Bartleby, the Scrivener book cover

Bartleby, the Scrivener by Herman Melville Summary

Bartleby, the Scrivener
Herman Melville
Philosophy
Psychology
Society
Aperçu
Points Clés
Auteur
Questions Fréquentes

Overview of Bartleby, the Scrivener

Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" - a haunting Wall Street tale where "I would prefer not to" became literature's most famous act of defiance. Stephen King drew inspiration from it, while its critique of dehumanizing capitalism still resonates in modern workplace culture.

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Points clés

1

The Wall Street Enigma: A Man Who Preferred Not To

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In the bustling financial district of 1850s New York, five simple words would forever change the landscape of American literature: "I would prefer not to." These words, uttered by the pale, ghostlike figure of Bartleby, continue to haunt readers and philosophers alike. Set against the backdrop of Wall Street's emerging capitalism, Herman Melville's mysterious tale follows an elderly lawyer's encounter with the strangest employee he would ever hire. What begins as a straightforward workplace story evolves into a profound meditation on resistance, human connection, and the machinery of modern life. The genius of "Bartleby" lies in its ability to function simultaneously as a compelling narrative and as a philosophical puzzle that has captivated minds from Kafka to Zizek. In our age of burnout and quiet quitting, this 19th-century scrivener's gentle but absolute resistance feels more relevant than ever. What happens when someone simply steps outside the social contract, neither fighting nor fleeing, but simply... preferring not to?

2

The Peculiar Office: A Delicate Ecosystem Disrupted

3

The Gradual Withdrawal: A Soul Retreating from the World

4

The Moral Dilemma: Compassion Versus Convenience

5

Walls and Windows: The Architecture of Confinement

6

Dead Letters: The Failure of Human Connection

7

The Quiet Revolution: Bartleby's Enduring Legacy

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Bartleby, the Scrivener n'est pas qu'un simple livre — c'est une masterclass en Philosophy. Pour vous aider à absorber ses leçons de la manière qui vous convient le mieux, nous proposons cinq modes d'apprentissage uniques. Que vous soyez un penseur profond, un apprenant rapide ou un amateur d'histoires, il y a un mode conçu pour votre style.

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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