The Christian Elements in Herman Melvilles Bartleby, the Scrivener
It has often been concluded that Melvilles novella causes confusion among critics and readers since the symbolisms and themes that are hidden deeply within the literary text cannot be understood nor identified immediately. The ironic thing is that the novella is simple in narrative style and plot and yet, it creates the atmosphere that there is something which is more profound in the message contained in the text. The fact that the character of Bartleby is very mysterious and that the Lawyer wants to find the reason behind this mysteriousness creates this atmosphere. The mysteriousness is a puzzle which the Lawyer and the readers should solve since it would seem to lead to the theme and the message that Melville is trying to drive at, which is the spiritual awakening that Bartleby is undergoing.
In analyzing the novella, the character of the Lawyer serves as the foil to the character of Bartleby, making self-centeredness and materialistic attitude of the Lawyer to be more prominent and poignant. In fact, the subtitle of the novella, A Story of Wall Street, alludes to the money-making ideals of the Lawyer, who is fascinated with Bartleby but is actually more fascinated with how he deals with Bartleby. The fact that the setting is also in one of the most financially and economically centered places in America (and is known throughout the world for being thus) adds to the character of his character, making him stand out more as a material-centered individual
The subtitlerefers to an area inthat was then, and is now, the heart of the nations finances, encompassing the New York Stock Exchange, brokerage houses, commodity exchangesbanksthat handled the legal affairs of these financial institutions. (Johnson 1)
Compared to Bartleby who takes everything in a stride with his passive, quiet, and calm nature, the Lawyer becomes a pseudo-antagonist because of his need to appear like a charitable person to people like Bartleby, but he finds himself unable to be so since he has really no charitable bone in his body
The charity of the narrator reminds one of the wealthy philanthropist who endows a hospital or museum, certainly wishing to do some good, but alsodare one say equallyto perpetuate his reputation and enjoy a useful tax break The narrator uses, or misuses, Christian doctrine to justify his action with regard to Bartleby. (Johnson 7)
The Lawyer also has the need to collect queer stories of the scriveners, making him not only a misuser of the Christian doctrine (according to Johnson) but also a user of other people
The nature of my avocations for the last thirty years has brought me into more than ordinary contact with what would seem an interesting and somewhat singular set of men, of whom as yet nothing that I know has ever been written--I mean the law-copyists or scriveners. (Melville 1)
Yet, the Lawyer does not exactly fully play the role of the antagonist since it is not him who creates the conflict in the novella instead, it is Bartleby himself who punishes himself, a situation that gives way to the spiritual and Christian elements and which will be explicated later on.
Even if the novella is entitled as Bartleby, the Scrivener, it does not mean that the whole novella focuses and centers on Bartleby. As Johnson asserts, the novella talks about Bartleby but is not solely about him rather, it is the narrator in the personage of the Lawyer whose identity as a character is revealed (Johnson 2-3). The life story, occupation, thoughts, judgments, and feelings of the Lawyer are mirrored through his narrative on Bartleby that makes the novella about Bartleby but it reveals more information about the Lawyer.
It was mentioned earlier that Bartleby is punishing himself with his humility and passiveness with the growth and expansion of the financial world of Wall Street. Instead of being like the other scriveners that focus on the money-making aspect of the job, he prefers not to do so which startles and interests the Lawyer (Melville 21). His refusal with the line I prefer not to makes a constant reappearance throughout the novel, rendering him a queer character. However, in analyzing this line, Bartlebys personal preference reveals that it is his choice not to be swayed by the financially fast-paced world of Wall Street. Thus, unlike the other characters that enslave themselves in making money and getting rich, Bartleby remains grounded on his ideals and morals.
The interest of the Lawyer with Bartleby may arise from the fact that Bartleby is different from other scriveners since he is not attracted to money or to money-making opportunities. This difference in Bartleby can be seen as the spirituality of his character even if it seems to just be plain queerness on his part. Stanley Brodwin in his Melvilles Crossing in Bartleby the Scrivener mentions this spirituality or the spiritual crisis that Bartleby faces in the novella In any study of Bartleby the Scrivenerindeed, with most of Melvilles worka good place to start is with the pervasive sense of death and its accompanying images of spiritual crisis that inform the text (n.p.). Brodwin already points out that there is a spiritual crisis that takes place in the novella and death is just one of the symbolisms that pave way for this close-reading. This claim silences the arguments of other critics who argue that spirituality in the novella does not exist and that any Christian element or image may be derived from over-analysis of the text. There are indeed Christian elements in the novella and they are in abundance, ranging from allegorical passages from the Bible that Melville has cleverly injected in the literary text and the character personality of the protagonists to the other characters that can be juxtaposed with the values and characteristics that Jesus Christ famously portrays.
