In the story “Bartleby, the Scrivener”, Herman Melville portrays Bartleby to be the perfect worker. Bartleby works nonstop, getting a great deal of work done everyday. However, the Lawyer, whom is also the narrator, is suspicious of Bartleby’s obsession to work “...[having] been quite delighted with his application, had he been cheerfully industrious.” (155). The Lawyer become fascinated with Bartleby’s strange behavior when Bartleby refuses to examine a small document. As the story progresses, Bartleby refuses numerous things offered to him, creating the isolated and alienated character that is Bartleby. Although Bartleby refuses to do the work given to him by saying, “I would prefer not to.”, he refuses the request very politely (155).
