The key figure in "Bartleby the Scrivener" is the lawyer who narrates the tale. The lawyer, who is sixty-years-old, holds the position of Master in Chancery, a lucrative position that is granted to friends and relatives of powerful individuals. He takes great pride in his prudence and even temper, and his prejudices are crucial to the story's interpretation. The narrative revolves around the lawyer's reaction to Bartleby's actions and behavior.
Bartleby's passive resistance
Passive resistance is a powerful tool in resisting capitalism, but its application is not always clear. In the work of Bartleby the scrivener, he is a prime example. He refuses to accept the arbitrary rules of his workplace, and his lack of appetite for food signals that he will not continue writing. While the story does not explicitly refer to the nature of passive resistance, Bartleby's actions do represent it.
His lawyer
"Bartleby the scrivener's attorney" by Herman Melville is a literary masterpiece. A raging critic has praised the story as "a work of genius." However, there is a wide range of criticism about Melville's novel, including how he handles the central character and his ambiguous interpretations of Bartleby. Leo Marx argues that Melville's character is essentially autobiographical and a reminder of his own repressed hatreds and the way his life has been affected by his own actions.
His flatulence
Bartleby the Scrivener is a short story by Herman Melville first published in Putnam's Magazine in November/December 1853. The main plot involves an enraged Scrivener who announces his intention to resign his job. In the process, he becomes a rebel, ignoring his employer's repeated attempts to explain his actions. Melville, a writer, feels ostracized and rejected by society, and looks askance at American society.
His evasion
The novel "Bartleby the Scrivener" by Herman Melville was first published in November/December 1853. In the story, an aspiring scrivener announces his desire to quit his job, but does not explain why he is rebelling. His employer, who has no idea of his reasons for quitting, finds this evasion incredibly frustrating. The novel is full of interesting interpretations of Bartleby the scrivener's behavior, but one thing is for certain: his evasion is not going to get him fired!
His silent acquiescence
Bartleby the scrivener's refusal to comply with his employer's demands is a classic example of the discontent of exploitation. In the nineteenth century, such activism led to the founding of the Knights of Labor, the National Union, and the American Federation of Labor. Although he does not explain why he is refusing to work, one can infer that he is simply tired of the monotonous daily grind of churning out legal documents. In any case, his extreme protest campaign goes beyond his obvious refusal. He refuses to eat in jail and makes his protests known to others.
His lawyer's ambiguous conclusion
The ambiguous conclusion of Bartleby the scrivener's story hinges on the fact that the lawyer does not consider the monotony of copying legal documents as a source of the eccentricities. Instead, he looks at the overall productivity of the office. The lawyer's lack of sensitivity for the situation foreshadows his inability to fully understand Bartleby's discontent.
His lawyer's flatulence
"Bartleby the Scrivener" is a short story by American author Herman Melville that was first published in Putnam's Magazine in November/December 1853. The story is set in the world of Wall Street, the center of American financial affairs, and follows a lawyer, Bartleby, who announces that he wants to leave his job. He is uncharacteristically reticent and doesn't explain why he wants to quit. His employer, however, cannot understand his rebellion and is unwilling to accommodate him. The story has been interpreted in countless ways.
His lawyer's statement
In the Attorney's statement for Bartleby the Scrivener, the Lawyer acknowledges that he has not yet completed his work but believes that he is already affected by it. He argues that Bartleby's behavior has already affected his own writing and speech. The Lawyer concludes that this behavior is not entirely consistent with his own values. The Lawyer's statement for Bartleby the Scrivener reveals several aspects of his character.
His lawyer's conclusion
In Bartleby the Scrivener's Lawyer's Conclusion, the lawyer narrates a scene wherein Bartleby refuses to examine the document. This is quite a surprising move since all scriveners are required to examine the documents they are entrusted with. However, Bartleby explains that he would rather not examine the document, so the lawyer asks him to do it.
