Questions and Answers for Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What does “Ah! Bartleby, Ah! humanity” mean in the very last sentence of “Bartleby the Scrivener”?
The last words of “Bartleby the Scrivener” can be seen as a lament for the sheer absurdity of Bartleby's existence. They come after the lawyer narrator, Bartleby's former employer, has heard a...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What in the world is this story about? What is wrong with Bartleby? Is he lazy or crazy?
Bartleby is neither lazy nor crazy. We are led to believe (though the lawyer stresses that he doesn't know with certainty) that Bartleby suffers from despair. He starts off in his job as a hard...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What is the conclusion of Bartleby the Scrivener? What is Bartleby's work performance like initially?
Near the end of Bartleby, the Scrivener, Bartleby dies in the Tombs prison, where has been sent because of his homelessness. Bartleby dies of starvation in prison because he prefers not to eat...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In "Bartleby the Scrivner," why does Bartleby refuse to do what his boss asks? What is the significance of his...
First of all, Bartleby does not exactly "refuse" his work; instead, he repeatedly insists that he "prefers" not to do it. At first Bartleby "gorges himself" on his work and labors "silent, palely,...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In "Bartleby the Scrivener," discuss the story's humor and how it affected your response to Bartleby.
"Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-street" is a darkly comic short story that satirizes the nature of work and its role in ascribing meaning to our lives. The comedy in the story also raises...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What is the significance of walls in "Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street"?
Walls repeatedly symbolize Bartleby's walled-in existence, representing his lack of anything in life to look forward to. Not only do they reflect his despairing mental state, they reinforce it. In...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville, what part do the setting and the subtitle ("A Story of Wall Street")...
The subtitle, “A Story of Wall Street,” appears to refer to the famous street in Manhattan, and would seem to support a particular reading of the story, in which Bartleby can be seen as an...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In "Bartleby the Scrivener," explain the significance of the subtitle, "A Story of Wall Street" in relation to one...
Wall Street is of course the heart of New York's financial district, the epicenter of the global capitalist economy. Even in Herman Melville's day it was a thriving hub of commerce. In the midst of...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What role do Turkey, Ginger Nut, and Nippers play in the story of Bartleby's life in "Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale...
These individuals, who range in age from 12 to almost 60, are Bartleby's coworkers. The lawyer who hires Bartleby at first hopes this new employee, because of his "singularly sedate" personality,...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In “Bartleby, the Scrivener”, why do you think Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut are introduced to the reader before...
Turkey, Nipper, and Ginger Nut are introduced first to prepare us for why the lawyer is initially so delighted with Bartleby. We learn from the first three employees that it is apparently hard to...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In Bartleby the Scrivener, how does the lawyer's description of himself serve to characterize him? Why is it...
At the beginning of the story, the lawyer describes himself as an older man and a person who has sought an easy path through life, although also one that makes him a good deal of money. He uses as...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
How do the characters (Narrator, Turkey, Gingernut, Nipper) in "Bartleby the Scrivener" relate to the theme?
One of the themes of this story revolves around urban society in that late 19th century. It was important then, as it often is now, to conform to a certain role in order to be recognized. Once...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What effect does the opening paragraph have on readers? What is learned about the narrator?
The first paragraph of the story has a lot of information in it, but most of the information has to do with things we infer about the narrator from the way he writes, rather than what he actually...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Who is the protagonist in Bartleby the Scrivener? Whose story is it?
It's Bartelby's story. He is the main character, and what happens in the story is all about him and what he does or doesn't do. This most singular of characters is unusual in that he's both the...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In Bartleby the Scrivener, do you sympathize more with Bartleby or with the narrator? What would you have done with...
Without wishing to sound in any way evasive, I sympathize with both characters. I sympathize with Bartelby, because it's clear that there's something wrong with him; I also sympathize with his...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What are some examples of symbolism, imagery, tone and theme in "Bartleby the Scrivener"?
Early in the story the tone is "normal" and reflects the work setting. The scene is set in a typical office with typical workers, albeit each with idiosyncrasies. In short, it is a normal office...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Can someone please help me answering the following questions about "Bartleby the Scrivener": 1. Why do you think...
Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut are introduced before Bartleby to show how tolerant the narrator generally is of eccentric and somewhat unproductive employees. For example, Nippers is irritable in...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Describe the lawyer's changing attitudes toward Bartleby.
The lawyer who narrates the story is initially glad to have Bartleby as an employee because he does good work and does it for long hours, but the lawyer wishes Bartleby had a less gloomy demeanor....
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
How does Bartleby's "I would prefer not to" affect the routine of the lawyer and his employees?
Bartleby’s response does upset his lawyer employer, although his fellow employees, Nipper, Turkey, and Gingernut, are hardly without their eccentricities as well. It always struck me as odd that...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In the story "Bartleby the Scrivener" by Herman Melville, what is the significance of the setting? What could be some...
Melville's title itself, "Bartleby the Scrivener: A Tale of Wall Street" indicates the significance of the setting as well as characterizing it. For, the lawyers chambers look upon a white wall...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What motivates Bartleby's behavior in "Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street"?
We never find out definitively why Bartleby shuts down and decides he "prefers not to" do any work whatsoever. However, the sympathetic and kind-hearted lawyer employer who takes an interest in him...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What are the themes (or scenes) of Bartleby the Scrivener?
One of the themes of the story is the way that society often finds it hard to deal with those who are different. And Bartleby certainly couldn't be more different if he tried. The whole culture of...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Describe the 105 North Tower in A Tale of Two Cities.
In Chapter 21 ("XXI,") as the men make their way to the cell known as "One Hundred and Five, North Tower," the mood is tense and spooky. They enter the room, and here's the narrator's direct...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What effect does Bartleby have on the narrator?
Bartleby has a strange effect on the narrator, a lawyer who employs Bartleby as his scrivener (a person who copies documents). The lawyer increasingly falls under Bartleby's spell as he comes to...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What is the lawyer's attitude toward Bartleby and how does it change in "Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street"?
The lawyer who hires Bartleby as a clerk is at first pleased with his diligence and good work habits. He later becomes becomes frustrated and perplexed as Bartleby begins picking and choosing what...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In "Bartleby the Scrivener," in what ways does the narrator's characterization of him as a "fixture" or "the last...
The lawyer narrator describes himself as a pillar of salt long before he refers to Bartleby either as a "fixture" or as a "column" in a "ruined temple." The pillar of salt comment comes as Bartleby...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What is the narrator's attitude towards public opinion and the reaction of his clients and colleagues?
The story's narrator puts up with his negative opinions about Bartleby for some time. Finally, however, when the fired Bartleby refuses to leave and remains a statue-like fixture in the office, the...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What made Bartleby change from such a hard worker to a unmotivated, lazy waste of space in Bartleby the Scrivener?...
It may well be that the narrator of this tale, a rather successful Wall Street business man, had hired Bartleby at the very end of Bartleby's ability to cope. Indeed, Bartleby did, at first, work...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
"In answer to advertisement, a motionless young man one morning, stood upon my office threshold, the door being open,...
From the start of Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street," the scrivener is presented as a man of extreme "motionless;" he is pallid (or pale), pitiable and forlorn. Pallid is...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
I need help writting a thesis statement for Melville's story "Bartleby the Scrivener, A Story of Wall Street."
To start a good thesis, I'd suggest honing in on which parts of the story really speak to you. What message do you think the author is trying to deliver, and how can you present that as an...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Why do you think Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut are introduced to the reader before Bartleby?
It can be argued that Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut are introduced to readers before Bartleby for two key reasons. First, the author wants to demonstrate why the narrator is initially drawn to...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What is Bartleby's disorder? Antisocial personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, post traumatic stress...
Yours is an intriguing question. However, I don't see how anyone can hope to make an accurate diagnosis of a fictional character. Bartleby is just a creation of Herman Melville. If Bartleby seems...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In Bartleby, the Scrivener, the narrator introduces three other workers: Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut. What are...
Pertaining to the three employees of the narrator of Bartleby, the Scrivener, their nicknames are Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut. Turkey and Nippers are copyists. Turkey is approaching 60 years old...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Who is the narrator of "Bartleby the Scrivener"?
