Bartleby, the Scrivener (Pgs. 15 to 29)

Summary:

In this part of my reading we see an interesting twist to Bartleby. One day the lawyer had a document that he needed looking over. He calls Bartleby to do the task but he says that he'd rather not. This shocked the lawyer as he wanted everything he requested to be done instantly. It was also amazing how the lawyer did not bother admonishing Bartleby's "unusual and unjust" behavior. Rather, he asked for Turkey and Nipper's opinions. Nipper replied that the decision was solely up to him and that Bartleby's behavior was unusual and unjust. Turkey was ready to confront Bartleby but the lawyer stopped him. Why is the lawyer reluctant to berate Bartleby? This incident repeats itself later on. Bartleby had copied a large document which now needed revising. When the lawyer asked Bartleby for help and he refused. The Lawyer therefore had to get his other three employees to work on the document, and they were outraged. They would not be inclined to revise another man's document without pay again. Bartleby even refused to get Turkey and Nipper.


Quote:

“Bartleby,” said I, “when those papers are all copied,
I will compare them with you.”
“I would prefer not to.”
“How? Surely you do not mean to persist in that
mulish vagary?” (Melville 17).

Reaction:

This quote takes place when the lawyer needs to compare with Bartleby's documents, but Bartleby refuses. This part was interesting because it was unusual for Bartleby to not comply. Bartleby keep refusing to do what the Lawyer commands him to do. Two instances we see of this is when he declines to help in looking over a large document he copied, and when he refused to get the other employees. The quote also struck me with interest  because it has some of the vocabulary that we've had this year. A vagary is an unexpected and inexplicable notion in someone or something.