The uncompromising code of Bartleby the scribe There are some social codes that we must follow. They are too numerous and obscure to be known, but for the most part they do not need to be known. The set of unspoken and unwritten rules by which we are forced to live are subtly ingrained in us from birth. When we live outside these boundaries and follow our desires, we are walking on thin ice. An eccentric wardrobe choice or unusual habits can mean the difference between being considered an individual who "thinks outside the box" or simply a crazy old man. When someone refuses to adhere to our social codes, they become suspicious. But what drives them in the first place that allows them to refuse? Melville seemed to have a good idea of ​​what it was like to be in such a position. The American Tradition in Literature discusses how "like Bartleby, Melville was a 'scribe,' or writer. Melville also refused to copy the ideas of others, or even his own, in response to popular demand. He too "preferred" withdraw." ” (Perkins 1564). So far it seems that Melville was almost certainly creating something “outside himself.” Furthermore, Melville “distrusted the economic compulsion of society; he resented the financial assistance of his wife's father" (1564). This story comes from an artist who relies only on himself, true to his own nature. Bartleby is simply an exaggeration of this individual way of thinking. Melville presents a distorted image of independence from civil constraints, going so far as to result in a kind of social anarchy. But considering the scribe's background, it is not difficult to understand how Bartleby has become such a social miscreant from a dead l...... middle of paper ...... or the boss from time to time or to our spouse, to our family, to people on the street , you can't pay before me even if you only have a can of beans. No, you can't change the channel, or ask me to pick up the kids from practice on another. We already know what rewards other men have received for their admirable and semi-socially acceptable behavior. Neurosis, alcoholism, ulcers and envy. All in all, it seems like Bartleby is the healthiest of them all. Works Cited Perkins, Barbara and George Perkins, ed. The American tradition in literature. Boston: McGraw-Hill College, 1999. Perry, Dennis R. "'Ah, humanity': Compulsive Neurosis in Melville's 'Bartleby'." Studies in short fiction 24.4 (1987): 407-415.