"The Catbird Seat"

Book Review # 92923

English > Analysis
Literature > American

"The Catbird Seat"

A character analysis of Erwin Martin from James Thurber's short story, "The Catbird Seat".

1,035 words () | 1 source | MLA | 2001 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how James Thurber's main character in the short story, "The Catbird Seat," is a person who uses a small, unexpected change in his personality to his advantage. It discusses how Thurber gives a shining example of someone who not only refuses to give into change, but fights it head on using popular perceptions of him to his advantage.

From the Paper:

"When Martin realizes that Mrs. Barrows means to get rid of his department, something in him breaks. Now that his own job is on the line he knows he must act. Mrs. Barrows enters his office one day "[wandering] about the office, taking it in with her great, popping eyes"(634). It is at this point that Martin realizes that she means to fire him. "Mr. Martin could no longer doubt that the finger was on his beloved department"(634). This would bring many changes to his life. His hatred of any change leads him to come up with a solution to the problem Mrs. Barrows is planning to impose upon him. "