Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation

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description

# Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation ## Overview This segment, titled "Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation," is a textual excerpt from the short story [Bartleby, The Scrivener](arke:01KG8AJ8SS2R5YVRHT1BCDZZNP). It spans lines 1078 to 1111 of the source text. ## Context The segment is part of [Bartleby, The Scrivener](arke:01KG8AJ8SS2R5YVRHT1BCDZZNP), a work by Herman Melville, and is contained within the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. It was extracted from the digital file [bartleby_the_scrivener.txt](arke:01KG89J1CRGPEZ66W67EZPAMPE). This segment follows a "Confrontation and Refusal" (arke:01KG8AJNQ533NDVCX5RDA0TXAD) where the narrator attempts to dismiss Bartleby, and precedes "Bartleby's Continued Presence and Narrator's Reflection" (arke:01KG8AJNQ2ZC7HM5963ZYR99P9), which details the narrator's subsequent thoughts and actions. ## Contents The segment captures the narrator's struggle with his rising "nervous resentment" towards Bartleby. He reflects on the "tragedy of the unfortunate Adams and the still more unfortunate Colt," attributing Colt's fatal act to the isolation of the office environment. The narrator then describes how he suppresses his anger by recalling the "divine injunction: 'A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another.'" He rationalizes that charity, even if motivated by self-interest, is a prudent principle. Ultimately, he resolves to "drown my exasperated feelings" by benevolently interpreting Bartleby's conduct, concluding that Bartleby "don’t mean any thing; and besides, he has seen hard times, and ought to be indulged."

description_generated_at

2026-01-30T20:48:08.526Z

description_model

gemini-2.5-flash-lite

description_title

Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation

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1111

extracted_at

2026-01-30T20:47:37.562Z

extracted_by

structure-extraction-lambda

source_file

01KG89J1CRGPEZ66W67EZPAMPE

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1078

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I was now in such a state of nervous resentment that I thought it but prudent to check myself at present from further demonstrations. Bartleby and I were alone. I remembered the tragedy of the unfortunate Adams and the still more unfortunate Colt in the solitary office of the latter; and how poor Colt, being dreadfully incensed by Adams, and imprudently permitting himself to get wildly excited, was at unawares hurried into his fatal act—an act which certainly no man could possibly deplore more than the actor himself. Often it had occurred to me in my ponderings upon the subject, that had that altercation taken place in the public street, or at a private residence, it would not have terminated as it did. It was the circumstance of being alone in a solitary office, up stairs, of a building entirely unhallowed by humanizing domestic associations—an uncarpeted office, doubtless, of a dusty, haggard sort of appearance;—this it must have been, which greatly helped to enhance the irritable desperation of the hapless Colt. But when this old Adam of resentment rose in me and tempted me concerning Bartleby, I grappled him and threw him. How? Why, simply by recalling the divine injunction: “A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another.” Yes, this it was that saved me. Aside from higher considerations, charity often operates as a vastly wise and prudent principle—a great safeguard to its possessor. Men have committed murder for jealousy’s sake, and anger’s sake, and hatred’s sake, and selfishness’ sake, and spiritual pride’s sake; but no man that ever I heard of, ever committed a diabolical murder for sweet charity’s sake. Mere self-interest, then, if no better motive can be enlisted, should, especially with high-tempered men, prompt all beings to charity and philanthropy. At any rate, upon the occasion in question, I strove to drown my exasperated feelings towards the scrivener by benevolently construing his conduct. Poor fellow, poor fellow! thought I, he don’t mean any thing; and besides, he has seen hard times, and ought to be indulged.

title

Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation