Bartleby, The Scrivener

I thought that this story was quite effective and thought-provoking. Several factors can be identified that contributed greatly to this story. Among these is the unique blend of personalities as well as the point-of-view.

The personality of the narrator in “Bartleby, The Scrivener” was integral to the effectiveness of the story. We get a full picture of the narrator at the beginning of the short story. He is an older man, in his sixties, who is “one of those unambitious lawyers”, and who has a philosophy that “the easiest way of life is the best.” He also refers to himself as “an eminently safe man”. The reader can see his unambitious nature through his leniency as he deals with Bartleby’s obduracy. Though Bartleby continues to refuse to do what he is told, the narrator fails time and time again to be forceful. This theme of passiveness can also be seen in the narrator’s dealings with his other two scriveners, Turkey and Nippers. Though both scriveners have large character flaws, including drunkenness and hot tempers, the narrator rationalizes their behavior. Without the passive nature of the narrator, the unique character interactions could not have taken place.

In addition to the narrator’s character, the first-person narration was vital to the effectiveness of the story. The first-person point of view allows the reader to feel what the narrator is feeling as he interacts with other characters. The distinctive relationship between the narrator and Bartleby would not have been effective unless the reader could get inside the mind of the narrator and align his thoughts, concerns, and perplexities with those of the narrator. If this short story were written in third person, or even third person omniscient, the story would not be nearly as effective. Even if we knew the feelings of the narrator, we would not be able to experience everything solely from his perspective. The first person narration puts the reader in his shoes, and allows him to experience everything through the eyes of the narrator.