Compare And Contrast Bartleby The Scrivener

Two well know American’s each published a short story containing elements reflecting ideas of success and values in America, about 100 years apart. The first story authored by, Benjamin Franklin who is well known as one our founding fathers, author, and inventor titled wrote the story titled “The Way to Wealth” and the other story, authored by successful author Herman Melville titled “Bartleby, the Scrivener.” While these two stories have a few similarities, their perspectives primarily are very different. One of the similarities between the “The Way to Wealth” and “Bartleby, the Scrivener” is both stories are told through the eyes of a single narrator. Also, both stories share the narrator’s perspective based on his own observations of human
nature, with each narrator considering themselves an exemplary benefactor of ethics and values, to the point they feel qualified to offer advice and wisdom to those the deem in need. This is where their similarities end. The differences begin with Franklin’s narrator utilizing the telling of a single event to demonstrate his perspective, while Melville’s narrator recounts a relationship with a specific main character that develops and changes over time. In addition, in Franklin’s story the narrator is asked his opinion; he is requested to provide his thoughts and ideas on the subject under discussion by a group of citizens, while Melville’s narrator delivers unsolicited advice to a specific character. From the beginning it is evident that both stories present their messages differently.