Example Essays Home
FAQ
Acceptable Use Policy
Tech Support
LOG IN!
Click HERE for Instant Access
 
This is a free preview of the paper.
Join Now
Log In
  

Bartleby

Most everyone remembers a favorite story that he or she has read. A book that just captivated the reader from beginning to end. But how do authors successfully grab the attention of their readers? Authors utilize specific techniques to convey the characters, setting, and plot effectively. The two short stories Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville and The Tenant by Bharati Mukherjee do just that. The authors of both stories effectively develop unique characters through description or narration, action, and dialogue, which fit in with both the setting and the plot. The main character in Bartleby, the Scrivener is indeed an interesting one. Although the name of the story may give the impression that the main character is Bartleby, it is in fact the narrator whom we learn the most about. The narrator is described as a very orderly person. His actions and speech demonstrate his fastidious ways. The narrator even shows the reader right from the beginning that he prefers to go about in an orderly fashion, by the fact that he absolutely must give background about his life and work, before he can begin to tell us about his employee. “Ere introducing the scrivener…if is fit I make some mention of my self, my employés, my business


, my chambers, and general surroundings…” (Meyer, 113). The narrator’s setting, including his office, also shows that he likes to keep everything organized. His office is separated into sections by folding glass doors to distinguish his side of the room from his scriveners’. The narrator also separates Bartleby into confinement. “Still further to a satisfactory arrangement, I procured a high green folding screen, which might entirely isolate Bartleby from my sight, though not remove him from my voice” (118). The reader can see that the narrator likes to have a set way of doing tasks through his actions and interactions with the other characters. The narrator is obviously not one whose demands are often ignored. He does not quite seem to know how to react when Bartleby “prefers” not to comply with the narrator’s wishes. “I staggered to my desk, and sat there in a deep study… Was there any other thing in which I could procure myself to be ignominiously repulsed by this lean, penniless wight? – my hired clerk?” (122). Another one of the narrator’s qualities is being pompous. He seems to have an overblown image of himself and puts himself above others. “…but, in the cool tranquility of a snug retreat, [I] do a snug business among rich men’s bonds, and mortgages, and title-deeds. All who know me, consider me an eminently safe man” (113). We can also tell that the narrator is dominating over others by the way he speaks to them and gives them orders in a quick, no-nonsense fashion. “Bartleby! quick, I am waiting” (119). The narrator at times also seems confused. His own employee is defying, and in a way, testing him. Yet, he does nothing about the situation. The narrator appears to be perplexed as to how to deal with Bartleby. “Shall I acknowledge it? The conclusion of this whole business was… Bartleby was never, on any account, to be dispatched on the most trivial errand of any sort…” (122). He begins to doubt himself and his position of authority. The narrator turns to his other employees to back him up. “I threw open the folding-doors nearby, and turning upon Turkey and Nippers, exclaimed: ‘Bartleby a second time says, he won’t examine the papers. What do you think of it, Turkey?’” (121). Despite the narrator’s apparent need for organization, he is extremely inconsistent in his actions. The narrator obviously does not believe that Bartleby should stay employed without doing any work, but at time

Some topics in this essay:
Bartleby Scrivener, Bartleby Bartleby, Turkey Nippers, Indian Maya, Maya Indian, American Maya, Dr Chatterji’s, , Calcutta India”, Dr Chatterji, indian women, main character, setting plot, bartleby scrivener, maya’s character, main character bartleby, cedar falls, authors stories, narrator bartleby, narrator obviously, bartleby “i,

Join now to see the rest of the essay!
Approximate Word count = 1663
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)


  

More Essays on Bartleby


Professional Papers:
Bartleby710 words
Bartleby792 words
Bartleby the Scrivener1821 words
Bartleby,The Scrivener1102 words
Bartleby the Scrivener1393 words
ampquotThe Wastelandampquot ampamp Bartleby the Scrivener497 words



Student Written Papers:
Bartleby751 words
Bartleby853 words
Bartleby560 words
Bartleby254 words
Bartleby1089 words
Bartleby576 words

Look at even more essays on Bartleby
More Novels Essays

Join Now
(Credit Card)
Join Now
(Online Check)
Join Now
(Phone 1-900)



CUSTOMER SERVICES




Acceptance Essays
Arts
Custom Essays
English
Foreign
History
Miscellaneous
Movies
Music
Novels
People
Politics
Religion
Science
Sports
Technology
Book Notes

 

 


All papers are for research and references purposes only!
Copyright © 2002-2009 ExampleEssays.com DMCA
Saved Papers