Symbolic Setting In Bartelby, The Scrivener

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Authors use many literary tactics to evoke emotional responses and deep thought from their audience. One superb example of this is using the setting of a story as a symbol for the overall theme. Many stories focus on brighter aspects of life where the setting is bright and jubilant symbolizing happiness and glee. On the other hand, some authors turn to a darker setting, one where death and darkness overshadow everything which usually symbolizes depression or isolation. Three works in particular, “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, “A&P” by John Updike, and “Bartelby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-street” by Herman Melville, all use a symbolic setting perfectly and convey an individualized message within their works. Many elementary …show more content…

The story itself focuses on a strange man named Bartelby, a scrivener, and follows him into his slow descent into madness while focusing on his strange personal demeanor. Throughout the story, Melville uses the setting to play on Bartelby’s character. One instance of the setting playing on Bartelby is his personal set up in his office. Bartelby’s boss stations him in “a corner by the folding-doors…”. While this may seem insignificant, his positioning away from human contact has a great deal of symbolism. The theme of isolation is present within such a small detail, and, as the story progresses, comes to embody the character of Bartelby. The theme of death and a life of repression is also present within the story. During Bartelby’s last moments his surroundings have extreme significance. Bartelby is “huddled at the base of the wall” with his “head touching the cold stones.” Such a description hints at the theme of despair that is found throughout the paper while also symbolizing death through the coldness of the stones. Herman Melville uses a symbolic setting throughout his work to hint at the themes of isolation, despair, and

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