Of the power of the proletariat? Is it a deliberate, heroic act of resistance? (in)action? Wilful obstinacy? Laziness? Depression? Is Bartleby taking a standĪgainst capitalism in the midst of its cold heart, Wall Street? Is he a symbol And when thought to be sleeping isįound to have died, quietly, unnoticed, unmissed. Imprisoned Bartleby, by now little more than a shadow, he rejects his kindness.Įver benevolent, the lawyer gives the turn-key money to provide extra food. Less forgiving, they have him removed and locked up. Instead and moves to a new office! Yet, to the amazement of his now formerĮmployer, still Bartleby remains in his old corner, driving the new tenants toĭistraction. In his small corner – even this thoughtful employer reaches his limit and asksīartleby to leave. Then afterĭiscovering that the reason his clerk appears ever-present in the office isīecause he is ever-present – Bartleby has taken up permanent residence Narrator, can for a long while do nothing but let him be. Of demeanor under all circumstances”, that his baffled employer, our Maintaining “his great stillness, his unalterableness Rock against which all pleas break themselves. To.” Neither threat nor entreaty can elicit anything further. His retort is simply, “I would prefer not That Bartleby gives no reason and cannot be persuaded by his (winningly He intermittently resumes only to stop again. Legal office on Wall Street, Bartleby initially proves keenly industrious. Melville’s “only the man who says no is free” was used as the album’s sleeve quote.
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