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Bartleby The Scrivener Perspective

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Bartleby the Scrivener Perspective Analysis In writing Bartleby, the Scrivener (1853), Herman Melville focuses his attention on telling the plight of Bartleby, who works in a law firm assisting wealthy men in dealing with mortgages, title deeds, as well as bonds. Primarily, the book discusses the life of Bartleby, particularly, in his career, as a lawyer. In narrating this ordeal, the book opens with the setting of Wall Street in New York. According to the narrator, the Wall Street environment is so business oriented to the extent that after working hours it is reduced to an abandoned space. Melville's descriptions of Wall Street convey a cold and alienated setting where the forging of close human is difficult. According to Melville, Bartleby is the recent addition to the narrator's staff. Primarily, the plot of Bartleby involves the ordeal of one man's struggle in coping with his worker's unusual form of reflexive resistance. …show more content…

Nippers suffers from ingestion, while Turkey is a drunkard. However, despite being drunk, the office survives because, in the mornings Turkey is sober, while in the afternoon, Nippers has calm down. According to Herman, the narrator employs Bartleby with the hope that his gentle nature will soothe the temperaments of the two scriveners. Through the well-composed characters, the author can portray the best aspect of the book. Moreover, in the plot, the author goes into details by explaining how one day Bartleby is requested to assist in proofreading one of the documents he had copied, but instead answers, "…I would prefer not to…" marking the beginning of his many

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In summary, Bartleby is an introverted and selfish man who focuses on himself, in contrast with the Narrator who is extroverted and thinks too much about others’ well being. Bartleby also does what he wants at any given moment when the Narrator does what is expected of him. The Narrator fully grasps life when Bartleby has given up on life itself. Going to the second foil between Turkey and/or Nippers and the main character. Turkey and Nippers are portrayed as highly emotionally unstable men.

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The narrator requests to work on an ordinary job which is not completely relevant to copying, and instead of writing, he prefers to object. When confronted by the narrator about the issue and his reasons for declining the request, he says that he desires not to. After considering the happening for a long time, the storyteller moves his office to a different place to get rid of Bartleby. As the story split ends, Bartleby says no to eating, and he is seen starving himself to death. Various incidences in the story portray Bartleby as a hero who reveals his braveness in facing the unjust community by his authority and molding the conscience of the narrator.

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The Narrator justifies keeping Bartleby and ignores his internal issues with confrontation. When Bartleby refuses to do anything but copy the Narrator forgives the behavior because Bartleby asked so politely. When Bartleby refuses to work all together the Narrator allows him to stay because he thinks it is a good thing to help Bartleby. Even when the Narrator realizes the he can’t have Bartleby in his office anymore he moves offices instead of making Bartleby leave. All these acts show us that the Narrator does not know how do deal with confrontation

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Critical Analysis The short story “Bartleby the Scrivener” by Herman Melville, showcases the protagonist, Bartleby, as a scrivener who is inundated with the demanding expectations of his job while being employed by an overbearing mercenary boss. Ultimately, Melville illustrates the protagonist’s sanity and moral value deteriorating as Bartleby begins to lose the will to live due to the stress that his job has created. Herman Melville (1819-1891) was born in New York City, New York. He is the third child out of eight.

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