Plot:
The plot of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is very original. Without the plot, this story would be nothing. This is a story about a man named Benjamin Button. He was strangely born as an old man, and as he grew older his appearence turned younger. The plot basically forced you to be interested in the odd change to human nature. By the second page, the plot has you tied in for the whole strory. It takes you through the happy, sad, and important moments of Benjamin's life. This is a short story, so the plot moves fast. It's goal is to show what life would be like for that phenomenon.
Point of View:
The point of view is third person omniscient. "It is present, I am told..."(5) is a clear example of the point of view. This type of view allowed for the most character depth possible. The characters emotions, thoughts, and inner desires are given by the narrator. Knowing this information, the reader is able to grow a strong emotional tie with the characters. Without the emotional value this story would have fallen very flat. The point of view got the message of the story through in an efficient manner.
Characterization:
The characterization was very thorough in this story. Fitzgerald described the characters in such a way that little was left to the imagination. It was like watching a movie. The reader was able to put together the characters appearence and emotions easily because it was openly described. "He had not shaved for three months, but he could find nothing on his face but a faint white down with which he found it unnescessary to meddle."(51) The reader almost knew Benjamin completely, which of course helped the emotional connection Fitzgerald wanted.
Setting:
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" began in 1860 in Baltimore, Maryland. The story stayed with Benjamin in Baltimore as the time went by. This was a fantastic setting choice. In 1860, things were not publicized like they are today. The reader was able to see Benjamin's life unfold without the media attention or fame brought about from this occurence. A very natural perspective was brought on to the story of a person born as an old man. Baltimore was also a busy town at the time, so there was plenty of drama to get into. As opposed to say, Texas, which at this time was undergoing the wild west phase. So the reader got a look at how this situation would effect society.
Theme:
There are several themes of this story. One is Fitzgerald's critisizing of the rich and higher class people. The story often depicted the characters putting looks and social status above their family. That theme went along with another reoccuring theme, which was basically "don't judge a book by its cover". It showed that although Benjamin could be a young kid, he still had a life full of experience. Another question that was raised by Fitzgerald is what consistent quality do we keep a hold of during our growth from young to old.
