Question

Which archetype is most closely represented by the narrator through his relationship with Bartleby in Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street"? protector trickster comic hero victim

Answer 1

The narrator in Bartleby, the Scrivener embodies the archetype of a protector through his continuous and caring response to Bartleby's resistance to conventional work and life.

Step-by-step explanation:

The archetype that is most closely represented by the narrator through his relationship with Bartleby in Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street" is that of the protector. Although the narrator initially represents a conventional employer, his response to Bartleby's nonconformity and steadfast refusal to perform tasks—summed up in Bartleby's signature phrase, "I prefer not to"—transforms him into a figure who exhibits protective instincts. The narrator does not abate his efforts to understand or help Bartleby, despite the latter's unyielding behavior and the mysterious nature of his condition. Even as Bartleby is increasingly marginalized, the narrator's concern for his well-being persists, suggesting attributes of a protector rather than other archetypes, such as the trickster, comic hero, or victim.

Answer 2

The archetype that is most closely represented by the narrator through his relationship with Bartleby in Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story
of Wall-Street" would be trickster.