"Ah Bartleby, Ah Humanity." (Page 140, Herman Melville) This is the key to Bartleby, written by Herman Melville, for it indicates that Bartleby stands as a symbol for humanity. This in turn functions as a commentary on society and the working world, for Bartleby is a seemingly homeless, mentally disturbed scrivener who gives up on the prospect of living life. However, by doing so Bartleby is attempting to exercise his freewill, for he would "prefer not to" work. His relationship to the narrator is thus significant, for as he attempts to exercise his freewill he is breaking from the will of the narrator and the normal progression of life. However, this attempt to exercise his freewill and break loose from the confines of typical societal functions, isolates Bartleby from society, which in turn places him in a state of depression and soon there after, death. Ultimately, by having Bartleby "prefer not to," Melville is commenting on the role of humanity in the work force. If man attempts to break free of his role and exercise his own freewill then he is severing himself from humanity which in turn will lead to depression and perhaps death, for he will have nothing but a wall always obs

He continued to breathe, he continued to exist, but he was no longer of any use to society. As he severs himself from humanity, Bartleby is unaware of the consequences. However, these consequences as displayed by Melville, comment upon the impact that the work force can have upon mankind. Through Bartleby, he demonstrates that once you give up on life, everyone around will give up on you in turn, as the narrator did with Bartleby, for you have become an obstruction, much like the walls surrounding Bartleby.

It is even more ironic that once Bartleby is no longer restrained by society's conformities that it is then that he dies. "Strangely huddled at the base of the wall, his knees drawn up, his head touching the stones, I saw the wasted Bartleby."( pg 139) Ultimately, once disillusioned by society and the work force, he died at his own free will because he "preferred no to" live.

In the end, his self-will was what led him to death. For his decision to withdraw from society and further seclude himself led to the disintegration of his soul. He lost all desire to work, or even function, "I now recalled all the quiet mysteries, which I had, noted in the man. I remembered that he never spoke but to answer."( pg. 106) He soon became a victim of society, loosing all initiative. Thus, "for long periods he would stand looking out, at his pale window behind the screen, upon the dead brick wall," (pg 126) and this became his life. He was trapped behind a brick wall and he soon became so disillusioned by it that he lost sight of life and gave up. Ultimately, his will to "prefer not to" concluded in his death. Bartl

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Approximate Word count = 1093
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)