Character By Character (Charcterization)

"At the period just preceding the advent of Bartelby, I had two persons as copyists in my employment and a promising lad as an office boy. First, Turkey; second, Nippers; third, Ginger Nut. These may seem names the like of which are not usually found in the Directory. In truth they wer nicknames mutually conferred upon each other by my three clerks, and were deemed expressive of theire respective persons or characters." -pg 644

Melville builds the basis for his story about one scrivener by first building the foundation for the setting character by character. He starts with the lawyer, describing his manner, personal philosophy, and employment. In the passage above, he moves on to describe the office copyists and the office lad. The characterization of all of these characters is extremely detailed and meticulous. The entirety of Melville's descriptions about these fairly minor characters lasts a little over five pages. After finishing the short story, I considered this exposition somewhat unnecessary, but after examing the events of the novel, I found that the painstakingly detailed charcterization did in fact have a purpose.

Firstly, the characterization of the other characters that come in contact with Bartelby set a foundation for what the current dynamic and regular pattern of the lawyer's office is. Bartelby's actions would seem peculiar on their own, but when compared to the actions of the regular employees, they are bizarre. In addition, the reactions of the characters in response to Bartelby show how Bartelby's inactions have a more profound effect than the readers would initially anticipate. Nipper's is infuriated with Bartelby. Turkey just wants to offer him a drink to help him loosen up a little. Ginger Nut faithfully brings him a snack of ginger nuts everyday. At one point, Turkey and Nipper, and even the lawyer himself, begin to be so affected by Bartelby that they accidentally mimic his faithful word choice "prefer". I noted that Ginger Nut was the one least described by the author and, correspondingly, he is the one who has the least to say about Barelby. The reactions of the more minor characters are understandable because of the meticulous characterizations given at the beginning of the story. These reactions to an inactive person prove how Bartelby truly was the protagonist. In addition, they give purpose to the lengthy characterization of the lawyer, Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut.