Passive Resistance by Crystal Bozigian https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201 Passive Resistance As the narrator is forced to admit, “Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance.” Refusing to grovel to the demands of his employer, and working to his own individual rule, Bartleby represents a challenge to capitalist, corporatist ideologies. He declines to do what is asked of him over and above the basic task of copying documents. He is an unostentatious figure, “pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlorn”, who works “silently, palely, mechanically”, but he exercises enormous power by refusing to comply with simple and undemanding requests. Why does Bartleby "prefer not to"? What is behind this "passive resistance"? How can his behavior(s) be explained? en-us 2020-03-25 15:14:38 UTC 2023-05-06 18:37:38 UTC hello@padlet.com Mia Dieffenbach https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2542273392 Bartleby's character is unusual when it comes to his attitude in the workplace. For example, Bartleby usually "prefers not to" do work that his boss specifically asked him to do. Bartleby prefers not to do these things because he likes to stay in his own world. He does not like change and does not like to be public with anything he does. Bartleby shows that he resists the capitalistic world in which he lives in by not always following the rules. His behaviors are explained by being unique while he dares to not follow what society portrays as "normal."]]> 2023-04-03 14:02:25 UTC https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2542273392 When Bartleby is first hired, he seems to be a good employee who is doing his work. However one day he suddenly starts refusing to do the work he is asked to do. He says over and over, "I would prefer not to," to anything that he does not want to do. This aggravates the narrator very much. Bartleby does this simply because he does not want to do the work and wants to continue with whatever he is doing, whenever he wants. He cannot stop what he is doing and needs to continue it until finished. Trying not to be like others and not fit the usual societal norm, is the explanation for this behavior. -E.B. https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2542762096 2023-04-03 21:13:55 UTC https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2542762096 M.R. https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2542766139 Bartleby shows very odd characteristics and quirks throughout the story.  He is able to gain the advantage over people by using passive resistance, with the simple phrase "I'd prefer not to," he is able to shut the narrator down easily. In addition, he is able to shut many people down around him, including the lawyers that tried to kick him out. He "prefers not to" as he truly just views the tasks people make him do as meaningless, and there to be no true goal or gratification at the end.]]> 2023-04-03 21:19:17 UTC https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2542766139 Mamemarie Konte https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2542983894 Bartleby can be first described as a hard working character due to his quality of writing. However, as the story continues, Bartleby starts to say the phrase "I would prefer not to" when he is given a task to do. Bartleby refuses certain tasks due to his unwillingness to conform in the office, and his dislike for changes to happen. He is resisting certain values and norms in the workforce, as well as capitalist ideals simply by not doing what he's told. His desire for remaining stationary sets him apart from the other office workers, which explains his odd behaviors of refusing certain tasks that he prefers not to do.]]> 2023-04-04 01:35:22 UTC https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2542983894 VR https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2580486152 Bartleby "prefers" not to give effort. He does not want to put his all into work just to be laid off again, as that is what happened at the Dead Letter Factory. His behavior is as reasonable as anyone else's' when their pride and ego is damaged. Why should he have to put in effort just to be thrust into poverty?]]> 2023-05-06 18:37:38 UTC https://padlet.com/crystal_bozigian/yaom0pjba201/wish/2580486152