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"It is not seldom the case that when a man is browbeaten in some unprecedented and violently unreasonable way, he begins to stagger in his own plainest faith. He begins, as it were, vaguely to surmise that, wonderful as it may be, all the justice and all the reason is on the other side. Accordingly, if any disinterested persons are present, he turns to them for some reinforcement for his own faltering mind." (40).
Melville is stating here that if you don't get
approval by society or your peers that this creates self-doubt. When the
doubt appears we look to others for reassurance that we have made a
correct choice. If we don’t get a positive response we will change our response
to agree with what others would approve of.
Melville uses specific words to describe this with much emotion, “when a
man is browbeaten in some unprecedented and violently unreasonable way” the use
of these words express that one is pushed with great force to change their opinion
to conform to an opinion that would be acceptable by the group/society. Once the doubt is present one begins to
question if in fact their thoughts are sound, “he begins to stagger in his own
plainest faith.” Then with the greatest of easy ones thoughts
are changed just by the mere fact that another opinion exists. “He begins, as it were, vaguely to surmise
that, wonderful as it may be, all the justice and all the reason is on the
other side.” This suggests that he not
really feeling comfortable with his beliefs.
If anyone has a different opinion than mine I would look to the
group/society to get others to agree with me.
“Accordingly, if any disinterested persons are present, he turns to them
for some reinforcement for his own faltering mind.” He doesn’t feel completely confident in who
he is and what decisions he makes. He
need and wants approval from group/society.
There is a little of all of us in this paragraph. I can think of a number of times growing up
feeling just this way. Now that I’ve
matured some I feel more confident in the way I see things and how I express
them.
Melville, Herman. "Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street." 18653. Putnam's Monthly, 30 June 2012 <http://www.bartleby.com/129/.>
