Bartleby, the Scrivener"

Compassion, charity, and responsibility were the main feelings that the narrator in "Bartleby, the Scrivener". (Bartleby.com) Mostly everyone that would find themselves in that situation would feel the same. In the beginning, the narrator was puzzled by Bartleby's eccentric behavior. He was strangely fascinated by him. All of the other co-workers were annoyed since they had to do his work without pay. Any normal boss would immediately fire someone like Bartleby, but the narrator felt a certain sense of charity towards him. (Spark Notes)

"Poor fellow! Thought I, he means no mischief; it is plain he intends no insolence; his aspect sufficiently evinces that his eccentricities are involuntary." (Bartleby.com) The narrator is thinking about how he feels sorry for Bartleby. He is almost like a harmless creature that has no place in the world. Bartleby obviously has something wrong with him. At first when the narrator hires him to work at the office, he thinks nothing of his quiet nature. He actually feels that he would be a positive addition. Both of the other scrivener's are highly dysfunctional. One has an alcohol problem, and the other has severe indigestion. Not long after Bartleby starts work, the narrator asks him to do a simple task, and he replies, "I would prefer not to."(Spark Notes)

Douglas 2

"If I turn him away, the chances are he will fall in with some less indulgent employer, and then he will be rudely treated, and perhaps driven forth miserably to starve." (Batlrby.com)The narrator has a sense of responsibility in keeping the scrivener around to work in the office. He feels that if he does not, Bartleby find work elsewhere with a boss that will treat him with disrespect. Even worse, end up homeless somewhere and starve to death. The narrator later finds out that Bartleby is living in the office, meaning that he already is homeless. This makes it even harder to let go of the scrivener. Throughout the entire story, the narrator is confused by Bartleby's behavior. It is almost like he keeps him around so that he can analyze Bartleby, and not just except that he is strange. (Spark Notes)

"I resolved upon this;--I would put certain calm questions to him the next morning, touching his history, &c., and if he declined to answer then openly and reservedly (and I supposed he would prefer not), then to give him a twenty dollar bill over and above whatever I might owe him, and tell him his services were no longer required; but that if in any other way I could assist him, I would be happy to do so, especially if he desired to return to his native place, wherever that might be, I would willingly help to defray the expenses."(Bartleby.com) The narrator begins to have a sense of charity towards Bartleby. He is willing to give him things, such as money, so that maybe he will leave the office. It is important that the reader understand the difference between charity and pity. Many think that these two things are the same, but are mistaken. Doing something in pity is simply doing something