Individual Freedom in Melvilles Bartleby, the Scrivener Essay

Individual Freedom in Melvilles Bartleby, the Scrivener What motivates you to go to spend a penny everyday? What motivates you to dress the way you do? What motivates you to be reasonable when it comes to ruler requests? Ah, the ultimate question in need of an answer Who determines what is reasonable and rule, and should we non determine these matters for ourselves? Chaos would result, you say, if every individual were granted that freedom. Yet, we all do have that freedom, and Herman Melville (1819-1891) through the interpretation of a man who favours to follow his aver path in Bartleby, the Scrivener, subjectively conveys the mental anguish he experienced as a create verballyr and man when the literary humanness attempted to steal that freedom.Dear Bartleby was a harm slight man with a demeanor that was capable of disarming many. From the onset of Melvilles story, it becomes quite apparent that Bartleby is a man who elects not to do what society wishes of him. He prefers not to applaud any request from his employer that would make him deviate from what he prefers to be doing. Bartlebys employer chop-chop realized that, there was something about Bartleby that not only strangely disarmed me, provided in a wonderful manner touched and disconcerted me (2236). Bartleby gave no argument nor tried to justify denying his employers request. He would simply state, I would prefer not to. His only motive was to do as he preferred. Bartlebys employer constitute this expression of freedom very strange. Where did this man come from who has the audacity to temporary removal the pattern of normalcy that we all follow? He who will not comply with my request-a request made according to commons usage and common sense...(2337). However, what was common for others was not comm... ...rican equals (2292). Melville was not alive to witness this revival. Due to his decide to retain his literary freedom, he was able to attain everlasting literary success that resounds from his own realm of reasonable and normal.As for myself, I would prefer not to disclose any motivational reasoning for my own preferences less I confuse even further those who still cannot understand my denying normal and reasonable request. If I were to regulate the writings of my mind- I would never write.Works Cited* Melville, Herman. Bartleby, the Scrivener. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 6th ed. Vol.B. New York W.W. Norton & Company, 2003. 2290-2337 * Edwards, Jonathan. Sinners in the Hands of an uncivilised God. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. 6th ed. Vol.A. New York W.W. Norton & Company, 2003. 503