Discussion Questions for
"Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street"
Note: In some of the questions I ask what the narrator means and what Melville means with words and phrases. The story has two levels, the lawyer, who is the narrator telling a story and Melville, the author, who intends something beyond the action of the story. Try to look at both levels of the story.
What does the subtitle of this story suggest to you?
What kind of man is the narrator of the story?
What does the narrator mean when he calls himself a "safe man"?(4)
What is significant about the description of the lawyer's office?(4 & 9) Explain your answer.
What kind of person is Turkey? Nippers? Ginger Nut?
The narrator calls Turkey's work after the noon hour his "afternoon devotions." What does he mean by this? What does Melville mean by it?
What does Bartleby mean when he says, "I would prefer not to"?
How does he say these words? That is, what is his demeanor and emotional attitude? What does this say about Bartleby?
Why does Melville call Bartleby's room a hermitage?(11, 12)
The narrator twice cuts his dealings with Bartleby short because of his business?(10, 12) Is this significant? Why or why not?
What is the difference between "will" and "prefer"? See page 14 where the narrator says, "You will not?" and Bartleby responds, "I prefer not."
Why does Melville mention Byron and Cicero in this story?
What are "those dead wall reveries" of Bartleby's?(18, 21)
Bartleby stops doing any writing and when the narrator asks him "Why?" Bartleby responds, "Do you not see the reason yourself?" What is the reason?
Why does the lawyer finally decide that he must get rid of "this intolerable incubus"?(see pages 26 & 27)
Why doesn't Bartleby want to leave?
What does Bartleby mean he says, "I am not particular"? What do you think Melville means by having Bartleby say that?
Why doesn't Bartleby like any of the jobs that the lawyer suggests to him?
In prison Bartleby says to the lawyer, "I know you . . ." and "I know where I am." What does he mean by this? What do you think Melville means by it?
What is the significance of "walls" in this story?
What do the last words of Bartleby mean? They are: "I prefer not to dine today . . . It would disagree with me; I am unused to dinners."
What does the threefold progress from sorting and disposing of "dead" letters to copying other people's legal documents to refusing to do any more copying(or even proofreading) imply?
Why does Bartleby die? What does his death mean?
What does the last line of the story mean?
What do you think of Bartleby?
©2005-2012 Glen Draeger (all rights reserved)
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