General Essay Examples

Bartleby The Scrivener

This comprehensive example essay offers an in-depth analysis of Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener." It examines Bartleby's passive resistance, the narrator's complicity, and the story's broader commentary on alienation and the limitations of capitalist structures. The analysis breaks down the narrative's structure, thematic development, and stylistic choices, providing students with a model for understanding complex literary texts. It highlights how Melville uses Bartleby's enigmatic refusal to engage to critique societal norms and individual responsibility.

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Key considerations

Bartleby's passive resistance, particularly his phrase 'I would prefer not to,' serves as a powerful critique of societal pressures and the dehumanizing aspects of capitalist work environments.

The narrator's perspective is crucial; his attempts to rationalize and control Bartleby reveal the limitations of conventional logic and the narrator's own complicity in the system.

Melville uses the sterile Wall Street office setting to amplify Bartleby's alienation and the story's commentary on the individual versus the demands of modern society.

The novella's ambiguity regarding Bartleby's motivations and fate is a deliberate stylistic choice that enhances its thematic depth and leaves readers contemplating profound questions about human existence and societal responsibility.

Assignment brief

Write an essay analyzing the character of Bartleby and his impact on the narrator and the office environment in Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener." Consider Bartleby's motivations, the narrator's reactions, and the story's potential social or philosophical implications. Your essay should present a clear thesis, support it with specific textual evidence, and demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the story's themes.

Reference example

Herman Melville’s "Bartleby, the Scrivener" presents a chilling portrait of alienation and passive resistance within the sterile confines of a 19th-century Wall Street law office. At its core, the story is a profound exploration of an individual’s refusal to conform, embodied by the titular scrivener whose repeated, quiet “I would prefer not to” becomes a potent symbol of existential defiance. While Bartleby’s motivations remain opaque, his presence profoundly disrupts the narrator’s ordered world, exposing the fragility of societal expectations and the narrator’s own complicity in a system that ultimately fails to accommodate or understand him. The story’s enduring power lies not in providing easy answers, but in its stark depiction of an individual’s withdrawal from a world that offers little solace or meaning.

The narrator, a lawyer who prides himself on his pragmatism and his ability to manage his small firm, initially views Bartleby as a valuable, if peculiar, employee. He is drawn to Bartleby’s diligence and his seemingly superior penmanship, qualities that align with the demands of his profession. However, Bartleby’s first act of passive resistance—refusing to proofread—introduces a crack in the narrator’s carefully constructed reality. The narrator’s response is not one of immediate dismissal or anger, but rather a bewildered attempt to reason with Bartleby, to understand the logic behind his refusal. This initial leniency, born perhaps of a desire to maintain order and avoid confrontation, sets a precedent. As Bartleby’s refusals escalate, extending from proofreading to leaving the office and even to eating, the narrator’s attempts at control become increasingly desperate and ultimately futile. He oscillates between mild annoyance, pity, and a growing sense of helplessness, revealing the limitations of his own ethical framework when confronted with an individual who operates entirely outside its established norms.

Bartleby’s transformation from a diligent scrivener to a passive fixture in the office is gradual yet absolute. He occupies the dead-wall space, a physical manifestation of his internal withdrawal. His refusal to engage, to perform even the most basic social or professional functions, is not aggressive but deeply unsettling. It forces the narrator and, by extension, the reader, to confront the arbitrary nature of work, obligation, and human connection. The narrator’s attempts to “manage” Bartleby—offering him food, suggesting he leave, appealing to his sense of reason—all fail because Bartleby’s refusal is not about specific tasks but about a fundamental rejection of the system itself. This passive resistance, devoid of any outward demand or complaint, is perhaps what makes Bartleby so profoundly disturbing. He offers no explanation, no justification, only the quiet, unyielding statement of preference.

The narrative’s setting on Wall Street is crucial. Melville situates Bartleby’s story within the heart of American capitalism, a world driven by efficiency, profit, and strict adherence to duty. Bartleby’s presence acts as an anomaly, a glitch in the otherwise smooth functioning of the economic machine. His refusal to participate in the relentless pursuit of productivity highlights the dehumanizing aspects of such a system. The narrator, himself a product of this environment, struggles to reconcile Bartleby’s behavior with the expected norms of labor and social interaction. His repeated attempts to solve the "Bartleby problem" by appealing to logic, charity, or even legal means ultimately fail because Bartleby’s condition transcends the transactional nature of the office.

