The American humorist James Thurber is considered one of the greatest American humorists of the 20th century. He had a way of interpreting the daily life of Americans. Not only could people relate to his stories, but he included many superior qualities in his writing that piqued people's interest and made them want more. James Thurber's work has appealed to all ages. Not only could he write, but he also illustrated and drew cartoons, giving him something for people of all ages. When we think of James Thurber, humor is usually what comes to mind, but his work goes much deeper than that. Thurber's use of theme and other literary qualities throughout his work paved the way for his unique writing style and shows the reader who he is through and through. Like all true writers and artists, James Thurber looked at life in a very original way. Thurber's style is finely crafted, ranging from fluidity to humorous striking of words (Beetz 2608). What he sees is a curious mix of reality and fantasy. One of Thurber's major topics is the use and abuse of language, as he viewed language as a necessary principle of order (Otto1). The precarious nature of language is one of Thurber's central concerns. He took language seriously because he saw it as an instrument of order, clarity, and common sense, but he was also fascinated by its ability to create a world worthy of Alice in Wonderland. Thurber had a weakness for situations involving eccentric behavior, complex pranks, and miscommunications (Otto 2). He taps into a common source of anxiety and illuminates it with his own perspective (Bowden 2). "Entering Thurber's bourgeois world is like wandering into a psychiatric ward and not being entirely sure... middle of paper ......my" is one of his best novels and still retains his comedy today. The characters in the novel never dare to do anything, but when they do, they always get into trouble. To understand Thurber's comedy, one must know the aspects of his personality that make him vulnerable in his work (Tobias 4). In conclusion, James Thurber was more than just a great American writer. His talent was a little harder to see because of the way he expressed himself. Whether writing or illustrating, Thurber's work was always inspired by what he felt and he made each work with a reason. Children and adults could appreciate his work, but only a few were deep enough to see and appreciate his talent. Most would say that Thurber's use of theme and other literary qualities paved the way for his unique writing style and shows the reader who he is through and through..