Paradox

Bartleby is stubborn, self-absorbed, rebellious, and insubordinate, yet many readers, and even the narrator, the Boss himself, have a deep sympathy for him. Why?
Others?

Bartleby may be stubborn, rebellious, etc but he has his reason. In his life as a dead mail worker he was always shrouded in sadness. He saw all the mail that was sent back to him. He even saw a love letter sent back. Those things must have broken his heart. He was exposed to so much of that sadness that it consumed him. His heart became so empty because that was all he saw in those letter. It is that fact that made Boss, the readers, and the other characters sympathize him.