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"We can't make it, sir. It's spoiling for a hurricane, if you ask me." "I'm not asking you, Lieutenant Berg," said the Commander.
With the rank of commander, Mitty has authority over the plane and Lieutenant Berg, a lesser-ranking officer. Berg shows his deference by referring to Mitty as “sir.” Mitty’s rebuke of Berg demonstrates not only Mitty’s masculinity but also his authority. In Mitty’s mind, authority is absolute. He doesn’t ask the opinions of his subordinates. Berg’s pessimism shows weakness; Mitty’s determination demonstrates strength.
“Pick it up, brother!” snapped a cop as the light changed, and Mitty hastily pulled on his gloves and lurched ahead.
When Mitty drops Mrs. Mitty off at the hairdresser, she asks why he’s not wearing his gloves. As the authority in their relationship, she controls what he wears. Mitty clearly does not want to wear the gloves, but he keeps them handy, as if he knows that Mrs. Mitty will ask about them. He puts them on only long enough to appease her, then promptly removes them as soon as he is out of her sight. He encounters authority again immediately. A traffic cop, who has the authority of the law, snaps at Mitty to “pick it up” when he fails to notice that the light has turned green. In his mind, Mitty conflates the authority of his wife with the authority of the cop by putting his gloves back on before moving through the intersection.
