Example of essay on bartleby the scrivener

“ Bartleby the Scrivener” is a story written by Melville. The story is defined by difficulty in interpretation as well as understanding following the creativity of the writer. There are several critics that have been brought in as stands for different interpretations of the story. Outstanding presentation is defined by proper representation of characters matched to creative elements of writing.
The plot of the story is extremely straightforward. The lawyer, who is a man of sixty of age, employed on Wall Street hires a copyist, who seemed indifferent from other copyists, though the lawyer is used to peculiar copyists. Bartleby is unique. His first response which says “ I would prefer not to” (Melville, 1966) appears innocent initially but later becomes a tune, a slogan that is a significant section of Bartleby’s character.
Quietness, politeness, and firmness in refusal to conduct routine tasks by Bartleby are main sources of bewilderment. Bartleby’s uniqueness has been compared to that of philosophers like Cicero and Mahatma Gandhi. His refusal of the request by the lawyer is a representation of critique of the advancing materialism in the American culture at the moment. The stubborn refusal by Bartleby to conduct the duty he has been requested to conduct is a representation of heroic opposition to economic command (Melville, 1966).
Melville brings out economic control as a subtle theme since the lawyer never contemplates Bartleby’s refusal to be a working society member. He is extremely shocked by Bartleby’s refusal to eat or do anything. The story simply represents the existence of Bartleby who does some writing, which he gives up later to stare at the wall.
Apart from Bartleby and the Lawyer, the other characters in the story include Nippers, Turkey and Ginger Nut (Melville, 1966). Turkey and Nippers are the most significant. None of the nicknames certainly fits their character. Turkey does not resemble a turkey in any manner, unless the wrinkles on his skin, at some point he turns red when he changes costumes making him acquire a turkey’s neck. Nippers also has some minimal resemblance. He is nippy in the morning and ill-tempered, which is a glib interpretation. Melville seems to name these characters in a memorable manner. This method brings out the uniqueness of characters by rejecting their real names. Melville emphasizes that they can be defined easily by their behavior function as well as appearance.
Nippers and Turkey are also evocative of nursery rhyme of fairly anecdote characters, moderately following their strange names, as well as in the manner which their behavior accompaniments each other. Turkey is characterized by his hard work in the morning while Nippers is always griping over a sour stomach as well as joking. In the evening, Turkey is angry and red-faced, blotting on his copies as Nippers works diligently and quietly. As pointed out by the Lawyer the two lessen each other like guards, with each of them having an aim being superior to the other.
Different readers of the book have had different views on the book but they agree on some points. The Lawyer is observed as a collector. He collects characters by relating to their history and by analyzing them through saying that good-natured men may smile, and sentimental souls may weep. Bartleby is the prize of the Lawyer’s collection. One of the most outstanding tales by the Lawyer says, “ I waive the biographies of all other scriveners for a few passages in the life of Bartleby, who was a scrivener, the strangest I ever saw, or heard of.” (Melville, 1966). Under this quotation, the Lawyer appears a little worried of his recollection like Bartleby was uninteresting sample of an insect. The treatment of the Lawyer to Bartleby can be interpreted as pitying, sympathetic, or cold, based on an individual’s interpretation.
In his presentation, Melville has chosen different strategies as a representation of his themes and hammering meaning and understanding of the story to the ears of readers. He uses climax and falling method of presentation to vary the mood in the narration. This means that tone variation can be observed in the book where it rises and falls depending on the message being relayed Bartleby the Scrivener is an outstanding representation of proper and creative writing. Melville combines characters with representative traits and elements of creative writing like imagery and personification to make this presentation attractive to many readers.

Work cited

Melville, H. (1966). Bartleby the scrivener; a symposium ([1st Ed.). Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press.