The Role Of Setting In Greasy Lake

Setting plays a large role in the story “Greasy Lake.” The rebellion and dialogue in “Greasy Lake” suggests that the story was set in the 60’s. Even the title itself suggests the time of “greasers.” The 1960’s was a series of rebellious acts, loud music, and muscle cars. There are many different pieces of evidence to support this time period. For example, the “torn-up leather jackets” were the style of the decade. The author describes cars such as a “’57 mint, metallic blue Chevy” and a Trans-Am. This story begins with a quote from Bruce Springsteen. “It’s a mile down on the dark side of Route 88,” suggesting that the story is set in the East, as Route 88 runs through New York. Readers can also infer that this story is set in or near New York

because of the reference to Cornell. The town near Greasy Lake seems to be rather small. It is described that to get to Greasy Lake, one just has to go “through the center of town, up the strip, past the housing developments and shopping malls,” In addition, in is inferred that Greasy Lake in the primary hang-out spot for teens, suggesting that there only a few places to escape to. This story takes place in the early hours of morning in early June. The characters beginning heading to Greasy Lake around 2:00 A.M. and leave for home right after the sunrise of the next morning.

Greasy Lake can be described as a murky and dark lake. From the description in the story, it seems to be more of a swamp than a lake. The area around the lake is surrounded with turtles, frogs, and insects. The water is covered by a layer of algae. The most disturbing thing about the lake is the body floating in the water. The physical appearance of Greasy Lake is rather important to the events in the story. This lake provides the main character with a place to hide. If the water was extremely clear, he would not have been as easily hidden. It is also unlikely that the main character would have discovered the body, which would have most likely already been found if the water was clear.

2. The five major characters in “Bartleby, the Scrivener” are the narrator, Turkey, Nippers, Ginger Nut, and Bartleby. The narrator of the story can be described as a lawyer “not far from sixty.” Turkey is a “short, pursy Englishman” about the same age as the narrator. Nippers is described as a “whiskered, sallow, and, upon the whole, a rather piratical- looking young man of about five and twenty.” Ginger Nut is a young boy about twelve years old who is the son of a “car-man.” Lastly, Bartleby is a young man that the narrator describes as “pallidly neat, pitiably respectful, and incurably forlorn.”
Each of these characters have very different personalities and traits.

First, the narrator is a very responsible man who wants his work to be very neat and orderly. Turkey works well in the mornings, but once in hits noon, his qualifications begin lacking. In the afternoon Turkey is hasty when it comes to his afternoon work. He spills ink blots on the pages of important documents but insists upon staying and working. Nippers is the opposite of Turkey. He works much better in the afternoons and is agitated in the mornings. Nippers is tidy when doing his work, which he sometimes does so aggesively. Ginger Nut holds his position in the office as a way to please his father. He is very quick-witted and a loyal worker for his age. Bartleby is a very mysterious character. He is quiet and ultimately sneaky. These characters all play a specific role in the story. The narrator of the story is the protagonist while Bartleby serves as the antagonist. The three other characters act as foils for both Bartleby and the

narrator.

2.

In the beginning of the story, the narrator finds Bartleby to be very helpful and an excellent worker. He sees him as the person that will make up for the flaws in his other employees. The narrator states, “… glad to have among my corps of copyists a man of so singularly sedate an aspect, which I thought might operate beneficially upon the flighty temper of Turkey, and the fiery one of Nippers.” As the story progresses, the lawyer bounces back and forth between being irritated and perplexed by Bartleby. He attempts to fire the unresponsive employee but Bartleby refuses to leave. The narrator gives in and allows Bartleby to stay. When Bartleby is arrested, the lawyer feels bad for him and pays for him to have better meals. Upon Bartleby’s death, the narrator feels especially bad for

him.
Bartleby’s death teaches the narrator that there is more to life than a person’s job. After his discovery of Bartleby’s past job and the reasoning for his unemployment, he understands Bartleby’s depression. The narrator states, “On the errands of life, these letters speed to death.” This is describing the struggle people face when they hold a depressing career. This is something that readers should take away from this story. It is important to have a career that brings you happiness and joy. In Bartleby’s case, he was faced to dispose of letters that people would never have the chance to read, which brought him nothing but despair and misery even after his removal.