Question

Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" has the subtitle "A Story of Wall Street." Examine the use of walls in the story. What theme do they convey?

Answer 1

Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener is about a person named Bartleby, who is hired as a scrivener by the narrator to lessen his work load. Initially, Bartleby is found to be efficient and was eager to work. As days progressed, his performance dropped and he no longer had interest to work but only stare at a wall that just stayed opposite to his work place.

In the story, Bartleby is dismissed from the job but he still comes to the same wall, which he used to just stare during his work time. Later in the story, he is arrested and he dies of starvation. The narrator expresses his grief in the end.

The title uses the subtitle, “A Story of Wall Street”, to emphasize the nature as well as the characteristics of a simple brick wall among the people.

From the narration, it is evident that Bartleby was suffering from a mental disorder. It could have been anything such as depression. Bartleby chose to stare at the wall. Stay around the wall and even allow his life to end around the wall.

There were many people around him, including the narrator himself. Though there were so many souls around Bartleby, none really pitied for him and took up the responsibility of bringing a change in his life. His life ended in a pathetic way.

Many knew Bartleby and his actions. The people knew he preferred the wall for some abnormal reason. The people, like the brick wall, remained still and never helped him resulting in the loss of a life.

In way, this story is an eye opener for readers to think and realize the characteristic feature and the nature of humanity. The story asks the readers not to act like a lifeless brick wall towards people who need help. This is also the theme, the story conveys to the readers.