Friend Father or Boss A Look at the Role of the Narrator in Bartelby the Scrivener
- This is a preview of the essay.
To view the full text you must login!
At first glance, Herman Melville's "Bartelby, the Scrivener" seems like a simple story telling of how hopelessness and despair can destroy a man. There are many more elements that make this story a classic, however. One of the main aspects Melville uses is the first-person narrative. We get a perspective on the events of the story, and even feel the emotions and personality of the narrator, a lawyer who is never named. When we take a closer look at the characteristics of this man, we see that he actually takes on many roles. He acts as a personal friend to his employees, surprisingly because he is supposed to be their superior. He seems indecisive and easily swayed, unable to establish himself as an authority in his own law office. The narrator even acts as a paternal figure to his most uncooperative worker, Bartelby. Although in the beginning of this short story we hear the opinions of a so-called prudent and careful man, we can't help but think as the story progresses how this man made it to such a high-ranking position by being a pushover.
Any good boss knows that in order to run a successful business, his employees
must be content...