James Thurber

             What comes to mind when humor is mentioned? The first thoughts are often of laughter, jokes, and television sitcoms, but probably not from the likes of Mark Twain and James Thurber. Often praised as the greatest American humorist since Mark Twain, James Thurber found a way to make serious statements about human nature and society through his many essays and books. Even though Thurber's experiences, influences, and feelings are unique, his writings have found a place in history.
             James Thurber was born on December 8, 1894, in Columbus, Ohio ("J. Thurber"). At the age of six, he was shot in the left eye with an arrow while playing a game of William Tell with his brother (Morsberger, "J.T." 602). As a result of this injury, he became blind in one eye, and the blindness made Thurber feel inadequate at sports (602). As a result he became an observer and was driven into a fantasy world, making him appear shy, withdrawn, and lonely (602, 605). All throughout grade school he was the teacher's pet, which did not make him popular among his classmates (605). Despite his seclusion throughout grade school, Thurber eventually overcame his social isolation and was president of his senior class (606).
             Though successful in his later years of schooling, his college years followed much of the same pattern of his previous schooling. In his first year at Ohio State University in 1913, Thurber was academically successful, but socially inactive (Holmes 22). During his second year at Ohio State, he did not complete any of his classes, but rather he spent his days at the Union and the library (26). During his third year Thurber met Elliott Nugent, a fellow student, who helped Thurber to become a more successful student both academically and socially (27-28). In 1917 Thurber began to write for The Ohio State Lantern, the campus newspaper, and The Sun-Dial, the student monthly (Morsberger, J.T. 13). Robert O. Ryder, editor of the Oh...

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James Thurber . (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 02:16, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/58820.html