The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Short Story That Inspired the Movie
It takes great ability and imagination to transform words on a page to an on screen movie hit. F. Scott Fitzgerald's original short story was written in 1921. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the movie was released December 2008 and has won thirteen Academy Awards. Both works have the same central theme; Benjamin's birth is unnatural and a medical mystery. He is born resembling an elderly man and ages backwards.
Main Movie Plot
The movie begins with the night of his birth; Benjamin is abandoned by his own father. After seeing his son for the first time Roger Button is terrified. He leaves Benjamin on the porch of a nursing home where he is found by a woman named Queenie who instantly becomes the mother figure in his life. Benjamin begins to age in reverse, becoming younger as every year goes by.
Many have seen the movie or are familiar with it but have not read the short story.
Main Story Plot
The story of Benjamin Button shows more of a detailed biological reverse. The story offers a more comical reflection of the difficult life Benjamin is about to encounter.
- The short story begins in a hospital, the year is 1860 and Benjamin's father Roger Button is faced with a major dilemma. After seeing his son for the first time all Roger Button can think about is how his new born son's "feet hung over the sides of the crib in which it was reposing" (Fitzgerald). His father rushes to a men's clothing store and has to fit Benjamin for clothes that could fit himself. Benjamin's only response to his father impromptu shopping spree was yelling to his father to remember to buy a cane. "And a cane, father. I want to have a cane" (Fitzgerald).
- The Buttons spend most of their time trying to disguise Benjamin. They were constantly cutting and dying his hair and fitting him for boys clothing. Mr. Button treated Benjamin like a baby. He would bring home baby rattles but would find Benjamin smoking cigars. "This, of course, called for severe spanking, but Mr. Button found that he could not bring himself to administer it. He merely warned his son that he would 'stunt his growth'" (Fitzgerald).
- Benjamin attended kindergarten when he was five but found it difficult to stay alert.
- At the age of eighteenth, but resembling a man of fifty, Benjamin applied for college. The first day of registration proved to be a difficult one. After being called a dangerous lunatic Benjamin flees from the school.
- A few years later Benjamin got involved in the family business of Wholesale Hardware.
- As he continues to age younger he lives with his son and the two are often mistaken for each other.
- When he resembles a man young enough to be in college Benjamin enrols at Harvard University in Cambridge. He graduates but as this point is beginning to grow weaker as he gets younger. His son wants to be referred to as Uncle so people do not ask questions.
- In 1920 Benjamin's son Roscoe has a son of his own and a nurse takes care of both Roscoe's son and his father Benjamin. Both boys went to kindergarten together but eventually Roscoe's son grew and Benjamin proceeded to get younger.
- Soon Benjamin was taken out of school and his nurse Nana was the focus of his world. Benjamin started to forget things and finally he was like a new born baby in his crib. He could no longer remember anything or anyone.
This is how the story of Benjamin's life ends. The story shaped the overall theme of the movie but is different than the popular motion picture. The story offers more of a vivid description of how the people in Benjamin's life are affected as he grows younger, especially his immediate family. Unlike the movie, everyone around Benjamin tries to hide his true age.
Benjamin as a Baby
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