{"id":"01KG8AJNQ5KRS7FNBJ8JA6J06D","cid":"bafkreid7pjbxcdmtcdcz47r6nc5mma43kh6rsm7x2gptx4j5icrecz5o2m","type":"segment","properties":{"description":"# Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation\n\n## Overview\nThis segment, titled \"Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation,\" is a textual excerpt from the short story [Bartleby, The Scrivener](arke:01KG8AJ8SS2R5YVRHT1BCDZZNP). It spans lines 1078 to 1111 of the source text.\n\n## Context\nThe segment is part of [Bartleby, The Scrivener](arke:01KG8AJ8SS2R5YVRHT1BCDZZNP), a work by Herman Melville, and is contained within the larger [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. It was extracted from the digital file [bartleby_the_scrivener.txt](arke:01KG89J1CRGPEZ66W67EZPAMPE). This segment follows a \"Confrontation and Refusal\" (arke:01KG8AJNQ533NDVCX5RDA0TXAD) where the narrator attempts to dismiss Bartleby, and precedes \"Bartleby's Continued Presence and Narrator's Reflection\" (arke:01KG8AJNQ2ZC7HM5963ZYR99P9), which details the narrator's subsequent thoughts and actions.\n\n## Contents\nThe segment captures the narrator's struggle with his rising \"nervous resentment\" towards Bartleby. He reflects on the \"tragedy of the unfortunate Adams and the still more unfortunate Colt,\" attributing Colt's fatal act to the isolation of the office environment. The narrator then describes how he suppresses his anger by recalling the \"divine injunction: 'A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another.'\" He rationalizes that charity, even if motivated by self-interest, is a prudent principle. Ultimately, he resolves to \"drown my exasperated feelings\" by benevolently interpreting Bartleby's conduct, concluding that Bartleby \"don’t mean any thing; and besides, he has seen hard times, and ought to be indulged.\"","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:08.526Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation","end_line":1111,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:37.562Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation","source_file":"01KG89J1CRGPEZ66W67EZPAMPE","start_line":1078,"text":"I was now in such a state of nervous resentment that I thought it but\r\nprudent to check myself at present from further demonstrations.\r\nBartleby and I were alone. I remembered the tragedy of the unfortunate\r\nAdams and the still more unfortunate Colt in the solitary office of the\r\nlatter; and how poor Colt, being dreadfully incensed by Adams, and\r\nimprudently permitting himself to get wildly excited, was at unawares\r\nhurried into his fatal act—an act which certainly no man could possibly\r\ndeplore more than the actor himself. Often it had occurred to me in my\r\nponderings upon the subject, that had that altercation taken place in\r\nthe public street, or at a private residence, it would not have\r\nterminated as it did. It was the circumstance of being alone in a\r\nsolitary office, up stairs, of a building entirely unhallowed by\r\nhumanizing domestic associations—an uncarpeted office, doubtless, of a\r\ndusty, haggard sort of appearance;—this it must have been, which\r\ngreatly helped to enhance the irritable desperation of the hapless\r\nColt.\r\n\r\nBut when this old Adam of resentment rose in me and tempted me\r\nconcerning Bartleby, I grappled him and threw him. How? Why, simply by\r\nrecalling the divine injunction: “A new commandment give I unto you,\r\nthat ye love one another.” Yes, this it was that saved me. Aside from\r\nhigher considerations, charity often operates as a vastly wise and\r\nprudent principle—a great safeguard to its possessor. Men have\r\ncommitted murder for jealousy’s sake, and anger’s sake, and hatred’s\r\nsake, and selfishness’ sake, and spiritual pride’s sake; but no man\r\nthat ever I heard of, ever committed a diabolical murder for sweet\r\ncharity’s sake. Mere self-interest, then, if no better motive can be\r\nenlisted, should, especially with high-tempered men, prompt all beings\r\nto charity and philanthropy. At any rate, upon the occasion in\r\nquestion, I strove to drown my exasperated feelings towards the\r\nscrivener by benevolently construing his conduct. Poor fellow, poor\r\nfellow! thought I, he don’t mean any thing; and besides, he has seen\r\nhard times, and ought to be indulged.\r\n\r","title":"Narrator's Internal Conflict and Resignation"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJ8SS2R5YVRHT1BCDZZNP","peer_type":"short_story","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1CRGPEZ66W67EZPAMPE","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AJNQ533NDVCX5RDA0TXAD","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AJNQ2ZC7HM5963ZYR99P9","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:47:39.237Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:08.781Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}