James Thurber’s short story ‘The Catbird Seat’ shows Mr. Martin’s character as a very cunning one, even though at the start of the story, he’s portrayed as a thorough gentleman who works efficiently and meticulously. The author Thurber has really described and expressed the true human nature very profoundly in the story.
The protagonist of the story Mr. Martin was known in F & S for his commitment and sincerity towards work. He was the “most efficient worker neither drinks nor smokes”, was very punctual and “cautious and painstaking” at work. His daily routine was also very properly set and he was diligent in his work at F & S which explains how he continued working in the filing department for twenty-two long years. He was not only gentle in his mannerisms but also very polite in talking to others. As a co-worker he was very polite and courteous in talking to Mrs. Barrows, therefore nobody could ever make out that inside his heart he never really liked that woman and in fact detested her strongly. So Mr. Martin maintained his kind and gentle gestures while he planned the whole plot to “rub out” his colleague.
Just like he follows his schedule everyday very minutely and in a detailed manner, similarly he worked on the plot every night for one full week. He doesn’t do anything that will disrupt his daily routine and very cunningly fits in the act of buying cigarettes into his routine so nobody could suspect him in any way. It all seemed like he was “sitting in the catbird seat”.
The execution of his plan was also done very skillfully and wittily. He had planned to kill Mrs. Barrows but suddenly changed his mind when he thought how Mr. Fitweiler said once “Man is fallible but Martin isn't" suggesting that Martin cannot fail or make a mistake. Since he cannot kill her he decides to rub her out of his life by getting rid of her from work. After the incident at night he makes sure he sleeps on time after having milk, and gets to work on time as usual, so nobody has any doubts on him. He still follows his schedule and behaves absolutely normally at work. Even after Mrs. Barrows shouts out in Mr. Fitweiler’s office and looks so upset, Mr. Martin keeps a very normal and undisturbed look on his face, and reacts like his other colleagues. This makes him seem like any other worker in the office who doesn’t know what has happened to Mrs. Barrows.
Who could think that such a “drab, ordinary little man” like Martin could resent the “quacking voice and braying laugh” of Mrs. Barrows so much that he actually planned to kill her. He really comes out as a clever and scheming person when we learn of his plotting against the lady. “He was too solid a man to be moved to murder by anything so childish” but we actually see the level of his resentment and annoyance with the lady that provoked him to kill her.
The end is perfect for Martin as he didn’t actually have to kill her to get rid of her, but through his smart plot removed her from the office itself. Mrs. Barrows may have been a master manipulator but Mr. Martin’s determination and wit keeps the department in place. Through his masterfully devised plan Martin also made the confidence of his employer in him more firm and long-lasting.
References
The Cunning of Mr. Martin, Man is Fallible-Character Analysis of The Catbird Seat by James Thurber. 2013. Hubpages. 22 March 2013
http://hrymel.hubpages.com/hub/The-Cunning-of-Mr-Martin-Character-Analysis
The Catbird Seat Study Guide & Plot Summary. 2013. Bookrags. 22 March 2013
http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-catbirdseat/
The Catbird Seat. 2013. Dramatica. 22 March 2013
http://dramatica.com/articles/the-catbird-seat
