The Interpretations in Bartleby, the Scrivener, a Short Story by Herman Melville

Many of the deep textual inferences made that back up people‘s ideas of a theme differentiate from each others. Throughout this story, the narrator, who happens to be an attorney, is constantly ignored by Bartleby, one of his employees. This frustrates him, but he keeps giving Bartleby multiple chances to make up for the times that he disobeyed orders. As shown clearly in Bartleby, the responsibility of one man should be for only himself after an extended period of time trying to help someone to no avail.

Many who read the story are frustrated by how the narrator gives more chances to Bartleby than he deserved Some may consider him caring, while others may describe him as over-compromising and nonauthoritative. After a period of Bartleby refusing to do the work that the narrator asked of him by saying, “I would prefer not to,” the narrator says rather drearily, “Even so, for the most part, 1 regarded Bartleby and his ways.” The attitude displayed by the narrator is rather unexpected because of the environmemi Even at the time of this being written.

Wall Street is a very cutthroat society that only thrives when those working in it display selfishness and focus on self prosperity. The way that the narrator’s mindset is different is depicted clearly when he says, “The bond of a common humanity drew me irresistibly to doom… For both I and Bartleby are sons of Adam.” This allusion shows clearly that the attorney does not have a “Wall Street mindset” Some may be impressed by the way he humanizes his employees, but others frustrated by the way he gives Bartleby so many chances because he is human.

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It finally becomes apparent that the behavior of the narrator is not normal when he says, “I became considerably reconciled to Bartleby.” The assumption can be made that the narrator may not be displaying normal human traits, and at this point is more submissive than caring. The period of time in which he attempted to help Bartleby was long past it’s normal expectations, and Bartleby was only hurting himself and others after this time. It is clear that after an extended period of time, man should only hold himself accountable after attempting to assist someone unsuccessfully.