The Catbird Seat Analysis

Mr. Erwin Martin is a humble worker at F & S keeping a calm and an almost insane routine throughout his schedule until he decides to plot murder in the short story, The Catbird Seat. The author, James Thurber adds elements, such as irony and metaphors to his story that contribute to it’s flavor and offer entertainment. Thurber uses irony multiple times throughout his story. In paragraph one Thurber narrates that Mr. Martin stole a pack of cigarettes from a cigar store on Broadway. Throughout the tale it is mentioned time and time again the Mr. Martin never smokes or drinks, creating irony. At the end of the narrative Mr. Martin brings the cigarettes to Mrs. Barrows where he plans to kill her. He could not find a suitable weapon in her home, so he instead uses this knowledge that everyone believes he does not smoke or drink in order to frame her. Mr. Martin consumes some alcohol and smokes for the first time with only Ulgine Barrows to witness. He then makes a scene and insults their superior. The next day Mrs. Barrows reports this where it makes her seem psychotic and is escorted out of F & S. Mr. Martin gets to resume his normal
In the third paragraph Mrs. Barrows her laugh as “braying”. Mrs. Barrows’ voice is also described as braying in paragraphs six, 11, and 18. This compares her with a donkey or mule and puts emphasis on how she is a nuisance. In paragraph 16 she is described as “yelling inside, but she was not braying,” this adds a humorous element as it describes a time where Ulgine Barrows is not acting like a mule but simply as an aggravated woman for a change. Closer to the end in paragraph 18 Barrows brays once more in her crazed fit before she is taken away by F & S security. In paragraph 11 Barrows describes Martin as “white as a sheet.” Here and throughout the narrative Mrs. Barrows uses comparisons and cliques to add to her annoying and flamboyant