The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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The first thing that the story lacks is the supernatural. There is not any of the supernatural present in the story. In fact, the only thing that seems slightly supernatural and eerie is when Bartleby says, when asked to copy a document, is "I would prefer not to"(10). The reasons for this are not told to the reader, but one can assume it is just a man tired of what he does, not influence from the supernatural. The reader can infer that his motives for not wanting to work stem from his treatment at his job, not from divine intervention. The idea of God intervening in the life of Bartleby is not even considered by Herman Melville.
Another thing that the story needs to make it romantic but lacks is the lure of the exotic. There is no lure of the unknown or exotic in the story. After the narrator says "I shall not see you again, so goodbye to you"(22), the reader is told that Bartleby has been fired. Had this been a romantic novel, Bartleby would have explored with his new freedom, instead returning to the office and "persisting in occupying the entry after being dismissed from the office"(29). This tells the reader that Bartleby in fact does not want to leave the office, and does not want to experience anything new. The allure of the unknown is an important element of romantic novels, something that this story lacks and would need before becoming one.
The story of Bartleby, despite being written in the romantic era, is not a romantic novel. The story lacks many of the necessary elements of a romantic novel, including the supernatural and the lure of the unknown. In conclusion, this story, despite being written in the romantic era, is "just another story."