Compare A&P and Bartleby, the Scrivener

Comparing the two stories John Updike’s A&P and Herman Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener” one of the most outstanding differences in the two stories is in each boss’s relationship with their employees. In Bartleby the narrator’s descriptions of his employee’s shows, he has more of an interest in these people personally not just as a boss. He describes each one from their ages to what they eat and when it is the best time of the day to get the most work out of them. He spoke of each of their nicknames and how they were respective of their personalities. “These may seem names, the like of which are not usually found in the Directory. In truth, they were nicknames, mutually conferred upon each other by my three clerks, and were deemed expressive of their respective persons or characters.” (pg. 407) Where as Lengel the boss in A & P doesn’t seem to have much of an interest in his employees beyond the need of them as employees, until there is a need to point out something he feels they did wrong. Like when Sammy says he quits in protest of how Lengel treated the girls and Lengel says, “ I don’t think you know what you’re saying” and then Lengel says, “Sammy, you don’t want to do this to your Mom and Dad,” (pg. 603) In this comparison it shows maybe how a boss’s relationship with his employees can make a difference. In Bartleby, the other employees made more of an effort to work and no one quit. Bartleby refused to leave; I think do to the fact that his boss had some compassion for him, and he was a little bit luny, even though he eventually did ask him to leave. In A & P Sammy quit his job, mainly because of wanting to make an impression on a girl, and didn’t seem to care for his responsibility for his job.

Another comparison you can make between the two stories would be the interaction between the employees. In Bartleby, the other scriveners Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut, don’t seem to have much care of Bartleby one way or the other. Until it comes to the time when the narrator asked them, to do the jobs that Bartleby “Prefers not to” then they become irritated. When Bartleby refused to do, his work the narrator looks to his other employees for support. The narrator asked Nippers, “What do you think of it?” Nippers said, “I think I should kick him out of the office.” Then he asked, “Ginger Nut, what do you think of it?” and he replied, “I think, sir he’s a little luny,” (pg. 413) Later the narrator asks Bartleby to compare papers again, and again he says he prefers not to the narrator asked Turkey, “What do you think of it, Turkey?” Think of it?” Roared Turkey. “I think I’ll just step behind his screen, and black his eyes for him!” (pg.415) In A & P there seems to be more of a friendship with the coworkers. Even though Sammy condescends to Stokesie because of his desire to maybe someday become manager at the A & P to support his young family, Sammy also relates to him because they are so close in age and have the same thoughts about these girls. At the first sight of the three girls “Oh Daddy,” Stokesie said beside me. “I feel so faint.” “Darling,” I said. “Hold me tight.” Stokesie’s married, with two babies chalked up on his fuselage already, but as far as I can tell, that’s the only difference. He’s twenty-two, and I was nineteen this April.” (pg.600) The A & P employees had a more relaxed relationship, which could mean that they may have socialized outside the workplace, so I think that Sammy felt somewhat at ease to quit his job because he would still have his friend to count on.

The personalities of the two bosses were quite different. The narrator in the Bartleby story was comfortable in his business. He felt he had a good job in managing it, and he wasn’t an overly ambitious kind of man, as he said, “I am one of those unambitious lawyers who never address a jury, or in any way draw down public applause; but, in the cool tranquility of a snug business among rich men’s bonds, and mortgages, and title-deeds. All who know me consider me an eminently safe man.” (pg. 406) Then there is Lengel in A&P who seems to be a more disciplined, strait-laced kind of man. “He didn’t like my smiling---as I say he doesn’t miss much---but he concentrates on giving the girls that sad Sunday-school-superintendent stare.” (pg. 609) The differences in the two personalities of these bosses could be the reason they decided to go into the businesses they choose. Lengel felt more comfortable with a less stressful job and the narrator of Bartleby was confident in his knowledge of his business to handle customers important papers.