Bartleby, anti transcendental

The story is very pessimistic, as Bartleby aids in his own destruction. Transcendentalism is a very optimistic philosophy, believing in the power of the individual. Bartleby, even though he does rebel at the end, has basically given up the fight against a system that has dehumanized him. The story is also set on wall street, far away from the natural world loved by the Transcendentalists.