Abstract This essay details the plot of the story "Bartleby, the Scrivener" about a man named Bartleby that lives a hopeless and pitiful existence. As the story goes on, Bartleby becomes a successful professional working with lawyers. The narrator of the story is a lawyer who worked with Bartleby and details his memories of him. This paper compares these two characters: the narrator and Bartleby.
From the Paper "At first reading, Bartleby's story seems nothing more than a hopeless tragedy. He seems to have no reason to live, and even less a reason to die. He has no friends, no life other than his work. Even that is not pleasing to him, and he stops doing it. There is no purpose to his life. By the end, we wonder if the purpose really was to help others see their own shortcomings, and learn more about themselves. That is what seems to happen to the narrator of the story; he changes forever by knowing this strange, quiet man."
Tags: Melville, Herman, Bartleby, Scrivener, sad, life, narrator, lawyer, characters
Abstract This paper iscusses the theme of Herman Melville's story, "Bartleby the Scrivener." The author points out that, as a story of self-destruction, the tale is about a man Bartleby who succumbs to the strain of attempting to conform to the rules of a society, which he no longer believes in. The paper relates that the story is written from the point of view of the narrator and his attempt to save Bartleby.
From the Paper "Herman Melville's creation Bartleby, who appears in his story "Bartleby, the Scrivener", is a man who lives in a highly straightened world. His story is that of a man who at first appears as if he should be able to meet the expectations of his society. Bartleby ..."
Abstract This paper is an analysis of Bartleby the Scrivener in Melville's short novel, "Bartleby." It addresses Bartleby's iconic representation of lost humanity, spiritual death, the implications of delusion and his unwillingness to promote verifiable truth.
From the Paper "In Herman Melville's short novel Bartleby the main character is a mysterious stranger with whom the narrator and therefore the reader, never becomes truly acquainted in spite of repeated efforts. Bartleby is a ghostly presence-devoid ..."
Tags: Melville, Bartleby, spiritual death, Bible, truth, lost humanity, delusion, verifiable truth
Abstract This paper details the writing style of a paragraph within "Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street." It focuses on how the author uses a certain style to bring out character traits, storyline, and tone. It further examines how an author can use a dull character to tell an interesting story.
From the paper:
"'Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street,' is perhaps one of the earliest and most potent satires of American corporate culture in the American literary canon. It tells the story of a scrivener. A scrivener is a law-copyist. This particular copyist named Bartleby infuriates his superiors by his refusal to work. Such a refusal is not only anathema to them, it confounds them. They attempt to fire him, but Bartleby refuses to leave his office. It is through his refusal to work, and to give no coherent reason for doing so other than he would prefer not to, that the entire system is shaken. This paper analyzes a paragraph of the short story and illustrates how the paragraph's language, its literary devices, and its tone expose the short story's central themes."
Abstract Herman Mellville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" relates the story of an employee at a Wall Street firm whose unconventional behavior captures the attention of his employer and disrupts the functioning of the office. As Bartleby's supervisor becomes familiar with the scrivener's unorthodox behavior, his attitudes toward his nihilistic employee evolve. The selection chosen for analysis in this paper reflects in microcosm the lawyer's changing attitudes toward Bartleby. In this selection, Melville's changing diction, point of view and tone all help him to portray the narrator's changing attitudes toward Bartleby and his conclusion concerning Bartleby's soul.
From the Paper "The narrator's point of view also evolves during the selection. As it begins, the narrator speaks in first person and has almost no insight into Bartleby's thoughts and feelings, which he describes as "dead-wall reveries" (p. 555), indicating his lack of insight. As the passage continues, the narrator develops a greater insight into Bartleby's actions. Although the passage continues to be narrated in the first person, Bartleby's employer indicates his increasing empathy and understanding. He states that "to a sensitive being, pity is not seldom pain. And when at last it is perceived that such pity cannot lead to effectual succor, common sense bids the soul be rid of it" (p. 556). This shows his increasing understanding of Bartleby's idiosyncrasies and the escalating level of empathy that he feels for his strange employee."
Abstract This paper examines how, in the short story "Bartleby, the Scrivener", one of the more interesting character interactions is the narrator's reaction to Bartleby. The paper discusses how, if one observes this situation in the context of the ideas of Max Weber, it seems that Weber would most likely credit the way the narrator reacts to Bartleby to the ethos of capitalism instilled in the narrator by his Protestantism. The paper explains that it is this ethos that causes the narrator to be so perplexed by Bartleby, as well as what leads to the narrator's compassion towards him.
