Characterization
What traits does Bartleby's character embody?
Static, Passive, and Isolated
What is the significance of Bartleby's window?
The window which is obscured by a brick wall represents the isolation and physical separation between Bartleby and the outside world.
What do the walls represent?
The walls represent the disconnection between Bartleby and the rest of society. They follow him wherever he is located, whether it's inside the office, outside his window, or surrounding him in jail.
What do the narrator's actions around Bartleby represent?
His actions represent his comfort-seeking habits and acceptance of the modern corporate world.
Why are there no natural elements in this story?
The lack of natural elements or mention of them represents the sterile environment of the workplace and the lack of humanity within corporatism.
How do the dead letters represent Bartleby?
It represents Bartleby's life as he is a temporary message about the tragedy of the office that was short lived.
What is the relationship between Turkey and nippers and what does it represent?
They function together as a "machine" representing the corporate and capitalist environment reducing people to their workplace abilities.
What is ironic about Bartleby going to a prison full of “murderers and thieves”?
It insinuates that not being a good enough worker is equal to murder and deserves imprisonment.
What role does food play within the office and the story as a whole?
Food acts as a differentiator between each character and a representation of each of the character's habits. Turkey’s reckless drinking habits in the afternoon reflect his reckless working habits, shown through him spelling ink and messing up documents. Similarly, Nipper’s irritability in the morning reflects his irritable stomach. Bartleby’s lacking eating habits reflect the effort that he puts into his work, slowly decreasing as the story progresses.