Analysis of a literary work
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The tools that writers use to capture the attention of the readers are quite fascinating, but they would not work if the person, the spectator, does not follow the first advice given in Chapter 1, to turn himself over to an imaginary realm. To walk intentionally into a story requires a good amount of determination. First, the person has to start disconnecting from the surrounding reality, meaning that he or she has to renounce temporarily to interact with the environment, including family members and friends. The cell phone has to be turned off, the TV has to be turned off, the whole world that distract him or her from concentrate on the task, has to be turned off. The parallelism of the action of such commitment with the progress of the story on the excerpts of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is outstanding. James Thurber, the author, defines the character as a habitual dreamer. To dream is to escape from the real world, and that is exactly what the reader has to do to live the story. The sequences of satirical situations where, without any warning, Walter Mitty dip into a dream while continue on what he is doing, set the senses of the reader on alert, because of the unknown outcome. Although the humorous circumstances are somehow laughable, the risk of the lives around the main personage, due to his incongruous daydreams, makes a captivating plot for the reader.
Analytical approach – Formalist
The meaning of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” starts with the title of the book. “Secret Life” resembles something not available for most of the public; it tells the reader that he is about to discover a hidden information of the character. Further into the book, the secret is not such as it seemed to be, but a life that is open to the eyes of the spectator, and yet, full of uncertainties. The plot has the magic of set the reader in a frightening position, for not knowing what is going to be the next dream and, what is more significant, not knowing the consequences over the folks that surround him, at the time of each particular fantasy. The indication of the age of Mr. Mitty is given by the wife, and also by is behavior. Although is not directly mentioned, the author, using the stubbornness of the character, purposely leave the impression that he is an aged person. The language used on the dialogs, inside the dreams, contribute indeed to the creation of a particular mood on each case, and in general, add odds characteristics to the protagonist.
Evaluation of the meaning
Getting too deep into the story might have the effect to ignore the overall significance of the play, the relationship between the fantasist and his wife. Any person that deserves to be called “a daydreamer” or just a “dreamer” is somebody that escapes to an imaginary world. Intentionally or not (inside the story), developed through years of avoiding reality or product of a physiological syndrome, Mr. Mitty is presented as a person to whom the normal facts of life are, comparing to his fantasies, frivolous. While his wife is concerned about him and his health, he despises the worries and caring details of her, such as the use of overshoes, giving the assumption that she is just nagging him. The remarkable difference between the common life and the extraordinary events of the dreams set the spouses at opposite ends, making the impression that they are facing the daily challenges of their lives completely away from each other, and with conflicting attitudes. The sadness of reaching an age where the companion is much needed distancing themselves from each other is the clear message left by the author.
Conclusion
A fiction work, such as the selected here to be analyzed, was meant to amuse the public, but at the same time, like any situation in life, to leave a valuable teaching, worth to be considered.
References
Cowan, L., & Os Guinness. (1998). Invitation to the Classics. Grand Rapids: Baker.
McGee, S.J. Analyzing Literature. A Guide for Students. Kansas State University. Longman.
[PDF file]. Web site: http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/327/335558/AnalyzingLit.
Thurber, J. (1999). My Life and Hard Times. Perennial Classics.
