Literary critics have long debated the intended meaning of Melville’s famously memorable short story, “Bartleby, The Scrivener” (1855). Is it an autobiographical account of Melville’s own brief experience working as a clerk in New York City? Is it an anti-capitalist critique of the cold self-interestedness perpetuated on Wall Street, the epicenter of American finance? Is it a sympathetic appeal for the growing population of the homeless and underemployed masses that were beginning to overwhelm the big cities of metropolitan America? Is it a statement about mental illness and its misunderstood nature in the 19th century? Is it a mediation on the loss and limits of charity in an industrializing, modern world? Whatever Melville’s intended meaning, “Bartleby” is one of the most famous short stories in American literary history precisely because of his story’s mysterious nature and the enigmatic character of Bartleby himself.
For this assignment, I would like for you all to reflect on what you think Melville’s intended meaning is. In doing so, you should make sure to pay attention to the story’s subtitle, “A Tale of Wall Street.” Why does Melville decide to set his story on this famous street — a street long associated with greed, materialism, and self-interestedness? The story’s setting is very important to consider. Also, make sure to pay attention to an other important character in the story, the narrator himself. Why does Melville choose to tell his story from the viewpoint of the lawyer? Is he reliable? Does he have character flaws that only we can see as readers of the story? What type of man is he? How does he treat his other employees? Did he make the most ethical decisions? Would we have made the same decisions as the narrator?
You need not feel compelled to answer all of these questions – consider them merely ways of approaching and framing your own thoughts.
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