The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty Essay

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty Essay, Research Paper ?The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? James Thurber was born December 8, 1894 in Columbus Ohio. He is known for his novels but it is the short story in which he excels. In the short story ?The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, it is possible to see that Thurber?s life has a profound impact on the story?s theme. The short story ?The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? was written by James Thurber. After reading this short story, one can conclude that this short story had some connection with the life of James Thurber. The short story ?The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? begins with Walter Mitty landing a plane that was bound for imminent disaster. The words ?slow down Mr. Mitty you?re driving to fast,? woke him up from his daydream. These

words were coming from his wife who was being dropped off at the hairdresser. Mr. Mitty dropped his wife at the hairdresser. She barks out orders for him to buy overshoes and instructs him to wear his gloves. Throughout the rest of this story, Mr. Mitty goes through other daydreams in which he is invincible and undefeatable. As Mr. Mitty arrives to pick up his wife, she comes in the car and is very inquisitive about what he has been doing. Mr. Mitty asked his wife, ?Does it ever occur to you that I am thinking?? Mrs. Mitty followed this statement up by saying that he needed to see a doctor soon. When they reach the drugstore on the corner, Mrs. Mitty gets out and tells her away. With a faint fleeting smile praying about his lips, he daydreams again, this time he faces the firing

squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty, the undefeated, inscrutable to the last. James Thurber was born December 8, 1894 in Columbus Ohio. His father was Charles Leander and his mother was Mary Agnes Thurber. ?Thurber?s father had dreams of becoming an actor or a lawyer. He is said to be the basis of the typical small man in Thurber?s short story. Thurber?s mother was strong-minded, and was also a practical joker? (Pegasos 1). James?s brother William accidentally shot James in the eye, causing him to be partially blinded. ?Since Thurber could not play the sports and childhood games the other children did, he developed a rich fantasy life? (Pegasos 1). Although Thurber was an excellent student, he dropped out of Ohio State University in 1914. He re-entered

Ohio State in 1915 (Baughman 385). James Thurber married Althea Adams in 1922. ?Between 1927 and 1935, Thurber became one of the best known writers at the ?New Yorker? (Baughman 387). ?Thurber became known as a humorist while working at the ?New Yorker?? (Locher 608). ?He was originally a managing editor, but after six months, he managed to work himself down the ladder to staff writer? (608). ?After a difficult thirteen-year marriage, James and Althea Thurber filed for divorce.? (Baughman 387). ?Thurber then married Helen Wismer, who he later declared his ?seeing eye-wife?? (387). ?By 1950 Thurber?s vision deteriorated to total blindness? (387). ?Thurber died of Pneumonia on November 2, 1961 in New York? (Pegasos 1). ? ?The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? was a success as soon as it

was published in 1931? (Maddocks 432). It is safe to call Walter Mitty a ?chronic daydreamer?. The story begins and ends with him daydreaming. ?Walter Mitty?s daydreams originate from some part of his environment. He then transforms the details imaginatively? (432). ?All of Walter Mitty?s daydreams are interrupted by his wife?s nagging or others addressing him? (433). Throughout the story, Mrs. Mitty nags her husband and bosses him around. ?Mrs. Mitty probably does not realize how much her nagging and bossing around affects her husband. This might be because of how obliging and willing Mr. Mitty is? (433). In his short story, Thurber?s humor is sensitive to the fears and follies of man (Pegasos 1). ?Thurber?s story is humorous, yet it shows that the Walter Mittys of the world