Active Inaction (Protagonist)

" 'No: at present I would prefer not to make any change at all." " -pg 671

Bartleby is the most inactive character in the short story "Bartelby the Scrivener". He remains as stationary as possible. He does as little as possible. In fact, as the story progresses, he performs less and less action. At the beginning of the story he at least copies for his employer. After a while, he stops doing his work and merely stands in his hermitage, staring out the window for long stretches at a time. As the lawyer tries to fire him, and even goes as far as to move his office chambers, Bartelby does absolutely nothing beyond his usual response "I would prefer not to."

What is odd about Bartelby's inaction, besides its bizzare immobility, is that it actual ends up driving the story. Somehow, without every actually doing anything, Bartelby drives all the action of the story. All of his employer's actions, thoughts, and conversations all depend on what Bartelby is doing, or rather not doing. The plot all circulates around what Bartelby does not do. Bartelby's role as both protagonist and non-negotiable rock portray hims as an ironic, and even oddly humorous character.