As mentioned, Bartleby, the Scrivener contains explicit allegorical images that pertain to Christian elements. However, although there are more obvious Christian elements like the Biblical passages and allusion to Biblical stories, the Lawyers narration also presents images that could allude to Christian elements when scrutinized closely Now, one Sunday morning I happened to go to Trinity Church, to hear a celebrated preacher (Melville 36). The Trinity Church is mentioned twice in the novella, the second time being when the Lawyer decided that he is not worthy to go to the Church because of his relationship with Bartleby Somehow, the things I had seen disqualified me for the time from church-going (Melville 44). Sadly, the Lawyer blames Bartleby for his disqualification to go to the Church, not realizing that it is his own pretentious attitude which hinders him to do so. Johnson explains the reason behind these Christian elements that serve not as inspiring holy elements but as a foil to the pretentious characteristic of the Lawyer
The narrator refers to his attendance at Trinity Church, which lies at the head of Wall Street, and to the commandment of Jesus that we love one another. There are further indirect but unmistakable biblical references that suggest that the narrator fails to sustain genuine, loving and selfless humanity. (Johnson 8)
Thus, the use of the Christian images is significant in trying to bring out the humble nature of Bartleby and his queer journey for spirituality while also bringing out the hollow and insincere attitude of the Lawyer.
Moreover, on a close-reading of the novella, Melville alludes to allegorical metaphors ranging from how humanity should act according to the Scriptures to the characteristics of Adam and even to sample passages from the Bible. For example, the Lawyer refers to a negative trait as an old Adam of resentment that rose in him and tempted him concerning Bartleby (Melville 62). This old Adam resentment can perhaps be interpreted as either a trait so common to mankind that it is as old as Adam who is known to be the first man according to the story of Creation. It could also have an interpretation of a characteristic reminiscent of Adam himself wherein resentment is directed towards the Hebrew God (and Eve) when he finds himself to be ignorant, takes a bite from the forbidden fruit, and decides to be fully clothed because he finds himself to be actually naked.
It was stated earlier that Melville has integrated Christian elements in his literary work through the various Biblical passages in the novella. Johnsons book also mentions this when she writes about the Christian love and charity that the Lawyer wants to portray but fails to do so since he has a false notion about it
The narrator even broaches the subject of love and charity, quoting an admonition of Jesusbut any hope remaining that he will be changed by love is dashed with his interpretation of the scripture. He entirely misses the point of loves selflessness. Instead, he is warmed by the prospect that love works to the advantage of the one who loves. (8)
Melvilles fascination with Biblical allusions is not coincidental. Brodwin explains that Melville has always been fascinated with death and the problem of faith and more than Biblical allusions, his fascination with faith and spirituality does not just end with Biblical allusions but also with the characters journey towards spiritual awakening it begins with his characters psychic tensions and then are transformed into theological resolutions or structures. (n.p.)
This journey that the character of Bartleby undergoes through can be a spiritual one wherein a hero has to go through before being regarded as a hero and reaping all the valiancy that befits him. However, Bartleby does not fully emerge as a hero in the end as he dies a silent and lonely death. Ironically however, this sad death that the Lawyer pities is Bartlebys redemption and salvation as a character since Bartleby has died in a way that can be regarded as a Christian death (Brodwin n.p.). As what the Biblical teachings promise with the gift of immortal life within the gates of heaven and with Jesus Christ Himself, Bartleby becomes the prime example of who can have an eternal life since he dies bravely (he asks for no pity), humbly (he utters no blasphemy or blame), and without bravado (Brodwin n.p).
In conclusion, Melville incorporates spiritual and Christian elements in the novella and these elements are hidden as allegorical symbolisms. Because of the unearthing and further understanding of these symbolisms, Bartlebys nature and the novella itself are comprehended more and appreciated more. Perhaps, what Melville is driving at with his subtle hints of Christian elements ranging from Biblical passages to Christ-like characteristics is that the readers should also go on a journey on their own to have their own spiritual awakening. This journey should lead to an awakening about life and how it should be lived about love and charity and how they should be practiced with the correct interpretations of the Scriptures and most of all, about the desire to have a Christian death which is reminiscent of the characteristics of Jesus Christ.
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