Walter's daydreams in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" show him to be a man of importance and action. These are qualities he lacks in his daily life.
In his day to day existence, Walter lacks power. The people with whom he interacts have little respect for him. Policemen bark orders at him. He fails at parking his car and the parking lot attendant has to take over. Even random people who walk past him make fun of him. His wife patronizes him. She refuses to treat him with any significance. It is clear that Walter does not command respect in his daily life.
Walter is the antithesis of his daily existence in his dreams. He is a person of importance, the type of person that others look at with respect and gravitas. Whether he is a pilot, an expert marksman, or a skilled surgeon, Walter's dreams are similar in how he sees himself. In his dreams, others are in awe of him because he is daring, focused, and commands immediate respect. Walter's dreams are reflective of a world where he is connected to everything that is happening. He is the center of attention in his dreams, as opposed to his daily life where he is on the margins.
The frequency of Walter's dreams is a response to the powerlessness he experiences in his daily existence. His insufficiencies and lack of relevance trigger his dreams. He retreats to his dreams quite often because they are so much better than his day to day life.
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