The Effects of Greed in Two Different Short Stories

The desire for worldly things is one of the banes of mankind. This greed often leads to the downfall of individuals and groups of people. Janwillem Van De Wetering once said, "Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough." Greed is an insatiable desire, and it only grows with everything you feed it with. This is exhibited in the short stories of "Adam and Eve," and Richard Matheson's "Button, Button." In the story of "Adam and Eve," the two are given everything they could possibly want, and yet they desire even more. In "Button, Button," Norma and Arthur live a comfortable life, but when presented with an opportunity to get more, Norma succumbs to greed.

                Greed's unquenchable appetite is shown in the story of "Adam and Eve." Adam and Eve are given everything they could possibly want in the Garden of Eden, including delicious food, immortality, and companionship. Despite all the things given to them by God, they are prohibited from eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The serpent, a symbol of temptation and Satan, convinces Eve to take the fruit from the Tree and see things as they really are. She eats the fruit, sinning by disobeying the word of God, and then she gives the fruit to Adam, who sins as well. As a result, they are expelled from the Garden of Eden, and are forced to live mortal lives. They both exhibit hubris in trying to know Good and Evil as God does. This etiological story foreshadows the struggle of humankind and the cause of man's inherent greed. Adam and Eve, who are given everything they could possibly want, still desire to have more and be like God. Eve's submission to greed and desire is similar to Norma's in "Button, Button."

                In "Button, Button," Norma has everything she needs, but still desires more. She and her husband, Arthur, live comfortably in a New York apartment, and have everything they could want. Mr. Steward, whose character alludes to Satan in "Adam and Eve," tempts Norma with a button which would give her $100,000 but would kill someone she doesn’t know. Arthur, being extremely moral and upright, fervently opposes the idea, but Norma insists that they could use the money. She says that she wants a trip to Europe and a house in Long Island, and even goes on to say that they need the money for a baby. Their constant arguments and discord foreshadow the irony that when she does finally push the button, her husband is killed; illustrating that she did not truly know Arthur. Her desire for luxuries and possessions lead to tragedy as she gains what she wanted but loses what she has. This story alludes to "Adam and Eve" in many ways. Mr. Steward symbolizes the serpent and temptation, Norma represents Eve and her desire for more, and Arthur represents God's voice of reason and morality. Norma obeys her greed's hunger even though she has everything she needs.

                Greed is a hunger for things which is never satisfied. In "Adam and Eve," Eve has everything she could ever need, but desires more and exhibits hubris in wanting to be like God. Norma in Richard Matheson's "Button, Button" also has everything she could need, but wants many more luxuries, and allows her greed cause her to commit a terrible atrocity. In both stories it is shown how the fulfillment of ones greed often ends in disappointment and tragedy. Appreciation for what you have can help satisfy the "fat demon's" hunger, and dismiss the feelings of greed and desire.