The character of Bartleby in Herman Melville’s novella of the same name is, in a word, peculiar. His oddest trait, however, is not his chain-like attachment to his office, his silence, or the fact that he seems to be living in the said office on Wall Street. No, the most bizarre aspect of his character manifests itself five words: “I would prefer not to.” When his employer asks him to do a task—make a copy, join a meeting—instead of obliging without hesitancy as any other employee wanting to keep his job would surely do, he simply responds with those five words. Obviously this reply harrows and intrigues his boss as well as the reader. His boss seems to be so surprised that he misses the real message of Bartleby’s words. He is not doing any more than simply stating that he would not like to comply with the request of his boss. He is, quite frankly, just being honest. Most workers would prefer not to do many of the tasks that their jobs require, but they do them anyway because the benefits of the job are more important than always enjoying oneself. But because employees rarely, if ever, voice these feelings, the reaction of Bartleby’s boss is quite understandable. Any negative comment at all is a refusal to him. He tries to persuade Bartleby with authority and with logic; he even asks him pointedly, “Why do you refuse?” However, he gets nothing satisfying out of Bartleby because all Bartleby will do is clarify his position: he just simply prefers not to. The intentions of Bartleby are impossible to know for sure at this point, but he appears to be testing how much he can get away with unexpected sincerity. He is not actually refusing any task; if his boss were to acknowledge that he prefers not to do the task and then ask him to do it despite his preference, Bartleby may actually obey. But sincerity is so foreign to this boss on Wall Street that he does not even recognize it. He continues to insist to himself, to his other employees, and to Bartleby that all he receives from Bartleby is refusals, which they are clearly not. The meaning of the language is lost on him. Bartleby’s commitment to those simple words reveal the possibility of a hidden agenda; perhaps he will somehow get his Wall Street boss into replying with equal honesty.