A literary analysis of bartleby s the scrivener by herman melville

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A literary analysis of Bartleby's the Scrivener by Herman Melville

Bartleby the Scrivener was written in 1853. At the time, transition and industrialization

began changing the public attitude towards work. The author made light of this change and the

effect on society with the characters of Bartleby. He uses symbolism, plot, and setting to

demonstrate the narrator and Bartleby's unwillingness and ultimate failure to adapt. The story

emphasizes mainly the narrator's relationship with his workers through the extended set up that

precedes the introduction of Bartleby. The narrative simultaneously supports the reader's

inclination to identify with the narrator and judge him for not acting more forcefully towards his

workers. In some way, it makes the reader feel, uncomfortably, their collaboration with market

capitalism forces. The story appears to caution against any easy form of condescension or

sympathy.

The narrator characterizes himself as an extremely safe man who looks for the simplest

way of life. The characterization explains the lack of response to his employees at his workplace.

For instance, Turkey, who is drunk every afternoon, Nippers cannot work well during the morning,

and Ginger merely serves as an errand boy. The speaker seems to avoid confrontation and conflict

and is more willing to overlook his employees' periods of shoddy work. In the story, John Jacob

Astor is the richest man in the US during the 1840s, and the narrator focuses his attention on him.

John is often associated with the brutal drive for wealth. The speaker further digresses to protest

the abolition of the master of Chancery, a position that needs no much work as pleasant and

remunerative. The position oversaw settling issues in courts over estates. Therefore, this

emphasizes the narrator's role within legal proceedings involving wealth and property. However

much the narrator is concerned with living with ease, he is much interested in property and wealth.

He also wants to see himself as superior to his employees as well as their fellow workers.

The narrator's lawyer finds Bartleby's character quite helpful, compared to the other

peculiar workers. Business went on as usual even after the arrival of Bartleby. However, when the

lawyer called Bartleby to examine all the copies for accuracy examination, his reply was, "I would

prefer not to" (Melville, pp. 3-34). The lawyer is surprised and chose not to respond. All copyists

are lined up to examine the large documents that needed to be reviewed, and the lawyer decides to

call Bartleby again, who answered the same way as he did earlier. Even with the smallest favor

from the narrator, Bartleby "prefers not to" examine the paper. Bartleby ended up not operational

at all, and the speaker finds a motive to fire him. However, Bartleby chooses to continue living in

the building. The narrator cannot get rid of Bartleby and decides to move all the office equipment

to another facility. However, Bartleby chose to continue living in the narrator's old office. Bartleby

seems to be a very stubborn character. The speaker uses an impractical way is taking Bartleby to

prison to solve the issue.

Melville characterizes the narrator as a man driven by contrary desires before Bartleby is

even introduced. He has a big desire to maintain and obtain wealth at odds with his willingness to

ease. Bartleby also has an urge to be recognized as superior in tension with his need to see himself

as sympathetic and not an autocrat. The narrator's response to Bartleby, with whose initial work

he would "have been quite delighted…. had he been cheerfully industrious", give the impression

that the narrator needs more than just a good worker; he needs an employee who seems to be happy

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1 Student's Name Lecturer' Name Institutional Affiliation Date A literary analysis of Bartleby's the Scrivener by Herman Melville Bartleby the Scrivener was written in 1853. At the time, transition and industrialization began changing the public attitude towards work. The author made light of this change and the effect on society with the characters of Bartleby. He uses symbolism, plot, and setting to demonstrate the narrator and Bartleby's unwillingness and ultimate failure to adapt. The story emphasizes mainly the narrator's relationship with his workers through the extended set up that precedes the introduction of Bartleby. The narrative simultaneously supports the reader's inclination to identify with the narrator and judge him for not acting more forcefully towards his workers. In some way, it makes the reader feel, uncomfortably, their collaboration with market capitalism forces. The story appears to caution against any easy form of condescension or sympathy. The narrator characterizes himself as an extremely safe man who looks for the simplest way of life. The characterization explains the lack of response to his employees at his workplace. For instance, Turkey, who is drunk ...
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