Bartleby the Scrivener Lesson Plan

Before the narrator introduces the reader to Bartleby, he describes Turkey, Nippers, and Ginger Nut. Describe each of them. Why does the narrator describe them before introducing Bartleby?

Turkey is an alcoholic whose temperament is calm in the morning and belligerent in the afternoon once he has had enough to drink. Nippers is the opposite. He is irritable in the morning and calmer in the afternoon as he suffers from indigestion and is very ambitious. Ginger Nut is a preteen who fetches ginger nuts for the employees. The narrator uses the characters to set the stage and give the reader an idea of the office culture. While Bartleby’s behavior is surprising, it also does...