Bartleby The Scrivener

*Bartleby, the Scrivener* by Herman Melville is a short story set in a mid-19th century law office in New York City, where a lawyer hires a peculiar new scrivener named Bartleby. Initially diligent and efficient, Bartleby soon begins responding to requests with the phrase, "I would prefer not to," gradually withdrawing from his duties and human interaction. His passive resistance puzzles and frustrates the lawyer, who struggles to understand Bartleby's motivations. The story explores themes of isolation, the dehumanizing effects of modern work, and the limits of compassion. Bartleby's fate becomes a reflection of existential despair and societal neglect.