There are quite a few different interpretations of the story Bartleby the Scrivener.

        Bartleby has been compared to a figure that is beyond above him by Donald M. Fiene in his essay “Bartleby the Christ,” this mighty figure is Jesus Christ. The essay states that Bartleby is a Christ figure because his death comes from the lawyer’s failure to try and reach Christian charity to him. I completely disagree because it is not the lawyer’s job to try and reach out to Bartleby. The lawyer only saw Bartleby as an employee, as how he should have. The lawyer had no reason to show pity or remorse to Bartleby since he was only working for him.

        I agree with the comparison that Bartleby is somewhat like the character Melville in David Kuebrich’s article “Melville’s Doctrine of Assumptions.” Both Melville and Bartleby were an outcast in society. One difference was that Bartleby became mentally and socially paralyzed, but Melville did not. Bartleby’s feelings about society never got into such depth as Melville’s feelings did. Melville had at least a little bit of hope, but Bartleby showed none.

        Bartleby is a lost soul who does not know what he wants in this world. The lawyer was not there to be Bartleby’s guide. The lawyer gave Bartleby a job and expected him to do what was asked, although Bartleby did not do so. There’s only so much a person can do to help another person, Bartleby did not need help; instead he needed a miracle.