Please, I am struggling with these. Can someone help me by answering them? Or at least assisting me to? Thank you in advance to anyone who are able to.
These questions regard the short-story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."
Describe each character's involvement in the story. Then explain how the reader's understanding of Walter Mitty would be different if the episode had been written from that character's point of view.
1. The woman on the sidewalk.
2. The parking-lot attendant.
3. Mrs. Mitty.
If you read the story again, concentrating on those characters, I'm sure you'll get some ideas.
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1939/03/18/390318fi_fiction_thurber?currentPage=all
I'll be glad to check your answers.
1. The woman on the sidewalk's involvement in the story is very little. She merely laughs while passing, telling her companion that Mitty “said ‘Puppy biscuit’ to himself.” Nevertheless, the reader's understanding of Walter Mitty would be very different if it were told from this character's perspective as he would be seen as merely a mad man who talks to himself.
2. The parking-lot attendant's involvement in the story is slightly moderate. He was the one to awaken Mitty from one of his daydreams, then, after Mitty entered the wrong lane, "vaulted into [Mitty's] car, backed it up with insolent skill, and put it where it belonged." If the episode had been written from this character's point of view, the reader's understanding of Walter Mitty would very different as it would most likely refer to Mitty as a man trapped by his thoughts and a poor driver.
3. Mrs. Mitty's involvement is great in this story as she occasionally triggers Mitty's daydreams and frees him from them as well. She is also considered as the main antagonist; the parking-lot attendant paling in comparison. Thus, the reader's understanding would be far different if it were written from this character's perspective as he would undoubtedly be viewed as a child or one incapable of handling responsibility.
Looks good.
Certainly! I can help you with these questions. Let's break them down one by one.
1. The woman on the sidewalk:
The woman on the sidewalk is a minor character in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." She appears briefly in the story when Walter Mitty imagines himself as a brave navy pilot talking courageously to his crew. In this episode, he is brought back to reality when the woman on the sidewalk interrupts him. She asks if he's alright, which startles him and disrupts his daydream.
If the episode had been written from the woman's point of view, the reader's understanding of Walter Mitty would be different. From the woman's perspective, Walter would appear to be a slightly absent-minded individual who often gets lost in his own thoughts. The reader might sense that the woman is kind and concerned about his well-being but also irritated by his disconnection from reality. This could add depth to Walter's character, highlighting his tendency to escape into his daydreams.
2. The parking-lot attendant:
The parking-lot attendant only has a brief appearance in the story. Walter Mitty drives into a parking lot and imagines himself as a skilled surgeon performing a sensitive operation. When the parking-lot attendant shouts at him, he is snapped out of his daydream and realizes that he has driven too fast into the parking space.
If the episode had been written from the parking-lot attendant's point of view, the reader's understanding of Walter Mitty would be different. The parking-lot attendant would see Walter as an inattentive and reckless driver. The reader may get a glimpse of frustration or annoyance on the attendant's part, as he has to deal with drivers like Walter on a regular basis. This perspective could emphasize Walter's tendency to become oblivious to his surroundings and the potential danger he poses to himself and others.
3. Mrs. Mitty:
Mrs. Mitty plays a significant role in the story. Throughout the narrative, she repeatedly interrupts Walter Mitty's daydreams and asks him to do various mundane tasks. She often criticizes him, reminding him of his forgetfulness and absent-mindedness. However, at the end of the story, when Walter is imagining his own heroic execution, she doesn't interrupt him, showing a different side of her character.
If the episode had been written from Mrs. Mitty's point of view, the reader's understanding of Walter Mitty would be different. From her perspective, Walter might appear even more forgetful and detached. The reader would get a sense of her frustration and possibly her concern for her husband's mental state, as she has to constantly bring him back to reality. This would shine a light on the dynamic between Walter and his wife, offering more insight into their relationship.
Analyzing different characters' involvement in a story and imagining how the story would change from their point of view can provide a deeper understanding of the narrative and the characters themselves. I hope this explanation helps you with your questions on "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."