Melville masterfully employs irony and ambiguity throughout the story. The narrator, despite his self-proclaimed benevolence, is ultimately self-serving. His concern for Bartleby often seems rooted in his desire to avoid scandal or inconvenience, rather than genuine empathy. He fears Bartleby’s presence will deter clients and disrupt the office’s reputation. His eventual decision to move his business is less an act of compassion than an attempt to shed himself of a problem he cannot solve. The story offers no clear resolution or moral lesson. Bartleby’s fate—his death in the Tombs, a grim symbol of societal neglect—is as bleak and unresolved as his life. The narrator’s final reflection, “Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!”, suggests a universal lament for the human condition, for the inherent difficulties in understanding and connecting with one another, and for the failures of society to provide refuge for its most vulnerable.

Ultimately, "Bartleby, the Scrivener" functions as a powerful allegory. Bartleby can be interpreted as a Christ-like figure, a martyr to his own principles, or simply as a man utterly broken by the pressures of modern life. His passive resistance challenges the very foundations of work, identity, and social obligation. By refusing to engage, Bartleby forces the narrator, and the reader, to question the value systems that govern their lives. The story leaves us with the unsettling realization that sometimes, the most profound statements are made not through action, but through the quiet, unwavering refusal to participate.

Analysis of Melville's 'Bartleby, the Scrivener'

Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" is a novella that continues to provoke discussion and interpretation decades after its publication. Its power lies in its enigmatic protagonist and its subtle yet potent critique of 19th-century American society, particularly its burgeoning capitalist ethos and the alienation it could foster. This analysis delves into the story's structure, thematic depth, and the complex relationship between Bartleby and his narrator, offering a framework for understanding its enduring relevance.

Narrative Structure and Pacing

The story unfolds through the first-person narration of a Wall Street lawyer, a seemingly conventional and pragmatic individual. This narrative choice is critical. It allows Melville to filter Bartleby’s peculiar behavior through the lens of a man who represents societal norms and expectations. The pacing is deliberate, mirroring the narrator’s gradual realization of Bartleby’s strangeness and the increasing disruption he causes. Melville builds suspense not through overt action, but through the escalating quietude of Bartleby’s refusals. The early sections establish the office environment and Bartleby’s initial utility, making his subsequent withdrawal all the more striking. The narrative structure effectively highlights the narrator’s confusion and his inability to categorize or control Bartleby within his established worldview. The story’s progression from Bartleby’s initial refusal to proofread to his eventual occupation of the office hallway and his death in the Tombs charts a descent into existential isolation, framed by the narrator’s increasingly desperate attempts to understand and manage the situation.

Thesis: Bartleby's Passive Resistance as a Critique of Societal Alienation

The central argument of this analysis posits that Bartleby’s pervasive passive resistance, epitomized by his repeated phrase "I would prefer not to," functions as a profound critique of the alienating forces inherent in 19th-century American capitalism and the broader human condition. Bartleby’s refusal to engage in prescribed activities, his withdrawal from social interaction, and his ultimate embrace of inertia reveal the dehumanizing potential of a society prioritizing productivity and conformity over individual autonomy and existential meaning. The narrator’s inability to comprehend or effectively respond to Bartleby underscores the limitations of conventional logic and social structures when confronted with profound existential despair or deliberate non-compliance.

Evidence and Textual Support

Melville meticulously embeds evidence for Bartleby’s critique throughout the narrative. Bartleby’s initial employment is presented as a positive development for the narrator, who values his speed and accuracy. This makes his subsequent refusal to proofread, a task directly related to his core function, particularly jarring. The narrator’s internal monologue reveals his struggle: "I was not altogether without a suspicion that Bartleby was a man of an unworldly character, and I was not without a hope that he might be a man who, if he had any peculiar notions, would not be apt to bring them to bear upon the business in hand." This quote demonstrates the narrator’s attempt to compartmentalize Bartleby, to believe his oddities won’t interfere with work. Bartleby’s physical transformation—from a neat scrivener to a figure who “lived, and, it might seem, subsisted entirely on ginger-nuts” and occupied the “dead-wall” space—serves as visual evidence of his increasing detachment. His refusal to leave the office, even when explicitly asked, and his eventual death in the Tombs, a symbol of societal neglect and confinement, are powerful textual anchors for the theme of alienation. The narrator’s final lament, "Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!", encapsulates the story’s broad implications, suggesting Bartleby’s plight is not an isolated incident but a reflection of universal human struggles and societal failings.

Organization and Thematic Development

The novella is logically organized, moving from the introduction of Bartleby and his initial oddities to the escalating disruptions and the narrator's increasing bewilderment. Melville skillfully develops themes of alienation, passive resistance, and the limitations of capitalist structures. The office setting itself becomes a microcosm of society, where Bartleby’s non-conformity stands in stark contrast to the pursuit of profit and efficiency. The narrator’s attempts to resolve the "Bartleby problem"—offering him food, suggesting he move, appealing to the police—are organized to show the ineffectiveness of conventional solutions. Each failed attempt deepens the sense of Bartleby’s isolation and the narrator’s helplessness. The story’s conclusion, with Bartleby’s death and the narrator’s final reflection, provides a thematic resolution by emphasizing the unresolved nature of human alienation and societal responsibility.

