Post-modern people live in a 21st century of unprecedented material abundance. One hand, they feel blessed to have been able to enjoy the glories this productive industrial era has brought. The other hand, we often face the dilemma of how we can reorient ourselves in this society and how we can reach the full development our personalities. Unfortunately, half way through this pursuit, we get frustrated. We were left helpless as we were constantly monitored by technology. The modern world has led to the loss of individuality and alienation that is a hallmark of modern society. It’s evident in the entire story.
The Industrial Revolution has seen the end of manual labor. Modern society is characterized by efficiency and productivity as its most important aspects. Therefore, the lawyer’s room can be considered a means of maximizing power and efficiency. The elderly lawyer can be seen looking into the cubicles of the four clerks, Turkey Nippers Ginger Nuts, Ginger Nuts, Bartleby. Bartleby describes an elderly lawyer describing that “the ground glass folding doors divided my premises into 2 parts, 1 was occupied, and 1 by my scriveners”. My humor dictates that I either opened or closed these doors. The elderly lawyer is clearly standing in a central location. Although it’s not a tower, it serves a similar function as central command. The elderly lawmaker has the right to open the doors at his discretion. Clerks are forbidden from leaving the door unattended. Bartleby’s situation is a different story. The lawyer has a better solution. “I made a satisfactory arrangement and purchased a high-gloss folding screen that could completely block out Bartleby’s view, but not my voice. “In this way, privacy and society were combined.” He uses voice to communicate his ideas, which is better than visual. Bartleby can be heard by any of the clerks at all times. The modern society operates with great efficiency. This chamber can boast of Bartleby’s case. Bartley was a prolific writer at first. He seemed to eat his documents like he was starving. There was no time to eat. He could copy by both sun-light and candlelight, and he ran a day/night line. His application would have made me happy if he was more enthusiastic and hardworking. Bartleby was the most representative of the modern society’s powerful effects – efficiency.
Bartley isn’t the only one disciplined this way. Although they have a combined effect, the four clerks are separated by the guardian, the elderly lawyer. They each manage to discipline each effectively. Turkey always responds to the lawyer with “With submission sir.” Efficiency is the fundamental benefit of discipline in our society.
Bartleby’s story focuses on observation. An elderly lawyer is the boss and has the privilege of disciplining the clerks. It is not surprising that we find out every little detail about the odd behavior of each clerk, just like a microscope. We can see every detail of each clerk, even their freckles. We can see the winkles on their foreheads as well as their nicknames of Ginger Nut and Turkey, Nippers. His face looked fine and bright in the morning. But after 12 o’clock meridian, which was his dinner hour, it lit up like Christmas coals. There was a steady blaze, but a slow wane, until six o’clock p.m. or so.
After which I was unable to see the owner of the face. The observation of Turkey by the elderly lawyer is more than just a collection of facial expressions. It is a reflection of subtle psychological changes that have tainted him. We are amazed at the ability of the elderly lawyer to perceive every corner and be invisible in the chamber.
Nippers was the next on our list. The lawyer’s observation cuts to the core. The lawyer concludes that he is a sallow-looking, whiskered man between five and twenty years old. He was also described as having piratical characteristics. “The ambition was demonstrated by an impatience for the duties a mere copyist, an unsanctionable usurpation professional affairs such the creation of legal papers. The nervousness and irritation caused by the indigestion included nervous testiness, grinning irritability, and sometimes nervous testiness. However, it is obvious that his ability tell the truth about people’s character comes from close observation.
Bartleby shows no respect for the disciplinary society right from the beginning. It is obvious that he doesn’t feel any need to. He lives life according his own principles that are completely at odds with the industrial world.
The law chamber in Bartleby is used as a surveillance camera. The elderly lawyer is located in the center of the room, looking out at the prisoner in the cells around him. Three clerks are commanded by their employer to follow their lead and will do as they are instructed. Bartleby refuses to complete his duty and they even agree to fire him. Bartleby fails to qualify for training as a qualified clerk. After normalizing his judgment and closely examining him, the old lawyer decides to move Bartleby’s chamber to Tombs. Ginger Nut (and Turkey and Nippers) are still considered eligible clerks. They have survived, but they feel the pressure and suffocating atmosphere that Bartleby has imposed on them. Bartleby does not work, but he manages to retain his humanity. It’s a difficult problem to solve. How do you keep your personality intact while living in a controlled society? Although it’s not an easy task, we shouldn’t stop trying. This story also encourages us to think. Melville’s final words were, “Ah Bartleby!” Ah humanity!”
Evidently, the older lawyer who supervises the clerks is the one responsible for disciplining them. This is why the novel is written in first person. Only this way can the novel capture the realness of the story through the eyes and experience of an omnipresent lawyer. We are stunned to learn every little detail about each of the clerks’ oddities. We can see every wrinkle on the foreheads of each clerk in the portrait.
