The title character of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" retreats into fantasy as an escape from his mundane reality. In the real world, he is ordinary, passive, and sometimes inept. In his fantasies, Mitty is strong and decisive, and possesses every good quality he lacks in reality. The story offers a somewhat comic perspective on the matter: adorable old Walter Mitty and his endearing, amusing fantasies. On the other hand, there may be a darker element to this tale, as we know that poor Walter Mitty will never achieve that of which he dreams.