Analysis of Fiona McFarlane's short story 'Buttony'

A button is an object which symbolises both power and wisdom, and eternal peace and joy. All four elements are described in Fiona McFarlane’s short story published in 2016, Buttony. The story uses several symbolisms throughout and explores the dynamic in a social setting consisting of a young female teacher, Miss Lewis, her adored pupil Joseph and the rest of his class.

The Australian writer McFarlane’s short story takes place, in what seems to be her home country, as the Australian tree jacaranda is mentioned several times. Furthermore, the story takes place in the teacher Miss Lewis’ classroom, where the description is mainly focused on Miss Lewis’ drawer and the button laying in the drawer, “The button lay in a special tin in the right-hand corner of Miss Lewis’ drawer”. The button is the main object of the story, as the children play the game Buttony, where, as the name suggest, the button is game itself, “The children listened for the sound this drawer made as Joseph opened it. They knew that the shifting sound of the drawer opening meant largesse - gold stars or stamps or, in exceptional cases, gummy frogs - and that Miss Lewis’ bounty was capable of falling on them all but fell perhaps more often on Joseph. Alternatively, the sound of the drawer opening meant Buttony”. The quote supports the theory that Miss Lewis favours Joseph over the other pupils, as well as having an authority of the children. To play the game Buttony, Miss Lewis and her pupils go through the school hallway to reach the outside area, which allows them to play in the afternoon sun, under a jacaranda tree, “(…) the day was sweet and green”.