Bartleby the Scrivener focuses upon a law firm and the behavior of one of the copyists at this law firm, Bartleby. Bartleby, whose motto is “I would prefer not to,” is the main character of this short story. The other characters- Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger- function mainly to show the lawyer’s acceptance of peoples differences and their quirks. Though the lawyer is accepting, acceptance of Bartleby’s “I would prefer not to” is a bigger task than the other workers differences. The setting being on Wall Street of New York encompasses a major part of the story’s central point. While in one of the biggest cities of the world, where people are always around other people, always moving, Bartleby still manages to be alienated inside an office. Readers don’t learn much about any of the character’s personal lives, it is strictly how they behave in this New York City office.

Walls are used multiple times to symbolize certain things and feelings. On first glance, it can be interpreted that the walls represent being trapped. The capitalist economy in which everyone partakes in conveys a feeling of economic and financial imprisonment. Brick walls surround the office, which also acts as Bartleby’s home, so a feeling of helplessness is fully expected. His failure to complete his work is a resistance to this capitalist economy. Though it may be a weak resistance, it is indeed an opposition. Upon Bartleby’s death, it becomes known that in the past, Bartleby worked for the Dead Letter Office. The narrator wonders if this is what drove Bartleby to behave the way he did, working such a depressing job.

The lawyers compassion for Bartleby is of great significance in this story. The fact that he went to the prison to visit Bartleby says a lot about his character. He continuously offered Bartleby places to reside, as long as he would leave the office for professional reasons. Bartleby wouldn’t comply so the lawyer had no choice but to reach out to the police. He still cared for Bartleby, though, and his sympathy in this story is a central role to Bartleby’s development.