Annotated Biography: Bartleby the Scrivener Stempel, Daniel, and Bruce M. Stillians. “Bartleby the Scrivener: A Parable of Pessimism.” Nineteenth-Century Fiction, vol. 27, no. 3, Dec. 1972, pp. 268–282, 10.2307/2932890. The authors suggest that all readers of Bartleby the Scrivener are constantly reminded of Bartleby’s frequent avoidance of the verb “to will,” and instead substitutes it with the verb “prefer.” This form of speech is one that makes both his employers and coworkers grow curious about him. Stempel and Bruce indicate that Bartleby’s choice of words is not something that his employer is used to with regard to a master and a man (employer and employee). Bartleby exudes an aura of holiness that impresses not only his lawyer but also his