A Literary Critic of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” Essay

The stratum The Secret intent of Walter Mitty is a form of a nobble written report genre variety. This report card was create verbally by James Thurber, and published in The New Yorker in 1939 (Clugston, 2010). This is an intriguing fiction of a daydreaming husband, Walter Mitty, and his domineering married muliebrity as they streamlet a hardly a(prenominal) errands to town. I will make social occasion of literary chiding by expl aining my fellow get off to the apologue, analyzing the meaning of the figment, and taking the formalistic go up in discussing James Thurbers story.My liaison to this story is strongly held by the position that I am as well as a daydreamer. I will admit this is a frustrating characteristic for others, but for single and only(a)s self as wholesome eventhough, the situations discussed in the story seem preferably humorous to the subscriber. Mr. Thurber presents the t wiz, or mood, of thwarting end-to-end this story. As Walter is daydr eaming and driving swift than Mrs. Mitty likes, she abruptly interrupts him. Although the daydream breaks for an instance, he rapidly returns to his daydream. Mrs. Mitty is quick to interrupt again, Its wiz of your days. I wish youd permit Dr. Renshaw look you over. Her frustration is evident because she thinks that something essential be wrong with him. Later when Walter is non wearing his gloves, Mrs. Mitty is certain he has wooly them. James Thurber has reinforced her frustration.Walters frustration is expressed in the story some(prenominal) times as well. An instance when a parking assistant awakens Walter from a nonher daydream, the story reads Mitty becomes a little testy. When Walter makes several mistakes severe to park the car, the frustrated attendant tells him to leave of absence her sit there, Ill frame up her away. When the attendant parks the car with some expertise, Walter replies theyre so damn cocky, they think they kip down e rattlingthing. Probably th e sharpest image portrayed in the story iswhen Mrs. Mitty is hassling Walter for non having the palpate to put on his overshoes. Walters reaction is peerless of self-defense stating Does it ever occur to you that I am sometimes thinking. This set the olfactory property that Walter is letting his wife know that moreover because he whitethorn seem lost, does not make him senseless, or that she needs to get after him the way she does. As a daydreamer myself, I have undergo some of the kindred frustrations depicted in this story, so I connected with the story immediately.Now moving on to the com drop a linedium of this story, there are several meanings illustrated. con lovely to Koger, there are four studys or meanings conveyed by means of this story which are the line between a human organisms hopes for life and its actuality, the magnate of the consciousness or imagination, the conflict between the individualistic and trust, and the ascendancy of technology and mate rialism in the twentieth century (Koger, 2004). I agree that all of these themes are displayed by dint ofout the story however, I believe one has been overlooked. I feel that Walter Mitty may have conceit issues that he is able to overcome in his daydreams or, even better, they do not exist. some(prenominal) examples are apparent contrasting ones hopes and veracity. Walters heroic readiness in his daydreams versus his inadequacies in the reality of the story is one example (Koger, 2004). Another fine example is Mittys ability to reduce technology in his daydreams versus his inability to signal his car, or appropriately unwind beat chains (Koger, 2004). Another example, of my own accord, is the assumption that is portrayed in the fantasies that do not exist in the reality. For example, in the setoff daydream he is a air force officer taking charge of a ship and traveling through a act versus being told to wait in preliminary of the drug store, in the rain, for his wife as though he were a child.The power of the mind and imagination another theme to the story is exemplified through Mittys daydreams. Mitty is able to overcome both dilemma he faces in reality through his daydreams. He becomes an expert of machinery, and he no extended fears rootity figures, but instead becomes an authority figure. He even boosts his self-esteem by allowing the phrase the old man aint afraid of hell.Self-esteem is an grievous characteristic of the story. The persona or fabricator may or may not reflect the authors office (Clugston, 2010). However Thurber lost an eye as a child (Clugston, 2010). I baring it very symbolic that in Walter Mittys first daydream the narrator describes the commander with the heavily braided white upper-case letter pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye. I am inclined to think that James Thurber may be the Walter Mitty in the story. That being said, I excessively understand where the lack of self-confidence has played into the s tory. Mr. Thurber is able to cover his pestilential eye through the words that he writes. Thompson describes Mitty as a docile zippo muffled in layers of winter article of clothing with a loquacious and overprotective wife beside him (Thompson, 2008). This is yet more evidence of the low self-esteem portrayed characteristically through Walter Mitty.The formalistic approach is the most widely used in literary dilettanteism it focuses on the form and development of the literary work itself (Clugston, 2010). The setting of the story is memorable because it is cold, and the characters must drive into town to run errands giving clues that the Mittys live in the country or a very small town. James Thurber also creatively interrupts the daydreams at their climax, adding to the jolt back to reality. This gives the readers a chance to get lost in the daydreams, and be jolted back to reality as well. Walter is described as a middle aged man dysphoric with his life. The evidence of his unhappiness is portrayed through his daydreams where his life is almost perfect.Mrs. Mitty is described as a nagging old woman who is constantly frustrated with her husbands absentmindedness. She is constantly telling him what to do and how to act. When he does not, she assumes he has fallen ill. Thurber also uses the resembling simple phrases such as pocketa-pocketa-pocketa for every machine giving the reader the sense that in reality, all machines have the same amount of value in Walters mind. Using the simple fountain pen to fix an expensive piece of machinery also gives clues to Walterss lack of intelligence when it comes to technology. The author also uses very explicit daydreams allowing the reader to understand how far Walter Mitty had escaped from reality.In conclusion, I have discussed my connection, analyzed the meaning, and taken a formalistic approach to critic this wonderful piece of literature. The connection to the story is easy to come by as every person daydreams occasionally. The story consists of v different meanings or themes as I have discussed. I have also discussed the several different literary actions and the nice ability used to create an surprisingly humorous piece of art.ReferencesClugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, CA Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https//content.ashford.edu/books/AUENG125.10.2/sections/ Koger, G. (2004). Masterplots ii Short story series, rewrite edition. (2nd ed. ed., Vol. 1). United Kingdom England Salem Press. Retrieved from http//search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? Thompson, T. (2008). he sprang to the machine the secret technological life of walter mitty. (1 ed., Vol. 41, pp. 110-115). Retrieved from http//web.ebscohost.com/lrc/ particular?vid=5&hid=19&sid=280101a3-6742-45d0-88ee-24b153429c1asessionmgr12&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLXBsdXM=