Bartleby—A Law Student's Analysis

I would not have realized this was a ghost story if not previously prompted. But I agree with Matthew that upon knowing that, I find it a ghost story of alternative sorts. In addition to being a reflection of the narrator, I think Bartleby is supposed to be a reflection of everyone in the building. Everyone hides there nothingness in an excess of busy work that doesn't actually produce anything. Bartleby tries to fit into that mold but slowly but surely drops the pretense. While unclear it does not seem that the narrator's business suffers from Bartleby's sudden refusal to do work, furthering the idea that the work never really had to be done to begin to start. The way that he makes everyone feel uncomfortable when he haunts the building to the point of almost starting a mob, shows that he affects people. Generally things that make people the most uncomfortable are things that tap something personal. Discomfort is a haunting in its own way of our mind.

-- YvetteFerrer - 28 Mar 2012