Button Short Story Theme

In the short story, “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson, Mr. Steward and Arthur Lewis represent the theme “good versus evil”. Arthur Lewis represents “good” by being the moral voice who advises that pushing the button would go against all values possessed by him and his wife. Mr. Steward represents “evil” by being the hand that brings temptation into the story. Mr. Steward comes into the house of Arthur and Norma, telling them that “if you push the button… somewhere in the world someone you don’t know will die” (1) literally handing temptation over to the Lewis family. Also, Mr. Steward gives them the incentive to push the button because if they push the button “[they] will receive a payment of $50,000” (1). Later that night when Norma discusses her great interest in the button, Arthur immediately rejects the idea “because it’s immoral” (2) and he refers to it as “murder” (3). Arthur continues to hold his stance as the moral voice telling his wife “what’s the difference whom you kill? It’s …show more content…
Rainsford represents “good” because even though he could have avoided being hunted by Zaroff, he took the moral route of being his prey rather than killing human beings. Zaroff, however, represents evil because he hunts down humans for entertainment. Zaroff claims that “[he] had to invent a new animal to hunt” because “it supplies [him] with the most exciting hunting in the world” (7). After Rainsford was enlightened on what type of animal the general hunts, he was given the option to hunt or be hunted. Rainsford had an internal battle between good and evil. He came to the conclusion that “[he is] a hunter, not a murderer” (8) and firmly decided that he “will not hunt” (10). Rainsford going into the forest and possibly walking to his death, represents the moral and “good” route to take, opposed to Zaroff picking the “evil” route of predator to his human