Personal Response to Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville

He is able to evoke such strong emotions because of the fact that we know of the feelings of pity, lonliness, and isolation, we are able to see the author's perspective towards Bartleby.  Although Bartleby very much isolates himself from the rest of the group, the narrator as well as one of the character's obviously are somewhat hurt for Bartleby and want to help him, although they just dont quite know how to help someone who isolates themselves.  Bartleby's eccentric character and inscrutable personality has great universal appeal because of the fact that most people feel guilty towards Bartleby since he is  poor and doesnt associate with others.  Our natural response to this type of behavior is sympathy towards the isolated character and to try to reach out and help in any way possible.  Although both the narrator and the other scriveners were not able to help Bartleby's distorted perpetual ways, this creates more empathy, sympathy, attention, and interest to the character of Bartleby to where people want to learn more about his character and personality.