The story, Bartleby, the Scrivener is a humorous commentary on industrial society. The author, Herman Melville uses the habits of the characters in the story to illustrate many themes. One theme in the story shows how the nature of work in the industrial society clashes with the ways that people work. This theme is furthered by the forms of resistance to this mechanical work the each character gives.
One form of resistance to monotonous work is lowering productivity. Particularly, making mistakes prevents work from getting done quickly and tells the boss that the work is difficult. The characters Turkey and Nippers are very predictable in the way they work. Both work effectively for a period of time and then at other times of the day are unable to concentrate on their work. One example given in the story illustrates this point, "'But the blots, Turkey,' intimated I. 'True; but, with submission, sir behold these hairs! I am getting old...'". Melville makes the point with this dialogue that although Turkey is only effective during the morning, his boss, the narrator tolerates his work habits because they are very predictable. Nippers, also is very similar in the way he works. In the story, he seems to have a great deal of trouble getting started in the morning. The narrator sums up the situation in his office by saying, "Their fits relieved each other like guards. When Nipper's was on, Turkey's was off; and vice versa." Although the narrator seems displeased with the work habits of both Nippers and Turkey, he doesn't seem to have any problem tolerating their shortcomings because their's were character flaws which is much different from insubordination.
The main character of the story, Bartelby shows another form of resistance to this very mechanical work. When first hired, Bartelby is the best worker, and is very consistent. Later however, Bartelby chooses not to perform certain daily tasks by saying "I would prefer not to". While Bartelby probably does the same volume of work as the others, the narrator is most frustrated with him. The difference between the way Bartelby works and the work of Nipper and Turkey, is Bartelby's lack of consistency. His decisions of when to work and how to work seem almost arbitrary. Also, his protest for the work is very direct, and yet passive. This causes great distress for the narrator, and is best shown by his exclamation, "And I trembled to think that my contact with the scrivener had already and seriously affected me in a mental way. And what further and deeper aberration might it not yet produce?" This theme gradually climaxes with the office moving to a new location, leaving Bartelby behind.
The story is a particularly interesting commentary on the modern office atmosphere. A statement made by the author through this story is one concerning the relationship between employee and employer, and how this becomes more stressed with the mechanical work brought about by the industrial society. Each worker shows resistance to this work, but the direct, unreasonable form of resistance given by Bartleby is completely contrary to the values of society at the time. The author may be trying to illustrate the difficulty of finding good workers, or inhumane work that was the cause for low productivity among workers.
