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Secret Life Of Walter Mitty Essay

Decent Essays

Without experiencing life firsthand, we as humans cannot know our boundaries and consequently, we cannot learn about ourselves and grow into unique individuals. Self-actualization is an individual’s personal growth and discovery through experiences which occur in one’s life. This process of an individual’s self-actualization is portrayed through the protagonist, Walter Mitty’s evolution in Ben Stiller’s 2013 adventure comedy-drama The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In search of Sean O’Connell and the “quintessence of life,” Walter grows from a timid dreamer to an adventurous person grounded in reality through his countless experience. Consequently, Ben Stiller utilizes The Secret Life of Walter Mitty to reflect and develop how people learn about …show more content…

Through utilizing Sean’s explanation of the snow leopard demonstrating that “beautiful things don’t ask for attention,” Stiller conveys that everyone has the potential to experience their own distinctive adventures and consequently, learn about themselves but in order to do so, they must use this potential to the fullest. Ben Stiller effectively states that in order to learn about ourselves, grow to our fullest potential, and be happy with ourselves, we must strive for new experiences.

By the end of the film, Walter has fully grown from an unadventurous, stock character to an experienced, dynamic character having a unique identity. In the conclusion, Walter is shown updating his dating profile with his recent adventures and experiences. While these may attract women, Walter still remains homeless, unemployed, and poor; regardless his dire situation, Walter is finally happy with his own life and no longer feels the urge to daydream to escape reality. Through this, Stiller conveys that one’s position is irrelevant; through experiencing reality first-hand, an individual gains new insights into the world as well as into themselves just as Walter Mitty did. Through real-life experiences, one can learn a tremendous amount about themselves and in-turn, this leads them to a life in which they are happier with themselves or

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