The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Kristen Whirley

Literary Essay

American Literature II

Mrs. Tice

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button F. Scott Fitzgerald, or Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was very smart, curious, and aspired to be a writer at a young age. Fitzgerald went to a Catholic prep school in New Jersey and later attended Princeton (Biography). After college, he enlisted in the United States Army. This Side of Paradise was Fitzgerald’s first novel and it was highly praised. Many novels followed, including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a short story about a “baby” who ages in reverse. This is a heart felt story that shares many situations and experiences that many rarely have the chance to experience. The

Benjamin seems to be doing well mentally for someone who was born a 70-year-old man and was “by nature obliging” (Fitzgerald 4). Benjamin shows this in the graceful manner that he deals with his father treating him as an infant when he is mentally older. He is a kind and helpful person at heart and seemingly intelligent, despite what his father and others may view him as. Despite his truly good nature, he is sometimes viewed as a freak, outcast, or even a pervert. His father Roger Button, however, seems to be lacking in understanding because he sees Benjamin as “a picture of himself walking through the crowded streets of the city with this appalling apparition stalking by his side” (Fitzgerald 5) . Roger is a well recognized member of society who has been dealt a difficult hand in life. Roger is very prideful and even denies and resents that fact that Benjamin is not a normal baby. Roger’s denial is almost always present until Benjamin matches Roger’s age. This allows for Roger and Benjamin to form an almost brotherly bond. It is when Benjamin is about the same age visually as his father, that he falls for a woman by the name of Hildegarde Moncrief. She is a free spirited young lady with whom Benjamin falls in love with almost instantly. They are the same age, however, Benjamin seem a lot older. Hildegarde, however, does not mind because she enjoys the company of older men. As they grow older together, they seem to grow apart as Benjamin looks and feels much younger than Hildegarde. This stresses their message and hurts the bond between Benjamin and his son, Roscoe Button. It isn’t until Benjamin returns from his time at Harvard that he really becomes involved with his son. Roscoe resents his father mostly due to his distance and also his appearance. Roscoe eventually has to raise his father along with his own kid until his father passes. This leaves Roscoe with a sour view of his