The short story, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” written by James Thurder, shifts from accounts of expressionism to realism: expressionism is a mental concept that is displayed such as flashbacks, memories, dreams and thoughts, while realism seeks to reproduce the effect of real-time people and situations. Expressionism can be described as the pause of live time, otherwise of realism, that represents events in present time and portrays what is happening. In the story, it can be well noticed that the writer plays with the plot in a slightly confusing way, making the protagonist (Walter Mitty) live real adventures and imaginary adventures without explicit transitions. Expressionism emerges when Walter Mitty dreams about being the commander of an Hydro plane, while his wife yells at him to slow down in his car (realism). It can also be seen the passage of situations when Walter Mitty imagines being a surgen working on a millionaire banker, when he drives by the hospital putting his gloves on. In conclusion, this alternation of situations makes the plot of the short story very interesting and innovative, and this makes the reader more intrigued and passionate. 

There was a sheet of paper on the ground next to a tree, and the still lit cigarette ends just near that object so easily immovable. Initially nothing happens; then, from the corner of a building, a woman screams: “on fire, on fire”. The piece of paper had set on fire, and the flames have managed to reach the branches of the tree. Mitty runs away, he messed up. As he runs quickly to the car he meets his wife, takes her by the arm and as soon as he reaches the vehicle, he starts it, without giving her any explanation. While they are at the traffic lights, they see a fire truck driving very quickly towards the place of the fire, but Mitty, as soon as the light turns green, goes on without a word. “Walter”,said mrs. Mitty, “can you see that?” He suddenly braked and stopped the car brusquely: in front of them, there was the most beautiful musical instruments’ shop of the town. They  both got out of the car and began to feel a pleasant melody, coming from inside the store, that was made by a guy who was gently caressing the strings of a guitar…

“I am very pleased to welcome the most beautiful and profound voice to my jazz club, let’s make a warm applause to Walter Mitty”, says the owner of the city’s most sophisticated pub. Walter Mitty starts singing his new song, fascinating all the richest politicians who have the pleasure of enjoying that show, accompanied by a cigarette, a chat and a few glasses of cognac.  At a certain point, in the middle of the “Trumpets Song”, the atmosphere in the room changes and the musicians suddenly stop playing: the front door opens and closes noisily, leaving behind three security guards. After looking a bit around in the room,they quickly get on  stage, take out a gun and point it at Walter’s Mitty temple, saying “you no longer have any escape now, we have discovered you: it’s over”.