What Is The Most Famous Story In 'Great Short Works Of Herman Melville'?

2025-06-20 19:24:42 339

3 Answers

Grayson
Grayson
2025-06-21 21:05:41
The most famous story in 'Great Short Works of Herman Melville' is definitely 'Bartleby, the Scrivener.' It’s this haunting tale about a weirdly quiet clerk who just keeps saying 'I would prefer not to' when asked to do anything. The story sticks with you because it’s so strange and unsettling. Bartleby isn’t your typical protagonist—he’s passive, mysterious, and kinda tragic. The way Melville writes it makes you wonder about isolation, free will, and how society treats people who don’t fit in. It’s short but packs a punch, and that’s why it’s still talked about today. If you’re into psychological depth wrapped in simple prose, this one’s a must-read.
Arthur
Arthur
2025-06-23 12:05:14
Hands down, 'Bartleby, the Scrivener' is the standout piece in 'Great Short Works of Herman Melville.' What makes it so gripping is how it layers meaning beneath seemingly mundane office life. The narrator, a lawyer, hires Bartleby as a copyist, only to watch him descend into total refusal—a quiet rebellion that’s both frustrating and heartbreaking. Melville nails the absurdity of modern work culture way before it was even a thing. The story’s genius lies in its ambiguity. Is Bartleby depressed? A symbol of resistance? A commentary on capitalism? It refuses easy answers.

Another gem is 'Benito Cereno,' a tense, racially charged sea adventure with a twist that flips everything on its head. It’s darker and more action-packed than 'Bartleby,' but just as thought-provoking. Melville’s skill at blending suspense with deep themes shines here. If you enjoy 'Bartleby,' dive into 'Benito Cereno' next—it’s like a puzzle you’ll want to solve.
Ella
Ella
2025-06-25 09:03:53
While 'Bartleby, the Scrivener' steals the spotlight, don’t sleep on 'The Encantadas,' Melville’s sketch series about the Galápagos Islands. It’s a wild mix of travelogue, myth, and bleak philosophy. The islands are painted as these cursed, desolate places where nature and human cruelty collide. Some sketches read like dark fairy tales—tortoises as ancient as time, pirates leaving men to starve. It’s less famous than 'Bartleby,' but just as powerful in its imagery.

That said, 'Bartleby' deserves its rep. It’s the ultimate mood piece—a slow burn about a man who opts out of life entirely. The lawyer’s baffled narration adds this layer of dark comedy. You laugh until you realize how sad it all is. Melville doesn’t judge Bartleby; he just shows him, leaving us to squirm. For something equally eerie but totally different, try 'The Bell-Tower,' a gothic tech-horror story about an inventor’s hubris. Melville’s range is insane.
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