society and further seclude himself led to the disintegration of his soul. He lost all desire to work, or even function, I now recalled all the quiet mysteries, which I had, noted in the man. I remembered that he never spoke but to answer.( pg. 106) He soon became a victim of society, loosing all initiative. Thus, for long periods he would stand looking out, at his pale window behind the screen, upon the dead brick wall, (pg 126) and this became his life. He was trapped behind a brick wall and he soon became so disillusioned by it that he lost sight of life and gave up. Ultimately, his will to prefer not to concluded in his death. Bartleby was imprisoned because of his desire to demonstrate his free will and never leave his office, even after it was no longer his place of employment. "And to you, this should not be so vile a place. Nothing reproachful attaches to you by being here. And see, it is not so sad a place as one might think. Look, there is the sky, and here is the grass."( pg 137) It is ironic that once he is actually confined within prison walls, that he is finally exposed to the outside world, the sky and grass. It is even more ironic that once Bartleby is no longer restrained by societys conformities that it is then that he dies. Strangely huddled at the base of the wall, his knees drawn up, his head touching the stones, I saw the wasted Bartleby.( pg 139) Ultimately, once disillusioned by society and the work force, he died at his own free will because he preferred no to live.Bartlebys character comments upon the functions of society and the work force. This story demonstrates that life if not lived is useless, as in the case of Bartleby, who wastes his away preferring not to. Although, from the beginning he was isolated behind the green folding screen with nothing but a wall to stare out, he did not have to give up his humanity. However, he chose to, he chose to further isolate himself by his own self-will and accordi...