From the Paper "In order to claim that that narrator's capitalist ethos is at the root of the narrator's reaction we must first show that the narrator indeed has such an ethos. In "Bartleby" the narrator exhibits ascetic Protestantism, which Weber claims is the religious foundation that defines the current capitalist ethos. It is easy to see that the narrator is religious when his is "... [going] to Trinity Church," (Melville 16). Even more proof comes on page 28 when the narrator reads Jonathan Edwards and is mulling over the issue of predestination. Both of these are signs that the narrator is Calvinist, as Edwards was a Puritan writer and predestination is a predominantly Calvinist principle. Signs of asceticism also show up in the setting of the narrator's office, which has windows that "...afford a lateral view of certain grimy back-yards and bricks," (8) and is scantly decorated. It is evident that in "Bartleby" the narrator has a Protestant background that instills in him an ethos of capitalism that affects his relation with his scrivener Bartleby."
Abstract This paper discusses how within Herman Melville's work, "Bartleby the Scrivener", there is a sense that the development of the romantic or transcendental hero is seen in the de-development of Bartleby as a character. It examines how, as Bartleby deconstructs his role, at first by refusing to do anything but copy manuscripts and then flatly refusing to copy and leave the premises, which he has recently been discovered to be living in.
From the Paper "The employer sees that between he and Bartleby there are similarities and yet that he and Bartleby are also infinitely disconnected from each other, a complete mystery to one another as he soul of one was rejecting of life, and industry and the soul of the employer was embracing such. The employer then goes on to describe how, amongst the civilities and niceties of the visual world, hiding in dark places, there is true human misery, and Bartleby's soul is an example of just such a place of darkness."
Abstract A psychoanalytic interpretation of Herman Melville's short story "Bartleby the Scrivener" can be focused in one of two ways--a psychoanalytic connection between author and character and a psychoanalytic interpretation of the story itself. This paper shows how Melville formed the psychology of the characters and created a unique psychological bond between Bartleby and his employer. The two approaches really are interconnected as the situation of Bartleby mirrors aspects of Melville's own life.
From the Paper "The title character in "Bartleby the Scrivener" is fascinating because he is so outwardly unformed as a character. Bartleby is a man who withdraws from life. He does not do so as a protest, and indeed a protest would have to be an overt act of the sort quite out of character for him. His prison is entirely internalized. He creates his own prison, though the fear on the part of his boss is that perhaps Bartleby sees more than the rest of us and has lost hope because he knows that we are all in some sort of prison. The story of Bartleby is ambiguous because we see his life entirely from the outside, never hearing anything in Bartleby's own voice except the repeated, "I would prefer not to." Our view of Bartleby is through the eyes of his puzzled employer, a man who wants desperately to understand but who ultimately is left as uncertain as we."
Abstract This paper offers a second diagnosis of Herman Melville's story "Bartleby the Scrivener" and suggests that, in basic literary terms, it is the lawyer not Bartleby that is the dynamic character in the tale. Bartleby, the existential symbol, may collapse but only the lawyer can change.
From the Paper "Second, although standard definitions nominate the lawyer as the round, major, and dynamic character of Melville's tale of a law office, Bartley is equally round, as least with the limits of his illness, and he also changes in his deterioration. Technically, if he is not the major character, he is the essential character, dipped in that "power of blackness," the phrase Melville used in a review of "Mosses from an Old Manse" to praise Hawthorne."
Abstract This paper discusses how Herman Melville's story "Bartleby, the Scrivener", is an unusual story without a clear meaning. The paper relates that critics have tried to interpret the story in several ways, one of which would hold that the conflict with Bartleby causes his employer to undergo a spiritual change. The paper then shows that, on the contrary, an examination of the story suggests that the employer is left more puzzled than changed and that he may see something spiritual in Bartleby but not so that he himself changes.
From the Paper "The lawyer is a man who likes things to work smoothly and who at the same time tries to greet every even with equanimity, not wanting to let things bother him. He seems to have a nice position, but in truth he has followed the usual route in life--he has compromised with his dreams. He has come to accept what he is and tries not to miss too much the heights he may have dreamed of achieving when he started. Bartleby may also be a man with failed dreams, though if he has dreams we never learn what they are. He has apparently not accepted his lot in life, however, for he seems instead to have been imprisoned by some failure so that now he merely withdraws within himself. "
Abstract This paper examines the themes of isolation and compassion evident in Herman Melville's parable "Bartleby, the Scrivener". It asserts that the story not only deals with human behaviour, but also with moral issues. The paper points out that Bartleby is an odd, but hard working introvert, hired by a lawyer to copy out legal documents, a job he appeared to do well. However, his refusal to take on any tasks that were outside of his job description, without explanation, led to frustration among the office clerks and a feeling of disbelief from the lawyer. The paper holds that Bartleby's quiet, isolated and non-conforming nature troubled the lawyer. The paper concludes that, according to Melville's parable, one has the choice to make decisions in one's own interests, or one may do what is expected in order to avoid conflict amongst those one cares about.
