1. Melancholic: The overarching tone conveys a sense of somberness and melancholy. The narrator's observations and descriptions are often tinged with sadness and a subtle sense of loss. Melville creates a contemplative atmosphere in which readers cannot help but feel affected by the peculiar circumstances unraveling before them.
2. Detached: The narrator often speaks with a certain level of detachment and a clinical precision in recording events. This sense of distance, even regarding emotionally impactful or unsettling occurrences, lends a unique quality to the novella's tone. By maintaining this emotional barrier, the narrator invites readers to form their own opinions and draw their own conclusions about the characters and their interactions.
3. Subtly Satirical: A subtle undercurrent of satire runs throughout the story. Melville satirizes the monotonous rituals and routines of the bustling Wall Street office environment, revealing its stifling effects on creativity and the individual spirit. Bartleby becomes the catalyst for highlighting these absurdities by embodying a form of passive resistance that subtly disrupts the established systems and expectations of the workplace.
In summary, the tone of "Bartleby, the Scrivener" oscillates between melancholic contemplation, detached observation, and understated satire, presenting a nuanced exploration of human psychology, conformity, and the search for authentic meaning amidst the routines of everyday life.