Bartleby Essay Research Paper Amanda FisherFebruary 16 free essay sample

Bartleby Essay, Research Paper Amanda Fisher February 16, 2001 Bartleby, in Herman Melville? s short narrative? Bartleby the Scrivener? is a character who lives his life in arrant isolation. However, it is obvious from the narrative that he does impact one individual? s life. The storyteller of the narrative, an aged attorney, is a caring figure, though non unlike most employers, keeps his distance and rationalizes each state of affairs. He transmutation into a sympathetic and affected character consequences entirely from his instead limited relationship with his employee, Bartleby. When Melville describes Bartleby, he presents the adult male as a really innocuous, retiring figure. ? In reply to my advertizement, a motionless immature adult male one forenoon stood upon my office threshold? . I can see that figure now? palely orderly, pathetically respectable, improbably forlorn? ( 117 ) . From the beginning, the storyteller treats him no different from the remainder of his staff ; he is gracious, sort and treats the adult male with no discourtesy. We will write a custom essay sample on Bartleby Essay Research Paper Amanda FisherFebruary 16 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is, nevertheless, obvious, the storyteller is a chiefly an employer. He hires Bartleby, and expects nil more of him but to work hard. Bartleby does non let down either. He? seemed to ingurgitate himself on [ the storyteller? s ] paperss? ( 118 ) . However, there is something awry in this state of affairs. The adult male is soundless. He merely works, insulating himself from the office and the outside universe. He about instantly begins to react to any petition with the phrase, ? I would prefer non to? ( 118 ) . At first, the storyteller is evidently surprised at this response, yet besides intrigued. However, he shortly comes to fear those words, as they are the lone 1s said by Bartleby. For some ground, though, the storyteller can non allow Bartleby go forth. Even after Bartleby refuses to work any longer, he allows him to remain in the office, making nil. In making this, the storyteller has successfully moved from distant employer to concerned homo. ? In field fact, he had now become a albatross to me, non merely useless as a necklace, but painful to bear. Yet, I felt sorry for him? ( 127 ) . Although Bartleby has no ground for being in the office, his employer allows him to remain, even leting him to populate at that place. This is most decidedly non normal office behaviour. It proves the storyteller does hold a sort bosom, and progressively is affected by Bartleby? s inactive being as clip base on ballss. The storyteller, an seemingly logical, rational adult male, as attorneies tend to be, goes to great lengths to avoid struggle with the soundless adult male. He even changes offices to free himself of Bartleby. In malice of this, and possibly even a consequence of it, he becomes even more entwined with the adult male. ? Rid myself of him, I must. ; travel, he shall. But how? You will non thrust him, the hapless picket, inactive mortal†¦ No, I will non, I can non make that. Rather would I allow him populate and decease here†¦. ? ( 132 ) . Bartleby, in his purdah, has a direct impact on the storyteller? s life. For most employers covering with and employee like Bartleby, certainly force and bitterness would be involved. Yet, this sort hearted old adult male does non handle Bartleby with any negativeness. This alone should turn out that the storyteller is non the cold, calculated single he is so frequently made out to be. As the storyteller tries to take himself from the state of affairs with Bartleby, he finds that it can non be so. After go forthing his office to free himself of the confusing presence, the landlord of his office suite is exhaustively surprised to happen Bartleby has non left the premises. The first individual the landlord calls upon to rectify the state of affairs is, of class, the storyteller. Grudgingly, the storyteller ventures back into Bartleby? s unusual universe of self-isolation and devastation. After the landlord has Bartleby thrown into gaol for vagrancy, the storyteller is the merely 1 to travel to see him, to seek to assist him. However, the huge lonliness of Bartleby? s life has already reached it? s concluding decision. In a decease adjustment for a figure of isolation, Bartleby has been successful in killing himself. Though non by obvious agencies, instead by a gradual opposition to nutrient, Bartleby dies. ? Queerly huddled at the base of the wall, his articulatio ge nuss drawn up, and lying on his side, his caput touching the cold rocks, I saw the otiose Bartleby. But nil stirred. I paused ; so went up near to him ; stooped over, and saw that his subdued eyes were unfastened ; otherwise he seemed deeply kiping? ( 136 ) . He, of class, has died. The storyteller of the narrative emerges as introverted and affected. This transmutation from driving, self-concerned employer is certainly non Bartleby? s purpose, nevertheless, merely a positive consequence from an otherwise tragic being. ? Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity! ? ( 137 ) sums up the narrative rather efficaciously. Humanity had failed Bartleby ; he was thrust into a universe that seemed to insulate him at every bend. Humanity saved the storyteller ; he learned tha life, above all, and? all the quiet enigmas? ( 124 ) it contained were most of import. 317