And in the end-nothing is learned

As Mr. Hershey updates us on the lives of his characters, we see that they survive. Humanity continues but without learning from our mistakes and especially of our aggressive need for power. As Mr. Hershey leads us through the characters' lives of surviving and putting a life together for themselves, he injects with a note of which country has established their own nuclear weapon. Proving that mankind has not learned anything, even though each postures for no more advancement in this type of weapon, we are well aware there will always be that threat hanging over us and each generation to come.

In reading this story and Hermann Melville's story about Bartleby I realize they are both about the effects the global environment places on individuals. Both authors use descriptive details to draw the reader into the lives of their characters. We can make personal connections to the characters and the events that take place because of their use of a universal theme that we are not alone in life, each action will lead to a reaction that can impact the world we live in. If the narrator in Bartleby chose to not be affected by Bartleby, would he have reached out to his fellow man? If Mr. Hershey did not tell the story of the survivors of Hiroshima, would we be so inclined to allow nuclear proliferation? In each reading there was a lesson to be learned in Hershey’s book it was an obvious lesson; Melville’s lesson was more oblique.

As we read a story, we think about what the author is trying to tell the reader. I don’t think every author starts out with the intent to give us a lesson, moral or otherwise. It is inevitable that there is an underlying lesson to be learned because of the interactions between characters and the events that unfold in a story. It is through the interaction author and reader that we can walk away with a newfound knowledge about ourselves.

When reading, it helps to put ourselves in one of the characters shoes. As the story unfolds we should stop and ask what we would do in their situation. In Hiroshima, I wonder if I would be so brave. In Bartleby would I be so caring towards a stranger if it meant to leave the comfort and security of my own little world. Reading lets us experience the life we do not have and the possibilities of what we could have.

Hiroshima part 2 and reading

What really came to mind is the intensity with which Mr. Hershey describes his characters. As you read you can feel the frustration of the doctors and priests at not being able to help the wounded. He draws you into the confusion felt by many that day. They wondered about family members and friends, as well as the extent of human damage. As each character moved about in the book you begin to see the human toll- those who lie dead, ill, and terribly hurt. As he moves us forward, approximately three weeks, he describes the effect of radiation poisoning. Of course at that time it was all new to this population, but then he tells about the scientists and American "aids" who come to Japan to investigate the outcome of the atomic bomb. I found the mentioning of keeping most of the after effects of these bombing out of the news and especially from the American population most disturbing, because as we move forward in time - to today's America, we cannot help but wonder just how much is held back from us for "our own good". A reader today will see many similarities to the events of Sept. 11th, the survivors suffered long term physical, mental and emotional effects. Another similarity was the financial toll on the government. As the end of the bombing period came to an end, Mr. Hershey relates how willing the Japanese were to die for their country. But in retrospect, he relayed their pleas to be saved, showing with fear came their courage. Perhaps knowing the after effect to the atomic bomb made them think they were better off dead. I am just guessing. Our own Sept. 11th heros did not survive, and the few that did told how they wanted to save as many people as possible-it was not for country but for humanity. So I continue to wonder why humanity has not changed, then I read what most Japanese felt afterwards; that it was war and "it could not be helped". If the victims do not cry out against the injustice and immorality of such a weapon, how can anyone else? The questioning continues in my head about the maturity of our human obligations to each other. I look forward to reading on.....

What was the truth in the morning turns into a lie in the evening

After reading my blog partner Larry’s account of John Hershey’s book Hiroshima, I became intrigued because I do like historical events. I read the back cover about Mr. Hershey telling the story of the fateful day through the survivor’s of the attack on Hiroshima. What really intrigued me was his returning to Hiroshima almost forty years later to update his readers on the survivors’ lives.

There where many ways that Mr. Hershey grabs the reader’s attention. He starts by introducing the characters at the exact moment the atom bomb hit Hiroshima. Then he brings us back in time to the beginning of each survivor’s day. He gives us a very descriptive account of the people and their surroundings. His narrative style steps back to give us insight to what each person is thinking and feeling prior to the explosion. I think this is so we can feel the intensity of the horrible fate that awaits his characters.

I thought about Sept. 11th and how I was on the express bus to Manhattan. It was about 6:30 am and the sun was already up in the sky. But what a beautiful sky!!! I cannot ever remember the sky and temperature being so absolutely perfect. Even people on the bus started commenting on the beauty of that morning. As I looked past the Twin Towers from my office window, my co-workers and I said it is a great day to have “the flu” so we can enjoy this perfect day. Within 43 minutes it turned into the most horrible day.
I saw so many horrible things that day and walked through smoke, fear and confusion before I made it home.

