What do the "dead walls" and Bartleby's "dead wall reveries" represent? What's the significance of the setting? Wall Street? Why do Turkey and Nipper have nicknames, but the boss is never named and Bartleby's first name or background is never learned?
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The "dead walls" in Herman Melville's story Bartleby may symbolize the dead letter job that Bartleby had previously worked at pending his new job working for the lawyer. The dead walls could also symbolize his life, and the dead end path that he is headed in, too no wear. The walls symbolize Bartleby’s "psychological imprisonment", eventually leading to his fate to die in prison. The setting plays a major role in the story, showing Melville's out look on the American Society. Wall Street is where the story is based around, showing the buissness world as well as all of the difficult ties that humans face in the every day life. Turkey and Nippers are given nicknames in the story, displaying their personality, in a way that is not quite clear to us. As for Bartleby we are never given is first name as to aid in his hidden identity. Bartleby's background is also never mention, proving Melville's point as to the fact that Bartleby has no life, dead end, leading to death.
The "dead walls" represent the unliveliness of the office. The walls symbolize his isolation from the outside world and him being trapped mentally. Wall Street is where life is at its fullest and where society is at its busiest. It is key to the story to show the social stature of some of the characters. Turkey and Nipper get nicknames representing how they acted as characters. The Boss remains a mystery to hide who he truly was or had become. Bartleby's first name or background is never learned leaving it a mystery. Its up the readers curiosity to try and figure it out.
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