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The Lawyer
The unnamed narrator of “Bartleby the Scrivener.” He owns a law firm on Wall Street where he employs three men as scriveners and one errand boy. He is level-headed, industrious, and has a good mind for business.
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Bartleby
A young man hired by the Lawyer to serve as a scrivener. He starts out as an excellent copyist, but when asked to examine his work for errors, he replies that he “would prefer not to.” Bartleby soon answers anything he is asked to do with “I would prefer not to,” and he slowly drives the Lawyer and his fellow scriveners crazy.
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Turkey
The Lawyer’s eldest employee. He is a good worker in the morning, but in the afternoon his face becomes flush, he gets a short temper, and he makes more mistakes in his work.
Nippers
Another scrivener employed by the Lawyer. Nippers is the opposite of Turkey; he is young and he works best in the afternoon. In the morning, he is troubled by stomach problems and a constant need to adjust the height of his desk.
Ginger Nut
The Lawyer's errand boy. His name comes from the fact that Turkey, Nippers, and Bartleby often send him to get ginger nut cakes.
