"The Fly" is a short story by Katherine Mansfield that explores the theme of loss and the difficulty of letting go. The story centers on Mr. Woodifield, a middle-aged man who is struggling to come to terms with the death of his son.
One of the central questions of the story is how Mr. Woodifield deals with his grief. Throughout the story, he is depicted as being deeply affected by the loss of his son, and he seems to be struggling to find a way to move forward. He is described as being "old and tired," and he seems to be carrying a heavy burden of sadness with him at all times.
Another question raised by the story is whether Mr. Woodifield is able to find any solace in the face of his loss. Despite his deep grief, he does find some comfort in the memories of his son, and he takes solace in the fact that his son's death was not in vain, as he died fighting for his country. However, Mr. Woodifield is still haunted by the loss of his son, and he seems to be unable to find true peace.
A third question raised by the story is how Mr. Woodifield's grief affects his relationships with others. Mr. Woodifield is depicted as being a kind and compassionate man, but his grief makes it difficult for him to connect with others. He is hesitant to engage with his colleagues and friends, and he seems to be withdrawing from the world around him. This isolation only adds to his sense of loneliness and sorrow.
Overall, "The Fly" is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of loss and grief. It raises questions about how we cope with the loss of loved ones and the challenges of moving on in the face of deep sorrow. Through the character of Mr. Woodifield, Mansfield highlights the complex and often difficult process of grieving and coming to terms with loss.
The Fly Quotes and Analysis
When the boss becomes an overpowering danger for him, he loses the battle. Next Section Test Yourself! However, he died soon in a training accident there. The boss wants to examine its reaction to further danger. When Mansfield wrote the story in 1922, England was not yet recovered from the memories of the destructive war. Although he loses his only son in World War-I, he runs a successful business and a respected life. What is the physical condition of Mr Woodifield at the time when the story The Fly opens? A tree may cling to its last leaves, but inevitably it loses them as winter comes. He also asserts his power over them in his behavior and conversation.
The Fly by Katherine Mansfield Summary & Analysis
This situation makes him equal to the old Woodifield. Because of Woodifield, The Boss begins to grieve for his son, which ultimately leads to the incident with the fly. This war-like cruel vocabulary depicts the mental level of the society afflicted with miseries of war. When the Boss caused the first drop of ink on its new-cleaned body only to test its power of endurance, the fly struggled hard to escape and get rid of the sudden danger. It identifies the feebleness of humans to escape death. Likewise, the language helps create the mood of the story. Mansfield uses repeated symbolism and imagery to symbolize the complexity of the narrative.
The Fly Essay Questions
In a way, he encounters mortality in life that leaves him devastated and grief-stricken. Even then, the fly remains static with its front legs disappeared in the ink and its back legs spread over the body. The picture presents a young man in a military uniform that the boss should feel pride in. He plans to weep for his son, but is disturbed to find that he can no longer shed tears of grief as he did in previous years. In the story, there is an inner conflict of a man with himself, others, nature, and society. On the contrary, he ignores it and becomes sad at the discussion of his son. He ordered his servant not to let anyone in the office and bend forward in his comfortable chair.
The Fly by Katherine Mansfield Plot Summary
After Woodifield departs, the boss locks himself in his office after instructing his elderly clerk, Macey, that he is not to be disturbed for the next half hour. Ans: The fly was dead when the Boss dropped ink on it for the third time. In this sense, the fly comes to represent the boss and his struggles. He has developed a successful business for his son to inherit it one day. Mansfield wants to show the helplessness and wretchedness of the Boss through the helplessness of the fly in the cruel hand of superpowers. However, it slips back from the sides of the bottle.
The Fly by Katherine Mansfield Summary About Author & Questions
Despite the intensity of the feelings, he does not appear to be moved by it. However, the boss begins to play with it. Quickly ringing a bell for Macey, the boss demands the clerk bring him fresh blotting-paper at once. He recognizes him as something aged and weak planted in the chair with a pathetic life. However, he cannot cry like he was in previous years.
