"Bartleby, the Scrivener" by Herman Melville: Theme

       In Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" the main theme is the effect of doing what is easiest.  Bartleby certainly does this by just responding, " 'I would prefer not to...' " (Melville, 650).   A number of reasons are possible for this ridiculous response.  Whether he is depressed, has O.C.D., or has autism, Bartleby certainly takes the easy way out when it comes to his work.  He simply refuses to do what he is told because that is the easier than actually doing it.  The lawyer then does the easier thing by leaving Bartleby alone and not pursuing him further.  Bartleby's preference for taking the easy way out illuminates the lawyer's silent preference for doing things the easy way.  In turn, the story is not about Bartleby, it is actually about the lawyer.  This is because the lawyer, who is also the narrator, realizes his own laziness through his experiences with Bartleby.  The theme of this story is the laziness or preference of doing things the easy way.