Bartleby the Scrivener- Flat Character

"'I would prefere not to dine today'" (672)

Even though Bartleby is the main character, he does not change much through out the story, unlike the usual story line. The only thing that changes is that at the beginning of his appearance in the story, all he does is copy document after document and nothing else. At the end, he doesn't even do that. Even in prison, he does not venture far from his familiar phrase, "I would prefer not to". After all of this, it perplexes me why Bartleby does not want to be in prison. Obviously, not many people would like this situation. However, the narrator's office is almost like a prison anyway, so why did the change effect him so. He was basically alone in that office night and day anyway, a prison cell is not much different. Also, as opposed to the office, there are people like the chief who will help him, so really he does not need to do those tasks that he is opposed to. Still, he does not change his ways, still reserved but adamant that he doesn't want to do anything.