In what ways does Walter Mitty's daydreaming benefit him, and in what ways does it cause problems for him in his relations with others in "The...

Walter Mitty's daydreams are acts of rebellion against his oppressive wife, imaginary displays of manliness that feed Mitty's wounded ego. However, he sometimes becomes embroiled in conflict because of his daydreams.

In one daydream, Walter Mitty imagines that he is the commander of a SN202, a Navy hydroplane that breaks through ice. As others say that the machine will not make it through, Commander Mitty barks orders and the crew say in awe, "The Old...

Walter Mitty's daydreams are acts of rebellion against his oppressive wife, imaginary displays of manliness that feed Mitty's wounded ego. However, he sometimes becomes embroiled in conflict because of his daydreams.

In one daydream, Walter Mitty imagines that he is the commander of a SN202, a Navy hydroplane that breaks through ice. As others say that the machine will not make it through, Commander Mitty barks orders and the crew say in awe, "The Old Man ain't afraid of Hell!" But Walter is interrupted by his wife's scolding,

"You're driving too fast!....I don't like to go more than forty. You were up to fifty-five."

Mitty drives on, but his daydream must be abandoned when Mrs. Mitty again interrupts,

"You're tensed up again....It's one of your days. I wish you'd let Dr. Renshaw look over you."

In another daydream, Mitty pretends that he is a surgeon who fixes a new anesthetizer by positioning a fountain pen in the place of a faulty piston. He is then asked to take over for Dr. Renshaw, who is a drunkard. But Mitty's daydream is interrupted by a parking-lot attendant: "Wrong lane, Mac." Afterward, Mitty meekly mutters, "Gee. Yeh" and tries to maneuver his car out of the Exit lane. Still, the attendant shouts at him, "Leave her sit there....I'll put her away," and he backs the car up with "insolent skill."