As the story starts out the eccentricities of the two clerks, Turkey and Nipper are delved out to the reader. In both cases, the clerks would not be employed by anyone other than the narrator of this story. From these first beginnings, the reader can see that he has a kind heart, and a rather wishy-washy constitution, which is accentuated when trying to have Turkey reduce his hours to part time status. However, when Turkey states With submission sir, we are both getting old the main character can do nothing but give in and allow the older gentleman to remain a full time employee (Melville 2654).
The actions of the narrator are important to understand for they are the reasons that Bartleby is able to act in the way that he does. First off, the fact that the narrator needs an extra hand, but before he can even advertize, Bartleby shows up and assumes the position. It is mentioned that the narrator knows nothing about this mans history or work and yet he lets him in and gives him a cozy little area in which to work. From this the reader can just assume that the narrator has taken in another misfit to keep and protect, and at first this is exactly what the narrator does. It is not until Bartleby is asked to examine a completed document and retorts to the request with I would prefer not to (Melville 2657). This first refusal took the narrator off guard and when he asked Bartleby again if he would help, the reply was the same refusal and the moment was pushed aside for another time.
In this way the story continues. However, once it is discovered that Bartleby is living at the office and refuses to allow the narrator, who owns the property, into the office, it becomes apparent that Bartleby is not quite what he seems. As often as the narrator wants to throw Bartleby out, he cannot because of his soft and kind heart. This kindness is not shown in a favorable light as colleagues and clients view Bartleby as a damper on the narrators authority, for he can not get rid of Bartleby and Bartleby will no longer work. There seems to be a stand off and in this case, the narrator only wins by uprooting himself and moving his office.
The character of Bartleby is unmoving, physically and emotionally. At least that is what the reader is expected to see. Even when the narrator moves his office, he is asked to come back and talk to Bartleby. It is at this junction in the story that Bartleby begins to open up just slightly. He is still pallid and quiet but he talks to the narrator rather than just answering him. They talk about other jobs for Bartleby, but he refuses every option, but continues to insinuate that he is not particular as to what job he should do or should inquire (Melville 2673). The narrator can do nothing. Bartleby stays and the narrator runs away.
Once Bartleby is in jail, he disintegrates into nothingness. His only friend, the narrator, has forsaken him and left him alone. When the narrator does return, Bartleby show the emotion that has been hiding within him. He lets it show only once when he states, I know youand I want nothing to say to you (Melville 2674). This is the only time that Bartleby breaks his emotionless momentum and strikes out at the narrator who was supposed to care for him. In a sense one could see this as the scene between Jesus and Peter, for the narrator denies Bartleby three times prior to his imprisonment. Only after the imprisonment does he try to atone for his previous actions, even saying It what not I that brought you here Bartleby (Melville 2675) trying to keep the blame from himself. However, it is obvious to the reader that this is exactly what the narrator wanted to do, but did not have the courage to do, and so he left it for others to clean up.
Looking at Bartleby, the Scrivener in the way that Bartleby is the victim and the narrator is the coward, the reader can see the darkness of the story and feel it pulling the reader down into the pit. This is not a lighthearted story, especially as the denial of his friend leads to his death in the prison yard. He is alone and unloved and that is how he ends his time. It is this knowledge that the narrator will have to live with, the death of Bartleby, for the rest of his own life.
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