ere was no pause for digestion. He ran a day and night line, copying by sun-light and by candle-light. I should have been quite delighted with his application, had he been cheerfully industrious. But he wrote on silently, palely, mechanically. (1154)
             Michael Morris describes this action as representing a "hunger for life." This eagerness to write seems to be the only sign of life in Bartleby. He writes as if his existence relies on his ability and speed of document production. Bartleby's machine-like qualities are also apparent in his response to the requests of the lawyer. When asked to check his copy, Bartleby answers with his first, "I would prefer not to" (1154). When asked why he refuses or "prefers not" to examine the
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