THE BARTLEBY EFFECT: REPETITION AND INNOVATION IN GEORGES PEREC'S A MAN ASLEEP

Melville's Bartleby character returned to contemporary literature in the 2002 Bartleby & Co. by Catalan writer Vila-Matas. With its protracted "Bartleby effect" on such literature, it is more than just the affecting depiction of an extreme denier. This denial not only arises from literature but also permeates one's experience of the world. Both its broad scope and expression had appealed to Georges Perec, attuned to Bartleby's arguments. As Vila-Matas' precursor, Perec exploited the literary resources of the character, both as himself and someone else, thereby giving rise to potentially new perspectives.