Bartleby, the Scrivener was written by which author?

Bartleby, the Scrivener was written by which author?

• A. Melville
• B. Twain
• C. Hawthorne
• D. Anderson

Answer: (A)

Bartleby, the Scrivener is a short story by Herman Melville. It centers on a lawyer running a small Wall Street office and the enigmatic copyist Bartleby, whose repeated line “I would prefer not to” turns from passive refusals into a deeper meditation on work, isolation, and the human cost of modern labor. This piece is a classic example of Melville’s exploration of individuality and society, written in the mid-1800s and later collected in The Piazza Tales. The other authors listed are known for different works and themes, not for this story, so Melville is the correct author.

Bartleby, the Scrivener is a short story by Herman Melville. It centers on a lawyer running a small Wall Street office and the enigmatic copyist Bartleby, whose repeated line “I would prefer not to” turns from passive refusals into a deeper meditation on work, isolation, and the human cost of modern labor. This piece is a classic example of Melville’s exploration of individuality and society, written in the mid-1800s and later collected in The Piazza Tales. The other authors listed are known for different works and themes, not for this story, so Melville is the correct author.