This forces him out of the darkroom and into the world. The journey is linear but miraculous: Greenland, Iceland (standing in for the Himalayas), a volcanic eruption, the Afghan mountains. Notably, as Walter physically moves into the world, his daydreams begin to recede. He stops imagining heroic acts at the precise moment he starts committing them.
This is a beautiful choice. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (specifically the 2013 Ben Stiller film, though informed by James Thurber’s short story) is rich with themes of escapism, courage, and presence. the.secret.life.of.walter.mitty
Walter Mitty teaches us that the secret life is not the one you escape into. It is the one you finally, bravely, step out to live. This forces him out of the darkroom and into the world