Question

In at least 150 words, explain some of the major themes in Melville’s "Bartleby the Scrivener." Use details from the passage to support your answer.

Answer 1

Some of the major themes in Herman Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener" are isolation in American life and also the lack of communication.

Isolation is reflected in Bartleby's attitude and decision not to leave his workplace. Bartleby does not have friends, family and he does not even eat unless he finds food brought by Ginger nut. He even isolates from his boss and coworkers and eventually refuses to do his work.

Lack of communication can be seen in the interactions with Bartleby. When he refuses to do his work with the sentence "I would rather not to", nobody tries to convince him or just ask him why he does not want to do his job. Further lack of communiction is revealed by the fact that he does not want to interact with his coworkers and we do not learn their real names. We know their nicknames like "Nippers".

Besides, the fact that Bartleby's former job position was "Dead Letter Office", receiving the mail with nowhere to go reinforces the theme of incommunication