Bartleby, the Scrivener
by Herman Melville

Bartleby, the Scrivener: Unreliable Narrator 1 key example

Unreliable Narrator
Explanation and Analysis—The Lawyer:

“Bartleby, the Scriver” is narrated by the Lawyer who once employed Bartleby. This employer-employee power dynamic alone raises questions about the reliability of the Lawyer’s narration, as do many of the Lawyer’s omissions. For example, he feels comfortable sharing Bartleby’s name but never his own, and also hides the identities of his other employees via nicknames—Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut.