Bartleby the Scrivener, Symbolism and walls

944 Words2 Pages

Bartleby and the Scrivener Walls and Symbolism In the story Bartleby the scrivener walls are a main focus in the story. They are also very symbolic in multiple ways whether symbolizing society or religion these seemingly meaningless objects have much depth in meaning and function throughout the story. My goal in this paper is to discuss in depth the symbolism of the walls in the story Bartleby and the Scrivener. Herman Melville had a very low view of society, and that man was best in a roughed natural and free state. The worldviews of the author are important because when attempting to examine the indirect symbolism one must understand where the authors perspective during the time of him writing the work is coming from. Herman was married to a wealthy woman by the name of Elizabeth Shaw, who he tried to support but was hindered by financial barriers and had to borrow money from Elizabeth's parents. This situation gives us insight on Hermans Melville's first hand struggle with free will. which is a main point within the story of Bartleby the Scrivener a Tale of Wall street. Just as Herman Melville had Financial walls that obstructed his free will to a point of begging for money, Bartleby in the story was a symbol of free will who choose not to conform to the financial, social religious or political wall to shape his being. From the author's world view bartleby served as a hero. Bartleby was a young man with his life ahead of him who yet he chose to stay to himself and not to socialize with his colleagues. He preferred to stay to himself where he felt safe behind his own self made walls. Bartleby was a social introvert who detached himself from society. He didn’t converse with his co-workers nor did he have any friends outside... ... middle of paper ... ...s and darkness in which he worked also represented the walls of a coffin. His isolation from society became more and more extreme until he detached to the ultimate level of refusing to live. Even when he was imprisoned for refusing to move just as a wall would, he is placed in even more walls within the prison cell. He then proceeds to eat until he eventually dies curled up against a wall in the in his prison cell. The walls in the story of Bartleby and the Scrivener a tale of Wall Street are the main symbols and Melville showed how the lack of motion is still power and the more walls you have the more power you can posses because whatever the narrator did he could not “make” Bartleby do anything. He had mental walls surrounding him so high and strong that he was not inclined to do anything for anyone even himself. He was more powerful than anything in the world.

Open Document