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The Birth of Benjamin Button
Benjamin is born under unusual circumstances, in that he comes into the world an old man, and will leave it as an infant. His family is shocked and at first ashamed, as their son has tarnished their image in the social scene of "ante-bellum Baltimore" (pg. 60). Benjamin of course doesn't let this bother him, and uses his sarcasm and whit to get himself through his "childhood." -
Benjamin's First Day of Kindergarten
Though he doesn't last long here, Benjamin quite enjoys the simplistic tasks of pasting paper together, "weaving colored maps" , and fashioning cardboard necklaces (pg. 68). He is kicked out after he falls asleep during these tasks one too many times. -
Benjamin's Twelth Birthday and the Weeks Surrounding It
By this time, Mr. and Mrs. Button have finally grown used to their son's strange condition, and somewhat embraced it. A few weeks after he turns "twelve," he discovered that he did in fact look younger. His hair had turned to "iron-gray", the wrinkles on face were less "pronounced", and he additionally "no longer stooped", and "his physical condition had improved since the early days of his life" (pg. 68). -
Benjamin's First Attempt at College
When he turns eighteen, Benjamin becomes "erect as a man of fifty", in addition to his hair becoming more plentiful and a darker gray, and his voice losing the "quaver" it had had previously (pg. 69). His fathers then convinces him to apply to Yale, and he passes his entry exams with flying colors. Of course once he arrives there, and his condition becomes known, he is denied his entry since the university believes him to be a "dangerous lunatic" (pg. 70). -
A New Partner at Roger Button & Co.
Here, our dear friend signifies his 20th birthday by going to work with his father. He also is allowed to begin "going out socially", meaning he was taken by his father to several events (pg. 71). At this point, his decent into youth continues, and he and his father "could have passes for brothers" (pg. 71). -
Love at FIrst Sight
At this dance, which Benjamin attended with his father, he met the love of the first half of his life, Hildegarde Moncrief. She was a pretty, young lady that was "slender and frail", and had beautiful "honey-colored" hair (pg. 72). She immediatley takes a liking to him, stating that fifty is a "romantic age", her reasons being that fifty is the "mellow age" (pg. 73). -
The Engagement & Marrige
The engagement of Hildegarde Moncrief and Benjamin Button is announced at this time. Hildegarde's father, General Montcrief, doesn't approve, saying "'he would rather fall upon his sword than announce it'" (pg. 73). Despite his opposition, the two are married, though F. Scott Fitzgerald says almost nothing of the ceremony. -
A Captin in the Spanish-American War
Benjamin has grown quite discontent in his marrige. He and wife have a son of fourteen, Roscoe, but Hildegarde has grown dull, not enjoying the "gay side of life" as Benjamin does (pg. 75). WIth the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Benjamin leaves his family, and because of his "buisness influence" he is given the status of captain (pg. 73). By the end of the war, he was made lieutenant-colonel, and given a medal for his brave efforts. -
A New Enrollment at Harvard
Benjamin finally has his chance to enroll in college, but instead of attending his father's alma matter, he decides to go forth to Harvard University. There, he has his revenge on Yale by scoring fourteen field goals against them, as well as sending eleven of their players of the field unconscious. Denying enrollment to Mr. Button was indeed "the biggest mistake that Yale college had ever made" (pg. 71). -
Benjamin's Graduation
On this day, Benjamin goes home to Baltimore "with his Harvard diploma in his pocket" (pg. 79). His wife, Hildegarde, is now living in Italy, so he instead goes to live with his son Roscoe. Roscoe shows no love or compassion toward his father, in fact, he makes Benjamin call him "'Unce'". This was to make Benjamin's unusual situtation less obvious, therefore less of an embarresment to himself, Roscoe. -
The Reenlistment
Benjamin, along with his fellow reserve officers, was called back into service at the higher rank of brigadier-general. Of course he is excited, as he "jumped to his feet fairly quivering with enthusiasm" (pg. 80). Of course, he is denied entry as when he arrives he looks no older than thirteen or fourteen. This crushes his spirtits, and he is sent back to Baltimore after the frustrating arrival of his son. -
The Grandfather
Benjamin appears no more than ten here, but he is still technically a grandfather. Roscoe of course refuses to make that fact known, as Benjamin's presence is his "source of torment" (pg. 82). -
The End
Sadly, Benjamin's life comes to an undignified end. As he ages in reverse, he dies a mere infant. No one he cared about saw him through this, the darkes hour. The only person who saw his demise was his dearest nurse, Nana. Luckliy, he didn't die painfully, the author ends his tale by telling us that most everything "faded out altogether from his mind" (pg. 83).