Almost everyone has heard of the novel “Moby Dick”. Less people though know that it was Herman Melville who wrote the world famous best-seller. Yet even less people can name other books and stories written by the American. One important story cycle he published in 1856 is called “The Piazza Tales” and it includes the short novels “Bartleby, The Scrivener”, “Billy Budd” and “Benito Cerone”.
This paper deals with the first one.
In the process of my work I will try to present a short overview about the story and give a brief summary. Nevertheless it is assumed that the reader of this paper is already familiar with the text.
I will focus on the formula “I prefer not to” which Bartleby frequently uses as his only way to communicate with his environment. In a first step I will examine the influence that the usage of this formula has on the lawyer. Furthermore I will present the reactions of the office clerks and of other people to this phrase.
The second part of this paper then is devoted to the opinions and interpretations of famous Melville critics who put the weight of their argumentation on very contradictory points. This criticism is essential in order to understand the story. In traditional forms Bartleby is “unreadable”. The text becomes meaningful, framed and structured only by taking account of the according criticism. Of course, there are many and very different ways to criticize the story. I though think that dealing with the famous phrase is the form of interpretation that is closest to the text and therefore the most easily to follow. With all these critical views and opinions, including my own argumentation, I will show that Bartleby never had a chance to survive. His chosen style of living just did not fit into the world back in these days. Does it today? I will come back to this thesis in the end and try to find an answer.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. General overview about Melville and his short novels
2. Bartleby
2.1 Bartleby: Context and sequence of events
2.2 Bartleby’s formula
2.3 The clerks’ reactions to his formula
2.4 The lawyer’s reaction to his formula
2.5 Other people’s reactions
3. Critics
3.1 Bartleby: Christlike? Biblical phrases and connotations in the text
3.2 “Parable of the Walls”?
3.3 Other Interpretations
Conclusion. Bartleby in today’s world?
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines Herman Melville’s short novel "Bartleby, The Scrivener," focusing on the protagonist's recurring formula "I prefer not to" and its profound impact on his environment. The study aims to analyze how this enigmatic refusal functions as a communication barrier, how it influences the narrator (the lawyer) and the office staff, and how various literary critics interpret the character of Bartleby through different lenses, such as religious symbolism and socio-economic critique.
- The role and communicative impact of Bartleby’s refrain "I prefer not to."
- The psychological and behavioral reactions of the office staff and the lawyer.
- Religious and Christological interpretations of Bartleby’s existence and fate.
- Socio-economic analysis through the lens of "The Parable of the Walls."
- The relevance of Bartleby’s isolation in a modern-day context.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Bartleby’s Formula
“I prefer not to.“
This phrase can be taken as the actual protagonist of the story. Bartleby is completely reduced to this sentence and all that follows is caused by these words.
From the first utterance of “I prefer not to” on page ten all actions and answers Bartleby gives are defined and underlined by this expression. Sometimes he repeats with longer sentences, but their only content is “I would prefer not to”: “At present I would prefer to give no answer”1, “At present I would prefer not to be a little reasonable”2, “I would prefer not to quit you”3. Usually though Bartleby simply repeats the sole phrase in order to communicate with his environment.
In the beginning he just refuses to compare copies, a fact the lawyer does not take too much of an interest in. Nevertheless from the beginning onwards the narrator can never find a reason for Bartleby’s strange behaviour. He tries to search for reasons, believes that Bartleby’s bad eyes might be the cause, maybe his family background, but his scrivener prefers not to tell him the reason.
“Why do you refuse? - I would prefer not to.”4
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of Melville's work and outlines the focus on Bartleby’s cryptic formula as a key to understanding the story.
1. General overview about Melville and his short novels: Contextualizes Melville’s writing career and the publication history of "The Piazza Tales" and "Bartleby."
2. Bartleby: Examines the narrative sequence of events, the psychological toll of the protagonist's resistance, and the reactions of those around him.
2.1 Bartleby: Context and sequence of events: Describes the plot arc from Bartleby's arrival in the law office to his final days and death in the tombs.
2.2 Bartleby’s formula: Analyzes the linguistic function of Bartleby's refusal and how it defines his existence within the narrative.
2.3 The clerks’ reactions to his formula: Details how the office staff's behavior is influenced and disrupted by the scrivener's strange conduct.
2.4 The lawyer’s reaction to his formula: Explores the narrator's struggle between empathy, annoyance, and a moral sense of duty toward his employee.
2.5 Other people’s reactions: Contrasts the lawyer's patience with the more immediate, intolerant reactions of other characters in the story.
3. Critics: Reviews academic perspectives that interpret the story through religious and biographical frameworks.
3.1 Bartleby: Christlike? Biblical phrases and connotations in the text: Discusses the argument that Bartleby serves as a Christ-like figure tested by his employer.
3.2 “Parable of the Walls”?: Explores Leo Marx’s interpretation of the confining walls as a symbol of the artist's dilemma in society.
3.3 Other Interpretations: Touches upon alternative readings, including historical newspaper influences and transcendentalist themes.
Conclusion. Bartleby in today’s world?: Reflects on the timeless nature of the character and whether such an individual could find a place in modern society.
Keywords
Herman Melville, Bartleby, The Scrivener, Wall Street, literary criticism, I prefer not to, Christ-like, narrative, symbolism, resistance, short story, transcendentalism, isolation, communication, society.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core theme of this paper?
The paper explores the enigma of Bartleby in Melville’s story, specifically focusing on how his repetitive refusal to work challenges the established order and those around him.
What are the primary areas of study?
The work covers linguistic patterns in the text, character psychological responses, religious symbolism, and biographical interpretations of the author.
What is the main objective of the thesis?
The objective is to interpret Bartleby’s behavior not merely as an act of defiance, but as a systematic withdrawal from a society that offers him no space to exist.
Which methodology is applied?
The author uses a close reading of the text combined with an analysis of established literary critics to provide a comprehensive interpretation.
What does the main body of the paper discuss?
It discusses the sequence of events in the story, the influence of the "I prefer not to" phrase on the lawyer and clerks, and critical essays by scholars like H. Bruce Franklin and Leo Marx.
Which keywords describe this work?
Keywords include Melville, Bartleby, Wall Street, Christ-like figures, literary criticism, and narrative resistance.
How does the lawyer's reaction to Bartleby evolve throughout the story?
Initially, the lawyer is confused and slightly annoyed, but he eventually develops a strange sense of empathy and responsibility, even contemplating murder to end the dilemma.
What does the conclusion suggest about Bartleby in modern times?
The author concludes that such a figure would likely be rejected or institutionalized even faster in today’s society than in the 19th century.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sebastian Goetzke (Autor:in), 2003, "Reactions to Bartleby's" formula - A reading of text and critics, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/20502
