Post #1, Option 2

Greatly misunderstood, Bartleby’s actions, at first glance, are likely to be interpreted as inconsiderate, irrational, and blatantly annoying to the point where even the reader shares the same aggravation as the narrator. The unclear and passive response that Bartleby replies with when refusing to comply to the demands of his superiors, torments both the narrator and the readers to the point of dismissing the possibility that the existence of any reasonable motives behind Bartleby unconventional actions are real. As the narrator puts it, “Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance.” Thus, through Bartleby's lack of communication and passive acts, it is easy to merely classify him as ludacris and insubordinate, when in fact his actions are justifiably dictated by the soul crushing job he could no longer endure.

In order to fully comprehend why Bartleby was so reluctant to do any other form of work outside of his writing obligations, the oppressive nature of his duties must be fully taken into consideration. To have to wake up nearly every day for the sole purpose of merely replicating documents word for word is degrading, and can easily wear anyone's spirit down. The unwillingness to perform any other task was Bartleby's only leverage to avoid the exploitation that would ultimately come from having to fulfill any other sort of lifeless duty.

What first started off as the refusal to do work outside of his immediate scrivener duties later, however, manifested itself into the more rebellious act of refusing to do anything that Bartleby did not wish to do. After Bartleby's vision became impaired, he made it it clear that he did not intend to resume to any of his assignments, but would neither leave the narrator. This act of defiance, although peculiar, was Bartleby's way of finally expressing individuality by releasing himself of the burdenous and soul crushing job he held.

Throughout the text it is evident that employees were treated as industrious property whose values were determined by the quality and quantity of the labor produced. In which case, had the effect of leading people to feel that they were mere instruments that belonged to those who could afford to pay for their skills. This is the case for Bartleby, who when reluctant to do work, was faced with the loss of his job. Refusing to accept this fate, Bartleby choose to go by his own terms. Such an act of defiance, can be interpreted as a push back to the oppressive and degrading system of labor he had always taken part of.

         Towards the end of the text is it later revealed that before Bartleby's occupation as a scrivener, he worked in an even more unfulfilling and purposeless type of labor. Although his acts were not the conventional way to stand up to an oppressive and unfair system, through his own manner hemanaged to fight back the norms and duties he no longer wanted to conform to. His acts were undoubtedly bizarre, but his motives and circumstances could definitely be familiar for many individuals. Bartleby was an unconventional persona, but he ultimately helped identify the flaws behind oppressive and degrading types of labor.