Bartleby the Scrivener
“I would prefer not to”, are the five words uttered by the Scrivener that both stunned and touched the attorney in a disconcerting way. Bartleby was hired by the attorney to be a scrivener to help with his increased workload. The scrivener was a man who was withdrawn from life. ... At first Bartleby did an extraordinary quantity of writing. ... Bartleby seemed almost unreal. Shortly afterward, Bartleby displayed a sudden lack of motivation for his work. This became evident when the attorney asked him to perform an indispensable part of a scrivener’s work - to verify the accuracy of his copies. ... At first he dismissed it as illness or madness, but as Bartleby’s rejections frequented, so did the attorney’s incredulity. ... But Bartleby had an undue effect on him. ... Not even the attorney could understand this feeling of poignant emotion toward the scrivener. Bartleby had now ceased all work. ... Bartleby simply refused to work. ... The only choice left for the attorney, was to fire Bartleby, the Scrivener. ... Bartleby had a profound affect on the attorney.