... lost faith. This conclusion suggests that the lawyer will carry on believing in something, however superficial, despite his contact with Bartleby. In "Bartleby," Melville created a highly ambiguous symbol that cannot be reduced to a single meaning or interpretation. Melville thus places the reader in much the same position as the lawyer in the story. It is somewhat ironic that most critics of the story ... have disregarded the lawyer's interpretation of Bartleby as inaccurate while advancing their own as correct. It may be that the lawyer's interpretation is ... the only one that matte...

• Word Count: 2093
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... long and very descriptive. His tone was a sweet tone. It like he never wanted to hurt anybody or offend them. Bartleby's story is an allegory of withdrawal suggesting more than one level of interpretation. Among them, Bartleby may be seen as a writer (like Melville), who chooses no longer to write; or as a human walled off from society by his employment on wall Street, by ... of. In his final grasp at communication, the narrator invites the reading that Bartleby's life, and the story that presents it, are like dead letters Page 9 that will never reach those that would profit from them. ...

• Word Count: 2059
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School