Richard Matheson's Button, Buton: A Comparison

Consequence of Greed
“We are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity. We cannot remain looking inwards at ourselves on a small and increasingly polluted and overcrowded planet” (Stephan Hawking). Just as Stephan Hawking illustrates, Norma, the main character in the short story, “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson learns what will happen when she is selfish. For instance, Norma has the option of whether or not to press the button. However, in the end, Norma finds out the hard way by letting her greed surpass her common sense. As a result, she demonstrates egotistical behavior. Consequently, Matheson utilizes the conflict and irony in order to develop his theme: people tend to be so greedy and self absorbed that they tend

to be oblivious to their surroundings.
In the beginning of the story, Matheson portrays Norma as being greedy when asked about the offer.

As a matter of fact, when Norma is discussing the deal with her husband, Arthur, she remarks, “‘Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur.’‘Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur,’ Norma interrupted. ‘A chance to take that trip to Europe we’ve always talked about’” (Matheson 21). Because Norma mentions the trip to Europe, it suggests that she wants Arthur to agree with her, in an attempt to make herself seem less selfish. Also, because she constantly mentions the amount of money they will receive with a push of a button, it reveals her greed; for instance, she will let a child die rather than give up the fifty thousand dollars she does not have. Furthermore, the author inserts Norma’s contemplation in order to reveal that people tend to let greed get the best of them. All in all, Matheson portrays Norma as being greedy when asked about the offer towards the beginning of the

story.
However, as a consequence of Norma’s greed, a conflict emerges; she decides to press the button that will end someone’s life. In fact, as Norma is pushing the button, she reveals, “How ridiculous, she thought. All this over a meaningless button. Reaching out, she pressed it down. For us, she thought angrily” (Matheson 24). Since Norma expresses how she is pressing the button for Arthur and herself, it presumes that she is willing to risk someone’s life in order to receive a check. As a matter of fact, Norma is so consumed by her curiosity and desire that she makes the impulsive decision to press the button. Furthermore, because Norma presses the button, it reveals that she favors wealth over the people dearest to her. Thus, Norma’s greed causes a conflict to arise.
Towards the end of the story, Norma discovers who the “random” person she kills is through an ironic twist.

For instance, once Norma presses the button and begins to believe it truly has no power, she receives a call from the Lennox Hospital informing her that her husband died; she then calls Mr. Steward and exclaims, “‘You said I wouldn’t know the one that died!’... Mr. Steward said, ‘do you really think you knew your husband?’” (Matheson 25). Because Mr. Steward asks Norma if she really knows her husband, it suggests that Norma’s egotistical personality causes her to be incognizant of her surroundings. The author composes this choice in the plot in order to manifest the concept that greed can cause a person to be desperate enough to make irrational decisions. Moreover, Norma’s recklessness reveals her inability to formulate logical decisions. In the end, Norma’s decision costs her her husband’s

life.
Therefore, through the conflict and irony, this story reveals that with greed and an egotistical personality, people tend to be blind to their surroundings. Norma demonstrates to readers that with a self absorbed attitude, people tend to be oblivious to their surroundings. Furthermore, Norma also demonstrates the consequence of greed. For example, rather than giving up the money, she chooses to push the button: as a result, it costs her her husband’s life. When a person lets their greed and egotistical behavior surpass their common sense, people tend to be oblivious to their surroundings.