Bartleby - the Scrivener by Herman Melville

One can only do so Much

This is about a story called "Bartleby the Scrivener" by author Herman Melville. The story of "Bartleby" is of a story being told by the eyes of his employer. Even though the story is of Bartleby, Bartleby is not the main character. The narrator is the protagonist in this story. The narrator is very vague about the life of Bartleby because Bartleby is not willing to open himself up to his boss. There is always something more witThe narrator is Bartleby's boss, who seems to be a good person at heart by putting up with his employees, where many other bosses wouldn't do so.

There is a story behind all of the characters in the narrator's life, including his own. The narrator doesn't say much about anyone including himself. He is an elderly man that has had much success in his profession, even though he is known as an "unambitious lawyer" and a "safe man" ("Bartleby the Scrivener"). He is also known to be a good judge of character in practical affairs and that he hardly ever loses his temper. In other words he is patient and he shows a lot of when it comes down to dealing not only with Bartleby, but that of his other two copyists and his one office boy. The narrator's patience is tested when Bartleby decides to go against the narrator and continues to do what he wants to do and not what he is asked to do. Even though the narrator is known for having very little desire for success or achievement he still (like anyone else) would like to be treated with respect. The narrator doesn't meddle into the personal businesses of his employees, unless it is starting to interfere with the narrator himself or with the narrator's firm.

The first copyist is Turkey. He is about the same age as the narrator and Bartleby. He is known to be a calmer person in the morning and in the afternoon he seems to be frustrated. The narrator state that Turkey's face turns "blazing red" in the afternoon when Turkey is also making too much noise and is making a mess with the ink on the narrator's documents. The narrator seems to find his actions of disconnection as a distraction to him in the afternoon and has kindly asked Turkey to only work in the morning and not in the afternoon. Turkey a little bit disappointed with the narrators request kindly lets the narrator know and disregards the narrators request and keeps on working in the afternoons. The narrator not wanting to hurt his feelings anymore continues to let Turkey work in the afternoon but not on important stuff that may interfere with the narrator's important work.

The second copyists name nickname is Nippers. He is a younger man in his mid twenties. The narrator sees him as "ambitious and irritable". Nippers is the opposite of Turkey, he is less useful in the morning but at his best in the afternoon. The narrator gives Nippers the less important work in the morning and the important work he didn't give Turkey in the afternoon he gives it to Nippers. This is a benefit for them all by letting them both work and the narrator's work still getting done with the least amount of complications. Ginger Nut is the narrator's office boy who is in his early teens. The narrator has his office boy run most of the errands and do other office work like clean. By explaining all of the characters roles in the story, one can see how the narrator is a good person by showing the audience they kind of people that work for the narrator.

The narrator doesn't get involve with any of his employee personal lives, he just tries to fix any problems them might have so that it may not interfere with their work. As he suggests many options for them they politely refuse and go on with their work. The narrator feels that as long as he has tried to do what is best for the firm all is right with his employees. He never belittles his employees he only talks about what their characteristics are. Never saying that it is wrong or that he would never do that he is just showing the audience what he sees.

When it comes to Bartleby the narrator seems to leave him alone in the beginning, but as time goes on the narrator stats asking more of Bartleby, Bartleby politely refuses. "There is always something more with Bartleby" (173). At first the narrator doesn't know what to think of Bartleby's responses and merely just request that the other works do what Bartleby won't do. As time goes on the narrator asks Bartleby to reread what he has copied for him and once again Bartleby politely refuses by saying "I'd prefer not to" (12). Now by this time the employer is getting a little bit annoyed at the fact that his employee isn't doing the job he asked him to do the employer starts to question Bartleby. Bartleby response to his employer when