’s behavior is reasonable to some extent, even though he does not give a reason for refusing to work. However, his behavior changes abruptly. He now refuses to do any copying job, and he does not give a reason for this either, even when his employer asks him politely. He just kept saying “I prefer not to.” And from this part on, I changed my view on his behavior. Although copying is a boring job, it is a basic work expected of a scrivener. When Bartleby chose to take up this job, as an adult, he should have understood his duty and been responsible for this job. At least, I think he should give a reason for his behavior. Bartleby’s employer might be arrogant, but I think he truly wants to solve Bartleby’s problem and help his employee. Bartleby sounds very polite; however, I personally  think his behavior is very impolite and he does not respect his employer. He completely abandons his job duty as a scrivener.

Enjoying a right means taking the responsibility. Bartleby’s behavior is unreasonable and unacceptable. He refuses to do his job ; he also refused to leave the office room even when his employer gives him the wage and asks him to leave. As an adult in today’s society ,I think his behavior is unfair to other scriveners in the office. His fellow copyists manage to live outside the office on their salary, and the same is expected of Bartleby, especially now he refuses to take any duty but insists on living in the office room, using this capital resource. Personally，I think his behavior of staying in the office without doing anything is selfish. By reading, we can clearly see that his behavior affects the law business very much. As the author states in the story, “Though to be sure, when I reflected upon it, it was not strange that people entering my office should be struck by the peculiar aspect of the unaccountable Bartleby, and so be tempted to throw out some sinister observations concerning him. ”  I think he certainly knows others’ thoughts and the trouble he makes for them, but he just does not care about others’ feelings and does not want to change. Bartleby’s main answer “I would prefer not to” , shows that he thinks he is using his free will not to do the job and not to leave the office. However，there is no one absolutely free in the society，everyone lives in chains. The law enforces people to carry out their responsibility and gives them the rights, too. The free will is built on the completion of responsibility. No one should ask for a free lunch, the same concerns Bartleby. 

However, we definitely can not say Bartleby is a negative character. He is still a polite and honest young man. He would return the money he picked up and he is the most hardworking and loyal worker here when he wants to. Considering his background，his behavior，to some extent，is reasonable. He worked in the dead letter department. He spent years reading the letter contained people’s love in context. But those letters  was finally burned in the fire. He got tired of it, so he changed the job，but the new job is so boring that makes him feel him like a working machine. He finally loses his faith in the society and in human love，and decides to ignore everything, separating himself from the society. He would prefer to die than to accept this world.

 Bartleby is a poor man. Personally, I feel sorry and sad about his tragic life. However, I still think his behavior is unreasonable and unacceptable. There are many ways he can take to heal his inner wounds，but I think he does not choose a positive one.