Herman Melville\'s \"Bartleby the Scrivener\"

¶ … Herman Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener"

Melville's short story "Bartleby the Scrivener" is, on its surface, a simple tale: it is about a man who refuses to work. "I prefer not to," is Bartleby's simple statement, in response to his employer's and colleagues queries as to why he suddenly transforms into a completely inactive person at his office. Bartleby offers no explanation why he has suddenly manifested such a change in his behavior. Bartleby's inaction creates a frenzy and nearly brings down all of the society of 'scriveners.' His denial of the usefulness of the functions of his office is so complete, that all of the other employee's lives are turned upside-down. The bureaucracy of the office is so overwhelming that any deviation from its routine is seismic in the eyes of the scriveners. Bartleby refuses to conform to the office's rules, and by showing no fear of the prospect of unemployment, he creates a potentially negative example for others.

Before Bartleby refuses to work, he is an industrious employee: "At first Bartleby did an extraordinary quantity of writing. As if long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents." The other characters of the story, including the narrator, Ginger Nut, Turkey, and Nippers have structured the meaning of their lives around the importance of their work. Bartleby's inaction is not annoying; it is a denial of their entire system of values. In his refusal, Bartleby suggests another mode of life that is not dependent upon routine, obedience to authority, or even a paycheck. Before Bartleby, refusing to work was not even viewed as a possibility.

The office is built around the idea that the work that the men do is vitally important, and if things do not proceed smoothly, the world will somehow end. However, despite Bartleby's obstinate behavior, nothing bad happens, other than the men's growing frustration. The men seem to work for the sake of working, rather than to actually produce something 'real.' The narrator clearly believes in this system, which is why he is so determined, until the bitter end, to force Bartleby to work, rather than firing him immediately. The narrator describes himself as an "eminently safe man." because he supports the system of Wall Street without question.

If Bartleby were alive today, he would likely be one of those individuals in a corporate office who refuses to do 'busy work' when there was really no productive work to do, and frustrates his supervisors who demand that lower-level employees keep up the appearance of productivity at all times. However, although Bartleby clearly seems dissatisfied with his current way of life, he inexplicably refuses to try to change his existence. Even when the narrator, lists a series of possible options for work, Bartleby refuses all of them. Bartleby refuses to move, to take meals, and eventually is confined to 'the Tombs' as a vagrant.