why is it important that he is a lawyer in bartleby the scivener

The lawyer gives Bartleby

a tremendous amount of leeway. Even after Bartleby is gone, the lawyer continues to take an interest in him, treating him as more than merely an employee who refused to cooperate. The lawyer's work and training are significant because his profession relies on curiosity as well as investigation.

Full Answer

What does the lawyer give Bartleby at the end of the story?

The Lawyer gives Bartleby all the money the scrivener is owed, plus the 20-dollar bonus. He tells Bartleby that he wishes him well, and that if he can be of service to the scrivener, Bartleby shouldn’t hesitate to contact The Lawyer.

Why does the lawyer decide to hire Bartleby?

After exchanging words about his qualifications, The Lawyer is happy to hire Bartleby, because he hopes that Bartleby’s “singularly sedate” nature might help calm the erratic natures of Turkey and Nippers.

Is the lawyer willing to tolerate Bartleby?

Like most reasonable people, The Lawyer’s charitable urges have a breaking point—he’s willing to tolerate Bartleby until Bartleby’s presence threatens to hurt his business.

What does the lawyer represent in Bartleby?

Some critics think that, therefore, the Lawyer represents Melville's readers, asking Melville to write the same old fiction he had been writing all along, and Bartleby is Melville himself, replying that he would "prefer not to" and eventually withdrawing into himself and his misery.

What is the lawyer like in Bartleby the Scrivener?

The Lawyer is the unnamed narrator of "Bartleby the Scrivener." He owns a law firm on Wall Street, and he employs four men as scriveners, or copyists: Turkey, Nippers, Ginger Nut, and Bartleby. The Lawyer is about sixty years old. He is level-headed, industrious, and has a good mind for business.

How does the lawyer change in Bartleby the Scrivener?

With the sudden changes of Bartleby, the Lawyer feels overpowered, and it is like he does not have any power over his employees like Bartleby. Marcus explains that Bartleby is a psychological double for the Lawyer. The author says that Bartlebys power over the Lawyer quickly grows as the story progresses (Marcus 1).

Why did the lawyer visit Bartleby?

A successful lawyer on Wall Street hires Bartleby, a scrivener, to relieve the load of work experienced by his law firm.

What does Bartleby do when the lawyer relocates?

Bartleby began staying in the building even after the lawyer moved his business. The next man that moved his business into the place said that Bartleby was the lawyer's responsibility and he had to do something about him. Bartleby was eventually arrested. The scivener's job was to copy legal documents by hand.

How does the lawyer react to Bartleby's responses to his numerous requests?

The lawyer acts quite contrary to what one would expect, especially from a lawyer. He appears to be calm and almost non-irritable by Bartleby's responses.

Is the lawyer a reliable narrator?

As a narrator, the lawyer is unreliable because the reader cannot always trust his interpretation of events. The lawyer, as he himself admits, is a man of “assumptions,” and his prejudices often prevent him from offering an accurate view of the situation.

Why does Bartleby refuse to work?

Bartleby does not like change. “I would prefer not to make any change” he says, and a little later states “I like to be stationary”. In fact, he prefers not to go very far at all, working, eating, sleeping all in the same place. He is unable to move out of his private world and make public aspects of himself.

Why isn't Bartleby fired?

Why does he never leave the office? Does he have any family? Rather than listening to his other employees and firing Bartleby, he basically fires himself by moving offices. The Narrator does this because he cannot bare to be mean to Bartleby, because he just does not have it in him to do anything negative towards him.

What does the lawyer offer Bartleby?

The Lawyer offers Bartleby the 20-dollar bonus and tells him he must go. Bartleby replies that he would prefer not to. The Lawyer tells him he must, but Bartleby sits there silently. The Lawyer gives Bartleby all the money the scrivener is owed, plus the 20-dollar bonus.

What does the lawyer say about Bartleby writing?

The Lawyer then mentions that an important part of a scrivener’s job is to re-read what they have written in order to check for mistakes.

What does Ginger Nut say to Bartleby?

Finally, The Lawyer asks Ginger Nut what he thinks, and Ginger Nut replies that Bartleby is a “luny.”. So, The Lawyer again turns toward Bartleby’s screen, and urges Bartleby to come out and do his “duty.”. However, Bartleby neither replies nor emerges from his desk.

How old is Nippers in The Lawyer?

Next, The Lawyer details his employee Nippers, who is also a scrivener. Nippers is about twenty-five years old, has yellow complexion, wears a mustache, and, in The Lawyer’s view, is “victim of two evil powers—ambition and indigestion.”.

What does the lawyer find on Bartleby's desk?

The Lawyer searches the desk, and finds that Bartleby’s papers are neatly laid out. However, beneath the papers, The Lawyer finds an old knotted handkerchief.

What is the lawyer's story?

The Lawyer’s storytelling is, in itself, an example of language failing to properly communicate. Active Themes. The Lawyer then states that he is a lawyer, and describes his business as focusing around “rich men’s bonds, and mortgages, and title deeds.”.

Does Bartleby resist?

Of course, Bartleby passively resists, and in escaping behind his screen (a make-shift wall), he disconnects himself, at least momentarily, from the rest of the office. Active Themes. The Lawyer stands there, unsure what to do. Finally he advances toward the screen, and asks Bartleby why he refuses.