The comparative analysis of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and The Essay

The comparative analysis of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and The Necklace - Essay Example The comparative analysis of â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty† and â€Å"The Necklace† To begin with, James Thurber’s â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty† and Guy de Maupassant’s â€Å"The Necklace† have much in common thematically. Specifically, both of them examine relationships between a husband and a wife in a marriage. Even more, both stories center on roles played by major characters in marriage. For example, in â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty†, James Thurber creates a portrayal of a marriage which is not typical at all. The protagonist Mr Walter Mitty is husband to a woman who plays a dominant role. The way she acts may even be called authoritarian. Besides, she bears the burden of duties typical for a male partner in a marriage. In particular, Mr Mitty’s wife runs the house. In this context, whatever happens, Mrs Mitty behaves as if she was Mr Mitty’s boss. At the same time, Mr Mitty is treated as if he was of a considerably lower status. Having taken up Mr Mitty’s role, his wife acts in a manner t ypical for a man rather than a woman. Respectively, Walter performs the role of a woman in marriage, a child, or whatever Mrs Mitty thinks he is. To illustrate, once Mrs Mitty returns home from the hairdresser’s and meets Walter in a hotel, she pushes him in shoulder and addresses her husband in a rough manner not typical for a woman. Because of this, their conversation looks more like quarrelling. For instance, â€Å"Something struck his shoulder. â€Å"I've been looking all over this hotel for you,† said Mrs. Mitty. â€Å"Why do you have to hide in this old chair? How did you expect me to find you?† â€Å"Things close in,† said Walter Mitty vaguely. â€Å"What?† Mrs. Mitty said. â€Å"Did you get the what's-its-name? The puppy biscuit? What's in that box?† (Thurber, 2011) The foregoing example and other examples in the story allow claiming that Mr Mitty’s wife has such character traits that evidence her masculinity. Apparently, she is a kind of a woman that is not likely to be admired by men. Indeed, her masculinity and acting in a manlike manner would divert any typical male. On a similar note, one of the themes explored by Guy de Maupassant in â€Å"The Necklace† is relationship as well as gender roles within marriage. Yet, the contrasting point is that the woman in the marriage portrayed in the story is very feminine. Unlike Mr Mitty’s spouse, Mathilde is described as â€Å"beautiful† as well as â€Å"charming†, the one who longs to be adored by men. Evidently, this desire is the greatest motive to get expensive things. For example, in the story â€Å"She had no dresses, no jewelry, nothing. And she loved nothing else; she felt herself made for that only. She would so much have liked to please, to be envied, to be seductive and sought after† (Maupassant, 2011). Apart from this, Mathilde’s femininity is demonstrated by her excessive sensitivity and overwhelming emot ions. This adds up to her feminine image especially with the male-dominated world in the background. Also, both stories enjoy the common theme of escapism. To specify, in Thurber’s â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty†, escapism is the central theme. Walter Mitty is described as â€Å"a middle-aged, middle-class man who escapes from the routine drudgery of his suburban life

Annoted Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Annoted Bibliography - Essay Example Napoleon asserts his leadership after the animals capture the farm from its former cruel owner, Mr. Jones. However, the satire of this novel is centered upon the pigs’ tyranny over the other animals. The novel is the basis of the famous idiom â€Å"all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others†. The novel was inspired by George’s experiences of communist behavior in Russia during the Spanish Civil War; it is a tale of the communist revolution in Russia. The novel addresses not only the corruption in leadership, but also the ignorance of the people; it exemplifies corruption and wickedness as the vice in rebellion, and not the actual deed of rebellion. This novel is dubbed the best analogy of political satire in the mid twentieth century as it exemplifies the gullibility of subjects and the dictatorship of leaders in contrast to the ideal society where all people are equal. Steadman, R. (1996) George Orwell: Animal Farm (50th Anniversary edition). USA : Signet Classics This variation of the original Animal Farm was done by Ralph Steadman to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the literary work. In the rendition, Steadman introduces some of Orwell’s proposed inclusion in the novel. ... Steadman exemplifies Orwell’s satirical outlook on the rebellion in animal farm which is a symbol of the rebellion against corruption and tyranny all around the world. This edition includes Orwell’s additions during a press interview, which were ignored in the previous edition. Moreover, Steadman analyses Orwell’s explicit fable of a browbeaten and overworked society and their pursuance of justice and equality. The author shows that such a paradise is feasible in the mind, but actual fulfillment is deterred by greed and corruption. The text illustrates the rise and gory fall of revolutionary animals and appreciates the abolitionism in most, if not all, societies by poking fun at the leaders and oppressors while at the same time drawing attention to the idealism they create but do not endorse. Secondary Sources Lake, P. (2010). The  Animal Farm  of the 21st Century. Arkansas: Arkansas Tech University. In March 2010, Paul Lake gave a lecture on George Orwellâ⠂¬â„¢s novels at the Arkansas Tech University and cited Animal Farm as Orwell’s book as the greatest allegory of the society. Lake associated the novel to the modern society as tyranny and corruption are witnessed on a daily basis. Lake, who is the author of Cry Wolf, drew attention to Orwell’s depiction of the down trodden members of society whose desire for a better future is unwavering. Lake exemplifies the twenty first century society as a modern animal farm where although the down trodden continue to suffer and be overworked for the benefit of a few; they still consider the leadership as upright and effective. He spoke of the ideal twenty first society as one which upholds all individual’s rights to expression and freedom from oppressive or slave driven rule. His talk seeks to educate on