What background information does the narrator relate that gives us a greater understanding of the events unfolding? Why does the information about Bartleby's previous employment come at the end of the story rather than at the beginning? Complication- How does the Boss react when Bartleby repeatedly refuses to perform his duties? How does his reaction intensify? What is the Boss' dilemma? Climax- Where do you feel the events reach their pinnacle? Where is the conflict most intense, the clash most explosive? Resolution- What's the outcome of the explosion? Epiphany- who has gained insight in this story, Bartleby, or the Boss, or anybody?
The background information given by the narrator that gives the reader a grater understanding of the events unfolding are the location where he works and his personality. The location of his job is at a law firm in Wall Street. Now the reader knows where this story will be taking place and they get an idea of what the characters will be doing. The introduction to his personality will also help the reader understand why the Boss responds to situations the way he does later on in the story. The only thing the narrator lacks at informing us about is Bartleby's background, but this is not his fault. It is Bartleby's introversion that is preventing the Boss from presenting background information. This also connects to why the information about Bartleby's previous employment comes at the end of the story rather than at the beginning.
The reason why this information comes at the end is so that the reader finally understands why Bartleby acted the way he did or why Bartleby carried the attitude he did. The reader discovered that Bartleby worked at a dead letters office, which is where letters that never reach the recipient are sent. Seeing that these letters never reached their recipient really made Bartleby feel hopeless and alone in life. This can explain why Bartleby refused to obey his Boss' orders at his job or even eat or find a home. All throughout the story, the reader becomes impatient wondering what Bartleby's deal was. This allowed the reader to feel what the Boss felt when he was trying to figure out why Bartleby kept refusing to obey him or why Bartleby refused to find a home for himself. But when the Boss finally discovered the root of Bartleby's introversion, the reader felt the same understanding and pity that the Boss felt.
When Bartleby repeatedly refused to perform his duties, the Boss was shocked. He couldn't really believe that one of his employees would not do what he would tell them to. As time went on, the Boss became frustrated, impatient, and later worried. After seeing that Bartleby may not actually have a home due to him sleeping in the office, the Boss begins to feel sorry for Bartleby. The Boss also grows increasingly curious. The events reach their pinnacle when the Boss decides to leave the office Bartleby works in. The Boss asks if Bartleby would be interested in other occupations but, again, Bartleby replies by saying that he would prefer not to. Things become more intense when the Boss learns that Bartleby has been arrested and imprisoned on vagrancy charge. The Boss begins to feel more sorry for Bartleby when he learns from the grub man that he hasn't been eating. He refuses to eat just as he refuses to do other things.
Because of Bartleby's refusal to eat, his body starts to fail and shut down. A few days after visiting Bartleby and finding out that Bartleby hasn't been eating, the Boss returns to find him lying down in the prison yard. He appears to be sleeping but when the Boss finds that he is absolutely motionless and that his eyes are open, he discovers that Bartleby is dead. It is after his death that the Boss discovers that Bartleby previously worked at a dead letters office. This explained Bartleby's previous behavior. The Boss is the character that gains the most insight because of the changes he went through. These changes were brought on by Bartleby's behavior. He becomes more humane and more caring because of Bartleby. He becomes more aware of the world and humanity. His experiences with Bartleby have allowed him to widen his horizons and open his mind up more to the world around him. After his experience with Bartleby, the Boss has gained a new perspective of the world.
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