Imagining Walter Mitty’s Secret Life
Jessica Lehmkuhl
October 28, 2013
Imagining Walter Mitty’s Secret Life Author of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, James Thurber really expresses his own imagination in this literary work. According to Clungston (2010), Thurber spent his life writing, he wrote for the, Columbus Dispatch, New York Evening Post, New Yorker, and a newsmagazine. Thurber was known for his cartoons, drawings, and farce works during his time writing for the New Yorker. During my literary analyses of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”, I found myself asking many questions. The only question I asked myself about author James Thurber, in regards to this particular literary piece, was, whether he is reflecting on previous articles he has written over the years and expressing them through the day dreams of Walter Mitty. In my reflective analysis of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” I am going to use the formalist approach, concentrating on the development of this particular work of literature. I plan to share the questions I ask myself as I was reading and how this piece of literature stood out to me. When I began reading the first paragraph of this literary satire I assumed it was going to be a war story. So you can imagine my surprise come the end of the paragraph. By the beginning of the third paragraph Thurber had my full attention and imagination. As I was reading I began to ask my self questions about Walter Mitty and a few other characters. I first ask myself if Mitty had a disease like Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Then I questioned if Mitty had vivid daydreams connecting his present to his past. While reviewing the questions I had thought of, this one stuck out for two reasons. First reason is due to Mrs. Mitty stating “It’s one of your days. I wish you would let Dr. Renshaw look you over” (Clungston, 2010), in the following daydream Mitty is a surgeon working along side Dr. Renshaw. Second reason is a statement made by Mitty during his fourth daydream, “We only live once, Sergeant,” “or do we?” (Clugston, 2010). This spiked my imagination as I began to wonder if Mitty was reliving past events, from his own previous lives, through his daydreams. The setting of an afternoon drive, which is a routine mundane event with little dialogue between the couple and yet the husband has many adventures along the way. Each of Walter’s daydreams detailed and captivating. As you read, the minds eye would picture the setting and also the intensity of emotions due to the seriousness of the situation that he was imagining at that time. Completely focused on Walters daydreaming, the story took me by surprise each time Mrs. Mitty jolts Walter back to reality. In Walter’s daydreams he is a very precise, take charge type of individual, but through limited communication with his wife, one could draw the conclusion that Walter is timid and rebellious as if he were a teenager. For instance James Thurber (2010) uses symbolism in “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” in that Mrs. Mitty states, ‘“You’re not a young man any longer”. In defiance Walter replies with a slight rev of the motor.” Mrs. Mitty also nags Walter about where his gloves are and if he lost them, only for him to pull them out of his pocket and put them on just to suffice his wife for the time being, only to take them back off moments later. Author James Thurber uses tone in the attitude of Walter Mitty through out this short story, however, there is a quote made by Walter at the end of the story that makes you question his mood. “I was thinking,” said Walter Mitty. “Does it ever occur to you that I am sometimes thinking (Clugston, 2010)?” Walter is being serious and seems to be put out by his wife’s constant nagging interruptions, but at the same time Thurber is being farce in the fact that Walter is always thinking. Walter’s daydreaming had become a routine that would provide him with an escape from his wife. This statement from “Bringing Literary Terms to Life” expresses Walter profoundly, ‘"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" is routine escape. One reason is that his need to find adventure is a routine: He escapes as part of his routine. On the other hand, he escapes from the routine --the humdrum, his wife, and her chastisements (Mitchell, D., Manke, L., Gorence, M., Kell, J., 1995).” Walter Mitty escapes through his imagination to avoid working on his marital issues and changes that come with old age. The Secret life of Walter Mitty is what some would refer to as a classic piece of literature that has endured time. Susan Koprince (2012) states in The Secret Life of Willy Loman: A Miller-Thurber Connection, that, “Walter Mitty was not only a well-known fictional character, but part of America's cultural folklore.” This short story of farce humor and imagination has been used as an educational tool for learning literary styles and techniques for years. The Author James Thurber makes the story enticing and uses ambiguity to draw readers in and help them relate their lives to Walter’s. Like Walter Mitty many people have coping methods to help escape from the routine of everyday life, whether it be a controlling wife or screaming children. References
Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into Literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. This text is a Constellation™ course digital materials (CDM) title.
Mitchell, D., Manke, L., Gorence, M., & Kell, J., (1995). Bringing Literary Terms to Life. http://search.proquest.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/docview/237302867?accountid=32521 Koprince, S. (2012). The Secret Life of Willy Loman: A Miller-Thurber Connection.
http://search.proquest.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/docview/1029935837?accountid=32521