“Bartelby, the Scrivener”
October 12, 2010 by egofman
Melville uses a strong sense of description making us, as readers, feel as if we are actually watching the events of his novel. Throughout the story “Bartelby, the Scrivener,” not only do the employees who work for Melville develop as their own distinctive characters, but the narrator himself shows the development of his moral fiber and the man he was, as a whole.
Looking at the narrator’s personality, we could have built upon the conclusion that he is an even-tempered man who is coming to his old age. The way Bartelby was brought up in the beginning of the narrator’s story shows the effect Bartelby had on Melville’s life. “While of other law-copyists I might write the complete life, of Bartelby nothing of that sort can be done. I believe that no materials exist for a full and satisfactory biography of this man. It is an irreparable loss to literature. Bartelby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable, except from the original sources, and in his case those are very small. What my own astonished eyes saw of Bartelby, that is all I know of him, except, indeed, one vague report which will appear in the sequel” (3). The quote clearly explains Melville’s fondness or bitterness of Bartelby, which in the beginning we cannot render immediately. It is interesting to see how affected Melville was by his employee.
“Bartelby, the Scrivener,” is an exploration of Melville’s character and his development in many significant ways. The narrator had an interesting experience with Bartleby not too long after Bartelby assumed his position as a scrivener at Melville’s office. The narrator can be described as a man who doesn’t care too much for things, being more of a laid-back individual in life and especially at work. It seems that he doesn’t take himself too seriously and seems a bit lazy. He also seems to be an unambitious and extremely considerate boss.
During the course of the novel though, Bartelby does not acknowledge Melville’s proposal. Bartelby’s very constant notion of words, and it seems to be one of the only words he says, are “I would prefer not to.” I think that Melville’s story was definitely a deep exploration of his character. After hiring one individual, the narrator was completely transformed in his mood and character. Melville’s dignity and individual approach to situations was destroyed. From living a calm, simple life, Melville would dread every day of his job only to see the behavior Bartelby would unintentionally pull off. Melville slowly got outraged and surprised at a personality such that of Bartelby. Melville lost complete control. The narrator did not hesitate to show the readers that he truly went insane through the occurrence of Bartleby’s presence.
I feel this is a very simple novel that lures the reader in by Bartelby’s absurd, but calm behavior. It left me thinking deeper into the situation of maybe why Bartelby is the way he is. But I believe Melville had a point to make about how an individual can slowly change due to life’s surprises. And that’s exactly what happened with Melville. I feel that he was completely transformed.