Comparing the Poor Man's Pudding, Bartleby, the Minister's Black Veil, or the Mask of the Red Death In Melville's stories, "The Poor Man's Pudding and the Rich Man's Crumbs" and "Bartleby, the Scrivener," the narrators go through what seem be life-changing experiences. Hawthorne offers a similar pattern in "The Minister's Black Veil" as does Poe in "The Masque of the Red Death." However, 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) between their lives and those of those less fortunate. In "The Poor Man's Pudding and the Rich Man's Crumbs" The narrator has the opportunity to absorb, although an "outsider", the pain and trials of the lower class. While he can't deny that the experience of being in the Coulters house is stimulating, for him it seems to be everything. "But the instinct of the poor is wiser than we think." He doesn't totally align himself with the upper class in the second part of the story but he won't refuse the benefits and privileges of wealth. He may be influenced inwardly by the greed 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 humanity's absurd assumptions about humanity, nothing surpasses most of the criticisms leveled at the habits of the poor by those who live well at home, are well warmed and well fed. Here, I believe, the reader is the one who is changed by the narrator's experiences and the narrator's lack of change shocks the reader. The reader is able to accompany the narrator through both situations, but unlike the narrator, the reader is able to sympathize with him. the...... middle of paper ... influenced by the differences (and perhaps similarities) in their lives and those less fortunate. They find themselves at the crossroads that will define their character and their future course of action. Some choose ambivalence, some choose to see and turn away, some may even convince themselves that they are actually better than before. But without acting on any internal change, these people have failed to convince the reader that they have been redeemed. The inability or unwillingness to extend themselves to the cause of human brotherhood and kindness is their testimony. The reader feels no pity for these men, but unlike them, he can internalize the lessons of their experiences and make changes in his own life. Their inability to act is their greatest folly, but the reader can rise above these characters, recognize their failure and take a different path..

Topic > Comparing the Poor Man's Pudding, Bartleby, the Minister's Black Veil, or the Mask of the Red Death In Melville's stories, "The Poor Man's Pudding and the Rich Man's Crumbs" and "Bartleby, the Scrivener," the narrators go through what seem be life-changing experiences. Hawthorne offers a similar pattern in "The Minister's Black Veil" as does Poe in "The Masque of the Red Death." However, 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) between their lives and those of those less fortunate. In "The Poor Man's Pudding and the Rich Man's Crumbs" The narrator has the opportunity to absorb, although an "outsider", the pain and trials of the lower class. While he can't deny that the experience of being in the Coulters house is stimulating, for him it seems to be everything. "But the instinct of the poor is wiser than we think." He doesn't totally align himself with the upper class in the second part of the story but he won't refuse the benefits and privileges of wealth. He may be influenced inwardly by the greed 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 humanity's absurd assumptions about humanity, nothing surpasses most of the criticisms leveled at the habits of the poor by those who live well at home, are well warmed and well fed. Here, I believe, the reader is the one who is changed by the narrator's experiences and the narrator's lack of change shocks the reader. The reader is able to accompany the narrator through both situations, but unlike the narrator, the reader is able to sympathize with him. the...... middle of paper ... influenced by the differences (and perhaps similarities) in their lives and those less fortunate. They find themselves at the crossroads that will define their character and their future course of action. Some choose ambivalence, some choose to see and turn away, some may even convince themselves that they are actually better than before. But without acting on any internal change, these people have failed to convince the reader that they have been redeemed. The inability or unwillingness to extend themselves to the cause of human brotherhood and kindness is their testimony. The reader feels no pity for these men, but unlike them, he can internalize the lessons of their experiences and make changes in his own life. Their inability to act is their greatest folly, but the reader can rise above these characters, recognize their failure and take a different path..