Aspects of Narration and Metaphor in Melvilles Bartleby the Scrivener essays

Aspects of Narration and Metaphor in Melvilles Bartleby the Scrivener essays Herman Melville examines the complexities of human character in his short story, "Bartleby the Scrivener." By using strong metaphors, Melville illustrates the difficulties we encounter when we attempt to communicate with someone. Additionally, Melville demonstrates how human beings can affect each other in ways through the narrator's experience with Bartleby. Melville uses many metaphors in this story. For instance, the use of walls is a predominant image that is used to describe the nature of the business world. We are told the narrator's office, "looked upon the white wall of the interior of a spacious sky-light shaft" (Melville 992) and "the other end of his office viewed a "lofty brick wall" (992). We also know that there are "glass folding-doors" (996) that divided the narrator from his scriveners. In addition, we also know that the narrator placed an "high green folding screen" (997) between him and Bartleby. This entire setting provides us with the image of the office and working conditions as well as the narrator's mindset toward his workers. The walls represent the stagnant, dead-end nature of the work that the scriveners performed and the glass doors and screen signify the narrator's desire to control situations. Additionally, the narrator is a metaphor for capitalist society and the law and order that exists in such circumstances. Bartleby can be seen as a metaphor for a nonconformist attitude. Melville does an excellent job in portraying both characters in contrast to each other in the story. In many ways, we feel sympathy for the mysterious Bartleby and an irritation toward However, it is Bartleby's behavior that has a direct affect on the narrator. Because Melville is telling this story from the narrator's perspective, we are allowed to witness his transformation. We know from the beginning of the story that he lacks ambition and seeks nothing abov...