The Use of Secrets as a Thematic Device in "Bartleby"

Secrets are an important theme in many stories. Secrets may be kept from the reader, from other characters in the story, or a character may be in denial, thereby keeping secrets from him or herself. These secrets could also be shared, with other characters, or with the reader. Ultimately however, it is the narrator of the story, through which the author speaks, that chooses to divest or obfuscate certain aspects of the story as it is related. The author of a work can also choose to conceal certain facts until a strategic moment in the tale, such as the climax, is reached. Herman Melville's short story, "Bartleby," contains examples of each of these ideas, and each is utilized in order to help further the plot or otherwise improve the narrative, through revelation or disguise.…