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Research Paper On Bartleby The Scrivener

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“Bartleby the Scrivener” In Herman Melville’s “Bartleby the Scrivener,” the nameless lawyer-narrator faces conflict with Bartleby, a challenging man who works as a copyist for the narrator but initially seems to have little respect for his boss. This is due to Bartleby’s constant response of “I would prefer not to” to anything requested of him. The narrator comes to a realization that Bartleby’s apparent rudeness stems from his way of living, or lack thereof. He believes that because of Bartleby’s previous employment in the Dead Letter Office, Bartleby lost all sanity, and this explains the reasoning behind his disregard of all requests made of him. The narrator initially describes Bartleby as an impressively productive worker, specifically when compared to the other two copyists who may as well have been working part time for their inconsistent work. He describes Bartelby’s work ethic, saying: “As if long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents. …show more content…

This provides a first detail of Bartleby’s character to the narrator, as he has a chance to see his disinterest in anything but working. Following this moment came a series of events in which the narrator proposes something to Bartleby and he responds with “I would prefer not to.” The narrator asks Bartleby to examine copies with the other men, go to the Post Office in the place of the usual errand boy, answer personal questions about himself, and lastly—upon Bartleby’s announcement that has given up copying—tells him to leave his law firm. Bartleby refuses, but the police eventually arrest Bartleby after frightened other tenants of the building report him to the station—Bartleby has sat at the banister outside of the office, refusing to

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Being a scrivener is not the most ideal job; sitting long hours, copying down seemingly information, and there is little time for breaks. When Bartelby chooses to take the job, he voluntarily gives up his freedom in exchange for money. In the beginning of the story, Bartelby seems to enjoy his work, often staying late to complete it, but as the story progresses, he appears to grow tired of it. He becomes more secluded and eventually just stops working, replying that he would “prefer not to.” Bartelby had begun to miss his freedom.

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In the novella, it came off that he was polite, respectable, and it was easy to have sympathy for him. In the movie, Bartleby came off as rude and stern. For example, the boss decided to visit his office on a Sunday morning for a random checking. When he turned

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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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A character that draws the plot of the story, which is about an individual’s strange behavior influences the narrator to write a bibliography about him. In the film version Bartleby is portrayed to have some form of mental illness, and in the short story, he is a just extraordinary character. “I waive the biographies of all other scriveners, for a few passages in the life of Bartleby, who was a scrivener, the strangest I ever saw or heard of’ (Meyers, 2017. P.126). Though there are many differences between the two versions, both Herman Melville and Jonathan Parker kept to the same plot, a story of a strange encounter, to express their amazement by such odd

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The narrator’s false pretense to society will slowly diminish as each time Bartleby chose to be who he is instead of conforming. Bartleby has come to the point of living in the office and would

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The storyteller's conduct towards Bartleby is a little on and off, the storyteller is baffled at first since legal counselors know about immediate, dynamic reactions. In any case, he neglects this remark since he considers Bartleby is a helpful representative and realizes that he "implies no disrespect" (Melville 13). Most bosses would terminate Bartleby for his reaction in light of the fact that as a representative he is denying an assignment given to him. Additionally on the grounds that this is the first run through the storyteller has experienced this circumstance he is somewhat puzzled. At first the storyteller tries to prevail upon Bartleby and realize why he reacts the way he does, however when he doesn't get a direct answer he turns

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Bartleby slowly lost even the ambition to do his job. Moreover, Bartleby’s repeated response of “preferring not too” shows no ill will but is simply a refusal. Having no interest in money or leaving, he breaks the unspoken hierarchal structure in the workplace and creates his own option. This ideology disarms the narrator, as the majority of people who work see it as two choices: do it and get paid or go somewhere else. Therefore, when Bartleby first refused to do his job the narrator did not fire Bartleby.

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There are numerous ways somebody can interpret "Bartleby the Scrivener". I think all through the story the storyteller (the Lawyer) is the more sympathetic character. The lawyer, despite the fact that an active individual from society, alienates himself by forming dividers from his own particular egotistical and materialistic character. As it were, the lawyer's entire life rotates around items and ideas which don't sound good to him in spite of the fact that he is not mindful of this. The dividers of Bartleby conflict with the lawyer's dividers, however, both are designed to protect both the lawyer and Bartleby from the outside world.

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1883 Words | 8 Pages

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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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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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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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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559 Words | 3 Pages

In “Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville, Melville distinguishes his work with powerful imagery, diction, and a unique narrative structure. Using these literary structures allows the reader to immerse themselves in the story, viewing the narrator’s life through the eyes of the narrator. Throughout the novel, Melville’s imagery offers the reader a vivid picture of the setting and characters. When he introduces the narrator’s chambers, he writes, “my windows commanded an unobstructed view of a lofty brick wall, black by age and everlasting shade; which wall required no spy-glass to bring out its lurking beauties” (2).

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Harman Nahal Prof. Ashraf English 162 10 March 2017 The Scrivener “Bartleby, the Scrivener” a short story by Herman Melville was initially serialized in two parts in the issues of Putnam’s Magazines in November and December of 1853. The narrator in the story is an unnamed Manhattan lawyer who has employed two scriveners. The two workers are Turkey and Nippers. The growth of the business compels him to hire a third employee, Bartleby.

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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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