Essay on James Thurber's "The Catbird Seat"

Sun Tzu stated in his The Art of War, "Know your enemy." In James Thurber's gripping short The Catbird Seat, he details the intricate plot of a certain Erwin Martin to oust Mrs. Barrows. Although Erwin Martin, a reserved office worker, and Ulgine Barrows, his raucous supervisor, are opposite in appearance, behavior, and language, it is ironically only through assuming her characteristics that Mr. Martin can defeat her. Though Mr. Martin and Mrs. Barrows differ in appearance, Mr. Martin is able to use this to his advantage. Mr. Martin maintains a calm and composed demeanor at all times, and "always an outward appearance of polite tolerance" (2). He does not allow his countenance to betray his inner feelings to such an extent that he can fool the people around him. His assistant Miss Paird comments, "Why, I even believe you like the woman" (2). Due to his reserved personality however, he does not stand out and elicits the description, "'drab, ordinary little man,'" from Mrs. Barrows (7). Mr. Martin, it seems, is the epitome of the stereotypical office worker in his appearance; ordinary and calm. On the other hand, Mrs. Barrows reveals a completely polar appearance. She possessed "great, popping eyes" (2), that, when in tandem with her silly questions such as "'Are you tearing up the pea patch?" completes her appearance as a child. In addition, "she [romps]," "[brays]," and "[quacks]" giving the reader the impression that the author is describing an animal (1). Despite being completely opposite to Mrs. Barrows in personality, Mr. Martin is able to secure victory by assuming her characteristics through her daily appearance. Mr. Martin does not only use appearance in his plan, but also incorporates there unlike behavior to force Mrs. Barrows out of the company.

Though Mr. Martin and Mrs. Barrows differ in behavior, Mr. Martin is able to use this to his advantage. Mr. Martin is very cautious and plans extensively. His superiors even go so far to say that "Man is fallible but Martin isn't" (1). All of his plans are wrought with a "cautious, painstaking hand" (1). Not only this, but he is also hard-working. He "spent each night of the past working out his plan" (1). Finally, Mr. Martin is temperate, never having "drunk anything [strong] in his life" (3). Mr. Martin uses these behaviors to convince others that he is an honest man, devoted to his work. Mrs. Barrows however, demonstrates a vastly different behavior. She is unsuspecting and vain, "[bragging] to everybody about her ducky first-floor apartment in the perfectly darling three story red-brick" (3). This behavior is what allows Mr. Martin to execute his plan without a problem. Her loose mouth gives away the fact that "There would be no doorman or other attendants" (3). Mrs. Barrows' behavior is also very disrespectful and impolite. Without a warning, she "[bounces] into [Mr. Martin's] office" and "[begins] to wander about" (2). It also seems that she has neither work nor any formal occupation. She is not hard working and lounges about all day. Her poor work habits extend to her punctuality too. When all of the other workers "at eight-thirty the next morning, as usual," she "never before arrived at work before ten" (5). By making good use of the difference and studying her habits, Mr. Martin is able to plan and execute a perfect plan of which to oust Mrs. Barrows from her supervisor position. He uses one more area of difference to remove Mrs. Barrows. Though Mr. Martin and Mrs. Barrows differ in language, Mr. Martin is able to use this to his advantage. Mr. Martin chooses his words carefully and selectively. He does not waste. The reader finds that he is very often "saying nothing" (2). Mrs. Barrow's booming voice and use of strange colloquialisms set her apart from Mr. Martin. She is irritating to listen to, "[driving listeners] near to distraction" (2). From her mouth gushes forth meaningless jargon as "'Are you lifting the oxcart out of the ditch?" (1). Since she utters nonsense on a daily basis, Mr. Martin is able to capitalize on her rambling. With the final actor in place, Mr. Martin is set to execute his devious project.

When Mr. Martin combines the three traits appearance, behavior, and language, he finds that he has "competent, material, and relevant" (2). From appearance, he notices the childishness and perhaps her resemblance to an animal in the way she presents herself. He however is calm and collected. This makes him easily believed where Mrs. Barrow is doubted. Her credibility is tied with her appearance. This earns him the first "'ball'" in the "'catbird seat'" (2). The second is their varying behaviors. From behavior, he realizes that Mrs. Barrows' poor work habits label her as lazy in contrast to himself, who arrives on time to work always. Also, he establishes the impossible situation in which he is caught with a cigarette and a drink. He utilizes the common knowledge that "'our most efficient worker neither drinks nor smokes'" (3). This coupled with the fact that his behavior is moderate, lacking any explosive outbursts make him able to garner trust from his colleagues and superiors. This makes two "'[balls].'" The final one is dealt when one takes language into consideration. Mr. Martin, establishing his soft spoken diction, makes Mrs. Barrows most unbelievable when she claims to have heard him say "'[he] is preparing a bomb... which will blow the old goat higher than hell'" and that "'[He'll] be coked to the gills when [he] bumbs that old buzzard off'" (5). At last, he collects three to be able to "'[sit] in the catbird seat'" (5). This however, cannot be considered a victory since Mrs. Barrows has not left yet. He allows her to remove herself when he accurately predicts her characteristics. He allows her to bring the impossible to upper management, thus labeling herself as a lunatic and mentally unstable. Anyone who understands the rules to baseball will see the allusion that when Mrs. Barrows incriminates herself, it is parallel to the "fourth ball." He is able to take "a walk," the sign of defeat for Mrs. Barrows.

Only through assuming his enemy's characteristics is Mr. Martin able to defeat her. He shows that though he endures the temptation, the patience pays off. The time taken to grasp and understand his most hated enemy was well spent. After this information is gathered, one will posses all power of the enemy and dominate him as Mr. Martin did with Mrs. Barrows. One cannot always win with sheer force. It may be careful planning that makes all the difference.