Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville
"Bartleby, the Scrivener" is a short story by Herman Melville that explores themes of isolation, passive resistance, and the complexities of human behavior in a capitalist society. The narrative is presented through the perspective of a Wall Street lawyer who describes his experiences with his unusual employee, Bartleby. Initially, Bartleby works diligently alongside other scriveners, Turkey and Nippers, who each exhibit their own peculiar traits. However, Bartleby eventually begins to refuse work with the phrase, "I would prefer not to," leading to confusion and frustration for his employer.
As the story progresses, Bartleby's behavior becomes increasingly enigmatic, culminating in his refusal to leave the office or accept help, even when threatened with eviction. The lawyer's attempts to understand and assist Bartleby reflect a struggle with compassion and helplessness in the face of another's despair. Ultimately, Bartleby is taken to prison, where he continues his withdrawal from the world, leading to a tragic conclusion. The story invites readers to reflect on the human condition, the implications of societal expectations, and the profound impact of isolation.
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Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville
First published: 1853
Type of plot: Psychological
Time of work: The 1840's
Locale: New York
Principal Characters:
The narrator , a successful Wall Street lawyerBartleby , ,Turkey , andNippers , his scrivenersGinger Nut , his office boy
The Story
"Bartleby the Scrivener" is narrated by a prosperous Wall Street lawyer who, in "the cool tranquillity of a snug retreat," does "a snug business among rich men's bonds, and mortgages, and title-deeds." Among his clients, the nameless narrator is proud to report, was John Jacob Astor, the richest man in the United States at the time of his death.
The narrator's employees, as the story begins, are Turkey and Nippers, who are scriveners, or copyists, and Ginger Nut, a young office boy. The Dickensian copyists present problems for their employer, for each displays a different personality during each half of the working day. Turkey, who is short and fat, works quickly and steadily before noon but becomes clumsy and ill-tempered after his midday meal. At the opposite extreme is the dyspeptic Nippers, nervous and irritable in the mornings but mild and productive in the afternoons. Because they are regular in their inconsistent behavior, the narrator reports that he "never had to do with their eccentricities at one time," and the work of the office proceeds, with Ginger Nut keeping the scriveners under some control by supplying them with cakes and apples.
The unusual order of the office is disrupted when the lawyer, because of extra work created by his being appointed a Master in Chancery, hires an additional copyist. At first, Bartleby works constantly, but one day he suddenly declines to compare a copied document and its original, offering no explanation, saying simply, "I would prefer not to." Gradually, he prefers not to perform any of his tasks. His employer also discovers that Bartleby has no home other than the office and is sleeping there nights and weekends, eating little more than ginger nuts (small, spicy cakes).
The lawyer pleads with Bartleby to work or leave, but the obstinate scrivener continues to pursue his preference not to do anything. Growing increasingly distraught over these circumstances, the lawyer finally moves his chambers to another building. When Bartleby is expelled from the office by the new tenant, he remains in the building. The lawyer makes final pleas, even offering to take Bartleby home with him. Still, the scrivener prefers not to make any change, and the narrator flees the city in his frustration. On his return, he learns that Bartleby has been taken to the Tombs, the forbiddingly named city prison, as a vagrant.
The lawyer bribes a Tombs employee to take care of Bartleby, but the prisoner refuses to eat, preferring to stand beside and stare at the prison wall. The narrator tries to convince him that his surroundings are not that depressing; the prisoner replies, "I know where I am." Eventually, he dies.
After Bartleby's death, the lawyer learns that he had previously been a clerk in the Dead Letter Office in Washington and thinks that such a melancholy duty explains the poor man's peculiar behavior. He ends his story by proclaiming its pathetic universality: "Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!"
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