The Characterization of Walter M.
Emilee Snyder
Thesis
The author uses a bold contrast between reality and daydreams helps characterize Walter Mitty as a victim, a man who is afraid to stand up for himself, and a wishful thinker.
Claim 1
Walter Mitty is clearly characterized as a victim in his real life who escapes it in his daydreams. For example, his wife yells at him even when he does what she says. "You couldn't have put them on in the store?" Also, the garage man victimized him by smirking and making fun of him for not knowing how to take the chains off of his car tire. These two examples among with many others show that Mitty is a victim during most times in his life.
Claim 2
Walter Mitty is very afraid to stand up for himself throughout the story. Firstly, his most apparent struggle is not being able to stand up to his wife after all she does to make him feel bad. When she makes him put his gloves on, he puts his gloves on. When she tells him to buy shoes even though he says he does not need any, he buys them anyway. Another example is when the woman laughs at Mitty for saying "dog biscuits" out loud. "That man just said puppy biscuit to himself." All together, Walter Mitty is very afraid to stand up to people in his life who treat him badly even though he knows he does not deserve it.
Claim 3
Lastly, Mitty is a very wishful thinker which shows through his daydreams. In all of his dreams, Mitty shows a side of him that he doesn't show and real life and he lives like he wishes he could: standing up for himself and not letting people walk all over him; being important. Also, the fact that Mitty is obviously bored or unhappy when he goes into a daydream which shows he daydreams simply to escape reality. Mitty's wishful thinking is most likely the reason he daydreams in the first place.
Conclusion
In all, the author's use of text structure shows Walter Mitty as a victim who is afraid to stand up for himself and very wishful.