The Catbird Seat

The main purpose and theme of "The Catbird Seat" revolve around the conflict between individuality and conformity. The story highlights how one can use cunning and strategy to protect personal...

In James Thurber's "The Catbird Seat," the primary conflict is between Mr. Martin and Mrs. Barrows, highlighting themes of power and control in the workplace. Thurber employs various types of humor,...

In James Thurber's "The Catbird Seat," Mr. Martin and Mrs. Barrows serve as character foils, highlighting their contrasting traits. Mr. Martin is a methodical, introverted, and reliable employee,...

Mr. Martin's plan to get rid of Mrs. Barrows involves framing her as mentally unstable. He intends to visit her apartment, act wildly out of character, and claim to be a heroin addict planning to...

Mr. Martin alters his murder plans because he realizes that committing the crime is both impractical and risky. Initially intending to kill Mrs. Barrows due to her disruptive presence at work, he...

The passage signifies Mrs. Barrow's escalating influence and destructive impact on the company, exemplifying an extended metaphor. Initially making minor changes, she is now causing significant...

Mrs. Barrows became the special adviser to the president of F & S after impulsively being hired by Mr. Fitweiler, who met her at a party. She gained his admiration by rescuing him from a...

Mr. Martin is a man who has suffered a mental breakdown and is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He lives in fear that his mind will again give way to his innermost feelings and he will commit...

Mr. Martin decides to "rub out" Ulgine Barrows because he sees her as a threat to his beloved filing department. Barrows, a loud and incompetent new employee, plans to streamline and disrupt the...

The climax of "The Catbird Seat" occurs when Mr. Martin, after visiting Mrs. Barrows' home and fabricating an outrageous story about his intentions, is confronted by her at the office. She accuses...

Mr. Martin buys Camel cigarettes as part of his plan to murder Mrs. Barrows and create a red herring by leaving them at her apartment. However, realizing his plan was impractical, he instead uses the...

The resolution in "The Catbird Seat" occurs when Mr. Martin cleverly undermines Mrs. Barrows by making her appear mentally unstable to their employer, Mr. Fitweiler. Martin's act of pretending to be...

The point of view in James Thurber's "The Catbird Seat" is third-person limited. This perspective allows readers to closely follow Mr. Martin's thoughts and actions while maintaining a certain...

Mr. Martin, a non-smoker, buys Camels as part of a murder plan against Ulgine Barrows. He intends to leave the cigarettes at the crime scene to mislead investigators into thinking a smoker was...

In James Thurber's "The Catbird Seat," Mrs. Ulgine Barrows holds the title of "special advisor to the president" at the firm F&S. She gained this position after impressing the company president,...

The incongruity in Mr. Martin's boasts to Mrs. Barrows lies in the stark contrast between his usual conservative demeanor and his outrageous claims during their encounter. Known for being quiet and...

Joey Hart explains Mrs. Barrows' unusual speech as idioms popularized by Red Barber, a Dodgers baseball announcer. These expressions, such as "sitting in the catbird seat" meaning being in a...

Mrs. Barrows is portrayed as unpleasant, loud, rude, and vulgar, contrasting sharply with Mr. Martin's quiet, meticulous demeanor. Her extreme extroversion and ignorance are highlighted through her...

Suspense in "The Catbird Seat" is created through the contrast between the mild-mannered Mr. Martin and the domineering Mrs. Barrows, with readers rooting for Martin as he faces a seemingly...

Mrs. Barrows' accusations against Mr. Martin, although true, are so outrageous and out of character for him that Mr. Fitweiler believes she must be delusional. Her claims, including that Martin is a...

The author maintains reader attention through suspense, humor, and vivid character descriptions. By initially withholding Mr. Martin's full plan to eliminate Mrs. Barrows, Thurber creates intrigue....

In "The Catbird Seat," the major characters are Erwin Martin and Ulgine Barrows, while Mr. Fitweller is a minor character. Erwin Martin is a mild-mannered accountant who plots against Ulgine Barrows,...

Mr. Fitweiler in "The Catbird Seat" is depicted as a gullible and somewhat oblivious leader. His traits of trust and naivety make him significant as they allow Mrs. Barrows to gain influence in the...

"The Catbird Seat" is a war story between Mr. Martin and Ulgine Barrows, with the conflict focused on the filing department of Mr. Martin's office.