[후기]
2008년에 제작된 동명의 영화 때문에 읽게된 단편인데, 영화는 제목과 기본적인 착상은 빌려 왔지만 내용의 전개는 공통점이 거의 없다. 이 작품을 어떻게 해석해야 할지 사실 조금은 어리둥절하다. 인간이 태어나서 나이가 들고 늙어서 죽는 것이 아니라, 거꾸로 늙게 태어나서 점점 젊어지다가 죽는다는 있을 수 없는 일을 착상해서 천연덕스럽게 전개해나가는 피츠제럴드의 필력이 놀랍긴 하지만 그 이상 어떤 것을 이 작품에서 읽어내기는 어렵다. 한 가지 떠오르는 생각은 완전히 거꾸로된 벤자민 버튼의 삶이고 그렇기 때문에 그가 겪는 경험 또한 보통 사람의 그것과는 역순이지만, 인간이란 태어나서 여러 가지 경험을 한 뒤 죽는다는 점에서는 똑같다는 점이다.
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-- Roger Button/ Baltimore
5) there sat an old man apparently about seventy years of age. His sparse hair was almost white, and from his chin dripped a long smoke-coloured beard, which waved absurdly back and forth, fanned by the breeze coming in at the window. He looked up at Mr. Button with dim, faded eyes in which lurked a puzzled question. (5)
- ) then suddenly spoke in a cracked and ancient voice. "Are you my father?" he demanded.
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9) Methuselah 므두셀라 장수자
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11) When his grandfather's initial antagonism wore off, Benjamin and that gentleman took enormous pleasure in one another's company. They would sit for hours, these two, so far apart in age and experience, and, like old cronies, discuss with tireless monotony the slow events of the day.
12) By the time he was twelve years old his parents had grown used to him. Indeed, so strong is the force of custom that they no longer felt that he was different from any other child—except when some curious anomaly reminded them of the fact.
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14) the wandering Jew
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15) A lady got out, then an elderly gentleman, then another young lady, beautiful as sin. Benjamin started; an almost chemical change seemed to dissolve and recompose the very elements of his body. A rigour passed over him, blood rose into his cheeks, his forehead, and there was a steady thumping in his ears. It was first love.
16) Hildegarde Moncrief
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21) He wondered what possible fascination she had ever exercised over him.
22) Roscoe
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28) Then it was all dark, and his white crib and the dim faces that moved above him, and the warm sweet aroma of the milk, faded out altogether from his mind.