Comparing Lord Dunsany’s Two Bottles of Relish and James Thurber’s Secret Life of Walter Mitty

A Comparison of Lord Dunsany’s Two Bottles of Relish and James Thurber’s Secret Life of Walter Mitty

“The Two Bottles of Relish,” by Lord Dunsany, written in 1932, tells the story of Smithers, a relish vendor and London resident, in his quest to sell his product, Num-numo and, along with his new roommate, Linley, solve the murder of Nancy Elth. The 1942 short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” by James Thurber, documents the fantasies of ordinary man Walter Mitty as he attempts to escape his mundane life. Both Smithers and Mitty have low self-esteem and are ambitious in different ways, but they differ in imagination.

Both Smithers and Mitty have low opinions of themselves and permit others to push them around. Smithers shows his feelings of inferiority when he readily admits, “I’m what you might call a small man and in a small way of business”(42). He acknowledges his low opinion of his work of selling relish when he says, “ . . . it is quite easy to push . . . I wouldn’t have gotten the job if it weren’t”(42). Smithers concedes that Mr. Linley is superior when Smithers agrees to sleep in the hall to be out of Linley’s way and to do the leg work to get the clues so that Linley can solve the murder. Walter Mitty exposes his feelings of inadequacy as he remembers bungling the removal of chains from his tires and having to pay a mechanic to correct his mistake. He is totally managed by his wife which is proven when she orders him to buy overshoes, and when he protests, she continues to put him down by saying, “ ‘We’ve been through that . . . You’re not a young man any longer’”(273). Mitty further demonstrates his inability to stand up for himself when he tolerates being given orders ...

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...g”(52). Also, Smithers has all the facts that he needs to solve the murder after he goes to Unge, but his lack of mind’s eye prevents him from solving the murder. Mitty’s imagination allows him to escape into fantasy, and Smither’s lack of imagination keeps him ordinary.

Smithers and Mitty feel inadequate and are ambitious in different ways; however, they differ greatly in their use of imagination. Smither’s characteristics result in an ordinary man; Mitty’s traits result in a man who arouses sympathy.

Works Cited

Plunkett, J. M. D. “The Two Bottles of Relish.” 1932. 21 Great Stories. Ed. Abraham H. Lass and Norma L. Tasman. New York: Mentor, 1969. 42-55.

Thurber, James. “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” 1942. 21 Great Stories. Ed. Abraham H.Lass and Norma L. Tasman. New York: Mentor, 1969. 272-277.