Bartleby, a scrivener, is a fiction-based short story. Bartleby was hired by a successful lawyer on Wall Street to help relieve his legal firm's workload. For two days, Bartleby does an excellent job and earns the owner's trust via his diligence. Instead, he stares at a blank wall through glass. When the lawyer realizes that Bartleby resides at the law firm, he gives him some time to heal from his eye strain before attempting to terminate the obstinate employee.
A successful lawyer on Wall Street hires Bartleby, a scrivener, to relieve the load of work experienced by his law firm. For two days, Bartleby executes his job with skill and gains the owner's confidence for his diligence. He instead spends long periods of time staring out one of the office's windows at a brick wall. He is saddened by thought of the life the young man.
Bartleby is adamant about not leaving. The new tenants are enraged by the lawyer's second ploy, which involves going to another office and leaving Bartleby behind. They accuse the lawyer of being responsible for Bartleby's oddities. The lawyer, still tormented by his late employee's oddities, mulls over allegations that the man was forced out of a job at the Dead Letter Office. The lawyer pities Bartleby and humanity as a whole.
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Bartleby the Scrivener
overview
A Wall Street lawyer hires a new clerk, but after just three days Bartleby begins to politely decline requests. Soon he is doing no work at all but also refuses to leave the office. This enigmatic story of Bartleby, his boss, and his coworkers can be read as a critique of Wall Street and the workplace that—rather than fading away like its protagonist—is reflected in modern-day depictions of office characters and life.
Turkey
The Office Drunk Old clerk; drinks at lunch and shirks his afternoon duties
Lawyer
The Bumbling Boss Well-intentioned but narcissistic owner of the law practice
Nippers
The Entitled Millennial Young clerk; ambitious and self-important
Bartleby
The Loner Eccentric employee; stops working and occupies the office indefinitely
Ginger Nut
The Intern Errand boy and carman's son; hoping to do better in life
Symbols
Dead Letters
Symbolize mortality and hopelessness
Walls
Embody the isolation Bartleby faces in his office and, eventually, prison
Themes
Responsibility
The lawyer debates his responsibility toward Bartleby when he is no longer useful.
Isolation
Isolation Bartleby slowly cuts himself off from everything, eventually even food.
Passivity
Bartleby quietly refuses to comply with requests, and his boss responds passively.
Numbering
14
Times Bartleby says, "I would prefer not to"
$85
Amount Melville was paid by Putnam's Magazine, which published "Bartleby" anonymously in two installments
5
Months before his death that Melville finished his final novel, Billy Budd
Author
HERMAN MELVILLE 1819-91
The author of the epic novel Moby-Dick, Melville is regarded as one of the greatest American writers. He wrote "Bartleby the Scrivener" amid a storm of criticism from the literary world, and its themes of capitalism, absurdity, and protest have long intrigued readers.
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Bartleby the Scrivener
overview
A Wall Street lawyer hires a new clerk, but after just three days Bartleby begins to politely decline requests. Soon he is doing no work at all but also refuses to leave the office. This enigmatic story of Bartleby, his boss, and his coworkers can be read as a critique of Wall Street and the workplace that—rather than fading away like its protagonist—is reflected in modern-day depictions of office characters and life.
Turkey
The Office Drunk Old clerk; drinks at lunch and shirks his afternoon duties
Lawyer
The Bumbling Boss Well-intentioned but narcissistic owner of the law practice
Nippers
The Entitled Millennial Young clerk; ambitious and self-important
Bartleby
The Loner Eccentric employee; stops working and occupies the office indefinitely
Ginger Nut
The Intern Errand boy and carman's son; hoping to do better in life
Symbols
Dead Letters
Symbolize mortality and hopelessness
Walls
Embody the isolation Bartleby faces in his office and, eventually, prison
Themes
Responsibility
The lawyer debates his responsibility toward Bartleby when he is no longer useful.
Isolation
Isolation Bartleby slowly cuts himself off from everything, eventually even food.
Passivity
Bartleby quietly refuses to comply with requests, and his boss responds passively.
Numbering
14
Times Bartleby says, "I would prefer not to"
$85
Amount Melville was paid by Putnam's Magazine, which published "Bartleby" anonymously in two installments
5
Months before his death that Melville finished his final novel, Billy Budd
Author
HERMAN MELVILLE 1819-91
The author of the epic novel Moby-Dick, Melville is regarded as one of the greatest American writers. He wrote "Bartleby the Scrivener" amid a storm of criticism from the literary world, and its themes of capitalism, absurdity, and protest have long intrigued readers.
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Bartleby the Scrivener
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