The Ominous Button
People’s morals are often forsaken when they are offered tempting rewards, and the consequences of their immoral actions feel so remote. “Button, button” follows Mr. Steward’s offer to Norma, a deal where if she presses a button, she will receive $50,000, but someone she does not know in the world will die. The story takes a disturbing turn as she discovers her husband is the one who dies once she presses the button. Richard Matheson demonstrates that people often overlook their morals when the consequences of their actions feel distant or disconnected, when no personal bond exists with those affected, and when the promise of immediate reward overrides their ethical judgement.
People are more likely to ignore their sense of morality when the outcome of their actions are distant. In the story, Mr Steward states that “if Norma pushes the button, somewhere in the world someone she does not know will die.” As Norma processes his words, she feels disconnected and distant to whoever dies when she presses the button. Norma believes that whoever is affected will be just “some old Chinese peasant ten thousand miles away” or a “diseased native in the Congo.” Therefore, Norma’s morals are overridden due to how disconnected and distant the consequences of her actions feel, for she has a mindset that the person affected by her actions will be someone far away or sick. In conclusion, people most likely ignore their morals due to the outcome of their actions feeling distant.
When no personal bonds exist with those affected, people who are more likely to commit an immoral action. In the story, Mr. Steward explains that if Norma presses the button, “anyone” in the world will die. He also “guarantees that Norma does not know them.” Mr. Steward’s assurance influences Norma’s mindset, so she imagines that whoever is affected by her actions is going to be “an old Chinese peasant ten thousand miles away” or a “diseased native in the Congo.” When she thinks her actions would affect people that are insignificant to her, she does not care what happens to the stranger that is affected. Richard Matheson contrasts between how Norma did not care if someone she did not know dies, but Norma breaks down when she is told that “Arthur is pushed from the platform in front of the train.” Ultimately, most people often ignore their morals as no personal bond exists between them and the person being affected.
The promise of immediate reward can override a person’s ethical judgement. In the story, Mr. Steward offers to Norma that she will “receive a payment of $50,000” if she “pushes the button.” When the button is pressed, however, “someone she does not know will die.” Mr. Steward’s words quickly influence and override Norma’s ethical judgement for the fact that she will receive 50 grand for pressing a seemingly simple button. She’s also sharing her fantasies to her husband of how the payment could be used for a “trip to Europe.” The possibilities expand further as she fantasizes “a nicer apartment, nicer furniture, nicer clothes, a car.” Later in the story, she finds out her husband is “pushed from the platform in front of the train,” which causes Norma to forget about the payment and starts to have an emotional breakdown. Richard Matheson compares that Norma completely forgets the $50,000 when it costs her the life of her husband. Therefore, the promise of immediate reward quickly overrides most people’s ethical judgement.
Ultimately, Richard Matheson demonstrates that people often overlook their morals when the consequences of their actions feel distant or disconnected, when no personal bond exists with those affected, and when the promise of immediate reward overrides their ethical judgement. Through “Button, button,” Matheson demonstrates how these forces can distort a person’s ethical judgement, as it is shown in the main character of the story, Norma. Norma has shown that she is willing to sacrifice a stranger’s life for $50,000. By showing how easily morality can be overlooked, Richard Matheson wants readers to know the dangers of allowing self interest to override a person’s compassion and morals.