"Ah Bartleby, Ah Humanity" (page 164). This is the key to the short story by Herman Melville "Bartleby, the scrivener", because it indicates that the image of Bartleby stands as a symbol for humanity on a universal level. This story is appealing for its symbolism. This, in turn, functions as a commentary on society and the working world. Bartleby is a seemingly homeless, mentally disturbed scrivener who gives up on the prospect of living life and alienates himself from it. I see Bartleby as a scrivener unable to adapt to this world, because he is too honest about what appeals to him. When the narrator tries to suggest different options his response is always the same "I would prefer not to".
             First, Melville adapts the point of view in the story in 1st person narration, by a lawyer whose name remains anonymous. I believe that the setting needed more description. It was a very vague and bleak description of the office since most of the story took action in it. I thought that it was essential to get a better picture of it. On the other hand, I believe that Melville did this to draw attention to the symbolism and themes of the story rather than to the actual scenery. Also to give the office a more "morbid" and depressing look. The tone in the story is exposed by the narrator who is reflecting on his experiences with Bartleby. The tone is one of interest, frustration, regret, and in a way comical. Melville establishes the interest tone reflected at the beginning of the story when the narrator wants to know about Bartlebys life and past; of frustration, when he isn't able to get Bartleby to perform his duties, and when he can't get him to leave the office; of regret, when Bartleby goes to jail and then dies and he regrets not putting more effort in helping him; and I believe Melville injects a comical tone in the scenes in which the narrator asks the advise of his employees, and they react ...