As I read the “flash of bright white light” and the terror and destruction that ensued, I was able to be part of this because of my own personal experience. There are times we read about horrible things that happen in the world and the sympathy is great within ourselves. But, to live through an experience that is very similar I found made me mad. After almost 60 years, mankind has not learned a damn thing!

I would prefer not to....

The safeness of the narrator's conformity and living within the confines of an easy way of life becomes shattered when he hires Bartleby. The character of Bartleby gives us insight to the meaning of despair when we chose to conform in order to feel "safe. He is described as "a motionless young man", pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlon!" Each positive attribute-young, neat, and respectable is preceded by a negative connotation. We can see the analysis being drawn that all our good characteristics will be negated by yielding to the crowd. Bartleby seems to become the mirror image of our narrator's inner self. It is perhaps of this unconscious realization, that the narrator strives to become Bartleby's savior. This is evident when the narrator states, "The bond of common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom. A fraternal melancholy! For both I and Bartleby were sons of Adam." How many times have you found yourself attracted to someone without understanding why-this person is not like anyone you would normally befriend, but yet there is a connection?

As stated earlier, Melville's contemporary, Emerson, implored his readers not to live as others would dictate, nor to live for materialism, praise or status. We see Melville's agreement with Emerson as we see the narrator begin to go out of his way to help Bartleby. As we move through the story, we see an urgency in the narrator to save Bartleby. Is this because if the narrator saves Bartleby, then he will be saved from the despair which isolation of humanity can bring?

I started this post with "I would prefer not to". It is this simple and honest statement spoken by Bartleby that intrigues our narrator to know more of this gentlemen. How would you react to someone telling you "I would prefer not to", every time a task needed to be done? Would you rant? Or would the sincere and calm tone, as Bartleby uses, allow you to excuse this type of behavior?

The ending line used by the narrator "Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!" is not one we would expect from a person who declares from the onset that he is one who lives in the cool tranquility of a snug retreat. I have to ask all that read this or better yet, the story itself: What in your life keeps you from reaching out to life? Do you keep yourself "safe" within your own private circle of friends and friends? Have you ever had a "Bartleby" enter your life? How did it affect you? How did it change you? If not - how would you imagine a "Bartleby" would affect you?

"Bartleby, the Scrivener" Part 2

In my last post I questioned the relevance of Nippers and Turkey in this story. Nippers suffers from chronic indigestion and Turkey is a drunk. Nippers is irritable in the morning and Turkey is drunk in the afternoon. Melville presents balance in our narrator's environment, albeit a tempermental one. Turkey works in the morning and Nippers works in the afternoons. Ginger Nut is the office boy who is named after the cakes he brings to the office. These characters highlight the narrator's desire to have a balance in his life no matter the cost. He is willing to endure the irritability and drunkness of his employees as long as it does not occur at the same time and the work is being accomplished. We further learn the reason of our narrator's desire to "play it safe", he lost a very prestigious position as Master of Chancery because of an severe economic downturn. He conformed to the economic changes of the time by living only for employment and obtaining finacial security. The emptiness and isolation of modern business is an important them in this story which Melville metaphorically describes through the office: "At one end they looked upon the white interior wall of the of the spacious skylight shaft," "the light pentrated into the building, yet it never illumnated the residents." And as stated in my prior blog, our narrator's view is a brick wall. The narrator willingly allows himselft to be walled in from life so he can feel safe. His employs are predictable and reliable in work and demeanor. This conformity and easy way of life is shttered when he hires Bartleby.
One idea Emerson (a contemporary of Melville) imparts to his readers in "Self Reliance" is to not live as others would ditate, nor to live for materialism, praise or status, as this would cause a loss of self. We can see this idea as we see the effect of Bartleby on our narrator.

"Bartleby the Scriviner" by Herman Melville Part 1.

I think in order to understand a story; it helps to know a little bit about the author. Herman Melville uses his knowledge of business and what can happen when faced with financial ruin in “Bartleby the Scrivener”. Mr. Melville’s father went bankrupt when he was young because of risky investments, giving him a determination to become financially independent. He also watched as his family fell apart: his father died and his mother became dependent on her own family. We now have some indication of Mr. Melville’s attitude towards business-do not take chances. In “Bartleby the Scrivener” Melville is more open in sharing his feelings about the business world and what it can do to people.

