One of the themes in Thurber's "The Greatest Man in the World" is the nature of heroism. When Jack Smurch's world envisioned a hero, they believed that the person would embody a particular set of values, which Jack lacks. Thus, Jack proves himself heroic in some capacities; he is brave, independent, and adventurous. He accomplishes a feat that no one imagined possible.

Yet Jack's everyday character lacks any sort of heroic qualities. He once knifed the principal of his school. His own mother wishes for his death. He doesn't care about social etiquette or how he might be perceived by the public. The story therefore demonstrates a discord between Jack's grand moment of heroism and the vulgar nature of his true character.

Another theme in the short story is appearances versus reality. Jack fails to meet the expected appearances of a hero, yet he remains unflinchingly loyal to the reality of his situation. He makes no excuses for his crass nature and is frank about what he hopes to accomplish through his efforts: the acquisition of money and fame.

In the end, Jack is killed in order to maintain the appearances the government and the media have carefully crafted. They want the world to perceive that Jack is a good man with noble intentions. When it is clear that this is impossible, they sacrifice the man in order to preserve false appearances. The ending calls into question the reality of poor character. Who is the guilty party, Jack or those who craft his "honorable" image?

You might interpret this story a number of ways. Based on the themes, what message do you think Thurber is trying to convey? What is he trying to say about the nature of heroism or about how we perceive a person's character? Who is truly the "bad" guy in this story? Hopefully these questions will help you better interpret the author's message. Best wishes!