The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

James Thurber’s Short Story (1939)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber is a classic short story that examines the gap between fantasy and reality through the character of Walter Mitty, an ordinary man with an extraordinary imagination. The story's central theme explores how people use daydreams as a means of escaping mundane realities, and how these daydreams can provide solace and meaning in an otherwise dull existence.

The story begins with Walter Mitty driving his wife, Mrs. Mitty, to town for errands. He is immediately depicted as forgetful and distracted, a man easily overwhelmed by his wife’s controlling nature. However, Walter’s reality is not as dull as it seems; he frequently retreats into elaborate fantasies in which he imagines himself as a hero in various thrilling scenarios.

In the first of his many daydreams, Walter imagines himself as a confident and skilled Navy hydroplane pilot navigating through a storm. He is fully engaged in this fantasy when Mrs. Mitty snaps him back to reality, complaining that he is not driving correctly. This is the first of several interruptions throughout the story that demonstrate the contrast between Walter’s internal world and the external world that continuously pulls him back.

In the next daydream, Walter envisions himself as a renowned surgeon performing a life-saving operation. He imagines the admiration of his peers, contrasting this with his real-world experience, where he is treated as insignificant by those around him. These fantasies evolve throughout the story, each showcasing Walter’s desire to break free from the constraints of his life. For instance, he imagines himself as a fearless man on trial for a serious crime, and later as an assassin.

Each daydream is a reflection of Walter's yearning for significance, excitement, and control — elements that are completely absent in his actual life. Walter’s wife constantly nags him, and he seems to be at the mercy of a life that offers little in terms of satisfaction or personal achievement. However, his fantasies serve as a temporary refuge from this reality.

In the final daydream, Walter imagines himself as a man facing a firing squad. This fantasy, unlike the previous ones, carries a sense of finality and despair. It is at this moment that Thurber underscores the theme of isolation and alienation that pervades the story. Walter is unable to find happiness in his reality, nor does he seem able to fully escape it. His daydreams, while thrilling, provide no lasting relief or change.

The story ends ambiguously, with Walter walking toward the firing squad, but there is no clear resolution. The reader is left with the understanding that Walter will continue his quiet, unremarkable life, held captive by his fantasies and the harshness of his real existence.

Themes and Significance: Thurber’s story explores the disparity between the internal and external worlds of individuals. Through Walter Mitty’s fantasies, we see how people can create alternate identities for themselves, which offer more excitement, recognition, and power than their real lives allow. The story critiques the limitations placed on individuals by society, as well as the role of escapism in coping with life's struggles.

The central theme of escapism is embodied in Walter’s daydreams, which serve as a coping mechanism for his feelings of inadequacy. The story invites readers to reflect on their own lives and question how they, too, might be using fantasies or daydreams to cope with dissatisfaction.

Ben Stiller’s 2013 Film Adaptation

The 2013 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, directed by and starring Ben Stiller, takes the essence of James Thurber’s story and reimagines it for a modern audience. This adaptation is both a literal and figurative journey of self-discovery, with Walter Mitty stepping outside his comfort zone to embark on real-life adventures. While the central premise remains, the film’s tone, style, and plot differ significantly from the original story.

In the film, Walter Mitty is a photo editor for Life magazine, working in a basement office and living a quiet, uneventful life. He is shy and introverted, frequently daydreaming about fantastic scenarios where he is a courageous hero, a world traveler, or a romantic adventurer. These fantasies contrast sharply with the mundanity of his job and his personal life, where he is often overshadowed by more outgoing colleagues and ignored by his crush, Cheryl, a co-worker in the office.

The turning point in the film comes when Walter’s boss, Ted Hendricks, asks him to locate a missing negative for a cover photo that is meant to be the last issue of Life magazine before it transitions to an online-only format. The negative, which is labeled "Do Nothing," was taken by famed photographer Sean O'Connell. Walter embarks on a global search to find Sean and the missing negative, which takes him to Iceland, Greenland, and the Himalayas.

As Walter embarks on this real-life adventure, he experiences moments of intense personal growth. He learns to take risks, challenge his fears, and step outside the confines of his routine existence. This is in stark contrast to his earlier life, where his daydreams were his only outlet for excitement. In these moments of self-discovery, Walter begins to feel more alive, and his fantasies start to mirror his newfound courage and zest for life.

In the film’s climax, Walter finds Sean O'Connell, who reveals that the perfect photograph he had been searching for was, in fact, Walter himself, living his life and embracing the adventure. This moment represents the culmination of Walter’s transformation from a passive dreamer to an active participant in life. In the final scenes, Walter returns to Life magazine, now a confident, self-assured individual who has come to terms with who he is and what he is capable of.

Themes and Significance of the Film: While the 2013 film retains the themes of daydreaming and escapism, it focuses more heavily on the notion of personal transformation. Walter’s journey is symbolic of the idea that life itself is an adventure, and true fulfillment comes from embracing the unknown. The film's theme revolves around the importance of living in the present moment and taking risks to pursue one’s dreams, rather than simply fantasizing about them.