Bartleby the Scrivener
Herman Melville
I had a fair amount of respect for Bartleby the first time he "preferred not to." His boss assigned him a duty and he basically ignored his request, and that takes guts. As continued to ignore the Lawyer, it became less funny and more annoying. Why couldn't the Lawyer simply order Bartleby to do something? This is where the Lawyer and Bartleby share similar qualities. The Lawyer characterizes himself as who believes "the easiest way of life is the best" (Melville 642). An easy life entails a life without turbulence such as difficult decisions or confrontation. Though the Lawyer wanted Bartleby to do his job, he wanted more not to cause an uproar. In accepting Bartleby's "prefer not to" request, the Lawyer preferred not to take action and kick Bartleby to the curb. The Lawyer even moved away from his office in order to allow Bartleby to stay out of his hair and still remain at peace. If the Lawyer ever gave one firm command, Bartleby would have become a hard worker or a hobo, but either way Bartleby would not have rotten in a prison cell. It is because of the Lawyer's lack of action that Bartleby ended up in his position, and it was all traced back to preferring not to act.
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