I used page 7 of the short story.
“I would prefer not to”
This is the most famous line that Bartleby says in this short story. Bartleby was one of the quiet ones, but super diligent and good at his job. He was almost too good, writing all day and night. However, one day, in the short story, Bartleby’s boss calls him in for a small paper that he wanted him to look at. His expected full compliance, and was almost nervous that Bartleby was going to snatch it right from his hands. Contrary to his expectations, Bartleby does not want to do the work assigned and says “I would prefer not to.” That absolutely shocks his boss, so he asks again, with the same answer. He doesn’t think much of it because his job makes him extremely busy and he didn’t have the time to worry too much about it. In the Bartleby movie (2001) Bartleby is asked to help his boss wrap a present. He is having a hard time tying the final knot, so when Bartleby walks in, he asks him to put his finger on the ribbon to make it stay in place. This essentially causes Bartleby to have an argument within himself. He spends a good minute or two decided on what he should do. Of course his boss is super confused because he just asked for help for a simple task. In the end, Bartleby says “I would prefer not to” and walks off. The music that plays in the backround while he thinks on what to do makes the scene hilarious. In the trailer, Bartleby also says “I’ve given up working” after his coworkers belittle him for doing nothing. This would be perfectly understandable if he quite his job and went back home, but this guy decided to not go home,and camp out in the building, even after his boss moves his business. Eventually he gets arrested for not leaving the building and lands himself in jail. I believe this guy has essentially given up on life because when he is told to eat, he says “I would prefer not to.” He ends up dying in his cell, which makes for an interesting ending for a short story.