Even Saints Lie
“The Catbird Seat” by James Thurber introduces main character, Mr. Erwin Martin. He has an established reputation of one who can do no wrong at F&S, where he has been employed for 22 years. Employees at his job know he does not smoke or drink, but they are unaware of what he is capable of. Mrs. Ulgine Barrows, a new addition to F&S, has only been decides it is upon her to take over. Each day she pushes his buttons more and more, even he hoping to “rub her out,” in order to be free of her and her ideas(1). This is his justification for his idea to murder her. Although he is debating whether it is necessary, he finally decides and his intentions are unmistakable when he analyzes his plan of action, overlooks thoughts in his head, …show more content…
He knows when he purchases them, that people at work would be in disbelief. There would be no reason for him to put his reputation on the line, or buy a pack of cigarettes that he is not going to smoke. However, this will be crucial when he arrives at Mrs. Barrows’ apartment and finishes her off, because the cigarette police find as evidence, will leave him clear from suspicion. Everyone at F&S knows he does not smoke, so it could not possibly be him. Also, his arrival at Mrs. Barrows’ home was conjured up a week in advance, and he imagines the consequences of being caught the entire walk to his destination. However, since he planned something so dangerous, he is worried of losing his infallible status. There are times he thinks, “the risk are considerable”(1). Although it was not his plan to deceive her, when he failed to find a weapon capable of killing her, Mr. Martin gets a “vague idea,” which “began to bloom”(4). At this time, he realizes he could just deceive her, because it would be her word against his, and his saint-like traits would benefit him. Others would say he always planned things out, so if he planned to fool her, when did he do any planning to do so? The lies he strew about, were spur of the moment and are unmistaken when analyzing his thoughts. In addition to the planning, he is set on giving her what she deserved. It lies within his mind, and he dreams up a courtroom where he is the judge and he “demands the death sentence for this horrible person”(2). The scene plays in his head so real to life to life, that he stands up, and announces it aloud for his ”jury” word for word. This provides that he meant nothing other than what is declared. How can this be mistaken for tricking and deceiving her? As he walks down the street on his way to Mrs. Barrows’, Mr. Martin replays every movement