Bartleby the Scrivener
1. About midway through the story (paras. 87-94), the narrator discovers that Bartleby has been living in the law offices…show how [the paragraphs] describe the narrator’s growing awareness of who Bartleby is.
Throughout the story, Bartleby is the singular character in which most is unknown. He is too intricately described, nor does he have any outstanding qualities. The sum of this character can be simplified to the phrase “I prefer not to”.
The story takes the reader through the discovery of Bartleby, as a character, and yet, he is never fully discovered. In the selected passage, the narrator discovers an aspect of Bartleby- he lives in the office. His entire existence revolves around that office, and he does not leave, nor have the desire to leave. His wordly possessions are reduced to that onhis person. The man lives in simplicity and does not seem too entirely affected by it. At this realization, more of Bartleby’s character s revealed and the narrator’s view of him is changed. He is no longer the eccentric employee, but instead the eccentric inhabitant of his office. The narrator struggles to understand the motivations behind such behavior, and at every given opportunity, tries to reach Bartleby. He remains guarded and mysterious, despite the aggravations of the narrator. The paragraphs mentioned are the point in the story in which Bartleby is more fully described and becomes more established as the main character. The narrator, after realizing the state of living, begins to feel sympathy for Bartleby, yet still remains confused. Despite attempts by the narrator to reveal Bartleby more in depth, Bartleby remains unchanged and “standing at his window in one of his profoundest dead-wall reveries” (389). His unchanging presence, somehow reveals a deeper character to the narrator. Initially, when Bartleby first began his work at the office, he was productive and actually contributed to being, however, he remained an unknown figure in the background of the story. But, as he became more withdrawn and silent, the narrator sees a deeper character. His silence and quiet existence proves to be more of a presence. In the end, the narrator speculates on who Bartleby could truly be and what he could represent, it is his silence that makes the loudest commotion and catches the attention of the narrator, overall.
