James Thurber's Use of Character Development: "Walter Mitty" and Other Works Anonymous 11th Grade

In The Creative Process, James Baldwin describes the purpose of the artist – “to illuminate that darkness, blaze roads through that vast forest, so that we will not, in all our doing, lose sight of its purpose, which is, after all, to make the world a more human dwelling place” (Baldwin 874). Author James Thurber fulfills his responsibility as an artist in his short stories, which deal with themes of dissatisfaction, identity, and the battle of the sexes. Through his use of strong character development in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," "The Unicorn in the Garden," and "The Catbird Seat," James Thurber illuminates his observations of society’s ills in the world.

In his short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," Thurber uses the protagonist Walter as a means of commenting on dissatisfaction with everyday life. In the story, Walter Mitty is an imaginative man trapped in a mundane life and finds himself submerged in fantasies as a Navy commander, a high profile surgeon, and a British pilot. Thurber’s use of characterization is very telling of Walter’s personality. For example, in his unhappy marriage, Mrs. Mitty treats Walter as if he is incompetent and lesser; their conversation boils down to snide remarks and...