Bartleby

It is dangerous to isolate oneself; dangerous for an individual and for a nation."- Jawaharlal Nehru. The quotation says that isolating oneself can be dangerous, as in the case of Bartleby, a character in Herman Melville's novella Bartleby. Bartleby's isolation was dangerous; it led to his depression and his death. The motif of the story is the isolation of Bartleby from society. Three literary devices support the motif: symbolism, descriptive passages, and irony. The …

…abnormal life. By not fitting into mainstream society, Bartleby left himself open to isolation. The three literary elements, symbolism, descriptive passages, and irony, described how Bartleby's isolation from society fit in the novella. Jawahrlal Nehru said that isolation is dangerous, as in Bartleby's case. Isolation can drive a person insane, make him mute, or even kill him. The theme is not to let yourself succumb to the prejudice of others, and let yourself be isolated.