This introductory essay to a tête-bêche English and Italian critical edition of Bartleby reads Melville’s tale in the context of the counter-cultural stance of the middle years of his career (1853-1857). Determined by a sudden shift from epic novels to short fiction, the works of this period are characterized by a radical contraction of his characters’ stature. The “forlornest” scrivener is thus viewed as an emblematic hero of Melville’s new and lowly world of defeated figures, an example of a wretched humanity placed in opposition to the dominant view of history in antebellum America, whether that view had been, on one side, dictated by compassion and cultural relativism or, on the other, urged by genealogical vengeance and aversive political praxis.
Introduction and Note on the Text
NORI, Giuseppe
2009-01-01
Abstract
This introductory essay to a tête-bêche English and Italian critical edition of Bartleby reads Melville’s tale in the context of the counter-cultural stance of the middle years of his career (1853-1857). Determined by a sudden shift from epic novels to short fiction, the works of this period are characterized by a radical contraction of his characters’ stature. The “forlornest” scrivener is thus viewed as an emblematic hero of Melville’s new and lowly world of defeated figures, an example of a wretched humanity placed in opposition to the dominant view of history in antebellum America, whether that view had been, on one side, dictated by compassion and cultural relativism or, on the other, urged by genealogical vengeance and aversive political praxis.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
