("Bartleby the Scrivener", Melville)
"I would prefer not to"
The workers of Wall Street, especially the lawyers and their employees, are ranked and judged by their working status. The character "Turkey" is described as a crazed aging man; however, the narrating lawyers overlooks these flaws solely because "Turkey" is a able to "accomplish a great deal of work in a style mot easy matched". Likewise, the young and impatient "Nippers" is treasured despite he young and foolish nature simply because he can work. Even the youngest "Ginger Nut" is most prized characteristic is not his character rather it's his ability to run errands. Bartleby challenges this whole system and causes chaos within the office. His generic and repetitive phrase "I would prefer not to" places a new prospective within the office: non response. None of the characters understand or respond well to the notion of not sucking up to the big cheese. Turkey wants to take a punch at him; Nippers desires to fire him; and the narrating lawyer can't seem to figure out a way to rid of him. As a result, the office is thrown to shambles and becomes a fortress for Bartleby to the point that they have to move out of the office. The notion of nonresponse and rebellion simply ruins to foundation of desire for a full-fledge success.
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