Bartleby the Scrivener
"Bartleby the Scrivener" is an interesting tale of a pathetic man whoseems to have no reason for living, and the lawyer/narrator who takes himin. The narrator is a lawyer on Wall Street, who knew and worked withBartleby, and who befriended him. The narrator begins the story with, I believe that no materials exist for a full and satisfactory biography of this man ... Bartleby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable, except from the original sources, and in his case those are very small. What my own astonished eyes saw of Bartleby, that is all I know of him, except, indeed, one vague report which will appear in the sequel" (Melville). Thus, the narrator not only begins the story by introducing Bartleby,he leads the reader to understand Bartleby was very special and quiteunknown. The narrator's purpose in the story is certainly to tell thetale, since he is a survivor, and Bartleby is not. However, the narrator'spurpose is also to illustrate how he was transformed by Bartleby, and howthis secretive man, who seemed to have nothing to live for, touched so manyof those around him, just by being who he was. The narrato
Most of our lives we attempt to forget about death, but deathis always there in the wings, waiting for us, and there is no way we canavoid it. Turkey is an excellent example; he is a staff member who workshard, and drinks to excess, but only in the afternoons, evidently becauseof his job demands. Unfortunately, his contact did affect him in a"mental way," for he will never be the same again, and he understands this. Melville writes, "Of a Sunday, Wall-street is deserted asPetra; and every night of every day it is an emptiness. The difficulty was, he was apt to bealtogether too energetic. The narratornotes he is sadder than he has ever been before, and says, "Ah, happinesscourts the light, so we deem the world is gay; but misery hides aloof, sowe deem that misery there is none" (Melville). The lawyer's staff ofscriveners are all amusing characters, and collectively, they are ametaphor for the working, business class of the time, who are not so unlikeour current working class - quite preoccupied with business and hardworkers who spend too much time at their desks, and not enough time inleisure. Bartleby is not the only metaphor in the work. The narrator notes about himself, "Gradually I slid into thepersuasion that these troubles of mine touching the scrivener, had been allpredestinated from eternity, and Bartleby was billeted upon me for somemysterious purpose of an all-wise Providence, which it was not for a meremortal like me to fathom" (Melville). Ultimately, the storyis all about death, and how we live our lives trying to avoid theinevitable. Metaphors abound in this work, beginning with the title characterhimself. Themetaphors sprinkled throughout the story give it more meaning and depth,and also help to point out the pointlessness of those who are soindoctrinated in their business life that they cannot take the time to careabout another human being, even one as odd and remote as Bartleby. The narrator alludes to death and misery when he realizesBartleby is sleeping in his offices with nowhere else to go. He says, "And I trembled to think that mycontact with the scrivener had already and seriously affected me in amental way" (Melville). The narrator may have learned too much about himselfand the absoluteness of death, but he has also taken a deeper look intohimself, and this is the ultimate purpose of his character, and hisplacement in the story.
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