Wallter Mitty Case
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Short stories can be hard to interpret at first glance because they are shorter than a novel. A short story gives a lot less detail and the author is usually trying to get a message or idea across to the reader. The use of literary devices is important because they can lead the reader into the direction the author has intended. You must look at the themes and how the literary devices support the themes because the character themselves allows the reader to glimpse into the human psyche, tone keeps the readers attention within the plot, and uses of symbolism represent human behaviors thoughts and emotions.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, by James Thurber is a short story that contains themes of a man that is dissatisfied with his reality and feeling of powerlessness. He escapes his realities through daydreaming of being powerful, because in contrast he feels he has little power within his life and marriage. The story begins with Walter Mitty in his first daydream, where he is a commander flying a naval hydroplane in the middle of a storm. His heroic conquest is interrupted when Mrs. Mitty screams, “”Not so fast! Youre driving too fast!-What are you driving so fast for?” She then insists that Walter Mitty wear his gloves and purchase new overshoes. He attempts to make an argument, but his wifes demands are not argued with. He drops her off at the hairdressers and a police officer shouts, “Pick it up, brother!” As Walter Mitty begins his errands he drives past a hospital, which transitions the reader into his next daydream. Here he imagines himself as great surgeon. This fantasy is interrupted by the parking lot attendant that yells, “Back it up, Mac!! Look out for that Buick!- Wrong lane, Mac”. We then begin to receive a glimpse of Walter Mittys thoughts which give us an insight to his frustrations and discontent. Thurber writes, “Theyre so damn cocky, thought Walter Mitty, walking along Main Street; they think they know everything. Once he had tried to take his chains off, outside New Milford, and he had got them wound around the axles. A man had had to come out in a wrecking car and unwind them, a young, grinning garageman. Since then Mrs. Mitty always made him drive to a garage to have the chains taken off. The next time, he thought, Ill wear my right arm in a sling; they wont grin at me then. Ill have my right arm in a sling and theyll see I couldnt possibly take the chains off myself. He kicked at the slush on the sidewalk.” (Clugston, R. W., 2010) As he begins remembering the list of items he was instructed to gather by his wife, you can sense his continued frustration by the implication that he can never remember everything, and this makes his wifes nagging worse. Here again we are transitioned to Walter Mittys third daydream when he hears the paperboy shouting about the Waterbury trial. This is Walters way of trying to remember his wifes list of items. He imagines himself in a courtroom being questioned by a district attorney. His fantasy is interrupted by his recalling dog treats. After picking up the dog treats he notices that time is running out and that he must get back before his wife is out of the hair dresser appointment. As he sits in the lobby and picks up a an article to read he sees pictures of war and begins his fourth daydream. Here Walter Mitty is a Captain volunteering to fly a plane alone even though it is meant for two pilots. This fantasy is interrupted by his wife Mrs. Mitty, “Ive been looking all over this hotel for you,”- Why do you have to hide in this old chair? How did you expect me to find you?” Here we see more nagging that Walter Mitty is forced to endure by his wife. When he tries to talk back and stand up for himself, his wife makes the comment that she will have to check his temperature when they get home. His last daydream begins when he lights a cigarette waiting for his wife. He imagines himself facing a firing squad, thus concluding James Thurbers short story.
Walter Mitty is the protagonist in this story. While some may say that Mrs. Mitty is the antagonist is foil character, I actually saw Walter Mittys heroic character the foil character. It was as if James Thurber identified two different Walters in his story. One was the compliant, repressed, powerless man. The other was an all powerful, heroic man. The tone of the story is somewhat humorous because Walter allows himself to carry on with these imaginative worlds that are not his own. I wanted to feel bad for Walter Mitty, but instead laughed as he carried on with each fantasy. The conflict Walter faces is accepting who he really is and taking a stand for him in asserting his own independence and power. The complication is that he allows the daydreams to interfere with his life. He does not communicate these concerns with his wife. James Thurber uses allusions such as the Waterbury trial and German invasion in order to set up some of the settings and symbolism behind Walters daydreams. James Thurbers use of Commander, Doctor, Witness, Captain, and reference of a captor facing a firing squad set up symbolism in how Walter wants to perceive himself. This is who Walter wishes he could really be.
The Necklace, by Guy de Maupassant is also a short story about a woman that is dissatisfied with her reality due to social class. “She escapes her reality through one night at a ball. Maupassant begins by describing Mathilde Loisels appearance and background. She is pretty but was married off due to life circumstances. Maupassant goes further by giving us Mathilde Loisels view of her surroundings and life. “She suffered intensely, feeling herself born for every delicacy and every luxury. She suffered from the poverty of her dwelling, from the worn walls, the abraded chairs, the ugliness of the stuffs.”(Clugston, R. W., 2010) The story continues with a list of everything Mathilde Loisel dreams of having but does not have. She does not have the dining experiences she wants, the dresses, and the jewelry. She envies a friend that is rich. Her husband Monsieur Loisel comes home with an invitation to the ball. Her husband had hoped that she would be happy with the invitational. Instead, Mathilde Loisel is really rude and says, “What do you want me to do with that?” She insists to her husband that she cannot attend