Bartleby, the Scrivener

Herman Melville’s short story “Bartleby, the Scrivener” was published anonymously in 1853 to little recognition. Today it is considered a masterpiece. Some critics view “Bartleby” as a precursor to absurdist literature like Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis,” highlighting the incredibly modern nature of this mid-19th-century short story. Others read “Bartleby” as commentary on poverty and the harsh nature of menial work on Wall Street, or as an allegory for Melville’s own frustrations with writing. This guide uses the free 2004 Project Gutenberg eBook version of “Bartleby, the Scrivener.”

“Bartleby” is narrated in the first person by an unnamed senior lawyer on Wall Street in New York City. The lawyer employs four people: Nippers, Turkey, Ginger Nut, and Bartleby. Nippers, Turkey, and Bartleby are scriveners, people who copy documents by hand, often for legal proceedings. Ginger Nut is an errand boy who spends most of his time fetching apples and ginger nut cakes for the scriveners. Of the four named characters, only Bartleby is called by his actual name; the other three have nicknames.

The narrator hires Bartleby because a recent increase in the lawyer’s importance means he needs additional help.