The Catbird Seat by James Thurber
"The Catbird Seat" is a short story by James Thurber that presents a darkly humorous narrative centered on Erwin Martin, a mild-mannered office worker. Martin is driven to take action against his insufferable coworker, Ulgine Barrows, whose aggressive and disruptive behavior has created turmoil in their workplace. The story unfolds as Martin hatches a plan to eliminate Barrows not through violence, but by undermining her credibility. He cleverly manipulates a situation in which he feigns erratic behavior, suggesting to Barrows that he is unstable and poses a threat to their boss, Mr. Fitweiler.
As the plot develops, the contrast between Martin's dull demeanor and the chaos surrounding Barrows heightens the comedic tension. Ultimately, Martin's plan succeeds, leading to Barrows' dismissal, much to his satisfaction. The story explores themes of revenge, social dynamics in the workplace, and the unexpected power of an unassuming individual. Thurber’s keen wit and satirical portrayal of office culture offer readers an engaging commentary on the nature of authority and manipulation.
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The Catbird Seat by James Thurber
First published: 1942
Type of plot: Wit and humor
Time of work: 1942
Locale: New York City
Principal Characters:
Erwin Martin , the department head at F & SUlgine Barrows , the new special adviser to the president of F & SMr. Fitweiler , the "F" and elderly president of F & S
The Story
"The Catbird Seat" is the story of Erwin Martin's calculated destruction of the vulgar, ruthless Ulgine Barrows, who has made life at F & S miserable since her appearance two years before the story begins. The tale might almost be called a revenge comedy, and it is even more amusing because Mr. Martin's very dullness enables him to succeed. The story begins with an uncharacteristic action by Mr. Martin. He does not smoke; yet he is surreptitiously buying a pack of cigarettes. The purchase is part of his plan to kill Mrs. Ulgine Barrows, a plan that he has worked out during the preceding week.
Mr. Martin has no qualms about his action. Since charming the elderly Mr. Fitweiler at a party and persuading him to make her his all-powerful adviser, Mrs. Barrows has fired some employees and caused the resignations of others. As she has moved from department to department, she has changed systems and, Mr. Martin believes, is threatening the very existence of the firm, while Mr. Fitweiler, besotted, applauds. Although he is consistently annoyed by her southern expressions, evidently picked up from a baseball announcer, such as "sitting in the catbird seat," that is, in a perfect situation, Mr. Martin has not thought that she deserved death until her appearance in the filing department, which he heads. When she suggests that his filing cabinets were not necessary, Ulgine Barrows signs her own death warrant. Mr. Martin's purchase of a brand of cigarettes that she does not smoke is only one element in a thoughtful plan.
At a time of day when the streets are relatively deserted, Mr. Martin goes to the apartment of Mrs. Barrows. She is surprised to see him, puzzled when he refuses to remove his gloves, and amused when Mr. Martin, who is known never to drink, accepts a scotch. As he looks about for a weapon, Mr. Martin realizes that the murder he had planned is simply too difficult. Another idea comes to him, however: He can eliminate Mrs. Barrows by destroying her credibility.
When Mrs. Barrows returns with his drink, Mr. Martin smokes, drinks, announces that he takes heroin regularly, and suggests that he intends to kill Mr. Fitweiler. Commenting that he is in the "catbird seat," he leaves, goes home unseen, and goes to sleep.
At the office the next morning, Mrs. Barrows reports the incident to Mr. Fitweiler. Faced with Mr. Martin's usual propriety, Mr. Fitweiler can only assume that Mrs. Barrows has developed delusions. After consultation with his psychiatrist, Mr. Fitweiler has concluded that she must be fired. Furious, Mrs. Barrows screams at Mr. Martin, voicing her suspicions that he may have planned the whole situation. Still screaming, she is removed from the office. Accepting Mr. Fitweiler's apology, Mr. Martin permits himself a faster pace in the hall, but back in his department, he resumes his usual propriety and returns to his files.
Bibliography
Fensch, Thomas, ed. Conversations with James Thurber. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1989.
Grauer, Neil A. Remember Laughter: A Life of James Thurber. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1994.
Holmes, Charles S. The Clocks of Columbus: The Literary Career of James Thurber. New York: Atheneum, 1972.
Kinney, Harrison. James Thurber: His Life and Times. New York: Henry Holt, 1995.
Kinney, Harrison, and Rosemary A. Thurber, eds. The Thurber Letters: The Wit, Wisdom, and Surprising Life of James Thurber. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003.
Rosen, Michael J., ed. Collecting Himself: James Thurber on Writing and Writers, Humor, and Himself. New York: Harper & Row, 1989.
Tobias, Richard C. The Art of James Thurber. Athens: Ohio University Press, 1970.