"Justice Prevails" Critique of THE CATBIRD SEAT by James Thurber

Justice Prevails In The Catbird Seat, James Thurber tells the story in a way that encourages the reader to take the side of the "villain." Normally, the victim of a given circumstance is the person who is "wronged." However, this particular story makes the reader appreciate Mr. Martin's character, agreeing with the idea that Ulgine Barrows must, at all costs, disappear. Although it is Martin who is deceiving in the end, the reader ultimately feels …

…has done nothing beneficial for the company, only managing the dismissal of people who had been there far longer than she had: "After Miss Tyson, Mr. Brundage, and Mr. Bartlett had been fired, and Mr. Munson had taken his hat and stalked out, mailing in his resignation later..." (pg 369) Through all the description and imagery readers may get from reading this story, it seems obvious that Martin is not wrong for deciding to kill Barrows.