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What is a scrivener?
A scrivener is a clerk who works in a legal office as a copyist.
Why does Turkey have a flushed face in the afternoons?
While not explicitly stated, the text implies that Turkey’s face is red in the afternoon because he drinks too much at lunch.
What does the prison represent in “Bartleby the Scrivener”?
A prison, with its locked gates and enforced sentences, is the epitome of isolation. Within the context of “Bartleby the Scrivener,” the prison is meant to represent the culmination or final stage of Bartleby’s isolation from humanity.
Why does Bartleby say “I would prefer not to”?
The short answer: nobody knows. Many have tried to justify or explain Bartleby’s behavior with a number of theories ranging from a rejection of capitalism to depression. However, it is impossible to ever learn why Bartleby acts the way that he does because the reader is limited to what the Lawyer/narrator understands of Bartleby—which is very little.
What is the Dead Letter Office?
The Dead Letter Office reads and disposes of letters intended for people who are now dead. The Lawyer hears a rumor that Bartleby used to work there before the Lawyer hired him.