From the Paper "The theme of isolation and compassion are evident in Herman Melville's parable "Bartleby, the Scrivener". Melville begins his "Story of Wall -Street" with comical portraits of the main characters, such as, the "unambitious" lawyer, who was also the narrator of the story, his 3 clerks; Nippers, Turkey, and Ginger Nut, along with the socially outcast scrivener, Bartleby. "Bartleby, the Scrivener" not only deals with human behaviour, but also equally deals with moral issues. It is a story involving the lives of many characters who each struggled for an identity and purpose. Bartleby an odd, but hard working introvert, was hired by the lawyer to copy out legal documents, a job he appeared to do well. However, he refused to take on any tasks that were outside of his job description, without explanation, which led to frustration among the office clerks and a feeling of disbelief from the lawyer. It was Bartleby's quiet, isolated and non-conforming nature that troubled the lawyer. Although the lawyer was influenced and felt pressured to remain dedicated to his duties, it was compassion that confounded him and made his decision extremely difficult, resulting in a tragic and crippling feeling of emptiness and brokenness."
Tags: conformity refusal decision choice, free will
Abstract A paper which compares and discusses the main character, Bartleby, and the narrator, in "Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville, the great American author. The paper explores who they were and what their lives meant.
From the Paper "Melville is one of America's greatest writers. His best-known work is "Moby Dick," and "Billy Budd." Much of Melville's work was not published until after his death, including a book of poems, and many short stories. "Melville wrote because he 'he could not keep from writing,' but he rewrote so frequently, even after he had sent his work to the printer, that any lover of Melville is almost inevitably drawn into examining his 'fluid text.' '…multiple versions can give us tremendous insight into the writer's creative process and how a piece of writing evolves'" (Briggs)."
Abstract This paper discusses the story of "Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville told through the narration of the Wall Street Lawyer who knew him. It examines how from the intrigue of the opening paragraph of the enigma of Bartleby, Melville immediately pulls us into the story and makes us want to read using psychological strategies. It shows how Melville continues with these psychological strategies throughout the story in his illustration of the two main characters and their shortcomings. Melville created a character that was so hopeless; he lives on in the reader's minds after reading his story and in the ultimate psychological strategy, constantly makes them wonder about the worth of their own lives.
From the Paper "Bartleby profoundly affects the lawyer, and he discovers more about himself while he deals with Bartleby's eccentricities. He realizes that others who were less understanding would simply have thrown Bartleby out, and never worried about him again. He cannot bring himself to do this, and thinks he is there for some purpose. Bartleby is death, and the story is about death, and how we live our lives trying to get away from it. Most of the time, we try to ignore death, but it is always there, and we know it, we just "prefer" not to. The lawyer alludes to this when he discovers Bartleby is living in his offices. He says he becomes unhappier than he has ever felt before, and says, ?Ah, happiness courts the light, so we deem the world is gay; but misery hides aloof, so we deem that misery there is none."
Abstract This paper examines how, in many ways, "Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville, is a rather strange and enigmatic story. The story does not follow a natural line; it is more of a character-based story, full of the strangest characters. It attempts to discover the hidden meanings that Herman Melville has laid out, such as the lack of real explanation for Bartleby's sudden lack of motivation for his work or for the fact that his lawyer puts up with him.
From the Paper "The second character in the lawyer's office was Nippers, a young man of about 25 years old. Nippers seems to be the exact opposite of Turkey and indeed was probably thus created. His main problems are indigestion and ambition. Remember that Turkey was a rather passive, reluctant old man, with no interest in advancing within the office, and who took an extreme pleasure in eating. Well, Nippers suffers from indigestion and is totally ambitious. Even more notably in this complementary cast of the characters (complementary in the sense that, even if they are opposites, they seem to rather complete each other in the story), his best work is done in the afternoon, as in the morning he was generally irritable and upset."
Abstract This paper explains that the story of Bartleby is ambiguous because the reader sees Bartleby's life entirely from the outside, never hearing anything in Bartleby's own voice except the repeated, "I would prefer not to." The author points out that some critics see Melville's image of Bartleby as reflecting his view of Henry David Thoreau and as a satirical comment on Thoreau's writings; Melville was fixated on Thoreau, despite the fact that there is no evidence that he ever met him. The paper concludes that Melville's life is more clearly evident in his sea stories; much of what is thought about his inner life and how it is reflected in this story is highly speculative although the ways he treats other characters faced with authority are similar to his other works.
From the Paper "It is possible that Bartleby has had some revelation about his life and has come to an understanding of the need to escape it. This is never clear, but Bartleby's way of escaping is clear--he withdraws into himself. Bartleby withdraws into a smaller and smaller space until he is not there at all. In his own way, Bartleby is quite reasonable about his withdrawal, a fact noted by the narrator when Bartleby first makes his declaration of preference: "With any other man, I should have flown outright into a dreadful passion, scorned all further words, and thrust him ignominiously from my presence. But there was something about Bartleby that not only strangely disarmed me, but, in a wonderful manner, touched and disconcerted me.""
