Button Button Richard Matheson

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Button, Button by

Richard Matheson

Button, Button

Answer the questions about 

Button, Button

1. Give a description of the package Norma found by the front door?

1. Give a description of the package Norma found by the front door?

It was a cube-shaped Carton sealed with tape. The names and address of Arthur and Norma were printed by hand on it.

2. What message was scotch-taped to the bottom of the box?

2. What message was scotch-taped to the bottom of the box?

The message which was scotch-taped to the bottom of the box said that Mr. Arthur would call them at 8:00 P.M.

3. Who was Mr. Steward and what was his offer to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur?

3. Who was Mr. Steward and what was his offer to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur?

Mr. Steward was a representative of an anonymous organization. he offered them that if they pushed the button, somewhere in the world someone they did not know would die. In return for this, they would receive a payment of $ 50,000.

4. Why did Norma consider the tone and attitude of Mr. Steward offensive?

4. Why did Norma consider the tone and attitude of Mr. Steward offensive?

Norma didn’t like Mr. Steward’s attitude because he insisted on giving information to her about what he had brought, even though she had told him that she was busy and that she was not interested in the offer.

5. How did Arthur treat Mr. Steward after listening to his offer?

5. How did Arthur treat Mr. Steward after listening to his offer?

Arthur became angry. He thrust the button unit and the envelope into Mr. Steward’s hands and asked him to leave.

6. Why did Arthur disagree with his wife?

6. Why did Arthur disagree with his wife?

Arthur disagreed with her because he considered the killing of a human being an immoral act. He thought that it did not make any difference whether or not they knew the person who died.

7. What was printed on Mr. Steward’s card?

8. Why did Mr. Steward return the package though Norma had told him that she was not interested?

7. What was printed on Mr. Steward’s card?

Only Mr. Steward’s name and telephone number were printed on the card.

8. Why did Mr. Steward return the package though Norma had told him that she was not interested?

Mr. Steward continued persuading Norma as he had perhaps observed that she could ultimately fall a prey to the temptation of $50,000. Arthur had turned down the offer straight away but Norma had not shown any outright rejection.

9. Why did Mr. Steward continue persuading Norma?

9. Why did Mr. Steward continue persuading Norma?

Mr. Steward continued persuading Norma as he had perhaps observed that she could ultimately fall a prey to the temptation of $50,000. Arthur had turned down the offer straight away but Norma had not shown any outright rejection.

10. Who might be killed according to Norma and Arthur?

10. Who might be killed according to Norma and Arthur?

According to Norma, it might be some old Chinese peasant ten thousand miles away or some diseased native in the Congo, whereas Arthur thought it might be some baby boy in Pennsylvania or some beautiful little girl on the next block.

11. Why did Norma get up earlier than usual to cook things for Arthur’s breakfast?

11. Why did Norma get up earlier than usual to cook things for Arthur’s breakfast?

She wanted to please her husband. She also wanted to prove that she was not selfish. That is why she got up earlier than usual to cook him a good breakfast.

12. Why did Norma try to persuade her husband to agree with her?

12. Why did Norma try to persuade her husband to agree with her?

She tried to persuade her husband to agree with her because she wanted to fulfill her dreams. Fifty thousand dollars, for example, could help them to go on a trip to Europe, buy a cottage on the island, have a nicer apartments, nicer furniture, nicer clothes and a car.

13. What were the reasons Norma gave to her husband to accept the offer?

13. What were the reasons Norma gave to her husband to accept the offer?

She told Arthur it would not be murder if they did not know the person who died. She thought that those who had made the offer would not be actually kill any one, and that they were probably doing it for some research project.

14. How was Arthur different from Norma?

14. How was Arthur different from Norma?

He had control over his desires. He considered killing someone immoral. Norma was subject to her desires and wanted to fulfill them by hook or by crook.

15. What compelled Norma to push the button?

15. What compelled Norma to push the button?

Norma very desperately wanted to get money to improve her lifestyle. She did not have control over her desires. Furthermore, curiosity and materialism compelled her to push the button.

16. What were the feelings of Norma after punching the button?

16. What were the feelings of Norma after punching the button?

She shuddered and a chill of horror swept across her. However, the feeling lasted only a moment. She thought it was ridiculous to get worked up over nothing.

17. What was the message Norma received on pushing the button?

17. What was the message Norma received on pushing the button?

On pushing the button, Norma received the message of her husband’s death. (A voice on the telephone informed her of the subway accident in which a shoving crowd had pushed Arthur in front of the train.)

18. How did Arthur die?

18. How did Arthur die?

Arthur died in a subway accident. A shoving crowd pushed him from the platform in front of the train.

19. Did Norma remain normal on hearing the news of the accident of her husband?

19. Did Norma remain normal on hearing the news of the accident of her husband?

She could not remain normal on hearing the news of her husband’s death. She could not seem to breathe. She was in a state of numbness and a great shock.

20. What is the significance of Arthur’s life insurance policy?

20. What is the significance of Arthur’s life insurance policy?

Arthur’s life insurance policy was for $25000. With double indemnity in case of his accidental death, its worth was $50,000, and coincidentally, the same amount had been offered by Mr. Steward.

21. What was inside the button unit when Norma smashed it?

21. What was inside the button unit when Norma smashed it?

There was nothing in the box. There were no transistors, wires or tubes. No nails or screws were visible.

Which ending did you like best?
Why?
In what way could the endings be compared?