The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Fitzgerald)
Short Summary
Baltimore, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Roger Button decided to have their first baby at a hospital, which was unusual for that time. When Mr. Button arrived at the hospital to meet his newborn child, he discovered something extraordinary - his son was born as a fully grown elderly man.
Despite his father's attempts to treat him as an infant, Benjamin lived as an old man, smoking cigars and discussing politics with his grandfather. As years passed, Benjamin grew younger instead of older. He married Hildegarde Moncrief, who was initially attracted to his apparent age of fifty, but as he continued to grow younger and she aged normally, their marriage deteriorated.
Benjamin joined the Spanish-American War, ran his father's hardware business successfully, and eventually entered Harvard University as his appearance became that of a young man. His son Roscoe grew increasingly uncomfortable with having a father who looked younger than himself. Benjamin was forced to call Roscoe 'uncle' and eventually entered kindergarten as he continued to grow younger.
And then he remembered nothing. When he was hungry he cried—that was all. Through the noons and nights he breathed and over him there were soft mumblings and murmurings that he scarcely heard.
Finally, as Benjamin regressed into infancy, his memories of his extraordinary life faded away, until he disappeared into nothingness.
Detailed Chapter-by-Chapter Summary
Chapter titles are editorial additions.
Chapter 1. An Extraordinary Birth
In 1860 Baltimore, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Button decided to have their first child at a hospital, an unusual choice for that time. When Mr. Button arrived at the Maryland Private Hospital for Ladies and Gentlemen, he encountered an agitated Doctor Keene, who refused to explain the situation and told him to see for himself.
Inside the hospital, the nurses reacted with terror when Mr. Button asked to see his child. Finally, one nurse led him to the nursery, where he discovered something extraordinary.
Mr. Button's eyes followed her pointing finger, and this is what he saw. Wrapped in a voluminous white blanket, and partly crammed into one of the cribs, there sat an old man apparently about seventy years of age.
Chapter 2. Early Challenges
Mr. Button was forced to buy adult clothes for his newborn son, whom they named Benjamin. Despite his father's attempts to treat him as a baby, Benjamin showed the characteristics of an elderly man, preferring to read encyclopedias over playing with toys and smoking cigars in secret. The situation caused quite a sensation in Baltimore, though the outbreak of the Civil War soon diverted public attention.
As Benjamin aged backward, his father insisted he play with toys and drink warm milk, though he eventually compromised on allowing him bread and butter. Benjamin found companionship with his grandfather, as they were closer in apparent age and could discuss daily events like old friends.
Chapter 3. Romance and Marriage
At age fifty, Benjamin appeared to be a man of thirty and began working at Roger Button & Co. He also started attending social events, where he met and fell in love with Hildegarde Moncrief, a beautiful young woman who preferred older men.
I like men of your age... Twenty-five is too wordly-wise; thirty is apt to be pale from overwork; forty is the age of long stories that take a whole cigar to tell; sixty is too near seventy; but fifty is the mellow age.
Chapter 4. The Spanish-American War and Growing Younger
As Benjamin continued to grow younger, his relationship with Hildegarde became strained. She had settled into middle age while he appeared increasingly youthful. During the Spanish-American War, Benjamin joined the military, achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and participated in the charge up San Juan Hill.
His destiny seemed to him awful, incredible. When he came downstairs Hildegarde was waiting for him. She appeared annoyed, and he wondered if she had at last discovered that there was something amiss.
Chapter 5. Harvard Years
In 1910, Benjamin enrolled at Harvard University, appearing to be about twenty years old. His football prowess made him famous in his freshman year, but as he continued to grow younger, his athletic abilities declined. By his senior year, he was mistaken for a sixteen-year-old and struggled with his studies, finding them too advanced.
Chapter 6. Living with Roscoe
After graduation, Benjamin went to live with his son Roscoe, as Hildegarde had moved to Italy. Roscoe was embarrassed by his father's youthful appearance and insisted that Benjamin call him 'Uncle' instead of by his first name. When Benjamin expressed his desire to attend prep school, Roscoe was distressed and told him to start aging normally.
To Roscoe Button his presence was a source of torment. In the idiom of his generation Roscoe did not consider the matter 'efficient.' It seemed to him that his father, in refusing to look sixty, had not behaved.
Chapter 7. Military Service Attempt
When America joined World War I, Benjamin attempted to re-enlist using his old Spanish-American War commission. He received orders to report as a brigadier-general but was discovered to be physically too young. His son Roscoe had to retrieve him from the training camp and bring him home.
Chapter 8. Return to Childhood
By 1920, Benjamin appeared to be a ten-year-old boy. He lived with Roscoe's family and played with Roscoe's young son, his own grandson. He attended kindergarten but was removed because he kept falling asleep during activities. His past achievements and memories began to fade.
There were no troublesome memories in his childish sleep; no token came to him of his brave days at college, of the glittering years when he flustered the hearts of many girls.
Chapter 9. Final Years
As Benjamin continued to grow younger, he required more care. His nurse, Nana, became the center of his diminishing world. She would point at objects and teach him words, which he would repeat. He enjoyed simple pleasures like jumping on his bed and playing with a cane from the hat-rack.
The past—the wild charge at the head of his men up San Juan Hill; the first years of his marriage when he worked late into the summer dusk... all these had faded like unsubstantial dreams from his mind.
Benjamin's world grew smaller and simpler. He was fed on oatmeal and soft foods with a spoon. Eventually, even his crib and Nana's familiar presence faded from his consciousness. In his final days, he could only distinguish between light and darkness, hunger and satisfaction. Finally, all awareness slipped away, and Benjamin Button's curious case came to an end.