Bartleby by Herman Melville

"Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street" is a short story by Herman Melville. The story first appeared, anonymously, in Putnam's Magazine in two parts. The first part appeared in November 1853, with the conclusion published in December 1853. It was reprinted in Melville's The Piazza Tales in 1856 with minor textual alterations. The work is said to have been inspired, in part, by Melville's reading of Emerson, and some have pointed to specific parallels to Emerson's essay, "The Transcendentalist." The story has been adapted twice: once in 1970, starring Paul Scofield, and again in 2001, starring Crispin Glover.

Etrange nouvelle sur un homme qui du jour au lendemain décide qu'il ne préfère plus travailler. Intriguant et étrange.

Melville presents complex ideas about society, the work force, and humanity in a short and simple format. The narrator's wavering feelings between affection and exasperation towards his listless employee, Bartleby, makes the narrative all the more compelling as it makes the reader question himself on the right course of actions to deal with a person like Bartleby.

Does one throw him out on the streets based on the fact that he refuses to work, knowing that he has no family, friends, or a home to return to; or does one keep him regardless of his inefficiency, for charitable reasons? The narrator's inaction is ultimately Bartleby's downfall, but can the narrator be blamed for his employee's death? By moving his offices to another location, the narrator effectively condemns Bartleby to the cruelty of society, but the narrator cannot be blamed for trying to restore order to his office and rid himself of a "millstone... a useless necklace" (40).

This novella is an excellent social commentary on what it means to be human, to have compassion and sympathy, as well as the application of the law. Bartleby stands as a symbol of the workforce and how it can be soul-sucking and destructive. Furthermore, the novella touches on the topic of mental illnesses and depression, albeit indirectly, through Bartleby's continued refusal to work and his overall demeanor, such as standing for hours on end in front of a window that faces a brick wall.

Credit to Bill Bragg, foliosociety.com (2012)

I am of the opinion that Bartleby must be pitied and looked after, and that the narrator did all he possibly could to help him. The narrator's generosity, gentleness, and caring attitude are credits to his nature as a compassionate man. Melville's commentary tells us that we need to be more attentive the the woes of those around us, lest they stand “like the last column[s] of some ruined temple” (41).

Two quirky short stories by Melville published in the Penguin 60s series.

Bartleby (The Scrivener) is a hugely entertaining and well written story told by a nameless narrator about a recent employee - Bartleby, a copyist (or scrivener as they were known at the time(1850s)). Once employed and asked to do anything responds “I would prefer not to.”
The narrators mood over time changes from outrage to resentment, to puzzlement and to sympathy. The story doesn't resolve itself, rather it leaves the reader to make an assessment as to Bartleby's motivation (or rather lack of motivation).

Updated: How could I have forgotten to comment on the mention this story gets on the Archer episode called Skorpio. “I would prefer not to. Bartleby, the Scrivener? Anybody? Not a big Melville crowd here, huh? He's not an easy read.” Have to say I didn't make the connection until I read the book, even though it has been in my shelf for few years already.

The Lightning-rod Man is a very short tale, set on a stormy night by a nameless narrator who has a stranger turn up at his door. The stranger is a lightning rod salesman, who does his best to pitch his wares to the disbelieving narrator. This story is interpreted as Melville showing a strongly independent American spirit of the time (1850s).

Good reads at 4/5 stars for me.