Preview

The Catbird Seat

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
444 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Catbird Seat
Catherine Onumajuru
Period 3B 9/2/12
The Catbird Seat

The Catbird Seat to me was a somewhat intriguing story that is sure to make you ponder after reading it. However, the end left me confused, in the beginning, it started off good, and I understood the plot and the characters so far. With the story written in third person point of view, I like how the author didn’t give too much information based on the characters thoughts. From the thoughts, I understood somewhat of what was going on, but I didn’t know everything and was still puzzled, so it made me want to keep on reading. In the beginning of the story, I thought Mr. Martin was a boring, ordinary person that lives a redundant lifestyle. He had a regular routine that he followed every day. Mr. Martin doesn’t drink or smoke and he had never drunk anything stronger than ginger ale. I would never have thought he would ever try something daring or anything out if his comfort zone. Because of this, I was surprised when he actually drank and smoked in Mrs. Barrows’ house. Thurber gave me quite a shock with that, and I liked how he changed Mr. Martin’s character, giving his readers a surprise. Just when I thought I had Mr. Martin all figured out, the author throws something else in the mix changing my viewpoint on Mr. Martin. At first, I didn’t know what the story meant by “the catbird seat”, but after reading it over, I finally understood the concept, and the plot a little better. I think the catbird seat means that you’re in a good position. Throughout the story, Mrs. Barrows thought that she was in the catbird seat, but in the end Mr. Martin was really in the catbird seat, because people believed him over her. If I was Mr. Fitweiler, I would’ve believed Mr. Martin as well, because for twenty-two years I’ve had the impression that he was a very habitual man, and he would never have done such a thing. Mrs. Burrows is only someone I’ve known for a short time, so automatically I would believe Mr. Martin. Mr.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The transitional journey often can be difficult and challenging. The two protagonists, Rita and Frank, undergo a transformation process involving personal growth and self-awareness. In Act 1 Scene 5, Rita emphasis how important the course is to her as shown in the quotes, “I’m busy enough findin’ myself, let alone findin’ someone else” and “It’s not takin’ the place of life, it’s providin’ me with life itself”. This shows Rita’s struggles and difficulties in “finding herself” but also has to face disagreements in the family. Books and window in Frank’s study is symbolic for the barrier between Rita’s current world and the world of Academia in which she is “finding herself”. When Denny burnt all the Chekhov books, it symbolises Rita’s problems in the family and Denny’s disagreement of Rita seeking “life” in education. During the play, Rita replied Frank whilst “standing up”, when Frank curiously asked, “I mean about your husband”. This acts as a metaphor which represents Rita’s willpower and determination to move into a “new world”. In contrast to Rita, Frank sees moving into the world as a negative experience as he resorts to drinking to escape his problems and responsibility. Alcohol acts as a symbol which represents a mask to cover-up his problems.…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    From the very first sentence in this book, I was hooked. The word choice in this sentence is superb, the vocabulary transports me to another world that could only exist centuries ago. It made me feel like I am on this journey with him verses the one reading the letter. I wanted to know about his risky endeavors that his family was worried about. Not only that but I wanted to live this journey with him. I wanted to keep reading because he seems relieved to inform his sister that everything is going well and she was wrong. But knowing how books go, I'm sure that will change.…

    • 403 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    There is so much more in the book than this simple summary can reveal. After reading the book, I think the author’s thesis is spelled out nicely when looking at the chapter…

    • 1071 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bertram Cates Quotes

    • 5086 Words
    • 21 Pages

    IN DEPTH: As his jailer, Mr. Meeker, points out, Bertram Cates is not a criminal type. A quiet, unassuming twenty-four-year-old, Cates is innocent, naïve, and wondrous about the world—and he suffers emotionally as a result of the townspeople’s treatment of him. He struggles to stand up as an individual even as the crowd opposes his views and actions. Although he remains idealistic throughout Inherit the Wind, he often needs Drummond’s encouragement to persevere with his cause. Cates doubts himself at times, especially when Rachel pleads him to admit his guilt and beg forgiveness.…

    • 5086 Words
    • 21 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "[He] had … been carried to his tent from the edge of the camp in triumph on the arms and shoulders of the cook, the personal boys, the skinner and the porters." But as the story progresses, it is clear that Macomber is a coward. This is magnified by his conscience effort to cover his actions up. Toward the end of the story, Macomber experiences an epiphany. "He expected the feelings he had had about the lion to come back but it did not. For the first time in his life he really felt wholly without fear. Instead of fear he had a feeling of definite…

