Considering Melville's ability as a writer, it is fair to say that the difficulties presented by the character of Bartleby are there for a reason. Why did Melville create this inscrutable character? ... Bartleby functions in the story not as a character but as a symbol. ... Of all of Melville's characters, only the white whale, Moby Dick, presents the same interpretive difficulties as Bartleby and has been construed in as many different ways. In the novel Moby Dick, each of Melville's characters interprets the white whale differently, and its ultimate meaning seems both awesome ...

• Word Count: 2093
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Melville's Bartleby has a purpose rooted deeply in this as its main character attempts to enlighten the working population to the indefinite strife of low level employees. ... Melville does this by taking the downfalls of what was then modern day Wall Street and challenge them with title character's actions. ... Melville created a small social order in this text located on Wall Street in a small but effective law office. ... He is, after all, the supreme being in Melville's miniature social order. ... The original scriveners and office boy had served finite purposes in Melvi...

• Word Count: 1306
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography