Dreamers
..., brother!”(273). Walter Mitty finds it easier to blame others for his shortcomings even though he embarrasses himself through his own lack of attention and his own actions. Similar to Walter Mitty, Peyton Farquhar has a vivid imagination and considers himself a victim of his circumstances. Peyton Farquhar, a thirty five year old well to do planter, slave owner, and politician who believes he is a solider at heart. Peyton longs for the glorious and adventurous life of a solider and “the opportunity of distinction”; however, “circumstances of an imperious nature” prohibit him from serving in the army (123). Peyton knows the opportunity will occur and “no service was too humble” for the Southern cause (123). Being a politician Farquhar is intelligent, yet he lacks common sense. For instance, the soldier explains to Peyton the consequences of a civilian caught tampering with the Owl Creek Bridge, but Peyton still considers his plan for distinction: Suppose a man—a civilian and student of hanging— should elude the picket post and perhaps get the better of the sentinel, said Farquhar, smiling, what could he accomplish? (124) Peyton Farquhar’s motivations to be a solider are his downfall and ultimately lead him to his death. Walter Mitty’s dreams are also inspired by his inner conflicts with his wife and society. Mitty resents his wife and society because they scrutinize him. For instance, during the story Mrs. Mitty treats Walter like a child by making comments that lower Mr. Mitty’s self esteem such as, “your not a young man any longer” (273). Another example of Mitty being ridiculed during the story occurs while he is mumbling to himself trying to remember the puppy biscuits his wife ask he pick up from the store, and a woman passes by and laughs at him. Mrs. Mitty and society represent reality and in reality Mitty feels incompetent. As a result, in Mitty’s dreams, he always portrays an intelligent, courageous, and skillful person. For example, in one of his daydreams, Mitty is a skillful surgeon who operates on “the millionaire banker”, an intellectual author who writes a “book on streptothricosis”, and a creative handyman who repairs “a huge, operating machine” with a “fountain pen” (274). Another example of Mitty’s courageous persona in his daydreams takes place when he portrays a Naval Commander getting his crew through a hurricane and a crew member proclaims Mitty’s courageous acts, “ The Old Man’ll get us through, The Old Man ain’t afraid of Hell!” (272). All of Mitty’s dreams deal with control and death which seems to indicate his increasing withdrawal from the real world and his longing for death as the ultimate escape. Walter Mitty leads a boring life and believes that he cannot escape the reality of his nagging wife and his dull existence. Therefore, he “faces the firing squad; erect and motionless, proud and disdainful, Walter Mitty, the Undefeated, inscrutable to the last” (277). Unlike Walter Mitty, Peyton Farquhar’s dreams are inspired by his inner conflicts with death and his ...