Interpretation of Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-street Herman Melville is an American author born on August 1, 1819, in New York City. Melville was a cabin boy and sailed on several vessels. He is best known for his sea-faring adventure novel such as his most widely recognized publication, Moby-Dick. In his short story, Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-street, the unnamed narrator, a man in his mid 60 's who owns a law office starts the story by saying that he believes that there is no sufficient materials exist to describe this man, named Bartleby, accurately. The narrator begins by describing his employees (the first two being copyists) beginning with Turkey. He describes Turkey as a man in his 60 's who is red-faced,
…show more content…
The author may have chosen a major city like New York to highlight the problem of loneliness that can sometimes arrive from living in this setting. This short story describes themes of alienation and also has some Biblical references. The narrator describes Bartleby many times as a ghost, corpse-like and an apparition, conveying Bartleby’s hollow, almost soulless nature. The narrator debates with himself several times in the story and decides to be charitable citing a Biblical passage about loving others but quickly tires of Bartleby. At first, he describes their common bond in humanity calling both himself and Bartleby “son of Adam” but then describes the “inherent selfishness of the human heart” in which a person may feel pity for a person up to a certain point but after that his pity turns into resentment. The narrator had begun to resent Bartleby because of his self-induced alienation and mulish nature. Bartleby the Scrivener explores human emotions, personalities and the effects of alienation. It contrasts selflessness and selfishness through the narrator. The narrator, a lawyer, is chosen because of his rationality and tendency to debate with himself. It gives us a glimpse into his inner struggles and how he grapples with the melancholic side of
The author may have chosen a major city like New York to highlight the problem of loneliness that can sometimes arrive from living in this setting. This short story describes themes of alienation and also has some Biblical references. The narrator describes Bartleby many times as a ghost, corpse-like and an apparition, conveying Bartleby’s hollow, almost soulless nature. The narrator debates with himself several times in the story and decides to be charitable citing a Biblical passage about loving others but quickly tires of Bartleby. At first, he describes their common bond in humanity calling both himself and Bartleby “son of Adam” but then describes the “inherent selfishness of the human heart” in which a person may feel pity for a person up to a certain point but after that his pity turns into resentment. The narrator had begun to resent Bartleby because of his self-induced alienation and mulish nature. Bartleby the Scrivener explores human emotions, personalities and the effects of alienation. It contrasts selflessness and selfishness through the narrator. The narrator, a lawyer, is chosen because of his rationality and tendency to debate with himself. It gives us a glimpse into his inner struggles and how he grapples with the melancholic side of