Critique of the Modern Workplace Social Sciences Essay (Essay Sample)

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Critique of the Modern Workplace
A prominent activity in the daily lives of American people is and always will be the ability to work efficiently and effectively. To prove one’s skills in a work environment entails both dedication and drive, but many buckle under the pressure that comes with such vigorous and consistent work. A money hungry world dedicated to working towards financial stability also has the ability to take entire control of a person’s life. In Bartleby and American Psycho, an underlying issue of impersonal interactions in the workplace is made immensely apparent. American Psycho is a 2000 film directed by Mary Harron, produced by Edward Pressman, Chris Hanley, and Christian Halsey Solomon, and stars Christian Bale and Willem Dafoe among others. Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street is a short story written by Herman Melville which was originally published in Putnam’s Magazine in 1853. In both works, neglect discerns the issues of classism, gossip, and mental illness that arise from an apathetic work environment and all contribute to the deteriorating well-being of an office employee. What once could have brought a feeling of self-fulfillment to an individual can be quickly turned into an overwhelming routine until the act of work itself becomes the core value of one’s life. Examining the lives of Patrick and Bartleby together may cause confusion as one is known for his gruesome hobbies, and the other for his incompetence in the workplace, but although different, the two have compatible lifestyles. When comparing them in a sense of setting, it can be seen that they both inhabit Wall Street which contributes to their way of life. By operating in a New York surrounding, both Patrick and Bartleby are exposed to busy and fast paced city life. The shaping of an individual is greatly based upon where they spend the majority of their time.