Bartleby does not like change. “I would prefer not to make any change” he says, and a little later states “I like to be stationary”. In fact, he prefers not to go very far at all, working, eating, sleeping all in the same place. He is unable to move out of his private world and make public aspects of himself.
In "Bartleby the Scrivener," the mysterious central figure, Bartleby, has his own catchphrase of sorts – "I would prefer not to." He uses this phrase in response to pretty much everything, and the more we hear it, the more we believe him; Bartleby's slogan fully communicates his philosophy and his whole outlook on life ...
The narrator agrees to visit Bartleby and attempts to reason with him. He suggests several jobs that Bartleby might try and even invites Bartleby to live with him until they figure out a better solution. Bartleby replies that he would "prefer not to make any change", and declines the offer.
If Bartleby were to say “I would not prefer to do it” or “I do not want to do it”, then he would be negating a specific demand or a certain nodal point of power within the Symbolic order, that is, he would be negating a determinate predicate.
Driven as he is to pursue rational explanations for Bartleby's behavior, the narrator continues to speak for Bartleby, obsessively pursuing the reasons, causes, and categorical nature of his difference, rather than embracing Bartleby's inscrutability.
Characterized as a symbolic fable of self-isolation and passive resistance to routine, "Bartleby, the Scrivener" reveals the decremental extinction of a human spirit.
Bartleby embodies its opposite. In a capitalist world of mandated action, Bartleby's apathy is in fact rebellion, his indifference, defiance. Bartleby's word choice in rejecting his boss's demands is always “I would prefer not to.” Much like the narrator, Bartleby acts in his own self-interest.
The Lawyer suspects that Bartleby's vision has become impaired, and so he assents; but Bartleby replies that he will do no more writing, even if he regains his vision. The Lawyer therefore tells Bartleby that he must leave, but the scrivener does not do so.
As in most good literature, the main point of "Bartleby, the Scrivener" is open to interpretation. One way to view the story is that there are people who suffer in ways that others do not understand, and this suffering may lead them to behave in ways that others do not accept.Aug 12, 2021
"I would prefer not to." This is the most famous line in Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener," and perhaps one of the most famous lines in American literature.
the officeIt turns out that Bartleby lives in the office. Bartleby prefers not to answer any questions about his personal life or his past. Bartleby informs the Narrator that he will not be copying any more.
The lawyer asks Bartleby to proofread some documents. What is Bartleby's response? You must be exact in his response. Bartleby responds by saying "I would prefer not to."