Bartleby The Scrivener Research Paper

Friend or Foe?

Wall Street: the place of great success and catastrophic failures. This can be considered one of the toughest places to work, even back in the days when it was just starting up. The difficulty at Wall Street is mostly due to the harsh conditions, specifically between the boss and their employees. Bartleby, the Scrivener by Melville exemplifies an interesting relationship at Wall Street between the narrator, a lawyer, and Bartleby, his scrivener. In this story, readers often debate whether the narrator is ultimately a friend or foe to Bartleby by analyzing their relationship. Through the narrator’s actions and responses to Bartleby, he poses more as a friend rather than just another tool to Bartleby’s downfall, showing how Melville uses their relationship to demonstrate the idea that despite general understandings that a

The narrator’s conflict avoidance issues do play a role in his kind treatment towards Bartleby, but it doesn’t explain why he would offer him extra help or why he would go out of his way to assist him. Also, when the narrator blows up at Bartleby, he eventually recollects himself and manages to say, “‘Bartleby,’ said I, in the kindest tone I could assume under such exciting circumstances, ‘will you go home with me now--not to my office, but my dwelling--and remain there till we can conclude upon some convenient arrangement for you at our leisure?’” (44). This shows that despite the narrator being at his worst and the anger he may feel, he still wants to give the absolute best to Bartleby, thereby showing his true care and concern. Also, the narrator never actually forces him to do anything: “‘I prefer not to,’ he respectfully and slowly said, and mildly disappeared. ‘Very good, Bartleby,’ said I” (p. 33). The narrator demonstrates generosity and kindness towards Bartleby many times, showing how their relationship is one of true care and