A common theme in this short story is the narrator’s constant struggle with his own character, provoked by how little he knew of Bartleby, how completely disarming his demeanor was and why Bartleby was able to get away with being unaccountable. The narrator turned to the 12yr old, Ginger Nut, for support when confronted with Bartleby’s “irreversible” resistance to his orders: “…if any disinterested persons are present, he turns to them for reinforcement for his own faltering mind.” (p. 160 par 40)
“ Ginger Nut,’ said I, willing to enlist the smallest suffrage in my behalf….” (p161 par 46)
The absence of detail on the character of Bartleby provided the landscape for the narrator to develop his own. The narrator offered his reactions (hardly reserved) to the distant Bartleby, by which I was progressively able to create his character in my mind.
When comparing himself and Bartleby to Colt/Adams incident where Adams’ provocation of Colt caused Colt to accidentally murder Adams, he described strong compassion for Colt, whom he contemplated as the victim, now having experienced a quite similar situation with Bartleby. “…and how poor Colt, being dreadfully incensed by Adams...” (p171, par 164)
He then battles the “demon”, Adam, inside of him: “But when this old Adam of resentment rose in me and tempted me concerning Bartleby, I grappled him and threw him. … simply by recalling… ‘A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.’ “ (p171, par 165)
Shortly thereafter, he considers the image that Bartleby was sent to him for some divine purpose and that his worldly mission, never mind how small, is to provide Bartleby with office space so long as he needed it. But this idea, too, was quickly overturned at the thought of Bartleby scandalizing his reputation amongst his fellow attorneys as well as the possibility that Bartleby may be lingering around just long enough to “take over” once he keels. (p172-73, par 169)
The obsessions and racing thoughts of the narrator were even more comical when brought together by the idea that his character, prudish and perfect, was easily dismantled by someone as uneventful as Bartleby.
It is suggested in James Wilson’s, “Bartleby” that Melville uses this story as an allegory which reflects his relationship between himself, his readers and their opinions of his work. That brings an entirely new dimension to the story. If that is the case, it surprises me that Melville had so much compassion for the narrator and his employees: Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut, considering the harsh nature of his readers' criticisms. In the end, it was Bartleby who experienced the deepest levels of desperation, but the narrator desperately wanted to learn what he could possibly do to make life easier for Bartleby. Through Bartleby, was Melville creating in his readers a peculiarly strong desire to know him (the artist) on a deeper level? And was he hoping they would show as much compassion for him as he did for Narrator (his readers?) in this short story?
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