The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Toward the end of the story, Mitty imagines the revolving doors of the hotel making a “derisive whistling sound” (Paragraph 15). Since the story describes the world solely through his eyes, might his imagination have colored other aspects of the “real world”? How reliable is his point of view?

Mitty’s daydreams feature very few women, and (unlike the men) none of them are named. Why is this, and does it relate to Thurber’s overall treatment of gender? Why are we never told Mrs. Mitty’s first name?

In his third fantasy, Mitty stands accused of a murder committed on June 14—Bastille Day. Why do you think Thurber chose this date? Who is the young woman who leaps into Mitty’s arms? Solve this murder mystery in a way you think Mitty might have chosen, and explain your rationale. Incorporate the original story’s themes.