The discourse between Arthur and Norma in Richard Matheson's short story "Button, Button" creates tension by presenting opposing viewpoints that are completely contradictory to one another. The narrative by Matheson features a husband and wife. There is a box with a button inside it, in front of their door. Mr Steward, an enigmatic figure, appears and informs you that by pressing the button, you will win $50,000. But an unknown person will die. After returning the box to Mr. Stewart, Arthur shut the door. After Arthur leaves the following day, Norma gives Mr. Steward a call using the business card he gave her. She requests the return of the box and conceals it from her husband's view. She argues with her husband about pressing the button, pleading with him to grant her …show more content…
When she tries to persuade her husband to press the button, Norma states, “‘If you don’t even know the person?’” in an attempt to get him to press the button. This implies that she's attempting to convince Arthur to hit the button. She is trying to convince him that what happens when the button is pressed is moral in an attempt to persuade him.Because the reader is anxious about whether Arthur will give in and say yes or hold his ground and say no, this builds tension. It also prompts the reader to consider whether someone will truly be killed if they press the button if he does say yes. The reader is also tense because they wonder if Norma's greed will overcome her common sense and push it in order to get money. The author also uses suspense to good effect when Arthur asks, "Are you saying what I think you are?" in response to the request. This response suggests that Arthur is wondering if Norma is implying that she would click the button to receive money in return for a person's life. This highlights the suspense that is being built up in the couple's argument even