Why do the Poor Relation and Walter Mitty choose to escape from reality in the way they do? How successful are they?

This essay hasn't yet been marked by one of our teachers

You can view 7 essays on Physiological Psychology that have been Marked by Teachers

The first 200 words of this essay...

Why do the Poor Relation and Walter Mitty choose to escape from reality in the way they do? How successful are they?

Michael, in the Poor Relation's story, escapes from his reality and lives in life where he has no regrets and where everything has happened the way he wanted it to. Walter Mitty on the other hand escapes into a reality where he is not a shy, incompetent man, but a hero in many aspects of life. In this world of his he is respected and brave. Michael seems to be an escapist because it is a better life and he can forget about his poverty; Walter does it to seem a better man in his own eyes and to get away from his bossy, inconsiderate wife.

Michael lives in the 19th century where poverty is rife in England and does not have a job, L. 38 'on pretence of going to business, L. 44 'I get through the day'. We learn he is 'unbusiness-like'. We can see how he is poor as he names prices showing he worries over having too little money, For example on L. 45 'of one and threepence'. On the other hand