Topic > Bartleby, the Scrivener - 1124

Mother Teresa once said: “To be unwanted, unloved, neglected, forgotten by everyone, I think is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than that of the person who he has nothing to eat" (Teresa). Many people in our world are forgotten in the many folds of our world, and these are the people who are most important to pay attention to. Bartleby is an example of one of these people, someone who comes mocked and sometimes rejected. However, Bartleby carries on because of a deep devotion to the search for his inner world, carrying out his actions to the end. Bartleby can be closely related to Henry David Thoreau's principles in Resistance to Civil Government as Bartleby acts in his hands. Bartleby closely follows Thoreau's principles in Resistance to Civil Government by Henry David Thoreau as the fulfillment of Bartleby's spiritual quest surpasses the fulfillment in his physical life because Bartleby passively refuses to complete the tasks of his work, peacefully resists the demands of the narrator and others, and steadfastly follows his path despite the turbulence and discontent of others. Bartleby follows his desire to fulfill his spiritual quest by refusing to do his job without moving, causing uproar in the office, and showing his devotion to his spiritual needs. Bartleby constantly shows his refusal to complete tasks with his constant countering of requests, “'I would rather not'” (Melville 1109). Bartleby shows very direct consistency with his responses, while the narrator has great outbursts of reaction to Bartleby's refusal to work. Bartleby shows attention to his own needs by looking out the window, among other things, instead of bowing to his boss's needs. ......middle of paper......communities in America. Most people are more like those who follow the government or other system, they vote but do not act. To right a wrong in the community, the community must passively resist the needs of the system and find the time to take action to combat an unjust action. Works Cited Melville, Herman. "Bartleby, the scribe." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. Shorter 8th ed. vol. 1. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2012. 112-19. Print.Teresa, Mother. ""To be unwanted, unloved, neglected, forgotten by everyone, I think is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than that of the person who has nothing to eat." Smart quote. Xplore, 2001. Web . November 14, 2013. Thoreau, Henry David. "Resistance to Civil Government." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 8th ed. 19. Print.