Comparing Orientation and Bartleby, the Scrivener

            These two stories have very different portrayals of what a boss is like in the work place. In Orientation, the boss is blunt and very authoritative; he says things as commands rather than options. For example, “You have no business in the Custodian’s Closet,” (pg. 48). On the other hand, the boss in Bartleby is more passive and tends to ask his employees to do things rather than telling them. For example, when talking with Bartleby, he says things like, “Why do you refuse?”, “Is it not so?”, and “Will you not speak?” (pgs. 412 and 413). This comparison, infers that bosses who are more passive will not get as much obedience out of their employees as bosses who are authoritative will.

            These two stories vary in how productive the offices are. In Orientation, it seems like productivity is very important even if this productivity has consequences. For example, there is a serial killer working in the office and the boss just tells the new hire, “He is, in fact, our fastest typist,” (pg. 49). In Bartleby, the boss keeps Bartleby around the office even though he is not working or bettering the company anymore. He even gives him an extra month’s check when firing him so he would be able to get along before finding another job. This difference between bosses shows that bosses who are harsher in how they do business are often more productive, but don’t seem to care about their employees as much as more passive bosses.

            These two stories are different in what they portray about interactions between co-workers. In Orientation, the co-workers seem to know everything about each other’s business, but not in a healthy way, it seems like a very hostile environment. When the boss gives the new hire a tour of the office, he tells him all about the personal lives of those who work there, even if the information is ugly. In Bartleby, the co-workers are very close to each other and even the boss, and it seems like they get along well. For example, when Bartley is not doing his work, the boss asks everyone in the office what he should do about it. This comparison of the interaction of co-workers between the two stories shows that in smaller offices and where the boss cares about his employees; there are better unity and better relationships.