The narrator begins by describing himself as a rather elderly man; this leads the reader to believe he is experienced and somewhat worldly in his field. But yet, we are made aware that the narrator is one who chooses to “play it safe” with his career, reputation and life choices. How do I know this? The narrator says he belongs to “a profession proverbially energetic and nervous even to turbulence at times, yet nothing of that sort have I ever suffered to invade my peace.” He continues to state, “I am one of those unambitious lawyers…..” “but, in the cool tranquility of a snug retreat…” (pg.3). All these descriptions show a person who is content with his career without any of the formality, success and energy of his field.

Melville’s description of our narrator’s work space gives us further proof that his life is a set of predictable safe events – or playing it safe. Ie: “This view might have been considered rather tame than otherwise, deficient in what landscape painters call “life”.”

Our narrator introduces his staff: Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut. All nicknames given to each other, and allowed in an office of legal copy writing – we are not privy to their actual names. Even though a nickname is a sign of familiarity, one has to wonder how the narrator allows this in an atmosphere that is stoic in demeanor – physically and emotionally.

I will stop here, leaving the following questions:
What influence does Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut have on the narrator?
Who is Bartleby? What is it that intrigues our narrator so greatly that he compelled to tell Bartleby’s story?
What impact does Bartleby have on the safety of our narrator’s life?

My Memories: Reading, Writing and Wanting to Know More

My earliest memory of the written word was my Aunt Nancy buying me Golden Books. I remember the bright colored pictures and wanting to know what was going on. As I these stories were read to me I couldn't wait to hear what would happen next. When I was alone I would pick up the books and read (try) to myself, mostly editing the tale to my own liking. I guess I was about three or four years old at the time.
At the same time, my next door neighbor Ilene had just started 1st grade. When she would come home from school, she would show me what she learned that day. I was so enthralled with the "tools" she used. I questioned everything that she showed me. She decided to be my teacher and set up our classroom in my backyard. She brought out a blackboard, chalk, pencils and paper and my lessons would begin. When I would know how to write or read a new word, I would run home and show my parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and any poor soul who crossed my path my new skills. I was becoming a "know-it-all pest" to quote my younger brothers, who had to endure learning with me.
Understanding my text books and reading assignments through out elementary and middle school is faded, most probably because it was basic and I always questioned what I didn't understand. I was placed in the advanced classes in elementary school and was awarded the Arista award for my work in SP classes in middle school. Understanding different genres of literacy did not occur until High School. My sophomore English Teacher worked with popular songs of the late 60's, early 70's, also known as the Vietnam era, or the hippie movement. Learning that the words of songs were a form of poetry intrigued me, I began writing my own poetry. This form of writing became my solace from the angst of adolescent life. I wish I had kept them; it would be interesting to go back and read the plights of Linda.
Deep reading - going behind the word on the page - was introduced to me by Joanne Cresci, my first English writing professor at CSI. It was an "A HA" moment. It was great to stop and think about what was beneath the surface, what hidden message and emotion was lurking to be found. I am grateful to all my English professors at CSI, especially Professor de Cataldo, Professor Keil, Professor Parker and Professor Hoeller who pushed me and were patient with my while I questioned and looked to the meaning of what we read. To Professor Monte, Professor Schulman and those mentioned earlier, thank you for helping me to express myself on paper.
My undergrad degree is Business Management. Professor George Stern taught me to look at what was written in everyday texts: newspapers, websites, magazine articles, etc. with a critical eye and to evaluate the purpose of what was written. This became very useful in my career.
I must mention that I entered the Commodities field when I was 19 years old. I worked very closely with the Research Department Head – Mary Elberti. She was a wonderful writer whose desk was a massive chaos of articles, newspapers, books, charts and I believe a few half eaten sandwiches. Ask for an article from 1960 and she would go to the right pile of paper and pull out the article. She also would hand you several other items that were relevant to your request. I was awestruck by her, especially her being able to relate one article, which seemed to have no bearing on the subject, to another. She showed me how to see how different factors influence our commodity markets. I was now hooked on commodities. As one friend had commented, “Commodities is perfect for you because you always want to know about everything!” In commodities we have to be aware of the environment, politics, demand, supply and of course the economy.
My literacy throughout the years has expanded to theater, dance, movies and music. Literacy is more than what is in a book. It is understanding what is going on around us everyday.