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 As a result he became an observer and was driven into a fantasy world, making him appear shy, withdrawn, and lonely (602, 605).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).
Here he is always the hero whether he is the lifesaving surgeon, the world's greatest pistol shot, a bomber captain or an army captain ("J. Other events that influenced his writing were his experiences in college. In The Seal in the Bedroom, the material deals with much the same concepts of those in The Owl in the Attic (135). During the late 1930s and 1940s he wrote many fables, which was a new style of writing for Thurber ("J. The main theme is the conflict between fantasy and reality, which is seen through the conflict between husband and wife (Holmes 217). Great humorists are not simply entertaining; they reveal truths about human nature through the use of laughter (Morsberger "J. In 1926 he retuned to New York and had an unsuccessful attempt at selling stories and his book Why We Behave Like Microbe Hunters (Morsberger, "J. Thurber attacked fascism through his fables and parables (Morsberger, "J.
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