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Essay / The character of Bartleby in Bartleby The Scrivener Story by Herman Melville
Thanks to Bartleby the Scrivener Story, Melville managed to embody an eccentric but also extremely pitiful Bartleby character. A character goes against everything that is normal simply because he “prefers.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The refrain “I would rather not” was repeated by Bartleby because it was in his subconscious. It had crept into Bartleby's mind as he sat at the closed desk, where the dim light shone through the dark wall. At the beginning of the story, Bartleby appeared as a thin and pale man but very professional and reliable at work. He diligently copied a large number of documents and did not want to stop. Bartleby even got hold of the copy “and proceeded with business without the slightest delay” even though there was no instruction from a lawyer. But until the lawyer asked Bartleby to check a small piece of paper, the work he described as being "a very dull, tedious and lethargic affair." I can easily imagine that this would be quite intolerable to some sanguine temperaments. Bartleby responded politely in a gentle, but also extremely certain, tone: “I would prefer not to.” A polite refusal surprised the lawyer and everyone. But somehow, this polite rejection affected everyone in the office without their knowledge. When Turkey told the lawyer: "I think if he would rather have a liter of good beer every day", the lawyer also responded enthusiastically: "Then you understand too." Then one day, when Bartleby's eyesight deteriorated and he gradually lost motivation. Bartleby decided to do nothing but stare at the wall outside the window. Perhaps Bartleby's loss of motivation comes from a lack of communication and concern among the office workers. The details of Bartleby's workplace are quite revealing: "I bought a large green screen, which could completely isolate Bartleby from my sight, but without keeping him from my voice. And so, in a way, private life and society were joined.” The image of the dividing wall is probably a metaphor for the difficulties, the obstacle that Bartleby must overcome to lead a normal life. Furthermore, Bartleby's refusal also means fighting for his ideal and his class. Bartleby had worked at the Dead Letter Office in the past, and his dismissal due to changes in government had affected Bartleby. Which makes him depressed and lacking motivation. Bartleby becomes a closed person "he only spoke to respond", "he refused to say who he was, or where he came from, or if he had relatives in the world" or "never went out take a walk, unless indeed that was the case at the moment.” Additionally, Bartleby only eats ginger nuts to get through the day. This was the only help Bartleby expected from his colleague. Bartleby is not just a passive resister, he simply refuses what he does not want. Bartleby refuses to leave the office as well as the lawyer's house to be locked in the tombs. Because he doesn't want to change anything: "No: for the moment, I would prefer not to change anything at all." Maybe when Bartleby worked at the Dead Letter Office, even though it was a boring job, he probably didn't want to change. But he still had to leave due to the change of government. Until now, every change scared Bartleby. When in the tombs, where Bartleby "stands all alone in the quietest courtyard, he faces a high wall, while all around, from the.