The change in Bartelby’s attitude begins on the third after being employed in the legal office, when he is demanded to examine a piece of paper. His answer will be ” I would prefer not to” without giving any other explanations. This phrase will be frequently repeated throughout the story and it will become the standard answer to any questions posed to him. Bartelby’s answer is a polite one, using the conditional form “would” and the verb “prefer” in negativ aspect. This is suggesting that it is a personal choice and that there is something else which he would prefer to do. This is an illusion because along the story Bartelby refuses to do anything proposed.(Jane Desmarais ). According to Gilles Deleuze, the phrase “I would prefer not to” is