Tone and Style

Melville adopts a tone that is at once detached, ironic, and subtly sympathetic. The narrator’s voice is generally measured and pragmatic, reflecting his professional background. However, as Bartleby’s behavior becomes more extreme, the narrator’s tone shifts to one of bewilderment, frustration, and eventually, a weary resignation. This shift is crucial; it allows the reader to experience the unsettling nature of Bartleby’s resistance through the eyes of someone trying to maintain normalcy. The prose is precise and often employs legalistic or business-oriented language, which contrasts sharply with Bartleby’s existential pronouncements. This stylistic choice underscores the clash between the rational, transactional world of Wall Street and Bartleby’s irrational, perhaps deeply rational, withdrawal from it. The ambiguity surrounding Bartleby’s motivations contributes to the story’s unsettling atmosphere, preventing easy categorization and forcing readers to confront uncomfortable questions about human agency and societal pressures.

Revision Opportunities and Further Exploration

When revising an essay on "Bartleby, the Scrivener," consider the following: First, ensure your thesis is sharp and arguable, moving beyond a simple summary of events. For instance, instead of stating 'Bartleby refuses to work,' a stronger thesis might explore why this refusal is significant in a capitalist context. Second, check that your textual evidence is specific and well-integrated. Are you quoting directly and explaining how each quote supports your point, or are you merely dropping in sentences? Third, examine your analysis of the narrator. Is he presented solely as a victim of Bartleby, or is his own complicity and self-interest adequately explored? Finally, consider the broader implications. Does your essay touch upon the story’s relevance to contemporary issues of work, mental health, or social alienation? Expanding on these areas can elevate an essay from competent to exceptional.

Does the essay clearly state a thesis about Bartleby's significance?
Is the thesis supported by specific textual evidence (quotes, examples)?
Does the analysis explore the narrator's role and perspective?
Are themes like alienation, capitalism, and passive resistance discussed?
Is the narrative structure and pacing considered?
Is the tone of the story accurately described?
Does the essay offer a concluding thought on the story's meaning or relevance?

Example of Analyzing Bartleby's Language

Bartleby's iconic phrase, "I would prefer not to," is more than a simple refusal; it’s a linguistic strategy that disarms conventional modes of authority. Unlike an outright 'no,' which invites argument or confrontation, 'prefer not to' introduces a subtle subjectivity that the narrator finds impossible to directly counter. The narrator’s attempts to reframe the situation—'But, Bartleby, you do not mean to say you refuse to do it?'—are met with the same placid, unyielding preference. This linguistic politeness masks a radical act of non-compliance, highlighting how language itself can be a tool of resistance when detached from the expectation of obedience. The effectiveness of this phrase lies in its vagueness; it offers no reason, no justification, only a statement of internal inclination that defies external logic or command. This linguistic minimalism forces the narrator into a position of attempting to impose meaning and obligation onto a subject who actively resists such imposition, thereby exposing the inherent power dynamics and potential futility of command within the office environment.

FAQs

What is the main theme of 'Bartleby, the Scrivener'?

The primary themes of 'Bartleby, the Scrivener' revolve around alienation, passive resistance, the critique of capitalist labor, and the existential human condition. Bartleby's refusal to conform to societal and professional expectations highlights the dehumanizing potential of modern work and the profound isolation individuals can experience.

Who is the narrator in 'Bartleby, the Scrivener'?

The narrator is a Wall Street lawyer who employs Bartleby as a scrivener. He is presented as a pragmatic and generally well-meaning individual who initially values efficiency and order. However, his narrative perspective is limited by his own conventional worldview, making him increasingly bewildered and ultimately helpless in the face of Bartleby's enigmatic behavior.

What does Bartleby's phrase 'I would prefer not to' signify?

Bartleby's iconic phrase 'I would prefer not to' signifies his passive resistance to the demands placed upon him. It's a polite yet absolute refusal that defies easy categorization or logical rebuttal. It represents his withdrawal from the transactional nature of work and social obligation, becoming a symbol of his existential stance.

What is the significance of the setting (Wall Street)?

The setting on Wall Street is highly significant. It represents the heart of 19th-century American capitalism, a world driven by productivity, profit, and strict adherence to duty. Bartleby's presence and his refusal to participate in this system act as a stark anomaly, highlighting the potential for alienation and dehumanization within such an environment.

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