Catbird Seat Essay

542 Words2 Pages

How well do you know those around you? James Thurber’s short story “The Catbird Seat” will make you question even the most meek and mild surrounding you. In this story, Erwin Martin, a mild mannered accountant, plotted the assassination of his coworker Ulgine Barrows. Thurber teaches the reader that appearances can be deceiving as he explores the mind of Erwin Martin and his plot to “rub out” his coworker.
The story was set in New York City around the 1940’s. The reader is lead through this suspenseful comedy by Mr.Martin’s narration. While the reader is distracted with the murderous plot, a theme is built based off the descriptions of the main characters. The theme that I found within this story is that appearances can be deceiving. The main example of this was that the main characters in this story seemed to have reversed gender roles. Based on the stereotypical man and woman of the 1940’s, Mr.Martin appeared to be “more of a woman” than Mrs.Barrows.
Erwin Martin, is an accountant at the F&S Firm where he had worked for over twenty years. Although Mr.Martin is clearly a man outwar...

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