It is interesting to note that the narrator remains unnamed, even though the other characters have either names or nicknames. This makes the narrator a bit of an everyman, and allows the readers...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In "Bartleby the Scrivener," why does Bartleby stare out the window or lurk behind a screen? In "Bartleby the...
Yes, it is interesting to note the way in which the enigmatic character of Bartleby is presented as always being hemmed in in some way. Consider how the office of the narrator only overlooks walls...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
How does Melville portray the "human condition" in the story "Bartleby the Scrivener"? I should at least formulate...
In many ways, Melville’s story "Bartleby the Scrivener" can be read as an allegory for the human condition. Man is fated to die, as are other animals. However, unlike other animals, man is aware of...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Using specific passages, how can "slippage", a feature of deconstructionist literary criticism, be seen in Herman...
“Slippage” refers to the idea that meaning is not neatly contained by words but is always in a state of flux, subject to the arbitrary relationship between (for example) the word “tree” and what we...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Does Bartleby symbolize the alienation of modern life?
One could certainly argue that the titular character in Herman Melville’s “Bartleby the Scrivener: A Tale of Wall Street” is representative of the alienation of modern life. Bartleby works himself...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In the first paragraph of "Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street," the narrator tells us, "Bartleby was one...
The words "Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!" equate Bartleby's situation with humanity's: we all are subjected to the kind of grief, loss, and isolation Bartley experiences because our attempts to...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Identify passages in Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener" that would prove the narrator is the main character, and...
In "Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall street," by Herman Melville, there are several passages in which the narrator would seem the main character with his internal struggle of how to best deal...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Why do you think Melville specifically chose a first-person narrative, rather than, for instance, using a third...
Melville chooses the lawyer who hired Bartleby to narrate Bartleby's story. The lawyer writes in the first person. I believe Melville made this decision because he wanted to convey an outsider's...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In Bartleby, the Scrivener, why do you think Melville withholds the information about the Dead Letter Office until...
I believe the narrator, the lawyer who tells the story of Bartleby's strange "I would prefer not to" attitude to working wants his readers to experience the same confusion and disorientation about...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
What is the writer's goal in Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street? What is the purpose of the story? Was it...
If we consider the narrator's sorrowful last speech in Bartleby the Scrivener--"Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!"--then we are drawn to at least one conclusion about the story's purpose: that is, to...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Who is the main character of "Bartleby the Scrivener: A Tale of Wall Street?"
We are mediated and instructed by the lawyer’s narration. So he is an unreliable narrator. But he is our eyes and ears of the world of the story. In that respect, he is the main character because...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Discuss the isolation of Bartleby in Herman Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener, in terms of his motivation.
In Herman Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street, some experts look at our title character "in symbolic terms." I do not agree. One theme in the story is individualism. He is...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In "Bartleby the Scrivener," what does the lawyer see in Bartleby? After all, the lawyer has never seen him before...
The lawyer, who has just taken on new work, is looking for a copyist or scrivener, not another lawyer. Since there were no copy machines in those days, lawyers had to have all legal documents...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In Bartleby the Scrivener, what is the narrator forced to do to save his law office when he cannot fire and evict...
The narrator is a kind-hearted man, but he cannot get Bartleby to budge from his offices or do any work. He first tries to coax him to leave. He also tries to bribe him with money, but Bartleby...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
How does his point of view influence the way the story is told?
Using the lawyer to tell the story makes it more difficult so that the story can be interpreted in a number of ways. The lawyer admits he is a man of "assumptions" and that he's...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
Who is the antagonist?
The true antagonist in this story, according to the lawyer who narrates it, is not Bartleby, but the hopelessness that arises from failed communication. At the end of the saga, the lawyer reveals a...
Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street
In "Bartleby the Scrivner" what might Melville have meant by the line "Ah, Bartleby! Ah, Humanity!"
This quotation comes at the end of an addendum the lawyer supposedly added to the story. In it, he tells of a rumor that Bartelby had been fired from a job at the dead letter department in the Post...
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