How is the central theme of 'The Catbird Seat' similar to other works by James Thurber?

Answer 1

Mr Martin is working a firm called F & S for twenty-two years. He is known to be a very concentrated and efficient worker, who never smokes nor drinks, and has two assistants, Miss Paird and Mr Hart. All his life, he has been devoting himself to the company F & S.

One day, a new worker, who was the special advisor of one of the presidents Mr Fitweiler. It was a woman of the name Miss Barrows. She has been reordering the whole firm and that’s why, many people have been fired or quitted the work there. Mr Martin sees her as a threat to the company and he made a plan, a very well-thought-out plan (he went over it hundredth of times and took every possible risk into account) to kill Miss Barrows.

One late evening, he was at her apartment, ready for the kill. But when he got there, he realized that his plan is crazy.
Miss Barrows was preparing him and herself a drink and Mr Martin let it be and took a sip of his vodka-soda mixture. He also took out his cigarettes (he smokes secretly) and lit one. He began to tell weird things to Miss Barrows, such as blowing up the president Fitweiler and insulting him and so on.
Miss Barrows was shocked by what she heard him say and told him it is time to go. At the door, he made untypical gestures like placing the index finger in front of his mouth and saying to her she must not say anything to Mr Fitweiler.

The next day, Miss Barrows told everything to Mr Fitweiler. Of course, he did not believe her as she was speaking very nervously and Mr Martin is his best worker and the things she told him are too untypical for Mr Martin.
Mr Fitweiler went to Mr Martin’s room and told Mr Martin what weird things Miss Barrows was claiming. He asked Mr Martin where he has been last night and he answered that he was at Mr Scharfft’s (who was the other president of the company F & S), which he really did and that he had a walk, read the magazine and fell asleep early last night (before 11 p.m.). Mr Fitweiler believed him with no doubt and excused for her manner.

He told Mr Martin that Miss Barrows is suffering from psychological stress and that he also called his friend who was a psychiatrist that she should see him.
Miss Barrows burst into the room, yelling that Mr Martin is lying that he was playing a game etc. She was taken out of the buildings by three people and was fired (most probably).

Answer 2

The central theme of "The Catbird Seat" focuses on the theme of control and power dynamics, which is a common theme in James Thurber's works. In many of his stories, characters often challenge authority figures or societal norms, using wit and cunning to upset the status quo. Thurber often explores the absurdity of human behavior and the struggle for autonomy in his works.

Answer 3

Mr. Martin feels very good about himself. As he left Mr. Fitweiler's office, his step was light and quick. When he got to his office he returned to his normal gait. He was on Cloud 9, having engineered the dismissal of his tormentor, Mrs. Barrows, but it was still time to go to work.

Answer 4

Other works of Thurber's have the comically ironic them of the conflict between the mild mannered gentleman and the strong-willed woman. Typically, readers expect the roles to be the opposite of the roles in 'The Catbird Seat." Thurber had delighted readers with similar themes in other stories such as "The Owl" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty."