Would you push the button? In Richard Matheson’s short story “Button, Button”, I think Richard showed the dialogue that was going on between Arthur and Norma to show Norma’s motivations to push the button, to build a unhappy mood between Arthur and Norma, and to introduce Norma. If Richard didn't show the dialogue between Arthur and Norma, we wouldn't know why Norma wanted to push the button, we wouldn't know how Arthur felt about Norma wanting to push the button, and we wouldn't know that Norma is crazy. After Norma talks to Mr. Steward, Norma is really curious about the button and she wants to push the button. The dialogue that Richard used between Norma and Arthur in all parts of the short story shows why Norma wants to push the button. At dinner time, she says ““Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur,” Norma interrupted. “A chance to take that trip to Europe we’ve always talked about.”” (Matheson, Button, Button, Page 108). When Richard shows this dialogue between her and Arthur, it shows her motivations-she wants to push the button because then she would have all of these luxuries. This is important to know because when it shows her motivations, the readers have a better understanding of what she might do later in the story. When Richard did this, I think it …show more content…
““Suppose it’s a genuine offer?” “All right, suppose it is?” He looked incredulous. “What would you like to do? Get the button back and push it? Murder someone?” Norma looked disgusted. “Murder.”” (Matheson, Button, Button, Page 108). This shows once again that Norma doesn't care if someone else dies. It said she looked disgusted as she said murder when Arthur said “Murder someone?” It also shows that she has less care for people then Arthur does. This gives us some background information about Norma and shows us that she is less considerate and more