Bartleby the Scrivener Essay Examples and Research Papers

Short story by Herman Melville

Number of pages: 60

Genre(s): Short story

A successful lawyer on Wall Street hires Bartleby, a scrivener, to relieve the load of work experienced by his law firm. For two days, Bartleby executes his job with skill and gains the owner’s confidence for his diligence.

First Person (Central Narrator) We see everything through the eyes of Bartleby’s employer, who is directly affected by the scrivener’s inaction, and through this perspective, we quickly identify with the conflicted feelings of the Narrator.

tone The story is written by the Lawyer, who is reflecting on his experiences with Bartleby. The tone is one of interest, frustration, and regret.