whats the subject of the short story bartleby the scrivener?

Answer 1

The narrator of the story is a barrister with offices on Wall Street in New York City. He describes himself as doing "a snug business among rich men's bonds and mortgages and title-deeds." He has three employees: "First, Turkey; second, Nippers; third, Ginger Nut," each of whom is described at some length. Turkey and Nippers are copyists or scriveners while Ginger Nut does delivery work or other assorted jobs around the office. Turkey, being an old man, works diligently in the morning, but becomes sloppy in the afternoon; on the other hand, Nippers, who is young (25 years old), works poorly in the morning, but briliantly in the afternoon. The lawyer decides his business needs a third scrivener, and Bartleby responds to his advertisement and arrives at the office, "pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlorn!"

At first Bartleby appears to be a competent worker, but later he ceases to work, repeatedly uttering the phrase "I would prefer not to." Although many people err in the wording here, it should be noted that Bartleby never actually refuses, he just states he would prefer not to. He is also found to be living in the lawyer's office. Bartleby refuses to explain his behavior, and also refuses to leave when dismissed. After Bartleby rejects all the charity the lawyer offers to him, the lawyer moves offices to avoid any further confrontation, and Bartleby is taken away to The Tombs. At the end of the story, Bartleby slowly starves in prison, finally expiring just prior to a visit by the lawyer. The lawyer suspects Bartleby's conjectured previous career in the dead letter office in Washington, D.C., which was sad and depressing, drove him to his bizarre behavior.

Answer 2

I think the best short answer was a line spoken in the short film based on the story. Barry Williams (who later played Greg Brady in THE BRADY BUNCH televisioin series) played a young boy who worked in the office where Bartleby also worked. Once Bartleby had begun to go mad, the staff met to discuss what everyone thought about the situation. The boy's response? "I think he's a looney."

Don't know if the line was actually in the written story or not.

Either way, it was a true statement. The subject of the story is that Bartleby was a looney!

Answer 3

Making money for the author.

The story of Bartleby is that one about an unbalanced life. Bartleby decided not to do anything, and thus died.

George.

Answer 4

Why can't Bartleby make friends or communicate?

Answer 5

The subject is "preferring not to." Melville is an extraordinary writer. Read it slowly at savor it. It is a classic.

Answer 6

I think you're just trying to get out of reading it for yourself. I say this with years of experience as I am a college English instructor.

Answer 7

It's about a very stubborn man!