"Button, Button" Study Guide
what information from mr steward does mrs lewis receive regarding her husband and why
mr lewis had a fatal subway accident she never really knew her husband
why was mrs lewis so interested in the device why is mr lewis opposed to it
she thinks it could be some kind of physiological being done by some millionaire and out of curiosity he thinks it is immoral and it is murder
what explanation does mr steward give to mr and mrs lewis about the contents of the package
if you push the button somewhere in the world someone you dont know will die in return you will receive a payment of $50,000
"Button, Button"
by: Richard Burton Matheson
what does mrs lewis do the next morning
calls mr steward to verify his proposition is genuine
Protagonist
Norma Lewis.
Antagonist
Her desire for material things.
Characterization
Indirect Characterization - We form our own opinions of the characters based on their actions and words. Norma acts without caring about others. Based on her actions she is not an empathetic person. She is callous.
Main Characters
Norma, Arthur, Mr. Stewards
Exposition
NYC in the 1950s Main Characters: Norma, Arthur, Mr. Steward
Characters
Round Characters: Norma and Arthur. Flat Character: Mr. Steward. Static Characters: Norma, Arthur, and Mr. Steward.
Irony
Situational Irony - We don't expect it to be Mrs. Lewis who dies. Verbal Irony - Mr. Steward says Norma won't "know" the person who dies.
Themes
The theme is the general lesson of the story. 1) Don't let money get the best of you. 2) Listen to the people who love you. 3) Be happy with what you have.
Falling Action
When Arthur dies
Resolution
When Mr. Steward calls to make sure that norma understood
Climax
When Norma pushes the button
Rising Action
When Norma tapes the card back together
Conflict
Whether norma should push the button Internal Conflict - Her desire to be wealthier than she was.
why does mrs lewis want the money
a chance to take a trip to europe buy a cottage on the island nicer apartment nicer clothes a car a baby
what is lying at the front door
a cube shaped carton sealed with tape with name and adress printed by hand
what dis mrs lewis discover after she went inside and opened the packageterm-4
a push button unit fastened to a small wooden box covered by a glass dome with a piece of paper taped to the bottom
what does mrs lewis do with the device and why
took the key from the envelope removed the glass dome and pressed the button she thinks it is ridiculous and nothing is really going to happen
Richard Burton Matheson
~American Author ~wrote science fiction, fantasy, horror ~born: Feb. 20, 1926 NYC ~died: Jun. 23, 2013 California ~Historical Period: Great Depression, 50s, 60s, 70s, the cold war, communism ~Major Influence on Writing: science fiction, edgar allen poe( the raven)
