The American HumoristJames Thurber is considered one of the greatest American humorists of the 20th century. He had a way of interpreting the everyday life of the American people. Not only were people able to connect with his stories, but he included many superior qualities in his writing that piqued people's interest and made them want to know more. James Thurber's work appeals to all ages. Not only could he write, but he also illustrated and drew cartoons, so he had something for people of every age group. When you think of James Thurber, humor usually comes to mind, but there's so much more to his work. Thurber's use of theme and other literary qualities throughout his work sets the stage for his unique writing style and shows the reader who he is through and through. Like all true writers and artists, James Thurber looked at life in a very original way. Thurber's style is finely crafted and varies from fluidity to the coining of humorous words (Beetz 2608). What he sees is a curious mix of reality and fantasy. One of Thurber's main themes is the use and abuse of language because he considered language to be a necessary principle of order (Otto1). The precarious nature of language is one of Thurber's central concerns. He took language seriously because he saw it as a tool for order, clarity and common sense, but he was also fascinated by its ability to create an Alice in Wonderland world. Thurber had a predilection for situations involving eccentric behavior, intricate pranks, and communication breakdowns (Otto 2). He taps into a common source of anxiety and illuminates it with his perspective (Bowden 2). "Entering Thurber's bourgeois world is like wandering into a psychiatric ward and not being quite sure... middle of paper... mes" is one of his best novels and still retains its comedy today. The characters in the novel never dare to do anything, but when they do they always get into trouble. To understand Thurber's comedy one must know the aspects of his personality that make him vulnerable in his work (Tobias 4). In conclusion, James Thurber was more than just a great American writer. His talent was a little harder to see because of the way he expressed himself. No matter whether it was writing or illustrating, Thurber's work was always inspired by his feelings and he did every work with a reason. Children and adults could appreciate his work, but only few dug deep enough to see and appreciate the talent he had. Many would say that Thurber's use of theme and other literary qualities set the stage for his unique writing style and shows the reader who he is through and through...