Melville Essay

Fight the MAN!

            Herman Melville has attempted to capture the daring efforts of a hero in the short story "Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street."  Melville writes a story of a lawyer, an elderly man who works with mortgages, titles, and bonds, who employs a man by the name of Bartleby. An incredibly passive and quiet man, Bartleby models obscurity. His reserve personality intrigues his boss, initiating a connection. Bartleby is explained as a visibly weak looking man, even the lawyer explains him as "motionless and cadaverous" (Melville,15). However he demonstrates a strong will and  mental toughness throughout the story. Standing tall with a fearlessness Bartleby is the hero of Melville's story in his refusal to participate in a workplace that represents the sad, dreary atmosphere of a bureaucratic, industrialized society.

            The generation and placement in the story helps construct some of Bartlebys' courageousness. The 1850's Wall Street was becoming the Mecca of financial activity for the United States. Melville uses Wall Street as a symbolic reference to capitalism. The production for profit scene back then would have typically engulfed someone with Bartlebys characteristics. Whereas today's society is more suitable in accepting contrasting personalities in a uniform environment,  the 1850's wasn't. Somewhat of a modern day sit-in, Bartleby was forcefully removed and even arrested. Fed up he became combative against the industrialized society.  The bravery of Bartleby is now exposed in the story. Never straying away from who he is, the introverted person, he calmly refuses to do what is asked. The lawyer, his boss, is taking back. Uncertain what to do with Bartlebys gritty response," I would prefer not to," he does nothing (21). Unafraid to shine his true-self Bartleby simply reacted. His reaction equaling a heroic opposition towards the economic control of society.

            The profession of a scrivener offers a significant platform to view Bartlebys fortitude. As a scrivener there are not too many positions out there that are less desirable. Employed by lawyers, a scrivener would copy legal court documents by hand.  If that wasn't bad enough Bartlebys' window faced a brick wall, signifying the imprisonment of bartlebys surroundings. “At first, Bartleby did an extraordinary quantity of writing. As is long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents. There was no pause for digestion. He ran a day and night line, copying by sun-light and by candle-light.”(18). Enough was enough, Bartleby was finished with dreary workplace. Adjusting his stance Bartleby resigns the firm, as the firm has abandoned him. Poised in his stance he response mildly, "I would prefer not to," to any and all of the lawyers request(21). Echoing his opposition, Bartlebys' backbone is protruding and no longer hidden.

            The lawyers internal battle within himself demonstrates bartlebys heroic imprint. The lawyer, a safe and peaceful man, is convinced "the easiest way of life is the best"(3). It's clear the narrator, or lawyer, is a bite self centered. Holding dear to him is the fact he once was employed by John Jacob Astor . He describes himself as a " unambitious lawyers who never addresses a jury…but in the cool tranquility of a snug retreat, do a snug business among rich men's bonds and mortgages and title-deeds."(3). A sense of tenderness and kindness is lacking in this man. Compassion and empathy are not oozing out of him. However Bartleby pulls some humanness out of his boss. When the lawyer comes upon Bartleby living in his office, he says " for the first time in my life a feeling of overpowering melancholy seized me"(89). Between irritability and mercy the lawyer battled through his emotions he had for Bartleby. With little change the lawyer continues with his life until Bartleby is threatened with  imprisonment, literally. Charity rearing its head as the lawyer offers Bartleby to stay with him, in his own home. The lawyer is now struggling with what to do with Bartleby. A sense of compassion can now be felt in the lawyer. Bartlebys influence was valiant on the lawyer. Bartlebys stamp can be seen on the lawyer as he often visited him in prison and showed genuine kindness towards him, "Ah Bartleby, Ah Humanity"(251).

            Through Bartleby, the lawyer views his world and humanity in a different light. Bartleby, a silent hero, made a difference with his decisions. Quietly asserting himself, in a fearless stance against the bureaucratic society, Bartleby never adheres to the official duties. Bartleby stubbornness to not follow the crowd allowed him to exist. Even after Bartleby had passed away his impression on the lawyer had infiltrated him. A hero always gets remembered

Work cited

Melville, Herman Bartleby The Scrivener, A Story of Wall Street. New York: Putman, 1853.