Comparing Poor Mans Pudding, Bartleby, Ministers Black Veil, or Masqu

Lack of Epiphany in Poor Man's Pudding, Bartleby, Minister's Black Veil, or Masque of the Red Death In the Melville stories, "Poor Man's Pudding and Rich Man's Crumbs" and "Bartleby, the Scrivener", the narrators go through what appear to be life-changing experiences. Hawthorne offers a similar outline in "The Minister's Black Veil" as does Poe in "Masque of the Red Death". Yet, at the conclusion of each of these stories, there is no evidence to suggest that the narrator is affected by the differences (and perhaps similarities) of their lives and those less fortunate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In "Poor Man's Pudding and Rich Man's Crumbs" The narrator has the opportunity to absorb, as much as an "outsider" can, the heartache and trials of the lower class. While he cannot deny the experience of being in the Coulters home as thought provoking-- that appears to be all it is for him. "But the instinct of the poor is wiser than we think". He does not totally align himself with the upper class in the second part of the story but he will not refuse the benefits and privileges of wealth. He may be inwardly affected by the gluttony and callousness of the rich and the sympathetic circumstances of the poor, but any inward conversion is not exemplified in his outward behavior. ..Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed".Here, I believe, the reader is the one who is changed by the narrator's experiences an d the lack of change on the part of the narrator is upsetting to the reader. The reader is able to go with the narrator through both situations, but unlike the narrator, the reader is able to sympathize with th... ...ected by the differences (and perhaps similarities) of their lives and those less fortunate. They stand at the crossroad that would define their character and their future course of action. Some choose ambivalence, some choose to see and turn away, others may even convince themselves that they are actually better than they used to be. But without acting on any internal change these people have failed to convince the reader that they have been redeemed. Their inability or unwillingness to extend themselves to the cause of brotherhood and human kindness is their testament. The reader has no pity for these men, but unlike them the reader can internalize the lessons of their experiences and effect change in their own lives. Their failure to act is their greatest folly, but the reader can rise above these characters, recognizing their failure and take a different path. Comparing Poor Man's Pudding, Bartleby, Minister's Black Veil, or Masqu Lack of Epiphany in Poor Man's Pudding, Bartleby, Minister's Black Veil, or Masque of the Red Death In the Melville stories, "Poor Man's Pudding and Rich Man's Crumbs" and "Bartleby, the Scrivener", the narrators go through what appear to be life-changing experiences. Hawthorne offers a similar outline in "The Minister's Black Veil" as does Poe in "Masque of the Red Death". Yet, at the conclusion of each of these stories, there is no evidence to suggest that the narrator is affected by the differences (and perhaps similarities) of their lives and those less fortunate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In "Poor Man's Pudding and Rich Man's Crumbs" The narrator has the opportunity to absorb, as much as an "outsider" can, the heartache and trials of the lower class. While he cannot deny the experience of being in the Coulters home as thought provoking-- that appears to be all it is for him. "But the instinct of the poor is wiser than we think". He does not totally align himself with the upper class in the second part of the story but he will not refuse the benefits and privileges of wealth. He may be inwardly affected by the gluttony and callousness of the rich and the sympathetic circumstances of the poor, but any inward conversion is not exemplified in his outward behavior. ..Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed".Here, I believe, the reader is the one who is changed by the narrator's experiences an d the lack of change on the part of the narrator is upsetting to the reader. The reader is able to go with the narrator through both situations, but unlike the narrator, the reader is able to sympathize with th... ...ected by the differences (and perhaps similarities) of their lives and those less fortunate. They stand at the crossroad that would define their character and their future course of action. Some choose ambivalence, some choose to see and turn away, others may even convince themselves that they are actually better than they used to be. But without acting on any internal change these people have failed to convince the reader that they have been redeemed. Their inability or unwillingness to extend themselves to the cause of brotherhood and human kindness is their testament. The reader has no pity for these men, but unlike them the reader can internalize the lessons of their experiences and effect change in their own lives. Their failure to act is their greatest folly, but the reader can rise above these characters, recognizing their failure and take a different path.