James Thurber Research Paper

James Thurber is one of America’s greatest humanist writers and has a rich childhood that has molded and developed him as a writer. He was born in 1894, and as a child he firstHe lost the use of his left eye in a bow-and-arrow game with his brothers. The injury wasn’t correctly treated and eventually at an older age he lost the use of both eyes. He was a cartoonist at a younger age and achieved his first deal of recognition through a cartoon drawn about a man who was going blind. He moved back to Columbus while he was still young and the first recognition to his abilities with art came from his fourth grade teacher. He attended Ohio State in 1913 only to drop out in his sophomore year. He returned in 1915 with another student named Elliot Nugent. Elliot took

“They have discussed the darker themes of his work which lurk underneath the hilarity. Others, offering to his tendency to portray domineering woman like Mrs. Mitty, and unhappy, ineffectual men, like Walter, fault his treatment of woman and views of marriage (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 183).” Thurber had two wives, one lasting thirteen years to Althea Adams producing a daughter, and as well Helen Wismer. The quote above shows how his works of art were affected by the world around him and his frigid views on woman. James Thurber along with his views created a “Thurber woman” his most distinctive invention. “The Thurber Woman—that dominant, man-devouring figure who stalks her cowering male prey through so many stories and pictures—ranks as one of the most effective of sexist stereotypes (James Grover Thurber 3).” He looks at them as an oppressed and exploited group with power and real danger bringing up one of the most ancient satiric devices. Thurber later denied any hate and prejudice towards woman. James Thurber is one of America’s greatest humanist writers and the most immense examples of his work is The “Secret Life of Walter