    • 1011 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The third person point of view affects the story in a number of ways. One since the reader’s knowledge is limited; it is difficult to fully understand what the main character “Peyton Farquhar’s” is experiencing and the reasons behind his hanging. Bierce is the only person who knows how Peyton Farquhar thinks feels. Two, since he does not let the reader into the minds of the characters a sense of mystery is created. By the end of the story, Bierce seems both reliable and unreliable, he reveals that Farquhar is dead, but we also know that he imagined an escape. By introducing the reader to two different scenarios, Peyton being hung, and Peyton escaping into his wife’s arms, Bierce creates confusion for the reader. This third person approach enables Bierce’s story come to life and creates an interesting perspective.…

    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Although most of the book was superb and understandable, I have question: Who set the fire on the Wishart’s house? At first I thought it was Eliza because she said that her dad would get what he deserved and she stood emotionless as her house burned down. But then you made me question myself when you started talking about Jasper and brought up that he had previously said, “you will know when I have left.” Did Jasper or Eliza set the fire? Or am I completely off track? Did neither of them do it? Did you mean for that to be confusing and make the audience think?…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    | The narrator, in making a seemingly offhanded comment about Rat’s tendency to lie, reveals another major point of the novel: the truth of a particular story is differing from person to person. Each person, with his or her own perspective, will relate or retell a story in a way they believe is befitting. While some may see this as a lie, others may see it as a necessary exaggeration of the truth in order to achieve the full meaning of the storytelling.…

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    As seen in the beginning of the story, the grandmother tricks her family into thinking that she has left their cat, Pitty Sing, at home while they leave for their trip. In reality she has snuck the cat in a basket into the car. Her son, Bailey and…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Finally, this story has made me more aware of the ordinary things we have around us. Everything is an interesting topic for writing, and as the book mentions, we need to be more perceptive with our environment. Larry has a unique way to make us feel inside the story. He reminds me that before theaters and television was writing. We only need our imagination to create the most beautiful…

    • 350 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Some of the most magnificent stories in the world have strong meaning behind them. There are two stories to discuss about. The reader is shown meaningful life lessons of what war can cause in “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and “A Horseman in the Sky” both stories by Ambrose Bierce, by their difference and similarities. There are many significant differences and similarities between the two stories. Out of the two “A Horseman in the Sky” has more depth feeling and stronger emotions for a reader.…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Moment of Grace

    • 780 Words
    • 4 Pages

    As the story begins, The Grandmother is complaining about going on a road trip to Florida; she'd rather visit friends in east Tennessee. The Grandmother worries to the rest of the family about The Misfit, whom she has been reading about in the newspaper. The Misfit is a serial killer who has escaped from the Federal Penitentiary and is on the loose. The next morning, the family sets out on the road trip. The Grandmother remembers an old plantation that she thinks used to be in the area they are near. Bailey does not want to take a detour to go find it, so The Grandmother makes up a lie about how there are secret doors in the house with hidden treasure which makes Bailey’s children scream and complain until their father agrees to turn around and drive down the dirt driveway. However, after they have been driving for a while, The Grandmother realizes that the old plantation is actually nowhere around there at all. Her reaction causes the cat to escape from its box and jump on Bailey's shoulder, and he shifts off the road.…

    • 780 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    By using a BAB form, with a reference to the ending at the beginning of the novel, a sense of confusion and abstruseness is evoked among readers. The first chapter, in which the narrator supernaturally returns to Manderley, relives her experiences and mourns for the loss of such an exquisite property, is perplexing for the reader as the scene, characters and setting have not been established. This causes the audience to disregard the first chapter, as the second chapter begins with an entirely different setting and mood. Upon reaching the end of the novel, the reader grasps the meaning of the dream sequence, and the forgotten abstruseness is resolved. The audience is left content with all details of the story revealed, but, like most gothic tales, also chilled and unsettled with the shocking conclusion.…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’ by Ambrose Bierce and ‘The Red Convertible’ by Louise Erdrich both recount sorrowful tales of men during times of war. The stories differ in that ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’ is a story written in reverse, where the readers do not truly know the plot until the end- whereas ‘The Red Convertible’ is just a man recounting the story of his long lost brother. However despite their differences, both of the stories continue to build up hope in the reader only to find nothing but a sorrowful story at the end.…

    • 921 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Great Gatsby

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “This is a story that, in its telling, resembles real life. We don’t see the justification that the other characters use for their actions. We only see their actions, and Carraway’s interpretation of their actions.” – Jerry Stratton (2006).…

    • 1233 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics