Bartleby, the Scrivener

A detailed Summary of Bartleby, the Scrivener

Reaction to "Bartleby, the Scrivener"

In the short story "Bartleby, the Scrivener" Herman Melville creates a rather perplexing character. Melville uses a narrator, a lawyer, to describe Bartleby as an odd character. The interactions between the narrator and Bartleby reveal bits of human nature. Despite the title, this story is not about Bartley so much as it is about the narrator and the way he interacts with others.

From the beginning of the story, Melville portrays the narrator as a passive aggressive character. The narrator's passive aggressive nature is evident in his interactions with another scrivener, Turkey. Instead of being assertive and informing Turkey that his "morning services" (545) well all that the narrator required, the narrator "[hints] to him" that perhaps he should "not [return] to [the] chambers after twelve o'clock" (545). The narrator states later in the story that it is Bartleby's abnormal behavior that causes his (the narrator's) passive aggressive behavior. If this were so the narrator would not have interacted with Turkey in this manner.

Through the narrator's passive aggressive behavior we are able to glimpse at human nature. The narrator is astonished with Bartleby's refusal to do work.

Reaction to "Bartleby, the Scrivener"

Because of his insecurities the narrator reassures himself that his reactions are 'normal' by asking others what they think of Bartleby's actions. The narrator is reassured that Bartleby's actions are absurd, yet his passive aggressive behavior prevents him from doing anything about it. The narrator's astonishment turns into pity. It is human nature to pity those less fortunate and to make an effort to help the person. The narrator helps by continuing to employ Bartleby and allowing him to live at the office. But as Bartleby's odd behaviors persist, the narrator's feelings turn from "pity into repulsion." This is also true in human nature as human beings can only "enlist [their] best affections" (556) to a point. The narrator's self image forces him to rid himself of Bartleby. He is worried that his reputation is being tarnished and makes the decision to move his office [563]. The narrator is so passive that he decides to move his office instead of expelling Bartleby from the original office.

Through the narrator's passive aggressive behavior we are able to glimpse at human nature. The narrator is astonished with Bartleby's refusal to do work. Because of his insecurities the narrator reassures himself that his reactions are 'normal' by asking others what they

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 889
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Bartleby, the Scrivener

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