Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Bartleby, the Scrivener. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Bartleby, the copyist who answers every request with “I would prefer not to,” is sent to the Tombs prison after refusing to leave the office. He refuses to eat and dies there, and the narrator later hears a rumour that Bartleby once worked in the Dead Letter Office, which he thinks may explain his despair.
Quick facts
– Book: Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville
– First published: 1853
– Type: A short story
– Tone of the ending: Haunting
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
A Wall Street lawyer hires Bartleby as a scrivener, copying legal documents by hand. At first he works hard, but then he begins refusing tasks with the same polite phrase. He stops working entirely and lives in the office. The narrator is baffled, angry and strangely sympathetic.
What Happens at the End of Bartleby, the Scrivener
Unable to remove Bartleby, the narrator moves his office. The new tenants have Bartleby arrested as a vagrant. The narrator visits him in prison and pays for food, but Bartleby prefers not to eat. He dies curled against the prison wall. The narrator hears that Bartleby worked in the Dead Letter Office, sorting letters that never reached anyone, and ends with “Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!”
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Bartleby's refusal is total.
- He dies of starvation.
- The Dead Letter Office rumour hints at a cause.
- The narrator is left with sorrow.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Bartleby | Dies in prison |
| The narrator | Haunted by Bartleby |
| Turkey and Nippers | The other copyists |
What the Ending Means
The ending explores alienation and passive resistance. Bartleby's refusal may be protest, despair or both.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers see Bartleby as a symbol of workers crushed by routine, while others see depression or a writer's frustration. Melville leaves him a mystery.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Alienation. Bartleby is cut off from everyone.
Resistance. His refusal challenges the world of work.
Compassion. The narrator struggles with what he owes Bartleby.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Bartleby, the Scrivener as haunting. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Herman Melville to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are haunting will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Herman Melville closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Bartleby, the Scrivener with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about alienation, and do you agree with Herman Melville's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as haunting, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces alienation and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Herman Melville leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Bartleby, the Scrivener often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Bartleby, the Scrivener earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
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Books to Read After Bartleby, the Scrivener
- Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
- The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Related: Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville: Summary and Key Takeaways · Bartleby, the Scrivener Book Club Discussion Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Bartleby, the Scrivener?
Bartleby, the copyist who answers every request with “I would prefer not to,” is sent to the Tombs prison after refusing to leave the office. He refuses to eat and dies there, and the narrator later hears a rumour that Bartleby once worked in the Dead Letter Office, which he thinks may explain his despair.
Is the ending of Bartleby, the Scrivener happy or sad?
Most readers call it haunting.
What does the ending of Bartleby, the Scrivener mean?
The ending explores alienation and passive resistance.
Who wrote Bartleby, the Scrivener and when was it published?
Bartleby, the Scrivener was written by Herman Melville and first published in 1853.
Is Bartleby, the Scrivener worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy short storys. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Herman Melville prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Bartleby, the Scrivener before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.