- description
- # Narrator's Decision to Move Offices
## Overview
This section, titled "Narrator's Decision to Move Offices," is an excerpt from the short story "Bartleby." It details the narrator's actions and thoughts as he decides to relocate his offices to escape the persistent presence of Bartleby. The text spans from line 1813 to 1841.
## Context
This section is part of the chapter "[Bartleby](arke:01KG8AJK1PKEBJJCANV911N8JS)" within the short story collection "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)." It was extracted from the file "[the_piazza_tales.txt](arke:01KG89J1F4D8P9BBX9AMGZ7TX7)." This section follows "[Narrator's decision to move offices to escape Bartleby](arke:01KG8AK419NJXFJB7J37YM881T)" and precedes "[Bartleby's Continued Presence and Consequences](arke:01KG8AK4196PCDZ2AG6ZRPHRVV)."
## Contents
The text describes the narrator's direct communication with Bartleby, informing him of the impending move due to the unwholesome air and distance from City Hall. The narrator then details the process of moving, observing Bartleby's passive presence throughout. The section concludes with the narrator's departure from his old chambers and his subsequent anxieties in his new location, noting Bartleby's absence. The narrator also describes a brief, final interaction where he attempts to give Bartleby money, which Bartleby drops.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:54.710Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- Narrator's Decision to Move Offices
- end_line
- 1841
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:52.603Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 1813
- text
- Acting accordingly, next day I thus addressed him: “I find these
chambers too far from the City Hall; the air is unwholesome. In a word,
I propose to remove my offices next week, and shall no longer require
your services. I tell you this now, in order that you may seek another
place.”
He made no reply, and nothing more was said.
On the appointed day I engaged carts and men, proceeded to my chambers,
and, having but little furniture, everything was removed in a few
hours. Throughout, the scrivener remained standing behind the screen,
which I directed to be removed the last thing. It was withdrawn; and,
being folded up like a huge folio, left him the motionless occupant of
a naked room. I stood in the entry watching him a moment, while
something from within me upbraided me.
I re-entered, with my hand in my pocket—and—and my heart in my mouth.
“Good-by, Bartleby; I am going—good-by, and God some way bless you; and
take that,” slipping something in his hand. But it dropped upon the
floor, and then—strange to say—I tore myself from him whom I had so
longed to be rid of.
Established in my new quarters, for a day or two I kept the door
locked, and started at every footfall in the passages. When I returned
to my rooms, after any little absence, I would pause at the threshold
for an instant, and attentively listen, ere applying my key. But these
fears were needless. Bartleby never came nigh me.
- title
- Narrator's Decision to Move Offices