James Thurber and Humor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

James Thurber and Humor - Essay Example Quality of humor is necessary for the best efficacy of comforting interactions, as humor allows for reframing of the problem in ways in which distressed individuals are unable to perceive thus aiming to make humor not only a comfort provider but also a healing promoter as well. Thurber has been a predominant literary figure in the genre of humor, satire and wit (Gottlieb, Robert). His letters have the remarkable natural style of easy flowing conversation, "They're the overflow of a professional writer" (Gottlieb). Thurber's professional background in journalism gave him the requisite training to turn out copious amounts of work for "The New Yorker", where he made his initial mark. His works besides talk pieces included several pieces of humor, however what came to dominate his works was a wistful look at his past, writing about whom were closer to him and memories associated with them. One of his noted achievements were his cartoons and drawings, and not to forget "Walter Mitty" - Walter Mitty is as well known as any other literary creation, so much so according to Gootlieb, Walter Mitty's character gives a name to an important human trait which we all posess. Thurber's letters cover the range of human emotions, he is outspoken as well as gentle - the letters give an unabashed look at Thurber's self. Thurber's letters, unfortunately are repetitive at times and at times lack the emphasis on important aspects of Thurber's life(Gottlieb). Although Thurber has been compared to Mark Twain (Pritchard, William H. October 2003), his published letters for want of editing fail to sparkle appropriately. He was driven by the "satirist's itch", (Pritchard) which made his writing from exhibiting dry humor to being biting and bitter as he come party to host of health issues, including a brain tumor. Laura Carroll has interpreted James Thurber's "My Life in Hard Times" using the vehicles of Freudian theory (Carroll, Laura, 101-103). Laura has presented the usage of humor to be analogous to Freud theory of ego and psychic other self, the instances of offering humorous offerings to the reader are taken apart and dissected whereas other instances of gaiety are treated as looking on one part of the self to the other. The treatment critiques the structure of James Thurber's work and gives insight for researcher or critical reader. Thurber successfully employs nostalgic reflection on his younger self, being bemused as if another entity is being watched, acting out the duo relationship between the Freudian ego and superego (Laura). Another aspect of humor is presented as a contrast to Thurber's by Rebecca Mead (Mead, Rebecca, Jan 2005). She traces the development of an online magazine "collegehumor.com" exploring the lives of four friends who moved to New York City and started this venture. This magazine was started in 1999 and it focused on being a repository of jokes, emails and photographs that college graduates liked to share. This magazine became the focal point of college life, added on with and bits and pieces of multimedia dormitory content, rowdy images (like girls kissing or without their tops) and basically anything of what college kids think would Thurber 3 be funny. Student's attraction to "loud" humor has been prevalent since middle ages and this was exploited in this site famously. Rebecca compares Thurber's era of twenties and that contribution