Character Explanation In 'Bartleby'

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Bartleby Bartleby is a homeless man that works for a layer. He has some definite quirks such as his refusal to do certain tasks. The head of the office is a layer he already has three other men who are scriveners like Bartleby but not one of them is as efficient as Bartleby. He soon decides to stop working, the layer moves and Bartleby wouldn’t move out of the office so the new owner sends him to jail and there he dies from hunger. Throughout the story the layer makes significant mistakes leading to the point were changing Bartleby’s mind is impossible. “Bartleby!” No answer. “Bartleby,” in a louder tone. No answer. “Bartleby,” I roared. Like a very ghost, agreeably to the laws of magical invocation, at the third summons, he appeared at the …show more content…

This quote the layer losing his temper when Bartleby decides he doesn’t want to even walk to the next room. The layer reputedly gets upset with Bartleby for not doing his job. This is something that pushes Bartleby to the edge. Bartleby won’t work after the events in the office but he won’t leave either. The layer doesn’t understand him at all and he tries to give him money thinking he is just poor and can’t afford to rent a house or pay for food but he doesn’t realize that Bartleby is a character that has much more depth behind him then the layer himself. Also bartleby makes countless mistakes by not obeying his boss not doing his job. He repeatedly replies “I would prefer not to” which angers the layer. Bartley also refuses to leave the office after the layer has moved out this is another mistake that leads to his imprisonment. In prison he makes the clear mistake of starving himself. He also allows himself to be cut off by all human contact. Bartleby must have had a significant past that led him to the conclusion of death. He also allows himself to be tormented by the other

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