Question

Is Bartleby – as a character – some kind of folk hero, some silent saint who refuses to be a part of capitalism (the story takes place on Wall Street – a location synonymous with capitalism and finance), or is he just some guy who "would prefer not to" do anything? Give an example from the text for support.
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Answer 1

Answer:

Let's remember that Bartleby was a homeless man. He lived in the narrator's office. He never left, and 'preferred not to' do anything. I think that the moral of this story is never to judge someone by their behaviour. The narrator didn't know what kind of man Bartleby was until he saw that Bartleby never left. He's mysterious. He's just some guy who doesn't know how to do the scrivening job, but stays employed to the narrator because he has been provided with a room and food.

Explanation:

 “Will you tell me, Bartleby, where you were born?”  

 “I would prefer not to.”  

 “Will you tell me any thing about yourself?”  

 “I would prefer not to.”