Melville, ''Bartleby the Scrivener'' (1853)
I AM a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirty years has brought me into more than ordinary contact with what would seem an interesting and somewhat singular set of men, of whom as yet nothing that I know of has ever been written:--I mean the law-copyists or scriveners. I have known very many of them, professionally and privately, and if I pleased, could relate divers histories, at which good-natured gentlemen might smile, and sentimental souls might weep. But I waive the biographies of all other scriveners for a few passages in the life of Bartleby, who was a scrivener the strangest I ever saw or heard of. While of other law-copyists I might write the complete life, of Bartleby nothing of that sort can be done. I believe that no materials exist for a full and satisfactory biography of this man. It is an irreparable loss to literature. Bartleby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable, except from the original sources, and in his case those are very small. What my own astonished eyes saw of Bartleby, that is all I know of him, except, indeed, one vague report which will appear in the sequel.http://www.bartleby.com/129/
"Sometimes from out the folded paper the pale clerk takes a ring:--the finger it was meant for, perhaps, moulders in the grave; a bank-note sent in swiftest charity:--he whom it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers anymore; pardon for those who died despairing; hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who died stifled by unrelieved calamities." (last paragraph 250-251)
Once I finish the story and find a quote, I will update this... but here is my frustrations all out in the open.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/HeatherMourick/2009/09/language_is_not_what_it_used_t.html
"Gradually I slid into the persuasion that these troubles of mine touching the scrivener, had been all predestinated from eternity, and Bartleby was billeted upon me for some mysterious purpose of an all-wise Providence" (Melville par.167)
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/MeaganGemperlein/2009/09/dont_mess_with_predestiny.html
"My chambers were up stairs at No. -- Wall-street."
~paragraph 5
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JenniferPrex/2009/09/keeping_focus.html
"With any other man I should have flown outright into a dreadful passion, scorned all further words, and thrust him ignominiously from my presence. But there was something about Bartleby that not only strangely disarmed me, but in a wonderful manner touched and disconcerted me" (Melville para. 35).
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JamieGrace/2009/09/change_of_reaction.html
"What miserable friendlessness and loneliness are here revealed! His poverty is great; but his solitude, how horrible! Think of it. Of a Sunday, Wall-street is deserted as Petra; and every night of every day it is an emptiness. This building too, which of week-days hums with industry and life, at nightfall echoes with sheer vacancy, and all through Sunday is forlorn. And here Bartleby makes his home; sole spectator of a solitude which he has seen all populous—a sort of innocent and transformed Marius brooding among the ruins of Carthage!" (Melville) 88 stanza
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JeremyBarrick/2009/09/el_266_melville-lonliness_of_a.html
Maybe once I finish it will make more sense, but so far just sad. "I can see that figure now - pallidly neat, pitiably respectable, incurably forlorn! It was Bartelby."
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/KatieLantz/2009/09/judgemental.html
"I am one of those unambitious lawyers who never addresses a jury, or in any way draws down public applause; but in the cool tranquility of a snug retreat, do a snug business among rich men’s bonds and mortgages and title-deeds" (Melville 1).
"Bartleby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainable, except from the original sources, and in his case those are very small" (para. 1).
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/KaylaLesko/2009/09/which_is_it.html
The last paragraph explains why Bartelby is so sad but why does he constantly "prefer not"?
A Story of Wall-Street
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/DavidWilbanks/2009/09/id_prefer_not_to.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/GladysMares/2009/09/what_is_it_supposed_to_mean.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JeredJohnston/2009/09/arrogance_before_reason.html
"As I walked home in a pensive mood, my vanity got the better of my pity. I could not but highly plume myself on my masterly management in getting rid of Bartleby. Masterly I call it, and such it must appear to any dispassionate thinker." (Melville)