https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2 How responsible is the narrator for Bartleby's salvation? Should there be limits to our will to help a man, if his life is at stake? Is writing off a suffering man by saying he's responsible for himself only a way to excuse our own lack of compassion? en-us 2020-03-25 16:50:44 UTC 2023-05-06 18:40:40 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542274230 I think the narrator is partly responsible for Bartleby's outcome since he played a role only at the end of Bartleby's life. The narrator didn't know much about the events in Bartleby's earlier life and Bartleby was unwilling to share any more information with him. The narrator only met dead ends, no matter how many times he tried to get close. He gave Bartleby multiple chances to improve, but nothing worked out. This is why I don't completely blame the narrator because we don't know much about the issues Bartleby went through before joining the law firm, Still, it is partly his fault because he could not connect and understand Bartleby in any way. His efforts were futile since his rational way of thinking didn't get through to Bartleby.

There should be limits to our will to help a man if his life is at stake. You can help someone with your whole heart and everything you've got, but it will not be of any use unless the other person is giving their all to get better as well. Yes, sometimes it will take some convincing for the other person to know that their life is worth it, but you should be able to set boundaries and realize when there is no longer any way for you to help. The narrator was patient with Bartleby at the beginning, and even tried to offer him extra money to help with his future life, but nothing worked and this should have been a sign for the narrator.

Writing off a suffering man by saying he's responsible for himself is only a way to excuse our own lack of compassion. While you should know when your efforts will not work after trying hard to help, ignoring someone at the first instance is cruel and reflects more on your character than theirs.]]> 2023-04-03 14:03:04 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542274230 mylee_brant https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542288847 I think the narrator is not responsible for the outcome of Bartleby because he tried many times to convince him to leave the office and even offered to help him live. By the end he even offered to let him live in the Narrator's own house. it was Bartleby's own choice to not take up the chances and the narrator's kind offers. I dont think that there should be limits to help someone who's life is at stake unless it starts affecting you negatively nor if the person who's in trouble could've gotten themselves out of the situation on multiple occasions. Attempts that the narrator tries to connect with Bartleby are when he tries to get to know him and when he tries to make him see the good in the tombs (being outside in the fresh air). Sometimes saying that someone is responsible for themself is an excuse when there can not be anything else to do to help that someone. ]]> 2023-04-03 14:13:01 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542288847 https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542289549 The narrator has a large amount of responsibility for his salvation and what happened to him.  This is because even though the narrator tried to connect with him he did not try to find him help when he needed it near the end of the story. Instead, the narrator ditch him and moved to the new office to let him be imprisoned. The narrator could have tried to find him someplace to stay but instead abandoned him which later lead to Bartleby's death in the tombs. 
There should be limits because the narrator does deserve credit for all the other ways he tried to help Bartleby throughout the story and tried his best to take care of him. For example, he tried to give him thirty dollars to go find a home or go back to his family and also tried to ration with him when he preferred not to do his work. The narrator cared and felt bad about his getting arrested. The narrator tried his best and gave it his all and that's all you can ask for. 
Writing off a suffering man is inexcusable and there should be more done for him to get help. What the narrator did in bonding with him was not okay and a person needs to help someone suffering by finding them help and not ditching them and blaming the suffering person for their actions. There needs to be more done for the person struggling and we are using excuses to blame the person when we do not have compassion. everyone needs to show compassion or it will be a cold world. ]]> 2023-04-03 14:13:20 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542289549 https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542437562 I believe that the narrator had a major influenece over what happened to Bartleby.  The main reason why I believe this is due to the fact that the narrator forces himself away from Bartleby by moving offcies which in the end eventually led to his imprisonment.   I believe that we should have a limit of our will to help a man when his life is at stake and that is the point where we are in danger of death.  If helping a random kman will cost my life, then that is where I draw the line.  This scenario is different for people I am close to but for a random person, I am putting my life before his.  I think that letting a suffering man die on a person's own terms with their only reason being that it is his fault, is definitely just an excuse for a lack of compassion within that person as it shows that the person isn't willing to show any morsel of kindness not even to a person in need]]> 2023-04-03 15:54:37 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542437562 https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542932069 To expand on what Myles has said. I agree sometimes saying that someone is responsible for themselves is an excuse to not help them but at the same time how can you help someone h’who has expressed many times they do not want your help or even get to know you. At the same time I do see your point. The narrator could have kept on trying to push Bartleby out of his shell. ]]> 2023-04-04 00:55:35 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542932069 https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542978551 I think the narrator has partial responsibilty to what happened to Bartleby, the reason is because the narrator decides not to intrude himself in Bartlebys life persistant enough and put him in the jail. However to the point of putting your life in danger or hurting your potential in order to help another person]]> 2023-04-04 01:31:03 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2542978551 gonzalopool https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543008956 2023-04-04 01:57:14 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543008956 https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543014995 I agree with Aiden with the fact that the narrator played a big role in how Bartleby's life had played out and ended. The narrator as he said "forces himself away from Bartleby by moving offices which in the end eventually led to his imprisonment." Since he forces himself away from Bartleby, he does not have an idea on how he is doing or if he is pushing his limits. Being the isolated character Bartleby is, he wouldn't flat out say what he is feeling, so the narrator just simply pushing him away shows the lack of compassion, along with the fact of letting him die on his own terms as Aiden had said also shows this lack of compassion.]]> 2023-04-04 02:01:42 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543014995 https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543089085 I think the narrator had a huge responsibility for the outcome of Bartleby. Although Bartleby refused to answer questions the narrator was  trying to ask, he shouldn't have given up and ditched him so quickly when he knew Bartleby needed help. By kicking him out and "getting rid of him" it would only make life worse for Bartleby and the narrator's attempt at connecting was just not enough. I believe Bartleby's behavior was partly responsible too for his refusals and failed attempts at making conversation.
I think there should be limits to our will to help a man if his life is at stake. You can help someone with all of your energy and efforts, but it will always be up to that person to accept the help or not. For example, Bartleby wasn't trying to connect with the narrator when given the chance.  ]]> 2023-04-04 03:00:05 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543089085 https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543513127 The narrator plays a big part in Barleby's salvation because he failed him when it was clear that he needed help. I believe that we should have a limit of our will to help a man when his lifes at stake because if it is someone close and oit it very obvious that they need help, I am going to do the best I can to make sure they ger the help that is needed, if I was the narrator in this situation I would've gone different ways with my decisions in order to help Bartleby out. I feel like writing off a suffering man by saying hes responsible for himself is a way to exucse our lack of passion because it just shows how some people have no heart and empathy for others.]]> 2023-04-04 10:40:42 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543513127 https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543515857 I think that the narrator heavily influenced Bartleby's salvation, but he was not responsible for it. The narrator had hired and given Bartleby a place to live, but he refused to actually do anything. In the sense that he'd rejected many opportunities for no reason, I'd think Bartleby was in control of his salvation and was an obstacle to it. I feel like there are some limits to helping a man. You can help a man get back to his feet, but you shouldn't have to hold his hand throughout it. I wouldn't say that it's a way to excuse our sense of compassion, but rather a way to reassure ourselves of our actions. Like if you feel bad for not helping someone who isn't even helping themselves or making an effort, you kind of reassure yourself that they were responsible for themself.]]> 2023-04-04 10:44:52 UTC https://padlet.com/melissa_thomas4/jvusmsscf0p2/wish/2543515857