Bartleby is the Great American Novel, because it is about the American refusenik. He refuses to be part of the great heroic optimism of American society. He is America's Prince Mishkin, stubbornly proud of his innocence in the face of America's stubborn experience.
"I prefer not to." What else is there to say? A perfect sentence that conveys the simple, perfect theme of a perfect story. Who of us would prefer not to if given the choice?
Yes (0) 
No (0) 
