Self-representation in William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe...

The stories William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe and Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville are useful examples to discuss the difficulties of self-representation. While the narrator in Poe’s tale begs us to â€Å"let me call myself, for the present, William Wilson† the complex self-representation here is also prevalent in the heart of Melville’s story. Wests Encyclopedia of American Law tells us that â€Å"courts usually discourage self-representation †¦even attorneys are well advised to hire another attorney.† The same problems with self-representation occur in literature. The unnamed narrator in Melville’s tale shows the complexities of self-representation through age, his relationship to Astor, anonymity, deceit and his complex values. Poe’s†¦show more content†¦I do not speak it in vanity†¦I will freely add, that I was not insensible to the late John Jacob Astor’s good opinion† (p.1484). Dilworth tells us that Astor was known as â€Å"the Landlord of New York† and that â€Å"while acquiring wealth in this way, Astor made many people suffer†¦ he was widely despised† most importantly that â€Å"most New Yorkers shared this opinion of Astor at the time of the first publication of Melvilles story†. By associating with Astor, an individual known for the ruining of other’s lives through mortgage foreclosures, the narrator aligns himself with the reputation of a sinner – even though he claims to have â€Å"prudence† and â€Å"method† as qualities; clearly, there is nothing prudent or straightforward in the actions of Astor, who coldly took the money of those who needed it most. Though he considers Astor to be a great man, and takes his compliments highly, it shows that the narrator’s views of greatness are completely opposite to popular opinion. He thinks that by representing himself in this way – as a man favoured by a famous lawyer- he will appear impressive and integral. Unfortunately, for him, this actually works to the complete opposite effect on the audience of the period. The narrator also adds that â€Å"while of other law-copyists I might write the complete life, of Bartleby nothing of that sort can be done†¦Bartleby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable† (p.1483). Bartleby distinguishes himself from others on