How Literature Can Be Rebellious

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How Literature Can Be Rebellious A person who disagrees with the normal beliefs of a society and takes action can be defined as rebellious. This rebellion can be seen in their attitude, beliefs, and sometimes writings. In essays, authors or even characters can be defined as rebels for not conforming to society’s norms, as in Herman Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street”, Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”, and Salman Rushdie’s “Imagine There’s No Heaven”. These readings can be seen as “rebellious” because they go against society’s widely accepted beliefs of the work force, moral judgment, and organized religion and refuse to conform. Their beliefs and morals are looked down upon by society, yet they refuse to give in to the pressures of their environment and change their standing. In Herman Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street,” Bartleby, the protagonist, rebels against society’s ritualized work schedule. Bartleby begins his strike against society when refusing to perform his duties at work, saying “he prefers not to”. His nonchalant manner makes it seem as if he has the choice to work or not. He goes against his society’s highly stressed value of having a strong work ethic. This routine of refusing to work continues throughout the reading, showing that Bartleby is willing to stick to his principals. By not following the instructions to work, he is not conforming to society’s valued ideal of work schedules, showing signs of rebellion. Society believes in the routine of working everyday simply because a person is told to do so. An employee is expected to do their job when they are given tasks required of them. His actions show that his intent is to be a free individual, to follow his own principles and beliefs, no matter what the cost. There is more evidence of Bartleby being a rebel in Melville’s writing. Near the
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