Defiance of Gender-Based Work Ethics in Bartleby and The...

Defiance of Gender-Based Work Ethics in Bartleby and The Yellow Wallpaper The issue of gender was an influential factor for writers in the 19th century, as Herman Melville and Charlotte Perkins Gilman explore in their pieces. In Bartleby, for instance, Herman Melville presents Bartleby as an employed scrivener-his service to the narrator is in the form of copying documents. This form of labor is appropriate for Bartleby according to 19th century society, which supported and approved of the male professional writer. However, he refuses this duty, and through his I-would-prefer-not-to statements, he challenges the standards held to him by society, reinforcing his individualism. On the other hand, in The Yellow†¦show more content†¦First, Turkey; second, Nippers; third, Ginger Nut (Melville 4). Here we see that the office is only occupied by males-Turkey, Nippers, Ginger Nut, and the narrator (I am a rather elderly man (1).). One can deduct that this law office is considered a more suitable and acceptable work environment for men, rather than for women. Narrator makes this idea more explicit earlier in the story. He says, The nature of my avocations for the last thirty years has brought me more than ordinary contact with †¦ an interesting†¦set of men†¦-I mean the law-copyists, or scriveners (3). Through his labor in law, and though the years of employing scriveners, he has only come in contact with me. No women are considered upon any mention of the scriveners position; no women are considered for the position of a professional writer. Also, as the quote states, two of the men were actual copyists (Turkey and Nippers), but the young Ginger Nut is the promising lad as an office boy. Narrator is setting up a work situation for this male apprentice with the hope that he eventually fills the necessary position. Again, the issue of his maleness is important to the argument. Ginger Nut is not a promising young lass; he is appropriate for the apprenticeship because he is male, and would therefore fit the standard set by the narrator and by society. Furthermore, Narrator gives nicknames to his three employees, which can be seen as an example of the