B. J. Harrison Reads Bartleby, the Scrivener

The narrator of this story is a successful lawyer on Wall Street. He hires a scrivener named Bartleby to help him with all the papers and relieve the load of work. Bartleby quickly gains the lawyer's trust by completing his tasks on time. However, the newcomer becomes mentally unstable. He suddenly refuses to perform his duties and stares at a blank wall instead. The lawyer decides to give Bartleby a break, then tries to fire him, but the uncontrollable employee refuses to leave.

Who exactly is Bartleby? Why does he refuse to perform the tasks he has been hired to do? What is his problem? How is the lawyer going to deal with the scrivener? Will Bartleby ever leave?

Find all the answers in Herman Melville's novel "Bartleby, the Scrivener" from 1853.