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Bartleby The Scrivener Essay - College Essays

Bartleby The Scrivener Essay

"Bartleby the Scrivener" is a short story written by Herman Melville. The plot is based on the character Bartleby, an office worker who decides to stop doing his work. Bartleby is thrown in prison because he does not adapt to society's expectations. It is in prison where he dies a lonely man. The Story of "Bartleby the Scrivener" can be interpreted from a social, psychological and moral standpoint.
Bartleby teaches many lessons which are learned through his social status situation in the story. The main theme in this short story is that it is extremely hard to go against the grain in society especially during the middle 1800's. This becomes a major dilemma for Bartleby as he wards ...

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necessary read between the lines to understand how lonely and 'down in the dumps' Bartleby is. Bartleby's aura has a psychological affect on his co-workers in his office as well. Bartleby's co-workers experience both distraction and frustration because of Bartleby's
neglecting of his work. Bartleby becomes isolated by his co-workers because of his non-conforming ways.
"Bartleby the Scrivener" can also be looked at from a moral point of view. Melville pushed a Calvinistic work mindset which says that it is a person's duty to work diligently for one's boss. An employee is given a certain amount of work to do in a certain amount of time and it is the worker's obligation to get the work done. Bartleby goes against these views which is society lives by when he stops working. He is looked down upon by
his community because of his neglect of these morals.
It is important to look for social, psychological and moral points when reading "Bartleby the Scrivener". The social ...

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Bartleby The Scrivener Essay. (2004, March 5). Retrieved January 11, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Bartleby-The-Scrivener-Essay/4074

"Bartleby The Scrivener Essay." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 5 Mar. 2004. Web. 11 Jan. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Bartleby-The-Scrivener-Essay/4074>

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 3/5/2004 04:06:31 AM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 415
Pages: 2

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