Bartelby (Billy Budd and Other Tales), Herman Melville, New York, 1948, 1979, Signet, New American Library.

An unnamed and prosperous lawyer with offices on Wall Street, New York, already employed two scriveners or copyists and was in need of one more.  A young man named Bartelby answered his add and the lawyer liked his sedate nature, which he hoped would balance those of his other two employees.  Bartelby proved to be an industrious copyist but when asked to do other odd jobs about the office he would often reply, "I'd prefer not to."  The lawyer let it pass, being appreciative of the young man's industry and mild nature.  But after some time, Bartelby decided that he preferred not to do any more copying as well.  Just before that the lawyer had discovered Bartelby was using his office as a sleeping quarters, that in fact, he never left the building.  Now Bartelby would stand by his desk and stare out the window at the brick wall of the next door building.  The lawyer tried cajoling, threatening, pleading and tirading but to no avail.  Bartelby would not work and he would not leave.  In the end the lawyer found himself trying to ignore the man.  Finally, he decided the only solution was to move his offices, which he did.  Walking down the street one day the lawyer was approached by the man who had let his old offices.  He wanted the lawyer to remove his employee from the premises.  The lawyer said he was not his employee, had not been for some time, in fact, but he did accompany the man and he tried to convince Bartelby to leave.  Bartelby preferred not to make a change at that time.  The man had Bartelby removed by the police and he was put in prison.  There, the lawyer visited Bartelby on several occasions.  He also paid a man to see to it that Bartelby had wholesome food to eat.  Bartelby, it seemed, preferred not to, though.  He wasted away and finally died.

© Lester L. Noll

14-Jun-2001