That character frequently repeats the statement, "I would prefer not to."
One story by this author ends with the head of Babo, which now "met unabashed the gazes of the whites" after he was killed for leading a slave insurrection on the San Dominick, captained by the title man. In another story by this author the title character joins Nippers and Turkey in legal document copying before slowly refusing more and more work until he is let go and finally dies of starvation in The Tombs. That character frequently repeats the statement, "I would prefer not to." For 10 points, what American author wrote "Benito Cereno" and "Bartleby the Scrivener," as well as "Billy Budd"?
One story by this author ends with the head of Babo, which now "met unabashed the gazes of the whites" after he was killed for leading a slave insurrection on the San Dominick, captained by the title man.
Herman Melville