Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street

Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall-Street by Herman Melville is a short story that delves into the life of an enigmatic scrivener named Bartleby , who is hired by a Wall Street lawyer to copy legal documents. Initially, Bartleby performs his tasks diligently, but soon he begins to respond to any request with the phrase, “”I would prefer not to.”” As he continues to withdraw from his work and the world around him, the lawyer becomes increasingly perplexed and frustrated. Bartleby’s passive resistance and ultimate descent into isolation and inactivity challenge the lawyer’s sense of duty, compassion, and humanity. The story explores themes of alienation, the dehumanizing effects of capitalism, and the complexities of individual will and society’s expectations. —- ISBN: nan