English Literature, the Secret Life of Sir Walter Mitty-James Thurber
Secret Life of Walter Mitty- James Thurber
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By P.Baburaj, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of English, Sherubtse college, Bhutan
Author of: Language and writing, DSB Publication Thimphu
Communicative English, P. K. Books, Calicut
A perception on Literary Criticism, P.K. Books, Calicut
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-A popular American writer, humourist and cartoonist.
-A classical story.
-Traditional realistic fiction.
-A third person narration.
-Mixture of fantasy and realism.
-Can be called a best example of magical realism.
-Explores the concept of the “American Dream”.
-Introduces an average American male namely Mr. Mitty.
Average Americans try to escape from the world of reality and “try to live in the world of fantasy”. To make life a successful one, one should keep a balance between reality and fantasy.It is difficult to live always in the world of reality and also it will be impracticable to fly always from the world of reality and resort always there in fantasy.
As Robert Frost said in his eminent poem “Birches” one should be a swinger of the Birches therefore keep balance between reality and fantasy. Otherwise life will be painful and will be a total failure. Day dreams are equal to Mitty, Mitty escapes from his mundane life (dull and uninteresting) by resorting to elaborate fantasies.
The name Walter Mitty has become synonymous for day dreams. Mitty becomes a symbol for a person who enriches his private life with dynamic day dreams while working or while listening to every day conversations.Story focuses on escapism from mundane life into the world of fantasies.The theme of success and failures in life is examined through Mitty‟s inability to live an external life, which results in going back to an internal life full of dangers and heroism.
-Stereotypical male and female roles.
Mrs. Mitty appears as a practical woman (women are more practical than men in America).
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By P.Baburaj, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of English, Sherubtse college, Bhutan
Author of: Language and writing, DSB Publication Thimphu
Communicative English, P. K. Books, Calicut
A perception on Literary Criticism, P.K. Books, Calicut
*******************************************************************
-A popular American writer, humourist and cartoonist.
-A classical story.
-Traditional realistic fiction.
-A third person narration.
-Mixture of fantasy and realism.
-Can be called a best example of magical realism.
-Explores the concept of the “American Dream”.
-Introduces an average American male namely Mr. Mitty.
Average Americans try to escape from the world of reality and “try to live in the world of fantasy”. To make life a successful one, one should keep a balance between reality and fantasy.It is difficult to live always in the world of reality and also it will be impracticable to fly always from the world of reality and resort always there in fantasy.
As Robert Frost said in his eminent poem “Birches” one should be a swinger of the Birches therefore keep balance between reality and fantasy. Otherwise life will be painful and will be a total failure. Day dreams are equal to Mitty, Mitty escapes from his mundane life (dull and uninteresting) by resorting to elaborate fantasies.
The name Walter Mitty has become synonymous for day dreams. Mitty becomes a symbol for a person who enriches his private life with dynamic day dreams while working or while listening to every day conversations.Story focuses on escapism from mundane life into the world of fantasies.The theme of success and failures in life is examined through Mitty‟s inability to live an external life, which results in going back to an internal life full of dangers and heroism.
-Stereotypical male and female roles.
Mrs. Mitty appears as a practical woman (women are more practical than men in America).