The Lawyer's Safe Haven

The narrator, an elderly lawyer, prides himself on his peaceful and unambitious life, managing a law office on Wall Street. He employs three scriveners: Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut, each with their quirks. Turkey is efficient in the morning but erratic in the afternoon, while Nippers is the opposite, and Ginger Nut is a young errand boy. The lawyer's life is orderly, and he values the stability and predictability of his work environment.

Bartleby's Arrival

Bartleby, a quiet and forlorn man, is hired as a new scrivener. Initially, he works diligently, producing a large volume of work. The lawyer is pleased with Bartleby's productivity and hopes his calm demeanor will balance the office's eccentricities. Bartleby is given a desk near a window with a view of a brick wall, symbolizing his isolation and detachment from the world.

The Peculiar Refusal

One day, when asked to help verify a document, Bartleby responds with a simple, "I would prefer not to." This refusal baffles the lawyer, who is unaccustomed to such passive resistance. Despite repeated requests, Bartleby continues to decline tasks, maintaining his polite but firm stance. The lawyer is perplexed by Bartleby's behavior, which defies logic and disrupts the office's routine.

Silent Defiance

Bartleby's refusals become more frequent, and he stops performing any work. He remains in the office, standing by the window in a trance-like state. The lawyer, torn between frustration and pity, struggles to understand Bartleby's motivations. Despite his growing irritation, the lawyer is unable to dismiss Bartleby, feeling a strange sense of responsibility for the enigmatic scrivener.

The Unyielding Presence

As Bartleby continues to refuse work and even basic tasks, the lawyer's patience wears thin. Bartleby begins living in the office, further complicating the situation. The lawyer's attempts to reason with Bartleby are met with the same passive resistance. The lawyer's professional reputation suffers as clients and colleagues question his management of the office. Despite this, the lawyer is unable to forcefully remove Bartleby.

A Desperate Solution

Unable to resolve the situation, the lawyer decides to move his office to escape Bartleby. However, Bartleby remains in the old office, refusing to leave. The building's new tenants and landlord demand action, and Bartleby is eventually removed by the authorities and taken to the Tombs, a local prison. The lawyer visits Bartleby, offering help, but Bartleby remains unresponsive and detached.

The Final Resting Place

Bartleby is found dead in the prison yard, having succumbed to his passive resistance and isolation. The lawyer reflects on Bartleby's life and the rumors of his past employment at the Dead Letter Office, a place symbolic of hopelessness and unfulfilled communication. The story ends with the lawyer contemplating the nature of humanity and the profound impact of Bartleby's quiet defiance.

Characters

The Lawyer

The narrator is a cautious and unambitious lawyer who values stability and order. He is perplexed by Bartleby's behavior and struggles to reconcile his sense of responsibility with his frustration. Despite his attempts to help Bartleby, he ultimately fails to understand or change him, highlighting the limits of empathy and the complexity of human nature.

Bartleby

Bartleby is a quiet, passive man who initially works diligently but soon begins to refuse tasks with his signature phrase, "I would prefer not to." His passive resistance and isolation symbolize a deeper existential despair. Bartleby's mysterious past and tragic end reflect the themes of alienation and the human condition.

Turkey

Turkey is an older scrivener who is efficient in the morning but becomes erratic and unproductive in the afternoon. His behavior contrasts with Bartleby's calm demeanor, highlighting the varied responses to the monotony of office life.

Nippers

Nippers is a young scrivener who struggles with ambition and indigestion, making him irritable in the morning but more composed in the afternoon. His dissatisfaction with his work mirrors the broader theme of discontent in the workplace.

Ginger Nut

Ginger Nut is a young office boy who runs errands and provides snacks for the scriveners. His presence adds a touch of innocence and youth to the office, contrasting with the more complex issues faced by the adult characters.

Plot Devices

Passive Resistance

Bartleby's repeated refusal to perform tasks, expressed through his phrase "I would prefer not to," serves as a central plot device. This passive resistance challenges the lawyer's authority and disrupts the office's routine, highlighting themes of individuality and nonconformity.

Isolation

Bartleby's physical and emotional isolation is symbolized by his desk's placement near a window with a view of a brick wall. This isolation reflects his detachment from society and the other characters, emphasizing themes of alienation and the human condition.

The Dead Letter Office

The rumor of Bartleby's past employment at the Dead Letter Office serves as a symbolic plot device. It represents unfulfilled communication and lost opportunities, mirroring Bartleby's own sense of hopelessness and detachment from the world.

Analysis

"Bartleby the Scrivener" delves into themes of alienation, individuality, and the human condition. Bartleby's passive resistance and isolation highlight the struggles of nonconformity and the limits of empathy. The lawyer's attempts to help Bartleby reflect the complexities of human relationships and the challenges of understanding others. The story's setting in the bustling, impersonal world of Wall Street underscores the dehumanizing effects of modern life. Bartleby's tragic end serves as a poignant commentary on the consequences of isolation and the need for connection and understanding in a fragmented world.

Last updated: April 4, 2025