Bartleby In Melville's Story

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The words used to describe Bartleby in Melville’s story are more appropriately associated to an inanimate object. During the story, Bartleby is said to have entered a withdrawn state after the firm he originally worked for had moved and left him behind. As time passes, a new firm takes over. Bartleby begins to “haunt the building” as a ghost would (Melville 17). Discussions spark among the employees and tenants, gossiping about how Bartleby is disconnected from the world and acts like an inanimate object. Being around this type of atmosphere furthered Bartleby’s withdrawal. These types of descriptions influence the mind of the reader into actually thinking if Bartleby is an inanimate object.