Comparing Lord Dunsany’s Two Bottles of Relish and James Thurber’s Secr

A equivalence of Lord Dunsanys 2 Bottles of Relish and James Thurbers hugger-mugger 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 transfer his product, Num-numo and, along with his new roommate, Linley, shape the murder of Nancy Elth. The 1942 short story The individual(a) Life of Walter Mitty, by James Thurber, documents the fantasies of ordinary small-arm Walter Mitty as he attempts to escape his mundane life. twain Smithers and Mitty have scurvy self-esteem and be ambitious in different musical modes, 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 right away admits, Im what you might call a small humanity and in a small way of business(42). He acknowledges his low opinion of his work of sellin g relish when he says, . . . it is quite halcyon to push . . . I wouldnt have gotten the job if it werent(42). Smithers concedes that Mr. Linley is sterling(prenominal) when Smithers agrees to sleep in the hall to be out of Linleys 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 indemnify 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, Weve been by that . . . Youre not a young man any nightlong(273). Mitty further demonstrates his inability to stand up for himself when he tolerates being assumption orders ... ...g(52). Also, Smithers has all the facts that he needs to solve the murder after he goes to Unge, but his lack of minds eye prevents him from solving the murder. Mitty s imagination allows him to escape into fantasy, and Smithers lack of imagination keeps him ordinary. Smithers and Mitty feel deficient and are ambitious in different ways however, they differ greatly in their use of imagination. Smithers characteristics result in an ordinary man Mittys 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.