Thurber presents an interesting plot twist when the husband highlights the absurdity of seeing a unicorn with the line “The unicorn is a mythical beast” ( Unicorn). When these responders arrive, they detain the wife and question the husband who vengefully denies his wife’s claims, The husband’s character is initially very deceptive, and it is not until he denies everything to the police that the reader understands his true intentions.
In this fairytale-like short story a husband sees a unicorn in his garden and notifies his wife who promptly dismisses his claim and heartlessly calls the police and a psychiatrist to take her husband away.
In “The Unicorn in the Garden,” Thurber utilizes the husband’s character development to convey a belief of gender specific stereotypes. Through the use of character development in his comical short story, James Thurber conveys a much greater message of the tragedy of resorting to fantasy to escape the frustrations of real life. This lack of autonomy in his marriage is a major source of insecurity and ultimately forces Walter to resort to a fantasy world in which he becomes the dauntless, masculine figure that he can never be in real life. Mitty treats Walter as if he is incompetent and lesser their conversation boils down to snide remarks and condescending comments such as, “you’re not a young man any longer…Why don’t you wear your gloves? Have you lost your gloves?” ( Secret Life).
For example, in his unhappy marriage, Mrs. Thurber’s use of characterization is very telling of Walter’s personality. In the story, Walter Mitty is an imaginative man trapped in a mundane life and finds himself submerged in fantasies as a Navy commander, a high profile surgeon, and a British pilot. In his short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” Thurber uses the protagonist Walter as a means of commenting on dissatisfaction with everyday life.
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