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Examples Of Bartleby In The Scrivener

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In “The Scrivener” by Herman Melville, the character of Bartleby serves as a symbol for nonconformity and passive resistance to societal expectations. Through his use of the phrase “I would prefer not to,” Bartleby’s existence defies natural laws and understanding of human behavior, challenging the reader's perception of normality.
The narrator points out, “Bartleby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable” (Melville, The Scrivener, 1322). Throughout the narrative, Bartleby is an enigma to both the cast and the readers. Bartleby’s backstory and origin were unknown, and he had no family or a permanent residence. The almost complete isolation of Bartleby contradicts the common ideal that it is beneficial to be a part of society. Bartleby seems to produce “an extraordinary quantity of writing” when working by himself compared to his response when pushed by the narrator, “I would prefer not to” (1328). Bartleby’s refusal to play his part in a community causes everyone else in the workplace to do that work for him. This seemingly simple phrase disrupted the sense of order in a community. When asked why he refused, Bartleby says again, “I would prefer not to” (1329). This time, his refusal is not only a rejection to do his …show more content…

He did not provide a reasonable explanation for his refusal, making him seem disconnected from social norms. Any normal individual would at least lie to give a sensible

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Bartelby becomes somewhat of a hermit, living in the office in which he refuses to work. He wants to be free of his burdens, but only passed them on to his boss, the narrator. The narrator, burdened by Bartelby, tries his hardest to cast him out of his life and take back his independence, eventually passing his onus to another. In the case of Bartelby the Scrivener, one can see that to obtain freedom, a burden must be passed to

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The number 23 describes the famous basketball player Michael Jordan. When someone mentions Steve Jobs, they automatically think of Apple. Actress, Marilyn Monroe, became notorious for her birthmark. When one refers to Bartleby, they think of the symbols that describe his strange, mysterious character. In the story, “Bartleby the Scrivener,” a public records office begins to search for a new employee.

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In Bartleby the Scrivener, Herman Melville uses direct and indirect characterization to give a more powerful meaning to the characters and dialogue of the short story. Melville also uses appearances and names to get his descriptions across. In the story the narrator plays a key role in which he is not just the narrator but also a character. The narrator tells the story through indirect characterization.

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243 Words | 1 Pages

After reading Melville’s short story Bartleby the Scrivener, I started to think about how the story is relevant to today. Melville is able to capture the tedious and repetitious work environment of people who work in offices not only through the description of the office, but also through the interactions of the workers. In the story, Bartleby is put in an office space without a view to the outside world. Instead the lawyer positions him facing the a wall. The wall symbolizes the class difference between the two men.

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147 Words | 1 Pages

Another allusion which is most apparent was the narrators’ response to the grub-mans finding. At the bottom of page thirty-four, “Strangely huddled at the base of the wall, his knees drawn up, and lying on his side, his head touching the cold stones, I saw the wasted Bartleby.” (Melville, 34) The lawyer murmurs, “With kings and counselors.” (Melville, 34)

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241 Words | 1 Pages

Bartleby repeats “I prefer not to” because he rather not do what is being asked. He keeps saying it all through the narrative to show he isn’t accepting the changes that are happening around him. He won’t accept them. Bartleby is a symbol of the Romantic idea “the Individual” in the fact that this promoted being freed of restraints and rules. (Lecture notes)

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953 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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516 Words | 3 Pages

In Herman Melville’s short story, “Bartleby, the Scrivener”, multiple foils can be observed. Foils being a contrast between two characters or even settings. However, this text will be centered on specifically two foils. The first one, the narrator being a foil of Bartleby, leading to the second foil; Nippers and/or Turkey being foils of Bartleby once again. As previously said, Bartleby the Scrivener and the narrator seem to be foils of each other.

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1151 Words | 5 Pages

Melville writes, “…the chances are he will fall in with some less indulgent employer, and then he will be rudely treated, and perhaps driven forth miserably to starve. Yes. Here I can cheaply purchase a delicious self-approval. To befriend Bartleby; to humor him in his strange willfulness, will cost me little or nothing, while I lay up in my soul what will eventually prove a sweet morsel for my conscience... I felt strangely goaded on to encounter him in new opposition” (Melville ##).

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529 Words | 3 Pages

In his short story, “Bartleby, the Scrivener,” Herman Melville illustrates a man’s revelation of his hidden true nature. The story revolves around an unnamed narrator who describes himself as an experience and professional lawyer. He also claims that he “from his youth upwards, has been filled a profound conviction that the easiest way of life is the best.” The narrator works peacefully with his two other employees, Turkey and Nippers, until increased business urges him to hire a new scrivener, Bartleby. Although seemingly an asset after employment, the young man soon becomes an impediment after he begins refusing to work.

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1800 Words | 8 Pages

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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330 Words | 2 Pages

"Bartleby" is a tragicomic text--though, for me, the comedy outweighs the tragedy. "I would prefer not to" is the comic mantra, which one might imagine as being pronounced in a half-proud, half-awkward way, maybe with a slightly affected tone to the ears of his coworkers (for it sounding so foreign, so put-on-- perhaps even to Bartleby at first, when he hears the words coming out of his mouth). He does not say, "I don 't want to"-- he chooses his words very carefully; it is a hesitant, noncommittal denial, oddly polite for being, in many circumstances, flatly rude and unaccommodating, unagreeable. The other scriveners remark how his diction is "queer,"--they would never use "prefer" in this way... What follows from this is an absurd chain of

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1834 Words | 8 Pages

Over the years, there have been debates about lowering the drinking age in the United States to eighteen. People argue that if a person can fight in the military or vote in elections, then he or she should be allowed the right to drink alcohol. Others feel that it is not wise to lower the legal drinking age because the results would be dangerous. Although there are arguments for lowering the drinking age, there is also an abundance of research that proves lowering the drinking age would be destructive. The legal drinking age should not be lowered to eighteen because it will give high school and even middle school students greater access to alcohol, interfere with brain development, adult rights begin at twenty-one, and increase traffic accidents among the youth.

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725 Words | 3 Pages

In the beginning both characters seemed “normal” in their individual settings. Bartleby was described by his employer as producing “an extraordinary quantity of writing” (Melville 1034). Susan had what most would call a perfect family. Susan and her husband’s love “had created: marriage, four children, big house, garden . . .” (Lessing 865).

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776 Words | 4 Pages

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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