「서기 바틀비」—공감의 규율성과 책임의 공포
“Bartleby, the Scrivener”: Disciplinary Sympathy and Terror in Responsibility
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Bartleby in Herman Melville's “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street” has been much discussed as a figure of political resistance or for a new community especially by philosophers since the late 20th century. The political or philosophical implication of the character and the story cannot be denied, but as many critics and reviewers agree on the "inscrutability" of the character and the difficulty in contextualizing the story in one philosophical or critical framework, the meaning and power of Bartleby and his resistance should be examined in his relationship with the anonymous lawyer, the narrator of the story. Bartleby's effect can be examined in the changing emotions of the lawyer. Emotion or affect as an important part of social interaction and power formation can be a way of understanding why the lawyer cannot resist Bartleby's “unreasonable” and “unaccountable” act or dismiss him after his imprisonment. The lawyer shows mixed and conflicting emotional reaction to Bartleby, but he manages to maintain sympathy repressing his consternation, resentment, and even contempt towards Bartleby. However, his “sincere pity” and “pure melancholy” witnessing Bartleby's absolute isolation and poverty soon turn into repulsion and fear. The consequent act of running away from Bartleby can be understood as coming from the realization of the limit of his sympathy and from his fear of Bartleby's influence. Sympathy in this sense can be an emotion in which one realizes his limit in placing himself in the other and comes to face the decision for action of responsibility. Bartleby's intriguing remark of not complying leads the lawyer to face his limit for acting for Bartleby. Bartleby's imprisonment shows the boundary of the society with which it secures its stability and limits the radical singularity and act of responsibility.
Abstract
Bartleby in Herman Melville's “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street” has been much discussed as a figure of political resistance or for a new community especially by philosophers since the late 20th century. The political or philosophical implication of the character and the story cannot be denied, but as many critics and reviewers agree on the "inscrutability" of the character and the difficulty in contextualizing the story in one philosophical or critical framework, the meaning and power of Bartleby and his resistance should be examined in his relationship with the anonymous lawyer, the narrator of the story. Bartleby's effect can be examined in the changing emotions of the lawyer. Emotion or affect as an important part of social interaction and power formation can be a way of understanding why the lawyer cannot resist Bartleby's “unreasonable” and “unaccountable” act or dismiss him after his imprisonment. The lawyer shows mixed and conflicting emotional reaction to Bartleby, but he manages to maintain sympathy repressing his consternation, resentment, and even contempt towards Bartleby. However, his “sincere pity” and “pure melancholy” witnessing Bartleby's absolute isolation and poverty soon turn into repulsion and fear. The consequent act of running away from Bartleby can be understood as coming from the realization of the limit of his sympathy and from his fear of Bartleby's influence. Sympathy in this sense can be an emotion in which one realizes his limit in placing himself in the other and comes to face the decision for action of responsibility. Bartleby's intriguing remark of not complying leads the lawyer to face his limit for acting for Bartleby. Bartleby's imprisonment shows the boundary of the society with which it secures its stability and limits the radical singularity and act of responsibility.
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