Musings on life and Melville's Bartleby

What to do? What to do?

Lately, in my life, I have been caught between the things I want to do and the things I need to do. I have been thinking in a very Melville-esque way. To explain this, one would need to know that I have been reading Herman Melville's novella "Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street" in my English class. This text has, in a way, gotten under my skin and engraved itself there. So a correction, or a better way of stating the first sentence would be to say that I have been thinking in a very Bartleby-esque way.

For those who do not know the story of "Bartleby, the Scrivener" I highly suggest you run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy. The text is short but full of all sorts of imagery, a few paradoxes, and a lot of subtleties and ambiguities.

The title character, Bartleby, is often asked to do things by the narrator. These things may be work (to go over his copy), to leave the office, to divulge information about himself and his life prior to meeting the narrator. His response is always "I would prefer not to."  The line is always said calmly without any hesitation or trepidation. I find it very interesting that he can say the line that way, without even worrying what the reaction might be.

I would say that I find it notable that he can refuse to do things so calmly. But the line "I would prefer not to" raises many questions. One of them being it's intention and meaning. Is it really a refusal?  Does "I would prefer not to" mean that he would not do the work at all, just that he'd prefer to do something else?

In some ways, I think I am becoming like Bartleby. I do work. But there are many things I'd prefer not to do. I'd prefer not to do math, I'd prefer not to have class at 8:30 in the morning (but I go partially because it's a required class and I adore the professor). I'd prefer not to need glasses for reading. There are so many things I'd prefer not to do. So, does that make me a Bartleby? Or does Bartleby belong in a different category altogether?

Is preferring not to do something as unproductive as not doing it at all?

An Open Letter to Alan Rickman

Those of you who know me personally know that I love Alan Rickman. I think he is a fantastic actor who is truly versatile and is just....amazing. Here is an open letter to him for you all to read. A couple months ago it was brought to my attention that people on the Twilight imdb message boards were hoping that Alan Rickman would play a vampire in the film. There were "rumors" that he was being offered a part. I sincerely hope that he was not offered a part in the film. It is not that I want him to be out of work, it is that Twilight is, simply put, bad.

As a big fan of Mr. Rickman's I feel inclined to see almost every film that he is ever in. If he were in Twilight, I would have to break that obligation, or at least try to. It would be very difficult. I would be torn. So, THANK GOD, Alan Rickman is not playing a sparkly Vampire.

Dear Mr. Rickman,

Thank you so much for not starring in any Twilight movies. I love you even more for that. That is all.

Sincerely,
Heather

Zombies.

I'm not sure if many of you have heard of the game humans vs. zombies, but I'm pretty damn sure you've heard of it in passing. Especially if you live on a college campus or if you go to Goucher.

Humans vs. zombies is, basically, a modified game of tag. One person starts out as the main zombie. When the main zombie tags someone, that person (originally a "human") then becomes a zombie and joins his or her zombie friend in the quest to eat the brains of all the humans. Sound yummy? Well, maybe in a metaphorical sense at least.

Humans can protect themselves against the zombies by using nerf guns or throwing socks at the zombies.

It's all in good fun.

If you have not played the game (like I have not) it can be very interesting to watch. I might play next semester. We shall see.